Evaluation of intramuscular fosphenytoin vs intravenous phenytoin loading in the ED.

OBJECTIVE: A comparison of length of stay in an emergency department (ED) after loading patients at risk for seizures with either intravenous (IV) phenytoin or intramuscular (IM) fosphenytoin was studied. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study that was conducted over a 24-month period in an academic teaching hospital (693 beds). Patients included were 18 years or older, discharged from the ED without hospital admission, and loaded with either IV phenytoin or IM fosphenytoin. The primary end point was the comparison of length of stay in the ED until discharge after loading. Characterization of seizure etiology, cardiac risk factors, and adverse drug events were also observed. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were evaluated who received IV phenytoin compared with 59 for IM fosphenytoin. The median time-to-discharge difference between IV phenytoin vs IM fosphenytoin was 1:49 hours (95% confidence interval, 1:24-2:24 hours; P < .001). There was no statistical difference in cardiac risk factors and occurrence of adverse drug events between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that patients were discharged from the ED earlier with the loading of IM fosphenytoin compared to IV phenytoin.

beta-Adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and responses during titration of metoprolol controlled release/extended release in heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: beta-Blockers require careful initiation and titration when used in patients with heart failure. Some patients tolerate beta-blocker therapy initiation without difficulty, whereas in other patients this period presents clinical challenges. We tested the hypothesis that polymorphisms at codons 389 (Arg389Gly) and 49 (Ser49Gly) of the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor would be associated with differences in initial tolerability of beta-blocker therapy in patients with heart failure. We also tested whether polymorphisms in the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor, G-protein alpha s subunit (G(s)alpha), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 genes or S-metoprolol plasma concentrations were associated with beta-blocker tolerability. METHODS: Sixty-one beta-blocker-naive patients with systolic heart failure were prospectively enrolled. Patients began taking 12.5 to 25 mg metoprolol controlled release/extended release with titration every 2 weeks (as tolerated) to 200 mg/d or the maximum tolerated dose over a period of 8 to 10 weeks. Decompensation was the composite of death, heart failure hospitalization, increase in other heart failure medications, or need to discontinue metoprolol. End points were assessed during the titration period. RESULTS: The overall rate of decompensation was not different between the codon 49 or 389 genotypes. However, a significantly greater percentage of patients with the Gly389 variant required increases in heart failure medications as compared with Arg389 homozygotes (48% versus 14%, respectively; P = .006). Similarly, patients with the Ser49 homozygous genotype were significantly more likely to require increases in concomitant heart failure therapy as compared with Gly49 carriers (41% versus 11%, respectively; P = .03). Neither CYP2D6 genotypes nor metoprolol pharmacokinetics differed between patients with and those without a decompensation event. There was no association between the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor or G(s)alpha polymorphisms with decompensated heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with the Gly389 variant and Ser49Ser genotype were significantly more likely to require increases in heart failure medications during beta-blocker titration and thus may require more frequent follow-up during titration.

Evaluation of electronic databases used to identify solid oral dosage forms.

The ability of electronic drug identification databases to identify solid oral dosage forms by their imprint codes was studied. The following seven commercially available electronic drug identification databases were selected to identify 500 solid oral dosage forms by their imprint codes: Clinical Pharmacology (Gold Standard Media, Tampa, FL), eFacts (Facts and Comparison, St. Louis, MO), Ident-A-Drug (Therapeutic Research, Stockton, CA), Identidex (Micromedex, Greenwood Village, CO), Clinical Reference Library (Lexi-Comp, Hudson, OH), Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) Electronic Library (Medical Economics, Montvale, NJ), and RxList (RxList LLC, San Francisco, CA), Chi-square test was used to compare the percentages of medications identified by each of the seven electronic references. The ability of the databases to identify medication by specific characteristics, such as brand name versus generic, prescription versus nonprescription, commercially available for more than one year versus less than one year, colored versus white drug products, and controlled versus noncontrolled substances was evaluated. A logistic regression model was used to determine the probability of a drug product being identified by one of the electronic references based on these characteristics. All seven electronic databases combined identified 95.6% of the unknown medications by imprint code, color, shape, and scoring. Ident-A-Drug and Identidex identified the most drugs. The PDR Electronic Library and Facts and Comparisons Identified the least number of drugs. Solid oral dosage forms more likely to be identified were those that were on the market for more than a year, brand-name products, and prescription medications. Generic products on the market for less than a year and nonprescription products were particularly difficult to identify. A combination of electronic drug identification databases provides the best method of drug identification in an institutional setting.

Beta1-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and left ventricular remodeling changes in response to beta-blocker therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Large variability exists in the improvement in left ventricular (LV) function from beta-blocker treatment. We hypothesized that polymorphisms at codon 389 (Arg389Gly) and 49 (Ser49Gly) in the beta1-adrenergic receptor (AR) gene were associated with LV reverse remodeling changes in response to beta-blocker therapy among heart failure patients. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 61 beta-blocker naive patients with systolic heart failure. Patients underwent baseline echocardiography followed by metoprolol CR/XL. The dose was doubled on a biweekly basis up to 200 mg/day or attainment of maximum tolerated dose. Echocardiography was repeated after the patient received the target or highest tolerated dose for 3 months. RESULTS: Among patients with the Arg389Arg genotype, ejection fraction (EF) increased from 23+/-5 to 29+/-10 (P=0.008). Gly389 carriers did not demonstrate any significant change in EF (22+/-9 to 23+/-11; P=0.45). There was a significant between-group difference in EF by genotype (P=0.04). The Arg389Arg genotype was also associated with significantly greater reductions in LV end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters compared to Gly389 carriers. Patients with the Gly49 variant also had a significantly greater reduction in LV end-diastolic diameter compared to Ser49 homozygotes. Multiple regression analysis modeling revealed that the codon 389 polymorphism was a significant predictor of an improvement in EF and both codon 49 and 389 polymorphisms were significant predictors of final LV end-diastolic diameter. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure patients with the Arg389Arg genotype and Gly49 carriers had greater improvements in LV remodeling from beta-blocker treatment.