Contextualization of the concept of nociplastic pain in irritable bowel syndrome.

The objective of this letter to the editor is to contextualize the concept of "nociplastic pain" in functional digestive disorders, especially in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); and try to differentiate it from the term central sensitization, increasingly used in the literature, and with notable relevance in the pathophysiology of IBS.

Green discoloration of the urine following sedation with propofol for colonoscopy.

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is the most widely used drug for endoscopic procedures under deep sedation. We present the clinical case of an 83-year-old man who underwent a colonoscopy under sedation with propofol, observing a green discolouration of the urine during the procedure.

A retrospective analysis comparing persistence and adherence to treatment with free- vs fixed-dose combination of an alpha blocker and an antimuscarinic agent in men with LUTS in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: Combination therapy with an alpha blocker (AB) plus an antimuscarinic (AM) is recommended for men with moderate-to-severe mixed lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) when monotherapy is not effective in relieving storage symptoms. This study compared treatment persistence and adherence with an AB plus AM fixed-dose combination (FDC) vs an AB plus AM free-dose combination in men with LUTS in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective study using the Spanish IQVIA Cegedim Electronic Medical Records database. Men prescribed AB plus AM combination therapy were included in an FDC or free-dose combination cohort based on their index treatment. Treatment persistence was the time from index date to first discontinuation of ≥1 of the two index drugs over 12 months. Adherence was measured using the fixed medication possession ratio (MPR). RESULTS: Of 3114 patients identified, 999 were included (FDC, n = 790; free-dose combination, n = 209). Median (95% CI) persistence was longer in the FDC (125 [109-151] days) than in the free-dose combination (31 [31-36] days) cohort (hazard ratio [HR], 2.9; 95% CI, 2.4-3.4; P < .0001). The 12-month persistence rates were 31.1% (FDC cohort) and 8.9% (free-dose cohort). The mean (SD) fixed MPR was higher in the FDC cohort (48.8 [37.2]) compared with the free-dose cohort (23.1 [28.4]); more patients in the FDC cohort (34.2%) than in the free-dose cohort (10.0%) were adherent (MPR ≥ 80%). The probability of treatment persistence and adherence increased with age (>80 vs <65 years, persistence HR, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.5-0.9]; MPR difference, 12.5), polypharmacy (persistence HR, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.6-0.9]; MPR difference, 10.7) and previous use of AB (persistence HR, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.7-1.0]; MPR difference, 5.7) or AB/AM combinations (persistence HR, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.5-0.9]; MPR difference, 11.1). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with an AB/AM FDC is associated with better persistence and adherence vs a free-dose combination in men with LUTS in Spain.

[Protocol proposal for patients under treatment with new oral anticoagulant drugs undergoing prostate biopsy.] / Propuesta de protocolo en pacientes sometidos a biopsia prostática en tratamiento con los nuevos anticoagulantes orales.

Sr Director:Desde que la FDA (Food and Drug Administration) aprobó el uso de los nuevos fármacos  anticoagulantes orales (NACOs) para la fibrilación auricular en octubre de 2010, ha habido un  aumento exponencial en la prescripción de estos medicamentos, de forma que gradualmente están reemplazando a los tradicionales antagonistas de la vitamina K (AVK) como un nuevo estándar enanticoagulación oral (1).

Sr Director:Desde que la FDA (Food and Drug Administration) aprobó el uso de los nuevos fármacos  anticoagulantes orales (NACOs) para la fibrilación auricular en octubre de 2010, ha habido un  aumento exponencial en la prescripción de estos medicamentos, de forma que gradualmente están  reemplazando a los tradicionales antagonistas de la vitamina K (AVK) como un nuevo estándar enanticoagulación oral (1).

[Lacosamide and neuropathic pain, a review]. / Lacosamida y dolor neuropático, una revisión.

