The American journal of medicine
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Hyperkalemia is a potentially fatal complication requiring prompt diagnosis and management. However, pseudohyperkalemia, defined as an artificial rise in serum potassium (Sk), is also an important diagnosis because management differs. ⋯ In this review, we will discuss the major causes of pseudohyperkalemia, how to avoid certain diagnostic pitfalls, and comment on the clinical importance of recognizing these false readings. We will review three clinical cases seen in our nephrology and hypertension clinic that illustrate some of these problems.
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Clinical trials have shown a beneficial effect from biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on hand or axial bone loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; however, it is unclear if this translates to a reduced fracture risk. We investigated the effect of bDMARDs on osteoporotic fracture risk compared to no biological treatment in rheumatoid arthritis. ⋯ We found no independent beneficial effect from using bDMARDs on reducing the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Alirocumab on Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Randomized Trial.
Using data from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial (NCT01663402), we sought to identify factors associated with the development of incident atrial fibrillation in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome without prior atrial fibrillation and to determine whether alirocumab treatment influenced risk of incident atrial fibrillation. ⋯ While alirocumab did not modify risk of incident atrial fibrillation after acute coronary syndrome, it did reduce the risk of MACE, regardless of prior atrial fibrillation history. History of atrial fibrillation is an independent predictor of recurrent cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndrome.