Communication on Safety of Medicines in Europe: Current Practices and General Practitioners' Awareness and Preferences.

Introduction: National competent authorities (NCAs) for medicines coordinate communication relating to the safety of medicines in Europe. The effectiveness of current communication practices has been questioned, particularly with regard to reaching general practitioners (GPs).

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess current European NCA safety communication practices and to investigate European GPs' awareness of and preferences for safety communications on medicines.

Erythropoietin therapy and cancer related anaemia: updated Swedish recommendations.

Due to concerns related to treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) and possible negative effects on tumour control, a workshop was organised by the Medical Products Agency of Sweden with the aim to revise national treatment guidelines if needed. In patients with solid tumours, conflicting results have been reported with respect to tumour control and survival. Until further notice it is therefore recommended that EPO should be used restrictively in the treatment of patients with cancer and that the anticipated improvement in quality of life should be evaluated against potential risks.

Antiretroviral treatment of HIV infection: Swedish recommendations 2005.

On 2 earlier occasions, in 2002 and 2003, the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA) and the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) have jointly publicized recommendations for the treatment of HIV infection. A working group from the same expert team that produced the 2002 report has now revised the text again. Since the publication of the last treatment recommendations, 4 new medicines have become available: emtricitabine, atazanavir, fosamprenavir, and enfuvirtid.

Evidence b(i)ased medicine--selective reporting from studies sponsored by pharmaceutical industry: review of studies in new drug applications.

Objectives: To investigate the relative impact on publication bias caused by multiple publication, selective publication, and selective reporting in studies sponsored by pharmaceutical companies.

Design: 42 placebo controlled studies of five selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors submitted to the Swedish drug regulatory authority as a basis for marketing approval for treating major depression were compared with the studies actually published (between 1983 and 1999).

Results: Multiple publication: 21 studies contributed to at least two publications each, and three studies contributed to five publications.

Antiretroviral treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection: Swedish recommendations.

The Swedish guidelines (SwG) for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have several important roles. A major task involves the promotion of a uniformly high standard of care in all HIV treatment clinics in Sweden and the identification of strengths, weaknesses and relevance of recent research findings. CD4+ T-cell counts < 200 cells/microl are clear indications for the initiation of treatment, whereas high viral loads serve as an indication for increased vigilance rather than a criterion for therapy.