Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of single-entity, once-daily hydrocodone tablets in patients with uncontrolled moderate to severe chronic low back pain.
This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with an enriched enrollment, randomized withdrawal design was conducted to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of single-entity, once-daily hydrocodone 20 to 120 mg tablets (HYD) in opioid-naive and opioid-experienced patients with uncontrolled moderate to severe chronic low back pain (CLBP). ⋯ HYD was shown to be an efficacious treatment for CLBP in this study. There were no new or unexpected safety concerns detected.
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Diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP) affects 50% of diabetes patients and is painful in about 26%. Although disease-modifying therapies are not available for DSP, symptomatic treatments for painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) are effective. ⋯ Disease modification in DSP remains an unmet need in clinical medicine affecting a large percentage of the population with concomitant healthcare costs. Strict glycemic control and attention to potential risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity may minimize DSP. Many patients benefit from treatment of their painful symptoms with anticonvulsants or antidepressants, but all are associated with significant side effects that limit their usefulness. There is a need for treatments of PDN with fewer side effects and more effective pain relief.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Jan 2015
ReviewNew pharmacotherapy options for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Epoprostenol was the first targeted therapy available for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Since then great advances in our knowledge of the disease have been made and the spectrum of therapeutic options for PAH has expanded. After an overview of current available treatments, this article describes the new pharmacotherapy options and their place in the management of PAH. ⋯ The last decade has been particularly important in PAH management with the emergence of six new molecules, the development of novel routes of administration and improvement of pharmacokinetics. Moreover, pediatric formulations have been developed. However, further research is required to inform clinicians regarding optimal choices of combination therapies (progressive add-on therapy or upfront combination therapy, selection of associated molecules regarding the patient's profile...), to continue to improve the quality of life of patients with new drugs and to reach the ultimate goal of curing the disease.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Jan 2015
ReviewEltrombopag for treatment of thrombocytopenia-associated disorders.
Eltrombopag is an orally bioavailable, non-peptide thrombopoietin receptor agonist capable of stimulating platelet production through the differentiation of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells into committed CD41+ megakaryocyte precursors and proliferation of megakaryocyte progenitor cells. ⋯ Eltrombopag plays an important therapeutic role in many different conditions characterized by persistent thrombocytopenia. A more comprehensive definition of both long-term safety and benefits deriving from the use of eltrombopag will be obtained through prolonged observation of patients already enrolled in the different studies conducted so far and from future prospective controlled trials.
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with a large spectrum of glomerular lesions in both native and transplanted kidneys. The most common HCV-associated renal disease is type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis usually, but not invariably, in the context of type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). HCV infection is also the major cause of MC, a systemic vasculitis characterized by involvement of small and, less frequently, medium-sized vessels. Conflicting data exist on the treatment of HCV-associated glomerular disease. ⋯ Various approaches have been recommended for the treatment of HCV-related glomerular disease, including immunosuppressive therapy (corticosteroids, cytotoxic agents and mAbs) and antiviral therapy. These regimens should be considered according to the level or proteinuria and kidney failure. Immunosuppressive agents are recommended in patients with nephrotic syndrome and/or rapidly progressive kidney failure. Antiviral treatment based on IFN and/or ribavirin or triple antiviral therapy (PEGylated-IFN/ribavirin/telaprevir or boceprevir) has been adopted in patients with moderate proteinuria and slow loss of kidney failure; however, the number of patients enrolled was small. Some patients with HCV-related cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis have been treated with rituximab but some issues about its role remain to be clarified. The antiviral treatment of HCV-related glomerular disease is expected to improve in the near future with new agents provided with greater efficacy and safety. However, the affordability of these drugs remains a pivotal issue, particularly in low-income countries.