Drugs
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Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder with a relapsing and remitting course. Once remission is achieved, the main aim of the management of Crohn's disease is maintenance of that remission. Significant advances have been made into understanding the aetiology and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. ⋯ A number of other biological and nonbiological agents have shown potential, though trials of the 'newer' biological agents have thus far been disappointing, in the maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease. The evidence for theses agents is currently limited, in many cases to treating active disease; however, these data are discussed in this article in order to provide an overview of future potential therapies. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with an insight into current and emerging therapeutic agents for the maintenance of remission of Crohn's disease.
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The salmeterol/fluticasone propionate dry powder inhaler (DPI) [Advair Diskus, Seretide Accuhaler] contains the long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist salmeterol and the inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone propionate. In the US, twice-daily salmeterol/fluticasone propionate 50/250 microg is approved for use in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic bronchitis, and in the EU, the twice-daily 50/500 microg dosage is approved for use in patients with severe COPD, repeat exacerbations and significant symptoms despite bronchodilator therapy. ⋯ Some corticosteroid-related adverse events were increased in recipients of fluticasone propionate with or without salmeterol versus salmeterol monotherapy or placebo; withdrawal from fluticasone propionate, including combination therapy, needs careful management to minimise COPD exacerbations. The DPI combining a corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist provides benefits over monotherapy and may encourage patient compliance in COPD.
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Patients with moderate-to-severe malignancy-related pain require opioid pharmacotherapy. Many cancer patients continue to be prescribed subtherapeutic doses of pain medications resulting in undue suffering and diminished quality of life. Pain associated with malignancy and its treatment may exacerbate other symptoms associated with cancer, including nausea, fatigue, weakness, dyspnoea, constipation and impaired cognition. ⋯ Transdermal formulations of fentanyl and buprenorphine are effective pharmacotherapy that can be safely used for cancer patients with pain. However, clinicians need to be cognisant that the US/UK manufacturer's recommendations for equianalgesic dose administration of transdermal fentanyl may result in initial doses that produce subtherapeutic concentrations and unrelieved pain in some patients. A less conservative dose administration algorithm for transdermal fentanyl using a 2:1 (mg/day of oral morphine : microg/h of transdermal fentanyl) conversion ratio that considers both a review of the literature and clinical experience should help clinicians individualise cancer pain pharmacotherapy.
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Lanthanum carbonate is a novel, non-aluminium, non-calcium phosphate binding agent that forms a water-insoluble compound, lanthanum phosphate, in the gut. Lanthanum carbonate (elemental lanthanum 375-3000 mg/day) reduced serum phosphorus levels compared with placebo in two randomised, double-blind, multicentre 4-week trials in patients with chronic renal failure receiving regular haemodialysis. In two large, randomised trials in patients with chronic renal failure requiring haemodialysis, lanthanum carbonate (elemental lanthanum 375-3000 mg/day) was as effective as calcium carbonate and/or other conventional phosphate binders in reducing and maintaining serum phosphorus levels (< or =5.6 mg/dL over 6 months and < or =5.9 mg/dL over 2 years). ⋯ Most adverse events were mild-to-moderate in severity, with gastrointestinal events being the most common. The tolerability profile of lanthanum carbonate was similar to those of conventional phosphate binders; however, hypercalcaemic episodes occurred significantly less frequently over 6 months with lanthanum carbonate than with calcium carbonate. In a randomised 1-year trial, numerically fewer lanthanum carbonate (elemental lanthanum < or =3750 mg/day) recipients had renal bone disease at study end than at baseline; however, in the calcium carbonate < or =9000 mg/day group, numerically more patients had renal bone disease at study end compared with baseline.
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In recent years, serious skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) caused by multidrug resistant pathogens have become more common. While the majority of SSTIs are caused by Staphylococcus aureus or beta-haemolytic streptococci that are methicillin/oxacillin susceptible, the emergence of methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant community-acquired and nosocomial Gram-positive pathogens has created a need for different therapeutic agents, such as linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin, daptomycin, and newer generation carbapenems and fluoroquinolones. This review focuses on agents presently in clinical development for the treatment of SSTIs caused by Gram-positive pathogens such as staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). ⋯ With their long half-lives, these agents have an advantage of less frequent dose administration with more rapid bactericidal activity and less likelihood for development of resistance. However, because of their proven activity against highly resistant organisms, these antibacterial agents should be reserved only for life-threatening situations and/or when resistant pathogens are suspected. Rational antimicrobial use coupled with awareness of infection control measures is paramount to avert the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms.