Respiratory Conditions

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease state characterized by vascular narrowing and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Physical symptoms, which may include fatigue or weakness, exertional dyspnea, and peripheral edema, are often nonspecific and can mimic more common disorders encountered in clinical practice. Healthcare professionals have been limited in which medications could be used to treat this condition because clinical data have been scarce. Recently, multiple new classes of medications, many of which are very costly, have become available; these agents offer physicians more therapeutic options for the treatment of PAH. Managed-care organizations have been challenged with suggesting the appropriate place in therapy for these new agents, as well as ensuring their safe and cost-effective utilization. This review summarizes the data available for the drugs used to treat PAH, with the goal of helping organizations to make appropriate decisions regarding the proper use of these agents.

Bronchodilators play an important role in the management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although bronchodilators do not prevent the decline in lung function in patients with COPD, their efficacy in improving disease-related symptoms, reducing the frequency and severity of disease exacerbations, and improving patients' quality of life has been demonstrated in clinical trials. Arformoterol, the (R,R)-enantiomer of the selective beta2-agonist formoterol, is a potent, highly specific, nebulized long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist recently approved by FDA for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction in patients with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In 2 large, 12-week, phase 3 studies, arformoterol demonstrated an efficacy superior to that of placebo and comparable to that of salmeterol in patients with COPD. In these trials, arformoterol was well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that of other inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists when used at..

This selective long-acting beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist causes relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and has 2-fold greater potency than racemic formoterol. Arformoterol was approved on October 6, 2006, for the long-term, twice-daily (morning and evening) maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Administration of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) within 90 days of hospital discharge is effective in reducing mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, especially among those aged 35 to 64 years, according to a recent study published in the journal Chest.

Ambrisentan, a propanoic acid type-A selective endothelin receptor antagonist, improved exercise capacity and delayed clinical worsening in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in phase 3 clinical trial results presented at the annual international conference of the American Thoracic Society in San Diego, Calif.

Review of agents in late-stage development for the treatment of asthma (November 2005).

First inhaled prostacyclin approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease state characterized by the progressive development of airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases. It affects approximately 15 million Americans and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Previously, pharmacologic therapeutic options were limited by relatively short durations of action in the first-line medications and limited efficacy data and/or a high rate of adverse effects in the second-line medications. Today, there are several new and emerging medications to treat this disease state, and new guidelines have been published for disease management. This review examines current therapeutic options, compares efficacy data, and highlights the recommendations from international guidelines.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem, with inhaled anticholinergic agents being the treatment of choice. The disadvantage of currently approved therapies for the treatment of COPD is that agents such as ipratropium (Atrovent, Boehringer Ingelheim) must be administered numerous times daily. Tiotropium (Spiriva, Pfizer/Boehringer Ingelheim) is a new, recently FDA-approved, long-acting anticholinergic drug that requires only once-daily dosing. Tiotropium displays selective receptor kinetics by dissociating more slowly from M1 and M3 receptors than M2 receptors. In patients with COPD, tiotropium 18 mcg inhaled once daily results in significant improvement in lung function. Furthermore, improvements appear sustained for up to 3 weeks after discontinuing tiotropium. Tiotropium is well tolerated with minimal systemic absorption resulting in a favorable adverse effect profile. The most common adverse effect associated with tiotropium is dry mouth. Given the longer duration of action, once-daily dosing, minimal adverse effects, and documented improvements in lung function, tiotropium is poised to replace ipratropium as the inhaled anticholinergic of choice.

Anticholinergic approved for COPD

Novel therapy for COPD

First antibiotic approved for CAP due to multidrug-resistant S pneumoniae

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, debilitating disorder associated with poor quality of life and shortened life span. For many years, medical therapy consisted of calcium channel blockers, warfarin, supplemental oxygen, and digitalis glycosides. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of PAH has led to the recent development of effective treatments for this disorder. Therapeutic agents target the pathophysiologic mechanisms of PAH: pulmonary vasoconstriction, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and in situ thrombosis. With better understanding of the pathogenesis of PAH, recent advances in pharmacotherapy have been introduced for the treatment of PAH. Data are presented on efficacy and safety of newer approved and investigational agents: prostacyclin analogues, oral endothelin antagonists, and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.

Glaxo-SmithKline (GSK) has advised prescribers of salmeterol (Serevent) about rare, but potentially serious, respiratory adverse events in patients with asthma.

Finding optional ways to manage patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - the fourth leading cause of death in the US became a priority for this large mid-western collaborative of health care organizations. This this end, a guideline was developed to help clinicians identify, evaluate and manage COPD. This article provides an overview of the guideline development process and implementation approach, key guideline components, and the step-by-step pharmacologic treatment strategy.

New indication: Long-term, twice-daily treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD

An experimental antiviral medication can shorten the duration of colds and reduce the severity of cold symptoms, reported Frederick Hayden, MD. He presented a pooled analysis of data from two phase III trials of the drug at the 41st annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), held recently in Chicago.

New Indication: Maintenance treatment of COPD