Int J Clin Pharm Th
-
Int J Clin Pharm Th · Apr 2011
Antihypertensive prescribing preferences in three South Indian Hospitals: cost analysis, physicians perspectives and emerging trends.
The objectives of this study were i) to analyze the prescription pattern of antihypertensive agents in three South Indian hospitals ii) to perform cost-analysis of various antihypertensive treatment regimens iii) to examine the physicians' perspectives of antihypertensive prescribing. ⋯ The preference of CCBs and combination-therapy over the traditionally used diuretics or beta-blockers is consistent with the outcomes of recent clinical trials that underscore the benefits of using combination therapy with CCBs as initial therapy for uncomplicated hypertension.
-
Int J Clin Pharm Th · Oct 2004
Clinical TrialSerum albumin-adjusted phenytoin levels: an approach for predicting drug efficacy in patients with epilepsy, suitable for developing countries.
The antiepileptic drug phenytoin has a high degree of plasma protein binding. Therefore, total phenytoin levels in plasma are misleading indicators of clinical efficacy. This study was designed to investigate whether serum albumin-adjusted phenytoin levels in Indian patients with epilepsy predict clinical outcome better than total phenytoin levels. ⋯ In patients with serum albumin levels in the hyper- and hypoalbuminemic range, corrected phenytoin levels were better indicators of clinical outcome. In developing countries like India, where estimation of free drug levels is expensive and suitable equipment is not available in most centers, serum albumin-adjusted levels can be used by pharmacologists to predict response and thus assist in clinical decision-making.
-
Int J Clin Pharm Th · Dec 2008
Predictors of in-hospital mortality after acute stroke: impact of renal dysfunction.
The objective of this 1-year, hospital-based study was to identify the impact of renal dysfunction on in-hospital mortality after acute stroke. ⋯ Screening and better control of renal dysfunction is required to decrease the risk of in-hospital mortality among patients after acute stroke. Our study also shows that the lower the CrCl, the greater is the risk of in-hospital mortality after acute attack. This finding needs to be considered in preventive and therapeutic strategies of acute stroke.
-
Int J Clin Pharm Th · Oct 2011
Lepirudin dose-dependently increases thrombelastography parameters at therapeutic plasma concentrations as measured with ROTEM® - a pilot study.
The aim of this in-vitro pilot study was to assess the usefulness of the thrombelastograph ROTEM® for determining the anticoagulant activity of lepirudin. ⋯ This pilot investigation shows that the ROTEM® device may be suitable for monitoring lepirudin at low concentrations but the results should be confirmed in a larger study and the ROTEM® device validated against standard methods.
-
Int J Clin Pharm Th · May 2000
Clinical TrialEffect of chronic renal failure on the disposition of highly hepatically metabolized drugs.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of renal impairment on the disposition of an extensively metabolized drug, i.e., drug X. Drug X has a hepatic extraction ratio of less than 0.1 and free fraction in plasma of less than 1% in healthy volunteers. ⋯ Chronic renal disease should not be considered as an isolated event that affects only renally excreted drugs. Uremia may also modify the disposition of a highly metabolized drug by changes in plasma protein binding and/or hepatic metabolism.