Pharmacotherapy
-
Despite advances in the management of heart failure (HF), quality of life and other outcomes remain suboptimal for many patients. Anemia and iron deficiency are comorbidities associated with adverse outcomes, although their pathophysiology in the setting of HF is not entirely understood. Anemia and iron deficiency may exist independently and may be a consequence of the systemic inflammatory state characterized by chronic HF. ⋯ For acute symptomatic anemia, blood transfusion may be considered, although few trials have included patients with HF, and caution must be exerted in those who are hemodynamically unstable. Based on the currently available evidence, treatment of iron deficiency appears to confer benefit in patients with HF, whereas strategies aimed at improving hemoglobin alone do not. Included is a review of the pathophysiology of these conditions in the setting of HF, clinical trials evaluating pharmacologic therapy, and recommendations for management.
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of acute kidney injury during treatment with vancomycin in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam or cefepime.
To evaluate the observed incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in adult patients receiving either piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin or cefepime-vancomycin for more than 48 hours. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that there may be an association between piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin combination therapy and increased incidence of AKI.
-
The use of levetiracetam for the treatment of epilepsy in women of childbearing age has increased as more evidence of teratogenicity of other broad-spectrum antiepileptic medications becomes available. Levetiracetam appears to be associated with a low incidence of major congenital malformations based on data from pregnancy registries. Major pregnancy-related changes in the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam have been described in several case series, demonstrating a role for careful therapeutic drug monitoring of levetiracetam in pregnant patients. ⋯ This is the first case report, to our knowledge, to describe seizure breakthrough during pregnancy with an extended-release formulation of an antiepileptic medication. Pharmacokinetic changes associated with pregnancy may increase apparent clearance of extended-release formulations of levetiracetam, leading to periods of subtherapeutic blood or central nervous system concentrations. These changes support the important role of therapeutic monitoring of levetiracetam plasma concentrations to help maintain seizure control in women with epilepsy during pregnancy.
-
Synthetic, or "designer" drugs, are created by manipulating the chemical structures of other psychoactive drugs so that the resulting product is structurally similar but not identical to illegal psychoactive drugs. Originally developed in the 1960s as a way to evade existing drug laws, the use of designer drugs has increased dramatically over the past few years. These drugs are deceptively packaged as "research chemicals," "incense," "bath salts," or "plant food," among other names, with labels that may contain warnings such as "not for human consumption" or "not for sale to minors." The clinical effects of most new designer drugs can be described as either hallucinogenic, stimulant, or opioid-like. ⋯ The easy accessibility and rapid emergence of new designer drugs have created challenges for health care providers when treating patients presenting with acute toxicity from these substances, many of which can produce significant and/or life-threatening adverse effects. Moreover, the health care provider has no way to verify the contents and/or potency of the agent ingested because it can vary between packages and distributors. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of the available designer drugs, common signs and symptoms of toxicity associated with these agents, and potential effective treatment modalities are essential to appropriately manage these patients.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity in adult medicine patients: incidence, outcomes, and risk factors.
The prevalence of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) is reported to vary from 1.0-42.6%, with most data from critically ill patients. Evaluation of VAN among internal medicine patients is lacking. Our objectives were to determine the incidence, time-course, outcomes, and risk factors of VAN in adult internal medicine patients. ⋯ Vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity is prevalent among internal medicine patients, with 5.36-fold higher odds if piperacillin-tazobactam is concomitantly administered.