Emergency department visits caused by adverse drug reactions: results of aTurkish university hospital.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to evaluate adverse drug reaction (ADR)-related emergency department (ED) visits in the ED of the Dokuz Eylül University Hospital prospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who were admitted to the ED during 1-week periods of four different seasons between July 2010 and April 2011 were enrolled. Demographics of patients, previous ADR history, clinical progress, and outcomes were recorded. Causality assessment was done according to World Health Organization Uppsala Monitoring Centre categories. ADRs were categorized as certain, probable, or possible. RESULTS: Patients who were on medications (26.5%, n = 1838) were evaluated for ADR-related ED admissions. ADRs accounted for 5.9% of cases (n = 108). The most frequently affected systems were the gastrointestinal (35.2%, n = 38), dermatological (23.1%, n = 25), and hematological (10.2%, n = 11) systems (7.4%, n = 8). The most common causes of ADRs were antiinfectives (31.6%, n = 33). Amoxicillin, Coumadin, and paracetamol were the most common medications that caused ADRs. CONCLUSION: Nearly 6% of the admissions were ADR-related. ADRs should always be considered when patients who are on medication are admitted to the ED. Multicenter epidemiologic studies are required to know the real rates of ADR cases in EDs in Turkey.

Novel biochemical marker for differential diagnosis of seizure: ischemia-modified albumin.

INTRODUCTION: Differential diagnosis of seizure is critical in patients presented to emergency department (ED) with altered mental status or loss of consciousness. Although electroencephalogram is important for the diagnosis of seizures, its use in EDs is limited. The level of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) increases in conditions of ischemic distress such as acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and mesenteric ischemia. No studies exist in literature regarding the increase of IMA levels parallel to increased seizure activity in adults. The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of IMA in adult patients presented to ED with seizures. METHODS: Forty patients presented to ED with seizure, and 40 control patients of similar age and sex as the study group were enrolled in this study. Initial and fourth-hour levels of IMA and albumin were measured. Groups were compared in terms of sociodemographic data and details regarding their seizures as well as initial and fourth-hour levels of IMA. RESULTS: Mean levels of IMA were 61.5 IU/mL and 18.5 IU/mL (P < .001) initially and 56.7 IU/mL and 15.4 IU/mL (P < .001) at the fourth hour; levels were higher in the study group compared with control group. Ischemia-modified albumin/albumin ratios in study and control groups were 1555.3 IU/g and 462.4 IU/g (P < .001) initially and 1431.4 IU/g and 383.6 IU/g (P < .001) at the fourth hour, respectively. CONCLUSION: Blood IMA level and IMA/albumin ratio significantly increase in adult patients who experienced seizures. Ischemia-modified albumin may be considered as a useful biomarker in the differential diagnosis of seizure.