The effectiveness of a fixed double combination (bisoprolol, perindopril) in patients with stable coronary artery disease and arterial hypertension different degrees

The aim – to evaluate the hypotensive and antianginal efficacy of a fixed double combination (bisoprolol, perindopril) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and concomitant hypertension.Materials and methods. The study involved 170 cardiologists from various regions of Ukraine. Each researcher selected 15 consecutive outpatients with coronary heart disease who came for a regular visit. Inclusion criteria: age over 18 years old, blood pressure (BP) above 140/90 mm Hg, heart rate (HR) above 60 bpm, bisoprolol as part of antihypertensive therapy in the last ≥ 3 months. The study included two visits. At each visit, the patient’s objective status was assessed; an individual questionnaire with office systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, ECG data, clinical manifestations of CAD, risk factors, lifestyle features, concomitant diseases, current therapy was filled out. Medication adherence was also evaluated, the therapy was corrected if necessary and the presence of side effects and adverse events was registered. We analyzed the levels of BP and HR at the beginning and at the end of the study, the percentage of achievement of the recommended levels of these indicators, the antianginal efficacy of treatment and adherence to therapy in patients with CAD and different degrees of hypertension after 4 weeks of treatment.Results and discussion. 2785 patient questionnaires were provided by doctors, 1747 patients were included in substudy. The mean age of the patients was 60.9±10.2 years old, men – 57.1 %, women – 42.9 %. The diagnosis of coronary artery disease was based on: chest pain – 554 (31.7 %), a history of documented myocardial infarction – 935 (53.5 %), coronary ventriculography – 536 (30.7 %), revascularization (CABG/stenting) – 344 (19.8 %) patients. The use of a fixed combination of previously taken drugs (perindopril, bisoprolol) for 4 weeks allows to reduce heart rate and blood pressure effectively (HR ≤ 70 bpm reached 84.9 % of patients, BP ≤ 140/90 mm Hg – 86.9 %), to reduce the number of angina attacks (from 4.48, 4.5 and 4.7 per week at the beginning of the study to 2.4; 2.9 and 2.3 per week in patients with 1, 2 and 3 degrees of hypertension, respectively) and the need for nitroglycerin from from 4.5; 4.9 and 5.9 tab per week up to 2.4; 2.9 and 2.3 tab per week. The most significant absolute decrease of BP and HR was in patients with a more severe degree of hypertension (decrease systolic BP was – 40.8 mm Hg, diastolic BP – 21.4 mm Hg, HR – 21.8 bpm).Conclusions. The study demonstrated that the use of the fixed combination of bisoprolol and perindopril in patients with coronary artery disease and concomitant hypertension (different degrees) helps to improve treatment efficacy, to achieve recommended levels of blood pressure and heart rate, also has a significant antianginal effect (reliable decrease of the number of angina attacks and the need to take nitroglycerin) and increases adherence to therapy.

Experience with the triple fixed combination in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most important problems of modern medicine associated with a high mortality rate, high costs of treatment and relief of exacerbations of COPD. The main objectives of COPD treatment are symptom control, reduce the frequency of exacerbations and hospitalizations, and reduced risk of exacerbation in the future. The recommendations of the GOLD initiative propose a treatment approach based on the assessment of exacerbation rates external respiratory function indicators (spirometric classification of GOLD), the severity of symptoms assessed on the CAT test and mMRC. When choosing therapy, the physician must first of all take into account the effectiveness, safety of the drug, adherence to treatment in order to achieve the therapeutic goals of treating patients with COPD. The change in therapeutic approaches in COPD treatment is associated with the accumulation of knowledge in physiology, clinical pharmacology, and the isolation of new clinical phenotypes of COPD. Currently, the main classes of drugs for the treatment of COPD are long-acting beta-agonists (LABA), longacting anticholinergics (LAMA), and inhaled glucocorticosteroids (ICS). The evolution of therapeutic approaches in COPD treatment has led to the creation of new fixed inhalation combinations of the main groups of drugs for COPD treatment. The therapeutic strategies recommended by GOLD and the Russian Federal Guidelines determine the long-term goals of COPD treatment – the impact on the risk of exacerbations in the future. The presented clinical observation of a patient with severe COPD demonstrates the effectiveness of a triple fixed combination vilanterol/umeclidinium/fluticasone furoate 55/22/92 μg as a basic therapy. The chosen treatment strategy not only reduces the severity of the symptoms of the disease, but also reduces the risk of exacerbations in the future.

