Preventable adverse drug events in critically ill HIV patients: Is the detection of potential drug-drug interactions a useful tool?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a strategy to identify adverse drug events associated with drug-drug interactions by analyzing the prescriptions of critically ill patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included HIV/AIDS patients who were admitted to an intensive care unit between November 2006 and September 2008. Data were collected in two stages. In the first stage, three prescriptions administered throughout the entire duration of these patients' hospitalization were reviewed, with the Micromedex database used to search for potential drug-drug interactions. In the second stage, a search for adverse drug events in all available medical, nursing and laboratory records was performed. The probability that a drug-drug interaction caused each adverse drug events was assessed using the Naranjo algorithm. RESULTS: A total of 186 drug prescriptions of 62 HIV/AIDS patients were analyzed. There were 331 potential drug-drug interactions, and 9% of these potential interactions resulted in adverse drug events in 16 patients; these adverse drug events included treatment failure (16.7%) and adverse reactions (83.3%). Most of the adverse drug reactions were classified as possible based on the Naranjo algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: The approach used in this study allowed for the detection of adverse drug events related to 9% of the potential drug-drug interactions that were identified; these adverse drug events affected 26% of the study population. With the monitoring of adverse drug events based on prescriptions, a combination of the evaluation of potential drug-drug interactions by clinical pharmacy services and the monitoring of critically ill patients is an effective strategy that can be used as a complementary tool for safety assessments and the prevention of adverse drug events.

Conversion to Mycophenolate Mofetil Monotherapy in Liver Recipients: Calcineurin Inhibitor Levels are Key

Abstract: The use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) after liver transplantation is associated with post-transplant nephrotoxicity. Conversion to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) monotherapy improves renal function, but is related to graft rejection in some recipients. Our aim was to identify variables associated with rejection after conversion to MMF monotherapy. Conversion was attempted in 40 liver transplant recipients. Clinical variables were determined and peripheral mononuclear blood cells were immunophenotyped during a 12-month follow- up. Conversion was classified as successful (SC) if rejection did not occur during the follow-up. MMF conversion was successful with 28 patients (70%) and was associated with higher glomerular filtration rates at the end of study. It also correlated with increased time elapsed since transplantation, low baseline CNI levels (Tacrolimus ≤ 6.5 ng/mL or Cyclosporine ≤ 635 ng/mL) and lower frequency of tacrolimus use. The only clinical variable independently related to SC in multivariate analysis was low baseline CNI levels (p = 0.02, OR: 6.93, 95%, CI: 1.3-29.7). Mean baseline fluorescent intensity of FOXP3+ T cells was significantly higher among recipients with SC. In conclusion, this study suggests that baseline CNI levels can be used to identify recipients with higher probability of SC to MMF monotherapy. Clinicaltrials.gov identification: NCT01321112.

Estudio de cohorte prospectiva de un programa de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico a pacientes anticoagulados ingresados en residencias geriátricas / Prospective cohort study of a pharmacological follow-up program of anticoagulated patients admitted to nursing homes

Introducción: El tratamiento anticoagulante, pese a conseguir un claro beneficio para prevenir y tratar la patología tromboembólica, presenta dificultades para su manejo en la práctica habitual. Ello debido a la variabilidad individual de dosificación, estrecho margen terapéutico, interacciones farmacológicas y efectos secundarios graves. Los pacientes ingresados en residencias geriátricas presentan cada vez más indicaciones para seguir un tratamiento anticoagulante oral, producto de trombosis venosa profunda y, muy especialmente, fibrilación auricular. Se trata de pacientes con un perfil que dificulta la prescripción del tratamiento anticoagulante: edad avanzada, polimedicación y pluripatologías. Objetivos: nos planteamos la hipótesis de que la implantación desde atención primaria de un programa de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico del tratamiento anticoagulante oral en pacientes ingresados en residencias geriátricas, que coordine a distintos profesionales de diferentes estamentos y niveles asistenciales, ha de mejorar su beneficio y disminuir los efectos secundarios. Métodos: se realiza un estudio descriptivo tipo cohorte prospectiva, de un año de evolución, de 27 pacientes ingresados en residencia geriátrica que realizan tratamiento anticoagulante controlado por el equipo de atención primaria. Se analizan distintas variables obtenidas a partir de la historia clínica informatizada, a partir de las cuales se establecen indicadores sobre el procedimiento del programa (indicadores de cobertura y registro) y otros sobre el resultado (indicadores definidos por el Comité Británico de Estándares en Hematología). Resultados: los resultados muestran que el perfil del paciente ingresado en una residencia geriátrica tratado con anticoagulantes es de edad avanzada (84 años), con predominio de mujeres (70 por ciento), con fibrilación auricular como indicación más frecuente (70,4 por ciento)...

