International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Dec 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyLipid-modifying efficacy and tolerability of extended-release niacin/laropiprant in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia.
Improving lipids beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering with statin monotherapy may further reduce cardiovascular risk. Niacin has complementary lipid-modifying efficacy to statins and cardiovascular benefit, but is underutilised because of flushing, mediated primarily by prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)). Laropiprant (LRPT), a PGD(2) receptor (DP1) antagonist that reduces niacin-induced flushing has been combined with extended-release niacin (ERN) into a fixed-dose tablet. ⋯ Extended-release niacin/LRPT 2 g produced significant, durable improvements in multiple lipid/lipoprotein parameters. The improved tolerability of ERN/LRPT supports a simplified 1 g-->2 g dosing regimen of niacin, a therapy proven to reduce cardiovascular risk.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Dec 2008
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA retrospective database study comparing treatment outcomes and cost associated with choice of fixed-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonists for asthma maintenance treatment in Germany.
This retrospective, observational cohort study aimed to compare treatment outcomes and healthcare costs in the year after initiation of maintenance treatment with budesonide/formoterol or salmeterol/fluticasone in a German healthcare setting. ⋯ This study suggests that for patients with chronic asthma in Germany, budesonide/formoterol rather than salmeterol/fluticasone had a higher likelihood of treatment success, and that budesonide/formoterol is the less costly option. Although the cohorts appeared to be well matched at baseline, the results should be interpreted with caution given the observational nature of the study.