Fixed combination of vilanterol triphenatate/fluticasone furoate in the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a literature review

A review of the literature selected from russian and foreign electronic medical libraries devoted to the use of a fixed combination of fluticasone furoate with vilanterol triphenatate (FF/VI) in the respiratory tract using a metered-dose powder inhaler in bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is presented. (DPI) Ellipt. The results of studies of each of the components devoted to their clinical efficacy and safety, and the use of FF / VI in asthma and COPD are presented. Comparative randomized clinical trials have shown the advantages of FF / VI over the individual components of this combination and over other drugs. This combination was especially effective in AD. The economic efficiency of the transition of BA patients from everyday therapy to FF/VI has been proved. The data on the ability of the Ellipt DPI to form a clinically significant portion of the respirable fraction of both drugs, as well as data on the intuitive use of the device and adherence to the prescribed therapy are presented. In terms of the development of adverse events, the use of this combination in AD did not differ from placebo. With the use of FF/VI in patients with COPD, an increased incidence of pneumonia was noted, which was also typical for the use of FF alone, but did not accompany treatment with vilanterol. The analysis of the literature data based on well-planned multicenter RCTs with a large number of patients showed that the expansion of the use of a fixed combination of FF/VI in AD and COPD can improve control over these diseases and reduce the costs of practical healthcare, as well as preserve the level of treatment safety in comparison with monotherapy.

Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed Combination of Glycyrrhizic Acid and Essential Phospholipids in Non-Alcoholic Fatty and Alcoholic Liver Disease: Results from Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials

Background. Drug treatment of non-alcoholic fatty and alcoholic liver disease remains an urgent, unsolved problem. Due to the commonality of many pathogenetic mechanisms and predictors of progression, a universal approach to the search for a therapeutic agent can be considered. Aims pooled analysis of the results of two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of a fixed combination of glycyrrhizic acid and essential phospholipids in two dosage forms to study its efficacy and safety in non-alcoholic fatty and alcoholic liver disease, in the presence and absence of predictors of disease progression. Methods. The pooled analysis included 180 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Gepard study) and 120 patients with alcoholic liver disease (Jaguar study). Patients of the main group received a fixed combination of 5.0 g intravenous jet 3 times a week for the first 2 weeks; then 2 capsules 3 times a day for the next 10 weeks. Patients in the control group received placebo according to the same scheme. The total duration of treatment was 12 weeks in the Gepard study (1 course of stepwise therapy) and 24 weeks in the Jaguar study (2 courses of stepwise therapy). A comparative analysis of the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination and a placebo was carried out, in the presence and absence of predictors of progression, separately for each nosology and in a mixed sample. Results. In patients with non-alcoholic fatty and alcoholic liver disease who received the fixed combination, in contrast to the placebo group, there was a statistically more significant decrease in the level of biochemical markers of inflammation alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, adiponectin, and the value of the AktiTest index. There was no negative trend in the NAFLD fibrosis score; more significant positive dynamics of FibroTest is shown. Predictors of disease progression hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, age did not have a negative impact on the results in the study group. The efficacy of the study drug was noted in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal body weight; data were obtained indicating its possible effectiveness with a high activity of the inflammatory process associated with alcoholic liver damage. The frequency of adverse events in the study and control groups was comparable. Conclusions. Based on a generalized analysis of the results of two studies, promising directions for the study and use of a fixed combination of glycyrrhizic acid and essential phospholipids were identified: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease without obesity, alcoholic steatohepatitis of high activity (as an adjuvant); steatohepatitis of non-alcoholic and alcoholic etiology, combined with hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.

A Pilot, Phase II, Observational, Case-Control, 1-Month Study on Asthenopia in Video Terminal Operators without Dry Eye: Contrast Sensitivity and Quality of Life before and after the Oral Consumption of a Fixed Combination of Zinc, L-Carnitine, Extract of Elderberry, Currant and Extract of Eleutherococcus

