Impact of Nonmedical Switches From Reference Infliximab to Biosimilars on Disease Control Within a Rheumatology Practice.

Infliximab is an anti-tumor necrosis factor agent used to treat rheumatologic disease. Evidence on the safety of switching to biosimilars and the associated risk factors for flares/loss of disease control within rheumatology is limited. The primary objective is to evaluate nonmedical switches from reference infliximab to biosimilars in rheumatology on risks and level of disease control.

Proton Pump Inhibitor-Induced Galactorrhea in a Kidney Transplant Recipient: A Friend or Foe?

Over the last decades, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been widely used as the mainstay for treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal side effects, gastroesophageal reflux, and peptic ulcer disease. However, their safety profile has come into question recently after reports relating them to several side effects as well as kidney disease. Omeprazole, one of the mainly used PPIs, is almost entirely metabolized by the liver but the resulting metabolites are renally excreted.

An AUC Target Simulation for Vancomycin in Patients With Class III Obesity.

Objective: The objective of this simulation is to compare 24-hour vancomycin (Vanc) dosage requirements between a target area under the curve (AUC) versus a target trough approach in patients with class III obesity.

Methods: Adult patients were included if they received vancomycin in accordance with the University of Vermont Medical Center's class III obesity dosage protocol from June 2016 through December 2018. Patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for each patient using the Sawchuck-Zaske method.

Identification of Risk Factors for Initial Elevated Vancomyin Trough Concentrations.

Recent literature suggests that elevated vancomycin trough concentrations (>20 µg/mL) may be associated with an increased risk of nephrotoxicity and lead to an increase in mortality and hospital length of stay. The purpose of this study was to identify variables that may be predictive of elevated initial vancomycin trough concentrations. Retrospective case-control study of all adult patients who had an initial vancomycin trough concentration measured between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014.