A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Obeticholic Acid in Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (formerly called primary biliary cirrhosis) can progress to cirrhosis and death despite ursodiol therapy. Alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels correlate with the risk of liver transplantation or death. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has shown potential benefit in patients with this disease.

Use of amphotericin B lipid complex in elderly patients.

Objectives: The safety and effectiveness of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) treatment in elderly patients was investigated using a large multicenter database.

Methods: Data analysis was conducted on retrospectively collected patient data from 572 patients >65 years of age and 2930 patients < or =65 years of age treated for fungal infections at 160 North American hospitals.

Results: Patients were typically treated with ABLC for Candidiasis, multiple fungal pathogen infections and Aspergillosis, or were treated empirically.

Treatment of Candida infections with amphotericin B lipid complex.

The efficacy and renal safety of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) were assessed in >900 patients with candidiasis. Overall, a favorable clinical response (cured or improved) was observed in 61% of patients infected with Candida species only, in 62% of patients infected with C. albicans, and in 61% of patients infected with a non-albicans Candida species.

Retrospective study of the renal effects of amphotericin B lipid complex when used at higher-than-recommended dosages and longer durations compared with lower dosages and shorter durations in patients with systemic fungal infections.

Background: Patients with fungal infections who are treated with amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) often receive dosages less than that recommended in the product information (5 mg/kg.d). This occurs despite the described safety and increased efficacy in select patients treated with higher ABLC dosages.