P4790Haematuria is not elevated in AF patients treated with NOACs versus VKAs: GARFIELD-AF study

Background

Haematuria in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients taking oral anticoagulants (OACs) is usually viewed as less serious than intracranial and gastrointestinal bleeding. It is speculated that haematuria may result from renal excretion of active new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) causing a direct anticoagulating effect in the urinary tract. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin, on the other hand, undergo hepatic metabolism and may pose lower risk of haematuria. This large registry study investigated whether NOACs more likely cause haematuria compared with VKAs.

Purpose

To assess whether there is any difference in the incidence rate of haematuria in AF patients taking NOACs versus VKAs using data from the GARFIELD-AF registry.

Methods

GARFIELD-AF is an international prospective registry of nonvalvular AF patients with at least one additional risk factor for stroke, followed for at least 2 years. Macroscopic haematuria was identified by local investigators. Event rates were estimated by Poisson model. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for haematuria between treatment groups was calculated using overlap-weighted Cox model including a range of patient demographics and clinical parameters as variables. Only the first haematuria occurrence was considered. Patients who were not treated with either VKAs or NOACs were excluded.

Results

Among a registry population of 34,926 patients 24,079 were anticoagulated and 24,061 had available follow-up data. Baseline characteristics were evenly balanced between the VKAs and NOACs subgroups, except a somewhat higher proportion of VKA patients than NOAC patients received concomitant antiplatelet therapy. Rate of haematuria was similar between the two groups: VKAs, 115/12,307 cases (0.9% over study period; 0.55 [95% CI, 0.46–0.65] per 100 patient-years); NOACs, 119/11,754 cases (1.0% over study period; 0.49 [95% CI, 0.41–0.59] per 100 patient-years). Over 2 years cumulatively, adjusted HR for haematuria in NOAC group versus VKA was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.63–1.15; p=0.29). Most haematuria cases (approximately 94%) were minor or clinically relevant non-major bleeds, occurring at a similar rate in both subgroups. Major bleeds were very rare. No intervention was necessary in two thirds haematuria cases (65.2%); surgical procedures were performed in only 8.3%. No haematuria-related deaths were observed.

Incidence of haematuria

Conclusions

The incidence and severity of haematuria were not increased in AF patients taking NOACs versus VKAs. Haematuria may occur in approximately one in 100 AF patients on long-term OACs therapy and is usually non-serious.

Acknowledgement/Funding

The GARFIELD-AF registry is funded by an unrestricted research grant from Bayer AG.

Methodological Characteristics of Clinical Trials: Impact of Mandatory Trial Registration

PURPOSE

Numerous studies across multiple specialties have evaluated the impact of trial registration on quality of study reports and found significant improvements over several domains. However, the impact of mandatory trial registration on the quality of clinical trial protocols remains hitherto unexplored.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective cohort study of clinical trial applications submitted to drug regulatory authority of India for initial review with the objective of comparing methodological characteristics of their protocols. Since trial registration was made mandatory in the country in June 2009, we selected two study periods as between January 2007 to May 2009 (Period I) and July 2009 to December 2011 (Period II). Seventy-five protocols were randomly selected using a computer-generated list for each study period, making a total of 150 protocols. Data on twelve key methodological characteristics were collected including clearly defined primary outcomes, randomization, blinding, use of control group, statistical methods, handling of withdrawals amongst others.

RESULTS

More than 3/4th of the trial applications in the two study periods were for new chemical entities and nearly 90% were pharmaceutical industry sponsored studies. Comparing the period before and after implementation of mandatory trial registration, description of clearly defined trial outcomes improved from nearly 42% to 80% (p<0.001), sample size justifications increased from 38% to 70% (p<0.001) and use of allocation concealment improved from 24% to 49% (p=0.001). Marked improvement was also noted for blinding, description of statistical methods and handling of withdrawals and dropouts. Remaining characteristics did not change significantly between the two study periods. The mean cumulative scores for the study protocols improved significantly from 7± 0.296 in the first period to 8.93± 0.346 (p<0.001) in the second period.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found a significant improvement in the methodological quality characteristics of the protocols particularly in elements related to minimization of bias and statistical methods, which could be attributed to mandatory trial registration. Overall, the significant improvement was limited to global clinical trials, and room for improvement was noted for two quality characteristics - proportion of randomized studies and trials adequately describing the generation of allocation sequence.

