Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
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Peginesatide, a long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, was recalled in February 2013 following reports of serious and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reactions in dialysis patients who received a first dose. We assessed the relative risks of mortality and morbidity in peginesatide-treated and matched epoetin alfa-treated patients. ⋯ Relative to administration of epoetin alfa, first administration of peginesatide in dialysis patients was acutely associated with higher risk of death or hospitalization as a result of cardiovascular morbidity or symptoms.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Oct 2014
First-trimester exposure to bupropion and risk of cardiac malformations.
Bupropion is a drug uniquely used both to treat depression and as an aid to smoking cessation. We investigated previously reported associations between first-trimester exposure to bupropion and cardiac defects. ⋯ We did not confirm previously reported associations for left-sided defects overall but had too few exposed cases to evaluate specific defects in this category. We did observe an elevated risk of VSD following first-trimester bupropion use, particularly when used without other antidepressants. This pattern for bupropion alone was observed in all our risk comparisons and was not explained by higher doses or gestational timing.