Point-of-care methods showed limited agreement with standard hospital laboratory assays of coagulation for all treatment groups. For INR values, significantly greater disagreement was noted between the assay methods for the warfarin plus heparin group compared with the warfarin group, but the agreement was similar for the warfarin and warfarin plus enoxaparin groups. Our data indicate that the point-of-care assays should not be considered interchangeable with standard laboratory assays.

Adverse drug event (ADE) rates resulting from coadministration of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and other drugs with potential for interaction with PPIs (DPIs) are unknown. This retrospective study assesses the occurrence of such ADEs and their potential impact on medical care costs by reviewing integrated medical and pharmacy claims. Managed care patients receiving one or more DPIs were identified. Within this sample, those who were also prescribed omeprazole or lansoprazole (DPI + PPI) were included. A second cohort (DPI alone) was created, matching for age, gender, and DPI use. Rates of ADEs were followed for 6 months after entry. Among PPI users, 58% used one or more DPIs, whereas 7% of DPI subjects used a PPI. Among claims arising from ADEs occurring in more than 1% of patients, 14 occurred in the DPI + PPI group and 2 occurred in the DPI-alone cohort, respectively, a highly significant difference. Crude odds ratios for the risks of specific ADEs were significantly increased for cotherapy with a PPI and warfarin, clarithromycin, corticosteroids, carbamazepine, nifedipine, or diclofenac. After adjustment, the first three associations remained significant. Coprescription of a PPI with potentially interacting drugs was common in practice and associated with significantly increased claims for medical care.

No abstract

TZD therapy appears to be associated with a small decrease in LDL-C within the first 6 months after initiation. No differences in changes in LDL-C or HDL-C could be discerned between patients treated with rosiglitazone compared with pioglitazone.

No abstract