Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation: Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis Due to Tocilizumab in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient.

Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis due to Tocilizumab in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Case Report Rheumatol. 2012; 2012: 517424
Izquierdo JH, Bonilla-Abadía F, Ochoa CD, Agualimpia A, Tobón GJ, Cañas CA

We report a female patient with rheumatoid arthritis which was refractory to methotrexate, leflunomide, and anti-TNF therapy. She was treated with anti-IL-6 tocilizumab (TCZ), with an early appearance of sterile pustules on erythematous swollen skin of trunk, back, and abdominal area. The lesions were consistent with the diagnosis of acute drug-related generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). This adverse event was controlled with medical treatment without requiring removal of TCZ.
HubMed – drug

 

A case of severe hydroxychloroquine-induced retinal toxicity in a patient with recent onset of renal impairment: a review of the literature on the use of hydroxychloroquine in renal impairment.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Case Rep Ophthalmol Med. 2012; 2012: 182747
Tailor R, Elaraoud I, Good P, Hope-Ross M, Scott RA

We present a case of a 67-year-old female who presented with a twelve-month history of progressive blurred vision in both eyes. The patient was on hydroxychloroquine 200?mg twice a day for eight years for the treatment of scarring alopecia. Two years prior to presenting, the patient was found to have chronic kidney disease stage 3 secondary to hypertension. Examination revealed bilateral reduced visual acuities with attenuated arterioles and pigmentary changes on retinal assessment. Goldmann visual fields showed grossly constricted fields in both eyes. The patient was diagnosed with retinal toxicity secondary to hydroxychloroquine probably potentiated by renal impairment. Risk factors for retinal toxicity secondary to hydroxychloroquine can be broadly divided into dose-related and patient-related factors. Our patient developed severe retinal toxicity despite being on the recommended daily dose (400?mg per day). Although retinal toxicity at this dose has been documented, the development of renal impairment without dose adjustment or close monitoring of visual function is likely to have potentiated retinal toxicity. This case highlights the need to monitor renal function in patients on hydroxychloroquine. Should renal impairment develop, either the drug should be stopped or the dose reduced with close monitoring of visual function by an ophthalmologist.
HubMed – drug

 

Hypothyroidism complicating nephropathy in a diabetes patient.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Case Report Endocrinol. 2012; 2012: 237563
Sahoo J, Veerappan I, Abraham A, Hariharan S

We describe a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus and autoimmune hypothyroidism who presented with elevated serum creatinine possibly due to subclinical rhabdomyolysis induced by hypolipidemic drug therapy in the background of diabetic nephropathy. Both hypothyroidism and rhabdomyolysis were asymptomatic in this case as evidenced by lack of classical clinical features of hypothyroidism despite elevated serum TSH and absent pigment cast in renal biopsy. The combination of diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism is common in the general population and should not be forgotten in patients with diabetes and kidney disease.
HubMed – drug

 

HIV Prevention and Rehabilitation Models for Women Who Inject Drugs in Russia and Ukraine.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Adv Prev Med. 2012; 2012: 316871
Yorick R, Skipalska H, Suvorova S, Sukovatova O, Zakharov K, Hodgdon S

Women who inject drugs require gender-specific approaches to drug rehabilitation, modification of risk behaviors, and psychosocial adaptation. Improved outcomes have been demonstrated when the specific needs of women’s subpopulations have been addressed. Special services for women include prenatal care, child care, women-only programs, supplemental workshops on women-focused topics, mental health services, and comprehensive programs that include several of the above components. To address the special needs of women injecting drug user (IDU) subpopulations, such as HIV-positive pregnant women and women with young children, recently released female prisoners, and street-involved girls and young women, HealthRight International and its local partners in Russia and Ukraine have developed innovative service models. This paper presents each of these models and discusses their effectiveness and implementation challenges specific to local contexts in Russia and Ukraine.
HubMed – drug

 

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