Biomedical subjects

Bob L Lobo

Publications and source records attributed to Bob L Lobo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Overuse of antihypertensives in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The Stroke Council of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) recommends conservative management of hypertension (HTN) during acute ischemic stroke (AIS), although clinicians often manage blood pressure more aggressively. Our hypothesis was that aggressive management of HTN in patients with AIS is associated with hypotensive events and worsened neurologic outcomes. METHODS: The study was a retrospective, observational cohort of patients who were admitted to the hospital with AIS. Classification of neurologic outcomes was based on nurses' neurologic assessments and were categorized as "worsened," "stayed the same," or "improved." The accuracy of these assessments was verified by review of physician's progress notes. Management of arterial HTN was recorded in all patients. RESULTS: Fifty medical records of patients with AIS who met inclusion criteria were reviewed. While only 22% of patients met the AHA/ASA criteria for hypertension treatment, 98% of the cohort were given antihypertensive therapy. Relative hypotension occurred in 64% of treated patients. Absolute hypotension associated with antihypertensive medications was uncommon but did occur in 2 of 15 patients who experienced neurologic worsening (13%), in 1 of 28 (3%) of patients who stayed the same, and in none of those who improved. Blood pressure was reduced excessively in all 11 of the patients who met AHA/ASA guidelines for treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to AHA/ASA guidelines for HTN management during AIS was poor. Initiation or intensification of antihypertensive drugs was not associated with worsened neurologic outcomes. Furthermore, relative hypotension, absolute hypotension and excessive reductions in blood pressure were not associated with worsened neurologic outcomes.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Migraine treatment throughout the lifecycle.

The treatment of migraine headache is often suboptimal despite significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of migraine. Children, adolescents, women and the elderly are particularly at risk of receiving inadequate or inappropriate therapy. In this review, the reader is brought up-to-date with changes to the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria for migraine. The pathophysiology of migraine is also reviewed, with a special emphasis on the evolving concept of central sensitization and cutaneous allodynia since this concept has led to a paradigm shift in the way migraines are managed. A review of the evidence supporting the benefits of early treatment before pain becomes moderate-to-severe is provided. Recommendations for acute and prophylactic treatments throughout the lifecycle are made in light of clinical practice guidelines and more recent evidence. Lastly, the current optimal treatment of migraine is provided and the potential role of calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists in the future is discussed.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Acute inhalant-induced neurotoxicity with delayed recovery.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of neurotoxicity and subsequent hospitalization due to abuse of an ethyl chloride inhalant. CASE SUMMARY: A 41-year-old African American male presented to the emergency department due to mental status changes and an inability to walk. After the blood alcohol and urine drug screen returned negative, a family member revealed that the patient frequently abused an inhalant containing the volatile solvent ethyl chloride. DISCUSSION: Inhalant abuse is common and is facilitated by the widespread availability of volatile solvents that have legitimate commercial or household uses. Most inhalants are central nervous system depressants and are highly lipophilic. Maximum Impact, which contains ethyl chloride, is sold in stores and is readily available over the Internet. While the product has a legitimate use as a VCR head cleaner, it is often illicitly marketed over the Internet as a means of getting a "rush" or "high" and for enhancing sexual pleasure. Neurologic symptoms have been reported after deliberate inhalational exposure to ethyl chloride, and 2 deaths have been associated with its use. An objective causality assessment using the Naranjo probability scale revealed a probable adverse drug event. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalants should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with acute mental status changes and neurologic impairment that resolve over less than one week.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Emerging options for thromboprophylaxis after orthopedic surgery: a review of clinical data.

In four randomized, controlled studies of patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, the antithrombotic efficacy and safety of subcutaneous fondaparinux 2.5 mg once/day were compared with those of subcutaneous enoxaparin regimens that were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. In patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery, fondaparinux significantly reduced the frequency of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, in a second trial that compared fondaparinux with enoxaparin 30 mg twice/day beginning 12-24 hours after surgery, a 26% risk reduction in favor of fondaparinux was not statistically significant. In patients undergoing elective knee replacement surgery, fondaparinux significantly reduced the risk of VTE compared with enoxaparin without increasing the risk of clinically relevant bleeding, although the risk of major bleeding defined by the bleeding index was significantly higher with fondaparinux. Fondaparinux was superior to enoxaparin 40 mg once/day in the setting of hip fracture surgery, with no increased risk of major bleeding. Meta-analysis of the four studies confirms the superior antithrombotic efficacy of fondaparinux over enoxaparin in orthopedic surgery and suggests that the risk of major bleeding is similar to that of enoxaparin when the first dose of fondaparinux is given at least 6 hours after surgery.

Anticoagulants↗

PubMed2003

Pharmacoeconomic considerations.

Pharmacoeconomic analyses can be readily applied to the study of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the orthopedic postsurgical setting. The cost of VTE to the health care system and a cost-effectiveness trial that utilized a factor Xa inhibitor for VTE prophylaxis are discussed. The rationale for preventing VTE can be justified by its high frequency, asymptomatic nature, and high morbidity and mortality that result from unprevented thromboemboli. However, the economic burden that results from VTE is indeed significant. More effective antithrombotic prophylaxis would reduce the occurrence of VTE, the incidence of complications, and subsequent costs. Previous pharmacoeconomic analyses underscore the financial burden VTE places on the health care system in terms of increased length of hospital stay, time spent in the intensive care unit, and mean total cost. Trial-based and effectiveness-based analyses were utilized to compare the cost-effectiveness of a 7-day regimen of fondaparinux (2.5 mg once daily) and enoxaparin (30 mg twice daily). In the trial-based analysis, fondaparinux was estimated to prevent 15.1 thromboembolic events per 1000 patients at three months compared with enoxaparin; fondaparinux produced cost savings per patient at 30 days, 3 months, and 5 years postdischarge. In the effectiveness analysis, fondaparinux was estimated to prevent 17.7 thromboembolic events per 1000 patients at 3 months compared with enoxaparin; fondaparinux produced cost savings per patient at discharge, 1 month, 3 months, and 5 years postdischarge. These analyses demonstrate fondaparinux to be cost-effective for the prophylaxis of VTE in the orthopedic postsurgical setting.

Economics, Pharmaceutical↗