Evaluation of dronedarone use in the US patient population between 2009 and 2010: a descriptive study using a claims database.

Background: The utilization pattern of dronedarone was unknown, especially regarding prescribers' compliance with the product's prescribing information (PI) following its availability and the implementation of the Food and Drug Administration-approved risk evaluation and mitigation strategy for the drug in the United States.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the dronedarone prescribers' adherence to PI regarding the following contraindications: (1) patients with heart failure (HF) with a recent decompensation requiring hospitalization or referral to a specialist, (2) concomitant use of potent CYP3A4 inhibitors, and (3) concomitant use of QT-prolonging drugs.

Methods: Patients prescribed dronedarone between July 2009 and August 2010 were identified through LabRx.

Left ventricular mass change during treatment and outcome in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: It is uncertain whether reduction of left ventricular (LV) mass during antihypertensive treatment predicts reduces cardiovascular complications of hypertension.

Methods: A total of 172 prospectively identified patients with essential hypertension without complications of hypertension at baseline and follow-up echocardiograms 5.5 +/- 3.