Introduction. Anticoagulant treatment, despite providing a clear benefit to prevent and treat thrombo-embolic disease, is difficult to manage in routine practice. This is due to individual variability of dosing, narrow therapeutic margin, drug interactions, and side effects. An increasing number of patients admitted to nursing homes are under oral anticoagulant therapy because of deep venous thrombosis and, especially, atrial fibrillation. These are patients with a profile that makes prescription of anticoagulant treatment more difficult - elderly, taking multiple concomitant medications and with multiple ailments. Objetive. We hypothesized that the implementation of a primary care pharmacological follow-up program of oral anticoagulant therapy in patients admitted to nursing homes, with the purpose of coordinating the different professionals and care levels, would lead to greater benefit and reduction of side effects. Methods. A one-year descriptive prospective cohort study was conducted of 27 patients admitted to nursing homes who are under anticoagulation therapy followed by the primary care team. We analyzed different variables obtained from computerized medical records, from which indicators on the program were established (coverage and registration) as well as outcome indicators (as defined by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology). Results. The profile of patients under anticoagulation and admitted to nursing homes is elderly (84 years), with a predominance of women (70 percent), atrial fibrillation as most frequent indication (70.4 percent), hypertension as major cardiovascular risk factor (92 percent) and most of them on multiple drugs (92 percent). The analysis of the program results showed excellent coverage and registration indicators (100 percent)...

Codificación geométrica y análisis de conglomerados para evaluar el control metabólico de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Geometric coding and cluster analysis to assess metabolic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de las combinaciones de los parámetros de control metabólico por arriba de lo normal, usando la codificación geométrica y el análisis jerárquico de conglomerados, en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2). Métodos: Se desarrolló en México un estudio transversal descriptivo para evaluar a un grupo de 1 051 pacientes con DM2, cuyos criterios de inclusión eran tener uno o más de los siguientes valores: glucosa en ayunas > 130 mg/dL, colesterol total > 240 mg/dL, triglicéridos totales > 200 mg/dL, índice de masa corporal > 27 kg/m², y presión arterial sistólica mayor de 130 mmHg o presión arterial diastólica mayor de 85 mmHg. Por medio de codificaciones geométricas se obtuvieron las frecuencias de todas las combinaciones. Para definir similitudes entre las combinaciones se utilizó el método de análisis de conglomerados. Resultados: Utilizando el instrumento propuesto, se observó que la combinación en pares con mayor número de sujetos estuvo representada por hiperglucemia-hipertrigliceridemia (7,3 por ciento) e hiperglucemia-hipercolesterolemia (3,6 por ciento). Las policombinaciones de mayor frecuencia fueron hiperglucemia-hipercolesterolemia-hipertrigliceridemia (13,2 por ciento) e hiperglucemia- hipertrigliceridemia-hipercolesterolemia-hipertensión (10,5 por ciento). Conclusiones: La codificación geométrica y el análisis por conglomerados podrían llegar a ser un instrumento idóneo para evaluar el control metabólico de los pacientes con DM2, así como para identificar parámetros que contribuyan a mejorar su monitoreo y su tratamiento.

Objective: Determine the frequency of combinations of higher-than-normal metabolic control parameters, using geometric coding and hierarchical cluster analysis, in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Mexico to assess a group of 1 051 patients with DM2. The inclusion criteria were to have one or more of the following values: fasting glucose of 130 mg/dL, total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL, total triglycerides of 200 mg/dL, Body Mass Index of 27 kg/m², and systolic blood pressure higher than 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure higher than 85 mmHg. Through geometric coding, the frequencies of all combinations were obtained. Cluster analysis was used to determine similarities among the combinations. Results: Using the proposed instrument, it was observed that the paired combinations with the highest number of subjects were hyperglycemia-hypertriglyceridemia (7.3 percent) and hyperglycemia-hypercholesterolemia (3.6 percent). The most frequent polycombinations were hyperglycemia-hypercholesterolemia-hypertriglyceridemia (13.2 percent) and hyperglycemia-hypertriglyceridemia-hypercholesterolemia-hypertension (10.5 percent). Conclusiones: Geometric coding and cluster analysis could become a suitable instrument for assessing the metabolic control of patients with DM2, as well as for identifying parameters that will help improve their monitoring and treatment.