Family Med

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency - what are the treatment options?
Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy, 11/06/09

Modrykamien M et al. – In addition to the usual treatments for emphysema, infusion of purified AAT from pooled human plasma represents a specific therapy for AAT deficiency and raises serum and epithelial lining fluid levels above the protective threshold. Substantial evidence supports the biochemical efficacy of this approach, particularly for the weekly infusion regimen. Definitive evidence of clinical efficacy is still needed, as the two available randomized controlled trials showed non–significant trends towards slowing rates of loss of lung density on lung computerized axial tomography. However, concordant results of prospective cohort studies suggest that augmentation therapy has efficacy in slowing the rate of decline of lung function in patients with moderate airflow obstruction and severe deficiency of AAT. Overall, augmentation therapy is well–tolerated and, despite its failure to satisfy criteria for cost–effectiveness, is recommended because it is the only currently available specific therapy for AAT deficiency.

Today in Clinical Pharmacology...keeping you current

Receive free subspecialty "5-minute updates" via email

Effects of metformin with or without supplementation with folate on homocysteine levels and vascular endothelium of women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Diabetes Care, 11/25/09

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Reduction and Goal Achievement With Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Versus Atorvastatin or Rosuvastatin in Patients With Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, or Neither Disease, Stratified By National Cholesterol Education Program Risk Category
Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, 11/25/09

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Role of Bacteria and Updated Guide to Antibacterial Selection in the Older Patient
Drugs & Aging, 11/25/09

 See all of Clinical Pharmacology