Expert review of clinical pharmacology
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Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol · Jul 2016
ReviewTargeted therapeutics for severe refractory asthma: monoclonal antibodies.
Severe asthma is a complex multifactorial disease that requires specialist multidisciplinary input for optimal clinical outcomes. Following multidimensional assessment for optimisation of current therapy, self-management skills and comorbidities, all patients should be accurately phenotyped. Only after this assessment has been completed should new monoclonal antibody therapies be considered. In this review, we summarise the new antibody approaches targeting identified pathological pathways in severe refractory asthma.
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Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol · Jul 2016
ReviewTherapeutic drug monitoring of anti-infective agents in critically ill patients.
Initial adequate anti-infective therapy is associated with significantly improved clinical outcomes for patients with severe infections. However, in critically ill patients, several pathophysiological and/or iatrogenic factors may affect the pharmacokinetics of anti-infective agents leading to suboptimal drug exposure, in particular during the early phase of therapy. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may assist to overcome this problem. ⋯ Also, we present the available evidence on the practices of anti-infective TDM and describe the potential utility of TDM to improve treatment outcome in critically ill patients with severe infections. For aminoglycosides, glycopeptides and voriconazole, beneficial effects of TDM have been established on both drug effectiveness and potential side effects. However, for other drugs, therapeutic ranges need to be further defined to optimize treatment prescription in this setting.
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Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol · Jun 2016
ReviewIcatibant as acute treatment for hereditary angioedema in adults.
Hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is a rare disease, characterized by recurrent, unpredictable episodes of cutaneous and/or mucosal edema. Bradykinin, released by the activation of the contact system, binds to bradykinin B2 receptors on the endothelial cell surface to enhance vascular permeaility, which leads to angioedema. ⋯ C1-INH-HAE therapy is aimed at the inhibition of bradykinin release, as well as at the blockage of its effects mediated by its receptor. Three controlled trials, three open-label extensions, and two open-label studies, and a prospective, observational study have confirmed the safety and efficacy of the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, icatibant administered as acute treatment for HAE attacks in adult patients with C1-INH-HAE. Expert commentary: The ready-to-use, pre-filled syringes of icatibant can be self-administered easily, effectively, safely and, importantly, conviently. - This has resulted in patients being able to quickly treat an attack and realize a dramatic change for the better in their lives.
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Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol · Jan 2016
ReviewBuprenorphine - the unique opioid adjuvant in regional anesthesia.
Regional anesthesia techniques are commonly used for many surgical procedures alone or as an addition to general anesthesia, because they offer many advantages over general anesthesia. Unfortunately these techniques are partially limited by the time of action of local anesthetics. ⋯ Among many adjuvants to local anesthetic drugs tested so far one seems to be particularly interesting--buprenorphine. The aim of this paper is to present pharmacological background for using buprenorphine for regional anesthesia and to review clinical trials of using buprenorphine for all regional anesthesia techniques: spinal and epidural anesthesia, peripheral nerves blocks, local anesthesia and intravenous regional anesthesia.
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Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol · Jan 2016
ReviewEmerging therapies in systemic lupus erythematous: from clinical trial to the real life.
Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by multisystem involvement and a relapsing remitting course. SLE is a highly heterogeneous condition, with wide variations in both the presentation and severity of disease and the biological markers identified. ⋯ Nevertheless, in recent years, elucidation of some aspects of SLE pathogenesis have allowed the development of therapies targeted at molecular mediators of SLE. This review provides an update of biological available therapies and those currently under development.