Potential drug-drug interactions in University Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit patients in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Concomitant use of drugs not only enhances the therapeutic effect, but may also lead to undesirable interactions. Drug interactions are frequently seen in intensive care patients. In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency and clinical severity of drug interactions in Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ordered drugs and blood analysis results of 314 patients aged ≥18 years who stayed in the MICU for at least 24 h between January and December 2020 were evaluated. Using the Lexi-Interact online database, clinically significant types of drug interactions, frequently interacting drug/drug groups, and potential adverse reactions were identified. RESULTS: The average number of drugs in 314 patients was 8.98±5.19. It was determined that polypharmacy was associated with comorbidity and the amount of drug used increased as the number of diagnoses increased. Potential drug-drug interactions were observed in 69.7% of the MICU patients, and it was determined that the amount of interactions increased as the amount of drug used increased. The most common X, D, and C type potential drug-drug interactions, were found between furosemide and salbutamol, enoxaparin and acetylsalicylic acid, ipratropium and potassium chloride, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Use of frequently interacting drugs in the treatment of critically MICU patients may lead to potential drug-drug interactions and adverse reactions. Daily monitoring and updating of drug therapy can improve patient's quality of life by preventing or reducing potential drug-drug interactions.

Carbonic anhydrase I and II autoantibody levels in primary hypertension: our preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of primary hypertension (HT) is still not completely clear, although autoimmunity has been implicated in recent years. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme involved in a number of important metabolic processes. CA I and II autoantibodies have been linked to various autoimmune diseases. However, CA I and II autoantibody levels in primary HT have not been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate levels of CA I and II autoantibodies in primary HT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients newly diagnosed with primary HT and 33 healthy individuals were included in the study. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed following office controls. Blood specimens were collected under appropriate conditions for CA I and II autoantibody level investigation and biochemical tests. Urine sodium and protein excretion were measured after 24 h. Demographic and biochemical parameters and CA I and II autoantibody levels were then compared between the patient and healthy groups. RESULTS: CA II autoantibody and uric acid levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group than in the control group (p=0.005, and p<0.001, respectively). CA II autoantibody (exp ß: 79.06 CI: 4.44-1407.02) (p=0.003) and uric acid elevation (exp ß: 2.10 CI: 1.31- 3.34) (p=0.002) were identified as independent predictors of HT development at logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: CA II autoantibody levels were higher in hypertensive patients, and this elevation is an independent predictor of HT development.