[Methods for analyzing uncertainty].

Current budgetary restrictions in health systems have increased the influence of economic evaluation studies on decision making. Nevertheless, uncertainty about the parameters used in pharmacoeconomic models is inevitable and may affect the conclusions drawn. The present article aims to review the main methods proposed to quantify the uncertainty inherent in pharmacoeconomic evaluations applied to health technologies.

[Pharmacoeconomic assessment of two tocolysis protocols for the inhibition of premature delivery].

Objective: Pharmacoeconomic assessment of two tocolysis protocols alternatively using atosiban or ritodrine as first-choice tocolytic agent able to delay birth for 48 hours in the acute management of premature birth risk in gravid women.

Methods: The modeling technique used for the selection of the most efficient protocol was the decision analysis. A search for controlled clinical trials comparing the effectiveness and/or safety of atosiban versus ritodrine was performed in Medline and the Cochrane Library.

[Acute renal failure probably associated with topiramate].

A case of acute renal failure probably associated with topiramate is discussed. The patient showed a significant, progressive increase in creatinine and serum urea values 5 days after topiramate treatment onset, as well as diminished creatinine clearance and non-oliguric acute renal failure requiring haemodialysis initiation. Upon topiramate discontinuance altered parameters became normal.