American journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Feb 2015
ReviewTicagrelor: a review of its use in adults with acute coronary syndromes.
Ticagrelor (Brilique™, Brilinta®), a cyclopentyl-triazolopyrimidine, is an orally active, reversible, and selective adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist indicated for use in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Ticagrelor has a faster onset of action and provides greater inhibition of platelet aggregation than clopidogrel. In the large well-designed, PLATO study in adult patients with ACS, 12 months' treatment with ticagrelor was more effective than clopidogrel in reducing the incidence of the primary composite endpoint of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular (CV) death. ⋯ However, the incidences of non-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)-related bleeding, and major or minor bleeding, as well as some non-hemorrhagic adverse events, including dyspnea (usually of mild or moderate severity) and ventricular pauses (largely asymptomatic) were higher with ticagrelor. In addition, the ATLANTIC study showed that although pre-hospital administration of ticagrelor did not improve pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) coronary reperfusion in ACS patients relative to in-hospital administration, ticagrelor was safe in both instances, with no significant between-group differences in non-CABG-related major and minor bleeding events. Although further comparative studies with other antiplatelet agents, including prasugrel, are required to position it more definitively, current evidence indicates that ticagrelor is a useful option for the prevention of thrombotic CV events in ACS patients managed invasively or noninvasively.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Oct 2014
ReviewRisk factors and early pharmacological interventions to prevent chronic postsurgical pain following cardiac surgery.
Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) after cardiac surgery represents a significant clinical problem. The prevalence of CPSP varies widely between studies, but severe CPSP is present in less than 10% of the patients. Important differential diagnoses for CPSP after cardiac surgery are myocardial ischemia, sternal instability and mediastinitis. ⋯ The only convincing prevention of CSPS is adequate treatment of acute postoperative pain irrespective of method. Hence, interventions against acute pain, preferably in a step-wise approach titrating the interventions for each patient's individual needs, are essential concerning prevention of CPSP after cardiac surgery. It is also important that surgeons consider the risk for CPSP as a part of the basis for decision-making around performing a surgical procedure and that patients are informed of this risk.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Aug 2014
ReviewDyspnea and reversibility profile of P2Y₁₂ antagonists: systematic review of new antiplatelet drugs.
Dyspnea has been consecutively reported in some trials evaluating new P2Y₁₂ inhibitors. ⋯ The reversible P2Y₁₂ antagonists ticagrelor, cangrelor, and elinogrel have an increased incidence of dyspnea in increasing order when compared with irreversible P2Y₁₂ inhibitors such as clopidogrel or prasugrel.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Jun 2014
ReviewNew oral anticoagulants in practice: pharmacological and practical considerations.
Although highly effective, warfarin use is complicated by its unpredictable narrow therapeutic window, genetic heterogeneity in pharmacokinetic response, numerous food and drug interactions, and the need for regular international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring. Currently, several novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) drugs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban) are available on the market as alternatives to warfarin. These agents all feature more predictable pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties than warfarin. ⋯ Furthermore, NOACs, especially dabigatran, are not as well tolerated as warfarin in patients with gastrointestinal diseases. Overall, the availability of the NOACs has expanded the treatment armamentarium, but they are not without risk. Given the limited experience with the NOACs, their limited range of indications, and their cost, the characteristics of each anticoagulant must be carefully considered to carefully select the agent that will provide the optimal risk/benefit profile in the individual patient.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of activated charcoal on apixaban pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects.
Activated charcoal is commonly used to manage overdose or accidental ingestion of medicines. This study evaluated the effect of activated charcoal on apixaban exposure in human subjects. ⋯ Administration of activated charcoal up to 6 h after apixaban reduced apixaban exposure and facilitated the elimination of apixaban. These results suggest that activated charcoal may be useful in the management of apixaban overdose or accidental ingestion.