Intravenous ranitidine injection and risk of cardiac arrest: Medication errors.

Background: Ranitidine injection is not well-known to cause cardiac arrest except in few published case reports. The Eritrean Pharmacovigilance Centre received four cases of cardiac arrest associated with ranitidine injection.

Objective: To assess the causal relationship between cardiac arrest and ranitidine, and to identify possible risk factors.

Risk Factors of Gout in MDR-TB Patients in Eritrea: A Case-Control Study.

Though the incidence of gout in general population is less than 5% (globally), a study conducted in Eritrea among patients with multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) revealed a higher incidence (25%). Other similar studies conducted elsewhere, however, did not report gout as an adverse effect. It is unknown why a higher incidence of gout is being reported in Eritrea compared to similar studies from other countries.

Artesunate/Amodiaquine-Induced Acute Extrapyramidal Reactions in Children and Younger Adults: Case Series Assessment.

Introduction: Several studies conducted in African countries reported the artesunate and amodiaquine (AS/AQ) tablet as a safe and well-tolerated anti-malarial drug in children and younger adults. The aim of this case series assessment was to assess the causal relationship between the AS/AQ tablet and extrapyramidal reactions in children and younger adults and to investigate the factor(s) predisposing to the adverse drug reactions.

Methods: The causal relationship of all the cases was first assessed individually using the Naranjo Probability Scale and then subjected to a case series assessment using Austin Bradford-Hill criteria.