Decoding the Roadmap for Capacity Building of Pharmacology Academicians in Catering to Drug Information Center Services in a Developing Country

Background: Very few medical institutions are currently providing drug information center (DIC) services in low-resource countries. Objective: To assess whether academician pharmacologists of India are prepared to deliver countrywide services with regard to DICs. Methods: A cross-sectional knowledge attitude and practice study was planned in the form of an online survey. A hyperlink to the questionnaire was sent to academician pharmacologists via email, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Determinants associated with pharmacologists’ capacity and willingness in uplifting the DIC services were determined using logistic regression. Results: One hundred and thirteen academician pharmacologists responded. Participants who were working in limited functional DIC had 0.30 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.09-0.98) times association with answering that referring to promotional drug literature is an inappropriate practice for DIC services to that of nonfunctional DIC participants. However, the same had 5.28 (95% CI = 1.74-16.00) times association with referring to literature for establishing and running the services more as compared with participants with nonfunctional DIC. Participants from fully functional DICs in their departments had 6.31 (95% CI = 1.92-20.70) times association with identifying that adverse event reporting is not the function of DIC as compared with participants from a non-functional DIC. Participants with more academic experience had 6.7 (95% CI = 1.36 to 32.93) times association with an identification of challenges as compared with that of less experience participants. Conclusion: Academician pharmacologists need to be trained in critical appraisal of published literature and guided on how to establish and maintain the services for hospital clinicians. Senior pharmacology academicians’ advice will be crucial in strengthening the roadmap for capacity building.

Reporting of adverse drug reactions in India: A review of the current scenario, obstacles and possible solutions

Pharmacovigilance is a practice aimed to monitor drug safety in real life conditions and capture adverse drug events during the post marketing phase of drug's life cycle. But under reporting of adverse reactions is a major cause of concern and a threat to the pharmacovigilance systems. The present article looks into the major obstacles affecting the spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in India and the possible solutions. As per available scientific literature, the major impediments to ADR reporting are inadequate knowledge and awareness among health professionals, clinicians' perceptions towards reporting, problems with establishing reporting systems in hospitals and insufficient training to recognize ADRs. Measures to improve the situation include greater involvement of nurses, pharmacists as well as consumers in the reporting of ADRs, making the process simpler and faster through electronic means, introducing educational interventions and training programs for health care providers and spreading awareness about the reporting system amongst caregivers and receivers alike. Providing a momentum to the pharmacovigilance system and ensuring a robust reporting process is a challenge but proper planning, feasible solutions and focussed efforts can help bring about the change ensuring patient safety - the ultimate goal of pharmacovigilance.

Posttrial Access to Medical Interventions: Intricacies, Challenges, and Solutions

With the recent increase in clinical trials, lower- and middle-income countries are preferred trial sites due to lower budgets and easy availability of potential participants. On trial completion, benefits to participants cease and it may affect their health adversely. Therefore, entitlement to posttrial access (PTA) of interventions is imperative. The Declaration of Helsinki and several other guidelines mandate that trial participants have access to experimentally proven efficacious drugs and that the research protocol should mention PTA provision mechanisms. A controversial question about PTA is whether, experimentally proven therapy should be made accessible to the control group as well as the community from which the participants were enrolled, especially if no satisfactory standard treatment exists. PTA has significant implications for various stakeholders - trial participants, investigators, sponsors, regulatory authorities, and governments and has been discussed and well addressed in recent guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical research. This article focuses on the PTA, guidelines related to PTA, disputes, different stakeholder perspectives, and practical difficulties in its implementation. It also looks at PTA from the Indian perspective and considers possible solutions to deal with the controversies.