INTRODUCTION: Most of the clinical practice guidelines consulted agree that tricyclics, dual (venlafaxine/duloxetine) antidepressants, gabapentin/pregabalin antiepileptic drugs, lidocaine 5% patches and capsaicin 8% patches are the first-line drugs in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain, being tramadol and some strong opioids (morphine, oxycodone and tapentadol) second-line drugs treatment. Moreover, the prevalence of neuropathic pain refractory to treatment is about 1.5% of the population, so that an estimated 50% of patients not responding to prescribed treatment. There are other antiepileptic drugs who not have neuropathic pain indication by regulatory agencies, such as lamotrigine, topiramate or oxcarbazepine, but are used in routine clinical practice off-label. DEVELOPMENT: Following a literature search, we reviewed the use of lacosamide in neuropathic pain, both in various animal models and in different human studies. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with lacosamide in neuropathic pain of various etiologies could be considered as an effective alternative for patients who do not respond or not tolerate standard treatments. However, most of the available evidence, except phase II/III clinical trials in diabetic neuropathic pain, corresponds to open and observational studies without a control group, and low number of patients; but the favorable results invite to investigate further the usefulness of lacosamide in neuropathic pain.

TITLE: Lacosamida y dolor neuropatico, una revision.Introduccion. La mayor parte de las guias de practica clinica consultadas coinciden en señalar que los antidepresivos triciclicos, duales (venlafaxina/duloxetina), antiepilepticos gabapentina/pregabalina, apositos de lidocaina al 5% y parches de capsaicina al 8% constituyen los farmacos de primera linea en el tratamiento del dolor neuropatico periferico, y el tramadol y algunos opioides potentes (morfina, oxicodona y tapentadol) son farmacos de segunda linea. Por otra parte, la prevalencia de dolor neuropatico refractario al tratamiento se acerca al 1,5% de la poblacion, de forma que se calcula que un 50% de los pacientes no responde al tratamiento prescrito. Existen otros antiepilepticos que no tienen indicacion en el dolor neuropatico por las agencias reguladoras, como la lamotrigina, el topiramato o la oxcarbacepina, pero se utilizan en la practica clinica habitual fuera de indicacion. Desarrollo. Tras una busqueda bibliografica, se realizo una revision sobre el empleo de la lacosamida en el dolor neuropatico, tanto en distintos modelos animales como en diferentes estudios en humanos. Conclusiones. El tratamiento con lacosamida en el dolor neuropatico de diferentes etiologias podria considerarse como una alternativa efectiva para los pacientes que no respondan o no toleren los tratamientos estandares. Sin embargo, la mayor parte de la evidencia disponible, a excepcion de los ensayos clinicos en fase II/III realizados en el dolor neuropatico diabetico, corresponde a estudios abiertos y observacionales, sin grupo control y con bajo numero de pacientes, pero los resultados favorables obtenidos invitan a seguir investigando la utilidad de la lacosamida en el dolor neuropatico.

[Consensus document on overactive bladder in older patients]. / Documento de consenso sobre vejiga hiperactiva en el paciente mayor.

Overactive nladder (OAB) is a clinical entity with a high prevalence in the population, having a high impact on quality of life, especially when it occurs with urge urinary incontinence. It is very important to highlight the low rate of consultation of this condition by the older population. This appears to depend on several factors (educational, cultural, professional), and thus leads to the low percentage of older patients who receive appropriate treatment and, on the other hand, a large percentage of older patients with a significant deterioration in their quality of life. Therefore, Scientific societies and Working Groups propose the early detection of OAB in their documents and clinical guidelines. Its etiology is not well known, but is influenced by cerebrovascular processes and other neurological problems, abnormalities of the detrusor muscle of bladder receptors, and obstructive and inflammatory processes of the lower urinary tract. Its diagnosis is clinical, and in the great majority of the cases it can be possible to establish its diagnosis and etiopathogenic orientation, without the need for complex diagnostic procedures. Currently, there are effective treatments for OAB, and we should decide the most appropriate for each elderly patient, based on their individual characteristics. Based on the main clinical practice guidelines, a progressive treatment is proposed, with the antimuscarinics being the most recommended drug treatment. Therefore, a group of very involved professionals in clinical practice for the elderly, and representing two scientific Societies (Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology [SEGG], and the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians [SEMERGEN]) developed this consensus document with the main objective of establishing practices and valid strategies, focused to simplify the management of this clinical entity in the elderly population, and especially to improve their quality of life. The recommendations presented in this consensus document are the result of a comprehensive review and critical discussion of articles, documents and clinical guidelines on OAB, both nationally and internationally. Are, where possible, levels of evidence and grades of recommendation are included.