The aims of the study were to investigate the ability and effectiveness of an oral intake of a fixed combination of zinc, L-carnitine, elderberry extract, black currant and Eleutherococcus extract in controlling the symptoms of eyestrain in videoterminal (VDT) users and to record its effects on contrast sensitivity. A single-center, phase II, observational, case-control, 1-month study in VDT workers without dry eye disease was carried out. Demographics and number of actual hours at VDT/day were taken into account. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including assessment of contrast sensitivity, and completed the computer vision symptom scale questionnaire at baseline and one month later. A total of 30 Caucasian subjects adhered to the required inclusion criteria and completed the study; 15 subjects were treated (T) and 15 were controls (C). All clinical data at baseline were similar in both groups (p > 0.05): after one month, all subjects had stable visual acuity, refractive defect and intraocular pressure (IOP); screen exposure time was unchanged. Regarding symptoms, at randomization, the groups had a similar score: 33.1 ± 3.3 in T and 32.8 ± 5.6 in C. One month later, the computer vision symptom scale (CVSS) questionnaire score decreased by −14.1 ± 3, 1 (p = 0.000) and −2.3 ± 1.8 (p = 0.568), respectively. Regarding contrast sensitivity, in group C the values of spatial frequencies remained unchanged, while they improved in almost all the cycles per degree stimuli in the treated group. Oral intake of a fixed combination of zinc, L-carnitine, elderberry extract, black currant and eleutherococcus extract can significantly improve contrast sensitivity and symptoms in VDT workers with no signs of dry eye disease.

Topical Medication Therapy for Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness, thus seriously affecting people’s health and quality of life. The topical medical therapy is as the first line treatment in the management of glaucoma since it is inexpensive, convenient, effective, and safe. This review summarizes and compares extensive clinical trials on the topical medications for the treatment of glaucoma, including topical monotherapy agents, topical fixed-combination agents, topical non-fixed combination agents, and their composition, mechanism of action, efficacy, and adverse effects, which will provide reference for optimal choice of clinical medication. Fixed-combination therapeutics offer greater efficacy, reliable security, clinical compliance, and tolerance than non-fixed combination agents and monotherapy agents, which will become a prefer option for the treatment of glaucoma. Meanwhile, we also discuss new trends in the field of new fixed combinations of medications, which may better control IOP and treat glaucoma.

New opportunities in the allergic rhinitis therapy

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common allergic diseases, especially in economically developed countries, including Russia. The main goal of AR therapy is the control achievement over the disease symptoms, the minimizing of the future exacerbations risks and side effects. Antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids are the main classes of medicines used in all allergic diseases, including AR. According to the Federal Clinical Guidelines for Allergic rhinitis the use of the intranasal corticosteroids in combination with antihistamines is recommended on the second stage of therapy and higher. Both classes of medicines have a complementary effect on the allergic inflammation pathogenesis main stages. The intranasal corticosteroids and antihistamines using allows the delivery of the medicines to the allergic inflammation area directly. Modern intranasal corticosteroids have a high affinity that provides the high efficacy in the low concentrations using and the insignificant systemic bioavailability. The review presents the key characteristics of the olopatadine and mometasone furoate nasal spray in a fixed combination, which registered in the Russian Federation recently. This combination is recommend for use in adults and children over 12 y.o. with allergic rhinitis. The pharmacological characteristics of the nasal spray components including the action mechanism described. The main clinical studies results presented, that confirmed the high efficacy and safety of olopatadine/mometasone furoate combination in AR patients. The olopatadine and mometasone furoate fixed combination ensures the rapid onset and the long-lasting effect with minimal adverse events risks that increases compliance and leads to the control achievement over the AR symptoms.

Treatment of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension with Preservative-Free Tafluprost-Timolol Fixed-Dose Combination Versus Preservative-Free Latanoprost-Timolol Fixed-Dose Combination Therapy: Real-World Experience

Background: To evaluate the effect of an "escalation" of topical glaucoma therapy by switching form prostaglandin monotherapy to two different prostaglandin-timolol fixed combinations.Methods: 30 patients (60 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) were initially treated with the prostaglandin analog latanoprost in a preservative-free formulation. 15 patients each were for 6 months - because of IOP levels considered still too high - treated with preservative-free tafluprost/timolol fixed-dose combination or preservative-free latanoprost/timolol fixed-dose combination therapy. Results: Six months after switching from latanopost monotherapy to preservative-free prostaglandin-timolol combinations, patients being treated with the latanoprost-timolol fixed combination had a mean IOP reduction by 4.16 mm Hg and those treated with the tafluprost-timolol fixed combination a mean IOP reduction by 5.38 mm Hg. Regarding safety and tolerability, there were no issues in the tafluprost-timolol group.Conclusions: Switching from prostaglandin monotherapy to a prostaglandin-timolol fixed combination led to a sufficient IOP lowering in our group of patients. Tolerability of, and satisfaction with, the fixed combination therapies was high.