Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2007
ReviewPosaconazole: an extended-spectrum triazole antifungal agent.
The incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) caused by opportunistic filamentous molds is increasing, along with emerging fungal resistance. Posaconazole, a structural analogue of itraconazole that was approved for marketing in the United States in 2006, appears to be a promising antifungal agent. ⋯ Posaconazole suspension administered at up to 800 mg/d is a reasonable alternative to conventional antifungal agents for the prevention and treatment of IFIs in high-risk populations. It may also be suitable in patients with infections caused by rare or relatively resistant fungi, and those who are unable to tolerate long-term therapy with other antifungal agents.
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2007
Multicenter StudyAssessing compliance, acceptance, and tolerability of teriparatide in patients with osteoporosis who fractured while on antiresorptive treatment or were intolerant to previous antiresorptive treatment: an 18-month, multicenter, open-label, prospective study.
Teriparatide (parathyroid hormone [1-34] [ribosomal DNA origin]) stimulates new bone formation on trabecular and cortical (periosteal and/or endosteal) bone surfaces by preferential stimulation of osteoblastic activity over osteoclastic activity. It has been found to significantly reduce vertebral fractures by 65%, and nonvertebral fragility fractures by 53% in treatment-naive postmenopausal women who have previously suffered a vertebral fracture. ⋯ This study found that teriparatide pen injection was well accepted in these patients, and acceptance rates improved during the first 6 months of treatment and, thereafter, improved slightly for approximately 18 months. Reported compliance remained high throughout the study (82%-89%). Teriparatide pen injection was a viable treatment in these osteopenic or osteoporotic patients with fragility fractures.
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2007
Comparative StudyDosing intervals and hemoglobin control in patients with chronic kidney disease and anemia treated with epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa: a retrospective cohort study.
Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The approved dosing interval for currently available erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is 2 to 3 times weekly for epoetin alfa (EPO) and every 1 to 2 weeks for darbepoetin alfa (DARB). However, clinicians sometimes use less frequent dosing in the interest of convenience. ⋯ The patterns of ESA usage in adult outpatients with CKD at this center indicated that clinicians extended dosing intervals beyond those in the approved prescribing information. However, variations in Hb concentrations occurred during maintenance therapy administered at extended dosing intervals, resulting in the resumption of shorter dosing intervals in the majority of patients.