March 2nd, 2012
Statins and Protease Inhibitors May Interact, Causing Rhabdomyolysis
Physician's First Watch, CardioExchange Staff
The FDA is warning again about interactions between protease inhibitors and certain statins that can lead to rhabdomyolysis. Protease inhibitors are used to treat HIV and hepatitis C. In a safety communication, the agency published a list of statins that should either be avoided or whose dosing levels should be limited when coadministered with protease […]
March 1st, 2012
Is Age Just a Number?
Tariq Ahmad, MD, MPH and James Fang, MD
An 89-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis is referred to a cardiologist at a major academic center that offers transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A widow for 20 years, the patient lives alone and does well with the assistance of her daughter, who lives nearby. She has two more children in the same town, as […]
March 1st, 2012
Decision on Apixaban (Eliquis) Pushed Back By 3 Months
Larry Husten, PHD
Confirming earlier speculation by a Wall Street analyst, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced on Wednesday evening that the FDA had extended by 3 months the action date for the new drug application (NDA) for the highly anticipated oral anticoagulant apixaban (Eliquis). The application is for their important indication of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. The […]
March 1st, 2012
The Growing Number of Observation Stays: How Do You Decide?
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
The number of observation stays are growing in this country, in part as a response to Medicare audits that are disallowing admissions for some patients – and maybe in part to reduce crowding in the Emergency Medicine Department. The problem is that criteria are not clear, so there is likely a lot of variability across […]