Medication errors in HIV-infected hospitalized patients: a pharmacist's impact.

Background: Treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) decreases morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection. Unfortunately, HAART medication errors are prevalent in hospitalized patients with HIV infection. Appropriate regimen administration and adherence are essential for treatment success.

Evaluation of appropriate serologic testing for suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Purpose: The predictive value of clinical "4-T's" scoring in patient selection for serologic testing to confirm suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) was evaluated.

Methods: In a chart review-based study at a large hospital, all adult inpatients who underwent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing for HIT-antibody detection during a two-year period were identified. Scoring of the 4 T's (degree of thrombocytopenia, timing of symptom onset, presence of thrombosis or other sequelae, and other potential causes) was retrospectively performed on a random sample of cases (n = 70) by three pharmacist investigators.

Tacrolimus: review of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics to facilitate practitioners' understanding and offer strategies for educating patients and promoting adherence.

Kidney transplantation requires lifelong immunosuppression with agents that prevent allograft rejection. Immunosuppressive regimens typically include a steroid, an immune modulator (eg, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, or mycophenolate sodium), and a calcineurin inhibitor, either cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Tacrolimus is metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 in both the liver and small intestine.