Evaluation of Thrombocytopenia in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.

Background: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) may be associated with thrombocytopenia in critically ill patients. A confounding factor is concomitant use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and suspicion for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Objective: To determine the impact of CRRT on platelet count and development of thrombocytopenia.

Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review of current and developing drugs.

Introduction: Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors modulate lung inflammation and cause bronchodilation by increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate in airway smooth muscle and inflammatory cells. Roflumilast is the only approved PDE-4 inhibitor (PDE4I) for use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its beneficial clinical effects occur preferentially in patients with chronic bronchitis and frequent COPD exacerbations.