english.prescrire.org > Prescrire International > N°72 - August 2004

n°72

August 2004

Issue Contents
Editorial

Free  Risky publicity for new statins

p.122
Beware of the sixth statin marketed in France: uncertainties about adverse effects and no evidence on cardiovascular prevention.

Marketing Authorisations

Ethinylestradiol + norelgestromin (new preparation)

p.123-126
Transdermal contraception: no tangible progress

Alteplase (new indication)

p.127-131
Inadequately assessed in ischaemic stroke

Rosuvastatin (new preparation)

p.132-134
Opt for statins with evidence of efficacy on clinical outcome

Arsenic trioxide (New Preparation)

p.135-137
Possibly helpful in acute promyelocytic leukaemia

Topical diclofenac (new preparation)

p.138-139
Moderate efficacy in actinic keratosis

Valdecoxib

p.140
As disappointing as previous coxibs

Price bullying by Pfizer

p.140

Thalidomide

p.140
Chronic graft-versus-host disease: only to be used in clinical trials

Adverse Effects

Gastroschisis and pseudoephedrine during pregnancy

p.141-143
It is best to avoid pseudoephedrine during pregnancy
3 case-control studies have found increased risk of gastroschisis following pseudoephedrine exposure in mothers; pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic vasoconstrictor contained in many over-the-counter oral decongestants sold in France.

Unwelcome return of an appetite suppressant

p.143

Confusing trade names

p.143

Reviews

Antiretroviral treatment

p.144-150
HIV infection in adults: better-defined first-line treatment
First-line antiretroviral treatment should combine at least two nucleoside inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase plus one non nucleoside inhibitor, or at least one HIV protease inhibitor. There is no reference combination suitable for all patients. Resistance tests can help to determine the most effective alternative in case of virological failure due to drug resistance.

Outlook

Free  Adherence to antiretroviral treatment in Africa: cost is the main obstacle

p.151-152
The notion that African patients are unable to adhere to antiretroviral treatment is clearly false. The main obstacle to adherence is an economic one.

Preventing medication errors

p.153-155
An analysis of 319 adverse effects due to errors occurring in French hospitals in 2000-2001 during the drug use process, as well as errors spotted before any incident.

Free  Prescrire

p.155-157
Draft reviews intended for publication in our French edition, la revue Prescrire, are first submitted to large multidisciplinary panels of reviewers.

Free  The new EU pharmaceutical legislation

p.158

Forum

Do Evra

p.158-159
Commercial novelties do not equate with comparative advantage.

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