Satisfaction With Statin Treatment Among Adult Coronary Artery Disease Patients: An Experience From a Resource-Constrained Setting

BACKGROUND

Statins are the most widely prescribed hypolipidaemic drugs for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, but have been found to cause muscle and nerve related adverse effects which can affect patient satisfaction with treatment. Literature on treatment satisfaction among statin users, especially from resource-limited settings is inadequate. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the level of satisfaction with treatment among statin users and evaluate the relationship between adverse effects experienced by patients and their satisfaction with the medication.

METHODS

This study included 300 adult CAD patients visiting the cardiology department of a tertiary care hospital in the northern region of India, who were prescribed statins for their diagnoses. An interviewer administered, validated and standardised Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (version 1.4) was used for data collection.

RESULTS

Around three quarters of the population reported being overall satisfied with their medication. Mean scores were calculated for Effectiveness, Convenience, Side-Effects and Global Satisfaction. The patients reported high scores (above 60%) for all domains. Those experiencing any adverse effect were found to be more likely to report lower effectiveness. Additionally, medication effectiveness showed a positive correlation with overall treatment satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows that treatment satisfaction is critical to gauge patient experiences with the treatment which can impact medication adherence and compliance. It's a crucial measure especially among CAD and other chronic disease patients since greater satisfaction can improve clinical outcomes. More research is warranted to better understand the relationship between medication effectiveness and treatment satisfaction.

Statin related adverse effects and patient education: a study from resource limited settings

BACKGROUND

Statins are the most widely prescribed class of drugs for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and yet literature on the prevalence of statin related adverse effects (AEs) and gaps in patient education is quite limited especially in resource-limited settings of developing world.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of myopathy (muscle ailments) and other statin associated adverse effects among CAD patients on statin therapy. The study also aimed to assess patient perceptions, attitudes and awareness concerning the use of statins.

METHODS

It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 300 adult CAD patients visiting the out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital in North India, who were receiving statins for their diagnosis. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on statin use among patients and adverse effects experienced.

RESULTS

Myopathy or muscle related ailments like muscle pain, cramps and muscle weakness were the most prevalent (32, 34 and 47%, respectively), followed by numbness, tingling and burning in the extremities (31%). Joint pain and cognitive impairments were seen in nearly 20% of the patients. The level of awareness among participants regarding the use of statins was sub-optimal. Lack of knowledge and under-reporting of adverse effects were major concerns.

CONCLUSION

The study shows that a considerable proportion of statin users experience adverse effects and knowledge and awareness amongst patients is inadequate. Awareness programmes and counselling for patients, sensitisation of healthcare professionals and better screening systems for monitoring AEs can help improve the scenario.

Old wines in new bottles: Repurposing opportunities for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurological disorder characterized by accumulation of Lewy bodies and profound loss of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. PD symptomatology is now recognized to include both cardinal motor as well as clinically significant non-motor symptoms. Despite intensive research, the current understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in PD is limited and has hampered the development of novel symptomatic and disease modifying therapies. The currently available treatment options are only partially or transiently effective and fail to restore the lost dopaminergic neurons or retard disease progression. Given the escalating drug development costs, lengthening timelines and declining R&D efficiency, industry and academia are increasingly focusing on ways to repurpose existing molecules as an accelerated route for drug discovery. The field of PD therapeutics is witnessing vigorous repurposing activity supported by big data analytics, computational models, and high-throughput drug screening systems. Here we review the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of several emerging drugs currently aspiring to be repositioned for PD pharmacotherapy.

Impact of regulatory spin of pioglitazone on prescription of antidiabetic drugs among physicians in India: A multicentre questionnaire-based observational study

Background & objectives:

Pioglitazone was suspended for manufacture and sale by the Indian drug regulator in June 2013 due to its association with urinary bladder carcinoma, which was revoked within a short period (July 2013). The present questionnaire-based nationwide study was conducted to assess its impact on prescribing behaviour of physicians in India.

Methods:

Between December 2013 and March 2014, a validated questionnaire was administered to physicians practicing diabetes across 25 centres in India. Seven hundred and forty questionnaires fulfilling the minimum quality criteria were included in the final analysis.

