Current pharmaceutical design
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Review
Prevention of immune-mediated transfusion-related acute lung injury; from bloodbank to patient.
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is the leading cause of transfusion related morbidity and mortality. Immune-mediated TRALI is caused by leucocyte and neutrophil antibodies in the transfused blood products that react with white blood cell antigens of the recipient, hereby inducing endothelial damage and lung injury. About two thirds of TRALI cases are thought to be immune-mediated. ⋯ Another strategy involves dilution of antibodies present by pooling of plasma donations of multiple donors. From a bedside view, the most important measure to prevent TRALI is to limit patients' exposure to allogenic bloodproducts. Furthermore recognition and awareness of the syndrome need to be heightened among clinicians.
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Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) has been the leading cause of transfusion-associated death for nearly a decade. Recent TRALI mitigation strategies focused on reduction of leukocyte antibodies in high volume plasma products appear to be successful in reducing TRALI events and deaths, but additional preventive measures are needed. Future possibilities include, screening of donors for neutrophil antibodies, processing of blood products to reduce or remove biologic response modifiers, and the more judicious use of blood. ⋯ Greater understanding of these interactions and the key molecules involved will lead to development of potential new targets for therapy. In this review, future possible preventive measures to further reduce the occurrence of TRALI will be discussed, including TRALI caused by biologic response modifiers (BRMs), like bioactive lipids and sCD40L, which are not addressed by current preventive actions that only target leukocyte antibodies in high-volume plasma products. Insights already gained from studies of ALI-ARDS treatments will be summarized and discussed as possible therapeutic targets for treatment of patients experiencing TRALI.
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Opioids are increasingly used to manage not only acute but also chronic pain and heroine addiction. These patients usually receive many other medications that can interfere with the effects of opioids and vice versa. Patients often need combinations of drugs for their pain management, for treating opioid-related adverse effects or for other indications including depression and anxiety. ⋯ The literature in this field is mainly based on case reports. Interindividual differences play an important role. Other potential interactions include prolongation of the QT-interval and lowering of the threshold for convulsions.
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Limb trauma can lead to the development of a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is a descriptive term of a variety of different symptoms. ⋯ Immunological aspects are considered to play an important role in the development of CRPS. The impact of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines systemically as well as locally, increased neurogenic inflammation and auto-antibodies in the pathophysiological development of CRPS are discussed in this review.
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This update aims to provide an evidence based review of natural and synthetic colloids with a special emphasis on the various generations of the synthetic colloid hydroxyethyl starch. The effect of 1(st), 2(nd) and 3(rd) generation hetastarches on bleeding, coagulopathy, acute kidney injury and mortality will be discussed. The results of randomised controlled trials addressing morbidity and mortality outcomes of colloid versus crystalloid resuscitation in critically ill patients will be described. In addition, the rationale and evidence behind early goal directed fluid therapy (EGDFT) including a practical approach to assessment of dynamic measures of fluid responsiveness will be presented.