Telaprevir and ribavirin interaction: higher ribavirin levels are not only due to renal dysfunction during triple therapy.

A higher incidence of anemia has been observed during the treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) infection with pegylated alpha interferon (pegIFN-α), ribavirin, and telaprevir. We assessed the impacts that concomitant administration of telaprevir and changes in the glomerular filtration rate have on ribavirin plasma levels. The minimum concentrations of ribavirin in plasma (ribavirin Cmin) determined during triple therapy including telaprevir were compared with those observed after telaprevir withdrawal and those observed in the same subjects and in a large cohort during a previous course of pegIFN-α plus ribavirin.

Role of ritonavir in the drug interactions between telaprevir and ritonavir-boosted atazanavir.

Background: Detrimental bidirectional pharmacokinetic interactions have been observed when telaprevir (TVR) and ritonavir (RTV)-boosted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors are coadministered in healthy volunteers. Our aim was to evaluate the role of RTV in the bidirectional TVR and atazanavir (ATV) interactions.

Method: An open-label, sequential study was carried out in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV-coinfected patients on a RTV-boosted ATV-based (ATVr) antiretroviral regimen (300/100 mg every 24 hours) and triple therapy for chronic C hepatitis genotype 1 (TVR, 1125 mg every 12 hours, pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin).

The effects of liver impairment on the pharmacokinetics of brivanib, a dual inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases.

Purpose: Hepatic impairment may impede tyrosine kinase inhibitor metabolism. This phase I study compared the pharmacokinetics of brivanib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and varying levels of hepatic impairment with those with non-HCC malignancies and normal liver function.

Methods: Patients were assigned to the following groups: Groups A, B, and C (HCC plus mild, moderate, or severe hepatic impairment, respectively) and Group D (non-HCC malignancy and normal hepatic function).

Intracellular and plasma pharmacokinetics of 400 mg of etravirine once daily versus 200 mg of etravirine twice daily in HIV-infected patients.

Objectives: To compare intracellular and plasma etravirine concentrations when etravirine was given at 200 mg/12 h versus 400 mg/24 h and to evaluate whether the results would support once-daily dosing.

Methods: This was an open-label sequential study in which eight patients on protease inhibitor (PI)-sparing regimens containing etravirine were included. Full pharmacokinetic profiles were performed while on 200 mg of etravirine/12 h and after switching to 400 mg of etravirine/24 h.

[The knowledge and attitude of consumers in relation to the use of NSAIDs. An intervention study].

Objectives: To evaluate knowledge in the general population about the rational use of non-steroidal analgesic-antithermal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and whether an informative intervention could improve their knowledge.

Design: An intervention study with a control group. The subjects were polled before and after intervention, which consisted in the passive distribution of informative leaflets on NSAIDs to the experimental group.

[Gingival hyperplasia associated with amlodipine].

Drug-induced gingival hyperplasia is a well documented unwanted side effect within the literature. It has been associated with the use of three different types of pharmaceutical agents, including phenytoin, cyclosporine and calcium channel blocking agents. Amlodipine belongs to the dihydropyridine-derived calcium blocking agents that may cause the side effect of drug-induced gingival hyperplasia.

[Adverse reaction to cefonicid analogous to serum sickness].

We report a case of a male who was treated with cephonicid because of a surgical complication. Serum-sickness like symptoms were diagnosed two weeks later. Medical references are discussed.

[Adverse reactions to drugs reported by the primary care physicians of Andalusia. Analysis of underreporting].

Objective: To discover the sort of adverse reactions to medication (ARM) notified by Primary Care doctors and identify the under-notification of those cases having special clinical-epidemiological interest.

Design: Retrospective study in which 2,597 ARM corresponding to 1,467 Yellow Cards (YC) were analysed. These were notified by Primary Care doctors to the Centro Andaluz de Farmacovigilancia (Andalusian Drug-watch centre) during the period from 1/6/90 to 31/12/92.

[User knowledge and attitude in relation to drug use for pain, fever or inflammation].

Objective: To find how users identified non-steroidal analgesic/antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and their adverse reactions, as well as where the prescriptions were obtained and where users inquired when in doubt.

Design: An observation study carried out by means of a structured questionnaire administered to 174 residents in our basic health area.

Setting: Cerro del Aguila Basic Health Area in Sevilla.

[The role of prostacyclin and thromboxane in the antihypertensive action of enalapril].

Enalapril produces an inhibition of the angiotensin-renin system, correlating the pre-therapy plasmatic renin activity with blood pressure decrease, during its administration. This does not always happen, data to the contrary existing in literature, suggesting that there are some other acting mechanisms. We studied 34 hypertensive patients, whose blood pressure levels were controlled by Enalapril at a mean dosage of 12.

Modification of the inotropic effect of digoxin by diazepam in rat left atria.

There is a pharmacokinetic interaction between digoxin and diazepam that increases the elimination half-life of digoxin. It may be due to a reduction of digoxin tissue concentrations and to an enhanced effect of diazepam on digoxin binding to plasma albumin. Diazepam (10(-5) M) also induces a positive inotropic effect in guinea-pig isolated atria.