Results:

Four hundred and sixteen (56.2%) physicians prescribed pioglitazone. Of these, 281 used it in less than the recommended dose of 15 mg/day. Most physicians (94.3%) were aware of recent regulatory events. However, only 333 (44.8%) changed their prescribing pattern. Seventeen of the 416 (4.1%) physicians who prescribed pioglitazone admitted having come across at least one type 2 diabetes mellitus patient (T2DM) who had urinary bladder carcinoma, and of these 13 said that it was in patients who took pioglitazone for a duration of more than two years. Only 7.8 per cent of physicians (n=58) categorically advocated banning pioglitazone, and the rest opined for its continuation or generating more evidence before decision could be taken regarding its use in T2DM.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Majority of the physicians though were aware of the regulatory changes with regard to pioglitazone, but their prescribing patterns were not changed for this drug. However, it was being used at lower than the recommended dose. There is a need for generating more evidence through improved pharmacovigilance activities and large-scale population-based prospective studies regarding the safety issues of pioglitazone, so as to make effectual risk-benefit analysis for its continual use in T2DM.

Effect of lamotrigine, levetiracetam & topiramate on neurobehavioural parameters & oxidative stress in comparison with valproate in rats

Background & objectives:

Though newer antiepileptic drugs are considered safer than conventional antiepileptics, the effects of lamotrigine, levetiracetam and topiramate on neurobehavioural functions are yet to be established. This study evaluated neurobehavioural parameters and oxidative stress markers in brain tissue of rats treated with lamotrigine, levetiracetam and topiramate compared to sodium valproate.

Methods:

Five groups of male Wistar rats were treated respectively with normal saline (control), sodium valproate (370 mg/kg), lamotrigine (50 mg/kg), levetiracetam (310 mg/kg) and topiramate (100 mg/kg) for 45 days. Neurobehavioural parameters were assessed using elevated plus maze (EPM), actophotometer, rotarod, passive avoidance and Morris water maze (MWM) at baseline and at the end of treatment. Oxidative stress parameters [malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] were estimated in rat brain at the end of treatment.

Results:

Valproate and lamotrigine showed no significant effect on learning and memory in passive avoidance and MWM tests. However, levetiracetam and topiramate reduced retention memory significantly as compared to control (P<0.01) and lamotrigine (P<0.05) groups. Performances on EPM, rotarod and actophotometer were not significantly different between the groups. In comparison to control group, MDA was higher in the levetiracetam and topiramate (360.9 and 345.9 nmol/g of homogenized brain tissue, respectively) groups. GSH and SOD activity were significantly reduced by valproate and levetiracetam treatment. Lamotrigine did not induce significant oxidative stress.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Long-term and therapeutic dose treatment with levetiracetam and topiramate significantly impaired learning and memory, which was not seen with valproate and lamotrigine in rats. Levetiracetam, topiramate and valproate augmented oxidative stress, whereas lamotrigine has little effect on it. These antiepileptic drugs are used in clinical practice, hence pharmacovigilance studies are required to evaluate their safety profile.

Comparison of body composition in persons with epilepsy on conventional & new antiepileptic drugs

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Certain antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) such as valproic acid (VPA) are known to affect body weight, and lipid profile. However, evidences regarding effects of AEDs on the body composition are deficient. This cross-sectional study compared the body composition and lipid profile among patients with epilepsy on newer and conventional AEDs.

METHODS

The patients with epilepsy (n=109) on treatment with conventional and newer AEDs (levetiracetam, lamotrigine and clobazam) for > 6 months were enrolled. Of these, 70 were on monotherapy: levetiracetam (n=12), VPA (n=16), carbamazepine (n=20) and phenytoin (n=22) and the remaining on polytherapy. Their body composition [body fat mass, lean dry mass (LDM), total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) was estimated and biochemical parameters were assessed.

RESULTS

Levetiracetam group had no significant difference with VPA, carbamazepine, phenytoin and control groups, except low LDM (17.8±2.4) than VPA groups (20.2±2.7, p<0.05). In comparison with control, AEDs monotherapy groups had no significant difference, except higher LDM and ECW in VPA group. Among groups based on conventional and newer AEDs, there was no significant difference in body composition parameters except for higher LDM (as % of BW) in conventional AEDs only treated group than control (p<0.01).

