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Ugeskrift For Laeger Apr 2023Pedal oedema is a well-known adverse effect of amlodipine, but significantly less frequent if only half of the maximum recommended dosage is used. Diuretics are... (Review)
Review
Pedal oedema is a well-known adverse effect of amlodipine, but significantly less frequent if only half of the maximum recommended dosage is used. Diuretics are ineffective. To cause as few side effects as possible, options for managing are prioritised in this review: Reduce dosage, switch to lercanidipine/lacidipine, switch to another group, add/increase dosage of an ACE-inhibitor/angiotensin II-receptor blocker, administer at night, or switch to verapamil/diltiazem. Non-pharmacologic actions or observation may be considered when the oedemas are mild and not bothersome.
Topics: Humans; Amlodipine; Calcium Channel Blockers; Hypertension; Ankle; Edema; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
PubMed: 37114573
DOI: No ID Found -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... Feb 2023The objective was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of pharmacological and nonpharmacological management options for atrial fibrillation/atrial... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of pharmacological and nonpharmacological management options for atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter with rapid ventricular response (AFRVR) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in the acute care setting.
METHODS
This study was a systematic review of observational studies or randomized clinical trials (RCT) of adult patients with AFRVR and concomitant ADHF in the emergency department (ED), intensive care unit, or step-down unit. The primary effectiveness outcome was successful rate or rhythm control. Safety outcomes were adverse events, such as symptomatic hypotension and venous thromboembolism.
RESULTS
A total of 6577 unique articles were identified. Five studies met inclusion criteria: one RCT in the inpatient setting and four retrospective studies, two in the ED and the other three in the inpatient setting. In the RCT of diltiazem versus placebo, 22 patients (100%) in the treatment group had a therapeutic response compared to 0/15 (0%) in the placebo group, with no significant safety differences between the two groups. For three of the observational studies, data were limited. One observation study showed no difference between metoprolol and diltiazem for successful rate control, but worsening heart failure symptoms occurred more frequently in those receiving diltiazem compared to metoprolol (19 patients [33%] vs. 10 patients [15%], p = 0.019). A single study included electrical cardioversion (one patient exposed with failure to convert to sinus rhythm) as nonpharmacological management. The overall risk of bias for included studies ranged from serious to critical. Missing data and heterogeneity of definitions for effectiveness and safety outcomes precluded the combination of results for quantitative meta-analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
High-level evidence to inform clinical decision making regarding effective and safe management of AFRVR in patients with ADHF in the acute care setting is lacking.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Atrial Fibrillation; Atrial Flutter; Diltiazem; Metoprolol; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Heart Failure; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 36326565
DOI: 10.1111/acem.14618 -
Nature Aging Dec 2021We developed an endophenotype disease module-based methodology for Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug repurposing and identified sildenafil as a potential disease risk... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
We developed an endophenotype disease module-based methodology for Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug repurposing and identified sildenafil as a potential disease risk modifier. Based on retrospective case-control pharmacoepidemiologic analyses of insurance claims data for 7.23 million individuals, we found that sildenafil usage was significantly associated with a 69% reduced risk of AD (hazard ratio = 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.25-0.39, P<1.0×10). Propensity score stratified analyses confirmed that sildenafil is significantly associated with a decreased risk of AD across all four drug cohorts we tested (diltiazem, glimepiride, losartan and metformin) after adjusting age, sex, race, and disease comorbidities. We also found that sildenafil increases neurite growth and decreases phospho-tau expression in AD patient-induced pluripotent stem cells-derived neuron models, supporting mechanistically its potential beneficial effect in Alzheimer's disease. The association between sildenafil use and decreased incidence of AD does not establish causality or its direction, which requires a randomized clinical trial approach.
Topics: Humans; Alzheimer Disease; Sildenafil Citrate; Endophenotypes; Retrospective Studies; Data Mining
PubMed: 35572351
DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00138-z -
Radiology Case Reports Jun 2022Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle with various clinical presentations and etiology. In this case, we demonstrate the utility of Fluorodeoxyglucose PET...
Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle with various clinical presentations and etiology. In this case, we demonstrate the utility of Fluorodeoxyglucose PET scan in identifying its etiology. A 28-year-old female with a history of undifferentiated connective tissue disease and sacroiliitis referred to the cardiology clinic for palpitations. Her symptoms started 3 years ago, were episodic, associated with fatigue, and impaired quality of her life. A resting electrocardiogram revealed sinus tachycardia. Medical workup for sinus tachycardia was unremarkable. Given suspicion for idiopathic myocarditis, a FDG PET using F18 was ordered and revealed diffuse myocardial uptake suggestive of myocarditis. Normal LV systolic function was noted on the echocardiogram. Her tachycardia was successfully treated with ivabradine and diltiazem. She was started on mycophenolate mofetil for myocarditis with improvement in symptoms of tachycardia and fatigue. A repeat FDG PET in follow-up revealed less diffuse uptake with the initiation of therapy. FDG-PET may add value in patients with inappropriate sinus tachycardia found especially if suspicion of underlying connective tissue disease exists. As illustrated in this case, a timely diagnosis could change management decisions as well as significantly impact the quality of life.
PubMed: 35464795
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2022.03.074 -
The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine Mar 2020Diltiazem is a calcium-channel blocker commonly used for the treatment of hypertension. Common adverse effects include dizziness, headache, and edema. Fewer than 20...
Diltiazem is a calcium-channel blocker commonly used for the treatment of hypertension. Common adverse effects include dizziness, headache, and edema. Fewer than 20 cases of diltiazem-associated photodistributed hyperpigmentation have been reported in the literature. Here, we present the case of a 71-year-old woman with new-onset facial hyperpigmentation 6 months after initiating treatment with diltiazem.
Topics: Aged; Biopsy; Calcium Channel Blockers; Dermatologic Agents; Diltiazem; Female; Humans; Hyperpigmentation; Hypertension; Ointments; Photosensitivity Disorders; Skin; Tacrolimus; Treatment Outcome; Withholding Treatment
PubMed: 32226335
DOI: No ID Found -
Cureus Jun 2023Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is the third most common type of muscular dystrophy. This disease presents as a slowly progressive asymmetric muscle... (Review)
Review
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is the third most common type of muscular dystrophy. This disease presents as a slowly progressive asymmetric muscle weakness that involves the facial, scapular, and upper arm muscles mainly. Currently, there is no established consensus on this disease treatment in terms of medications. We assessed the response to the treatment of the drugs utilized in clinical trials by performing a systematic literature review in English using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) and meta-analyses. We only used human clinical trials in patients diagnosed with FSHD that received consistent pharmacological treatment. We included 11 clinical trials that fulfilled our criteria. We concluded that albuterol had statistically significant results in three out of four clinical trials, with improved elbow flexors muscle strength. Vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc gluconate, and selenomethionine showed significant improvement in the maximal voluntary contraction and endurance limit time of quadriceps muscle. At the same time, diltiazem and MYO-029 demonstrate no improvement in function, strength, or muscle mass. Losmapimod, currently in phase I of the ReDUX4 trial, showed promising results. Peradventure, more clinical trials are still needed to address this subject. Nevertheless, this review provides a clear and concise update on the treatment for this disease.
PubMed: 37404420
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39903 -
The American Journal of Cardiology Jun 2023Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are interrelated and often coexisting conditions in older adults. Although...
Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are interrelated and often coexisting conditions in older adults. Although equally recommended, nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (non-DHP CCBs), such as diltiazem and verapamil, are less often used than β blockers. Because recent studies suggested that β-blocker use in both HFpEF and AF may increase the risk for HF, we tested whether non-DHP CCBs were associated with lower HF hospitalization risk than β blockers. We examined fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who were aged ≥66 years, had HFpEF or AF, and newly initiated a β blocker (n = 83,458) or non-DHP CCB (n = 18,924) from 2014 to 2018. The outcomes of HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression in the full cohort and, separately, in the subset without a recent hospital or skilled nursing discharge. Follow-up was analyzed using 2 frameworks: intention-to-treat and censored-at-drug-switch-or-discontinuation. There was a modestly protective association of non-DHP CCBs for the risk of HF hospitalization. Before drug switch or discontinuation, the use of diltiazem or verapamil was associated with decreased risk of HF hospitalization in the full cohort (hazard ratio [HR] 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81 to 1.00, p = 0.05) and in the subgroup (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.89, p = 0.003). However, the association with all-cause mortality tended to favor β blockers, including in the intention-to-treat analysis (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.25, p <0.001). In conclusion, compared with β blockers, the initiation of diltiazem or verapamil in patients with HFpEF or AF may be associated with fewer HF hospitalization events but also with more all-cause deaths.
Topics: Humans; Aged; United States; Heart Failure; Calcium Channel Blockers; Diltiazem; Medicare; Stroke Volume; Hospitalization; Atrial Fibrillation; Verapamil; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
PubMed: 37150720
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.04.013