1.
Efficacy and Safety of Patiromer in Hyperkalemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Das, S, Dey, JK, Sen, S, Mukherjee, R
Journal of pharmacy practice. 2018;(1):6-17
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients at the highest risk of hyperkalemia are those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 and 4. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of patiromer in hyperkalemia in patients with heart failure or CKD. METHODS The Cochrane Renal Group's Specialized Register was searched through contact with the Trials' Search Coordinator. We aimed at including randomized controlled trials with patiromer in patients with developed or risks of developing hyperkalemia, comparing against an active comparator or placebo. Three studies matched our inclusion and exclusion criteria, which we included in the meta-analysis. All-cause mortality, reduction in hospitalization, episodes of hypokalemia or hyperkalemia, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal adverse events during the treatment period were our primary outcomes. Serial change in serum potassium (K+) until end of treatment or follow-up during the trial period and all other reported adverse reactions during the treatment period were our secondary outcomes. Meta-analysis (RevMan version 5.3.5) and descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS There was a non-significant improvement in all-cause mortality and serious cardiovascular events with patiromer than placebo. Hospitalization data were unavailable. Although serious gastrointestinal events were more common with placebo, there was a significant reduction ( P = .02) in the risk of non-serious gastrointestinal events with placebo. Patiromer lowered serum K+ more than placebo, and there were more patients developing hyperkalemia with placebo. High-dose patiromer was associated with better efficacy in some parameters but with more adverse events. CONCLUSION Although patiromer seems promising, more trials with active comparator are essential to finalize its indication and use in hyperkalemia.
2.
Bioresorbable Scaffold: The Emerging Reality and Future Directions.
Sotomi, Y, Onuma, Y, Collet, C, Tenekecioglu, E, Virmani, R, Kleiman, NS, Serruys, PW
Circulation research. 2017;(8):1341-1352
Abstract
In the era of drug-eluting stents, large-scale randomized trials and all-comer registries have shown excellent clinical results. However, even the latest-generation drug-eluting stent has not managed to address all the limitations of permanent metallic coronary stents, such as the risks of target lesion revascularization, neoatherosclerosis, preclusion of late lumen enlargement, and the lack of reactive vasomotion. Furthermore, the risk of very late stent, although substantially reduced with newer-generation drug-eluting stent, still remains. These problems were anticipated to be solved with the advent of fully biodegradable devices. Fully bioresorbable coronary scaffolds have been designed to function transiently to prevent acute recoil, but have retained the capability to inhibit neointimal proliferation by eluting immunosuppressive drugs. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up data of the leading bioresorbable scaffold (Absorb) are becoming available and have raised a concern about the relatively higher incidence of scaffold thrombosis. To reduce the rate of clinical events, improvements in the device, as well as implantation procedure, are being evaluated. This review will focus on the current CE-mark approved bioresorbable scaffolds, their basic characteristics, and clinical results. In addition, we summarize the current limitations of bioresorbable scaffold and their possible solutions.