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS

The alterations observed in body composition with valproic acid in contrast to other AEDs like levetiracetam, carbamazepine and phenytoin could affect treatment response in epilepsy especially in subjects with already altered body composition status like obese and thin frail patients, which needs to be established by prospective studies (CTRI/2013/05/003701).

Vedolizumab: A novel anti-integrin drug for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the chronic inflammatory disorder of gastrointestinal tract consisting of two subtypes: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IBD occurs due to infiltration of leukocytes in intestinal mucosa and derangements in intestinal barrier function. One of the most important steps in pathogenesis of IBD is the interactions between integrins on the surface of leukocyte. The α₄β₇ integrin expressing T-cell is an important leukocyte involved in pathogenesis and represents a new drug target for the treatment of IBD. Vedolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody, which acts against α₄β₇ integrin heterodimer and blocks the interaction of α₄β₇ integrin with MAdCAM-1. It prevents leukocyte binding to endothelial surface and its extravasation into affected tissue. The efficacy and safety of the vedolizumab have been established in many clinical studies. It has shown promising results in various clinical studies where a greater percentage of patients as compared to a placebo achieved and maintained clinical response, clinical remission, and corticosteroid-free clinical remission. Vedolizumab has been shown to be well tolerated with slightly higher risk of infections, headache, naspharyngitis as compared to placebo. This review focuses on the potential role of vedolizumab for the treatment of IBD.

Treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients with dalteparin for up to 12 months: the DALTECAN Study

BACKGROUND

Treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer has a high rate of recurrence and bleeding complications. Guidelines recommend low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for at least 3-6 months and possibly indefinitely for patients with active malignancy. There are, however, few data supporting treatment with LMWH beyond 6 months. The primary aim of the DALTECAN study (NCT00942968) was to determine the safety of dalteparin between 6 and 12 months in cancer-associated VTE.

METHODS

Patients with active cancer and newly diagnosed VTE were enrolled in a prospective, multicenter study and received subcutaneous dalteparin for 12 months. The rates of bleeding and recurrent VTE were evaluated at months 1, 2-6 and 7-12.

FINDINGS

Of 334 patients enrolled, 185 and 109 completed 6 and 12 months of therapy; 49.1% had deep vein thrombosis (DVT); 38.9% had pulmonary embolism (PE); and 12.0% had both on presentation. The overall frequency of major bleeding was 10.2% (34/334). Major bleeding occurred in 3.6% (12/334) in the first month, and 1.1% (14/1237) and 0.7% (8/1086) per patient-month during months 2-6 and 7-12, respectively. Recurrent VTE occurred in 11.1% (37/334); the incidence rate was 5.7% (19/334) for month 1, 3.4% (10/296) during months 2-6, and 4.1% (8/194) during months 7-12. One hundred and sixteen patients died, four due to recurrent VTE and two due to bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Major bleeding was less frequent during dalteparin therapy beyond 6 months. The risk of developing major bleeding complications or VTE recurrence was greatest in the first month of therapy and lower over the subsequent 11 months.

Drug treatment of obesity: current status and future prospects

Obesity is a growing epidemic and a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Obesity strains the healthcare systems and has profound economic and psychosocial consequences. Historically, pharmacotherapy for obesity has witnessed the rise and fall of several promising drug candidates that had to be eventually withdrawn due to unacceptable safety concerns. Currently four drugs are approved for chronic weight management in obese adults: orlistat, lorcaserin, phentermine/topiramate extended release and naltrexone/bupropion extended release. While lorcaserin and phentermine/topiramate were approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012, after a gap of 13 years following the licensing of orlistat, naltrexone/bupropion has been recently approved in 2014. This review provides a brief overview of these current therapeutic interventions available for management of obesity along with the evidence of their safety and efficacy. Additionally, several novel monotherapies as well as combination products are undergoing evaluation in various stages of clinical development. These therapies if proven successful will strengthen the existing armamentarium of antiobesity drugs and will be critical to combat the global public health crisis of obesity and its associated co-morbidities.