Utility and Safety of Tolvaptan in Cirrhotic Patients with Hyponatremia: a Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract: Introduction and aim. Hyponatremia is common in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and is associated with increased mortality. Tolvaptan, a vasopressor V2 receptor antagonist, can increase free wáter excretion, but its efficacy and safety in cirrhotic patients remain unclear. Material and methods. We studied the usage and safety of tolvaptan in cirrhotic patients in a real-life, non-randomized, multicenter prospective cohort study. Forty-nine cirrhotic patients with hyponatremia were treated with tolvaptan 15 mg daily, and 48 patients not treated with tolvaptan in the same period served as controls. Improvement in serum sodium level was defined as an increase in serum sodium from < 125 to ≥ 125 mmol/L or from 125-134 to ≥ 135 mmol/L on day 7. Results. Twenty-three (47%) patients in the tolvaptan group and 17 (35%) in the control group had normal serum sodium on day 7 (p = 0.25). Serum sodium improved in 30 (61%) patients in the tolvaptan group and 17 (35%) patients in the control group (p = 0.011). Adverse events occurred in 46-47% of patients in both groups, and tolvaptan was not associated with worsened liver function. No patient with normal serum sodium on day 7 died within 30 days of treatment, whereas 16% of those with persistent hyponatremia died (p = 0.0019). Conclusion. In conclusion, short-term tolvaptan treatment is safe and can improve serum sodium level in cirrhotic patients with hyponatremia. Normalization of serum sodium level is associated with better survival.

Resultados de un programa multidisciplinario para el control del hábito tabáquico / Results of a multidisciplinary program to quit smoking

Background: Therapies to quit smoking are based on counseling, psychological therapy (PT), nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion or varenidine. Aim: To report the results of a multidisciplinary program to quit smoking Material and Methods: Patients agedl8years or more, motivated to quit smoking were admitted in a program based in counseling and PT, with or without pharmacological therapy. They were assessed by telephone during one year offollow up. Patients with unstable psychiatric diseases were excluded. Results were considered as "successful" when patients maintained abstinence during the year offollow up. A logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with treatment success. Results: Between 2005 and 2011, 198 patients aged 45 ± 11 years (56% males), who smoked 31.5 ± 20.6 packages/year, were treated. Ofthese, 155 (78%) were treated with varenidine, 26 (13%) with bupropion and 17 (9%>) did not receive pharmacological therapy. One hundred sixty eightpatients completed the year offollow up. In 82 (49%>), treatment was successful and was negatively associated with a history of depression (odds ratio = 4 (95% confidence intervals 1.23-38.33). The main side effeets associated to varenidine and bupropion were nausea in 37 and 23%o, sleep disorders in 20 and 19%o and headache in 12 and 0%>, respectively Conclusions: A multidisciplinary program to quit smoking achieved a 49%> of abstinence during a year offollow up.

Anorectic effect of SK & F 38393, a new dopamine agonist in rats.

Anorectics are clinically used in the management of obesity to accept dietary restriction through decreased desire of food intake. The present study, indicates that the drug SK & F 38393 a dopamine agonist given to albino rats at the doses of 1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg caused decreased food intake. Central side effects observed with amphetamine and other related drugs were not observed with this drug. The drug thus may be used as an anorectic agent without central side effects.