Jeffrey S. Stroup

Teriparatide in the treatment of osteoporosis

PURPOSE The efficacy, safety, and cost of teriparatide in the treatment of osteoporosis are reviewed. SUMMARY Osteoporosis is a leading cause of fractures in women and men but is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Antiresorptive therapies (calcitonin, estrogen, bisphosphonates, and selective estrogen-receptor modulators) have historically been used to treat this condition. Teriparatide (recombinant human parathyroid hormone) is an anabolic agent labeled for use in postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fractures. Clinical trials indicate that teriparatide increases predominantly trabecular bone in the lumbar spine and femoral neck; it has less significant effects at cortical sites. The combination of teriparatide with antiresorptive agents is not more effective than teriparatide monotherapy. The most common adverse effects associated with teriparatide include injection-site pain, nausea, headaches, leg cramps, and dizziness. After a maximum of two years of teriparatide therapy, the drug should be discontinued and antiresorptive therapy begun to maintain bone mineral density. Teriparatide is expensive but may be cost-effective in selected patients. CONCLUSION Teriparatide offers a therapeutic option for patients at high risk of an osteoporotic fracture and for patients who are intolerant of or unresponsive to antiresorptive therapy.

Primary hyperparathyroidism and pregnancy.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the third most common endocrine disorder after diabetes and thyroid disease, and women are affected twice as often as men. Hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy was first reported in 1931. Maternal complications in patients with hyperparathyroidism can be as high as 67%. We present a case of a pregnant patient with chronic hypertension that was exacerbated throughout the course of her pregnancy with a concomitant diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism and its sequelae for both the mother and fetus.

Use of Daptomycin in a Pregnant Patient with Staphylococcus aureus Endocarditis

Objective To report on 6 weeks of daptomycin treatment for tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in a pregnant female in her second trimester. Case summary A 24-year-old, 14-week pregnant patient with no significant medical history, but with a history of intravenous drug abuse presented with tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. After initial treatment with vancomycin, the patient continued to have fever and bacteremia and was initiated on daptomycin 6 mg/kg for 6 weeks of therapy. The treatment resulted in the resolution of the endocarditis, and no adverse sequelae were identified in the mother or baby. Discussion Infective endocarditis is a common infection encountered in the hospital setting and represents an increased cost burden to institutions due to prolonged lengths of treatment. Antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial failure, inadequate attainment of effective drug concentrations, drug allergies, and adverse reactions may be factors that limit the use of commonly utilized antimicrobial agents. Therefore, newer therapies like daptomycin may need to be employed in these situations. Although daptomycin is pregnancy category B, limited case reports with neonatal outcomes are reported. Conclusions This case provides further support for the safety of daptomycin in pregnancy with the dose of 6 mg/kg, the extended duration of therapy (6 weeks), and the primary exposure in the second trimester.

Achieving American Diabetes Association goals in HIV-seropositive patients with diabetes mellitus

This retrospective study examined whether the goals set forth by the American Diabetes Association were being attained in an HIV specialty clinic run by internal medicine physicians. The charts of 40 HIV patients with diabetes were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who had seen a clinical pharmacist for medication adherence counseling (n = 20) and those who had not (n = 20). Overall, less than 50% of patients were achieving goals of therapy for hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure. Only 5% were documented as receiving aspirin therapy. The medication adherence counseling was not a significant factor in the results. Clinicians need to be aware of the concomitant disease states that HIV patients have and to treat those disease states to the standard of care set forward.

Gelatinous bone marrow in an HIV-positive patient

Gelatinous bone marrow transformation has been identified in patients with anorexia, malignancy, malabsorption, and HIV/AIDS. This represents a deposition of gelatinous material within the bone marrow, along with atrophy. We report the case of an HIV-seropositive man who presented with low back pain related to his gelatinous bone marrow changes.

Insulin Glargine and Cancer Risk: An Opinion Statement of the Endocrine and Metabolism Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy

Diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, eliciting extensive research on both the disease process and its treatment. Regardless of diabetes type, the progressive nature of the disease makes insulin the long‐term mainstay of diabetes management. Recently, the insulin analog glargine was reported in several epidemiologic studies to be associated with an increased risk of cancer. Inconsistent study results and media attention have caused much angst and concern to health care professionals and the general population. A clear understanding of the current evidence is needed to adequately develop a patient‐oriented risk:benefit assessment. Members of the Endocrine and Metabolism Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy evaluated available evidence to provide guidance and discussion on the risk of cancer with insulin glargine use. We believe the current link between insulin glargine and cancer is tenuous but merits further evaluation. An independent analysis of all available glargine clinical trial data should be performed, and a vigorous postmarketing safety study of glargine should be conducted. Until more substantial data are available, however, neither the choice of initial insulin therapy nor insulin maintenance regimens should be influenced by the current information linking insulin glargine to cancer.

Burkitt Lymphoma in an Adult HIV-Positive Patient

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lymphomas continue to be a challenge in the management of HIV seropositive patients. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of patients infected with HIV has decreased the incidence of opportunistic infections dramatically, however, lymphoma rates have shown variable results in epidemiologic studies. Burkitt lymphoma is an uncommon and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma commonly identified in children. We report the case of an HIV seropositive adult male with the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma and review its relationship with HIV along with possible treatment options.

Infective Endocarditis Caused by Gemella Species

Gemella species are commonly found as commensal organisms of the upper respiratory tract. They are not typically associated with common infectious processes. There are, however, some case reports linking Gemella species as the primary organism in causing endocarditis. We present a case of a 50-year-old male patient with endocarditis caused by Gemella species.

Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma without cutaneous involvement.

Kaposis sarcoma (KS) is a low-grade vascular tumor caused by infection with human herpesvirus 8. Prior to the AIDS epidemic, KS was rare in the United States. With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, KS has become far less common, now occurring at a rate of about 6 cases per million people each year. It is still seen most commonly in those infected with HIV, and cutaneous manifestations represent the most common presentation. In this case, we describe a patient with disseminated AIDS-associated KS lacking cutaneous manifestations.

Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens in a Patient with Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Objective: To report a case of the venous obstructive condition known as phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) in the presence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Case Summary: A 50-year-old white female presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of a bluish discoloration of her toes and hands accompanied by chest pain and shortness of breath. The evident edema, tenderness on palpation, and cyanosis of the extremities were suggestive of PCD. She had been hospitalized approximately one month previously due to a fibular fracture and again within the past 2 weeks for intractable abdominal pain and nausea. During her current hospital stay, she was diagnosed with multiple venous thromboembolisms (VTEs); at the time of admission, an unfractionated heparin (UFH) drip was initiated to treat her VTEs. Due to a decreased platelet count on admission, a platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibody assay was performed and found to be positive. After discontinuation of UFH, her platelet count slowly returned to normal range. Discussion: The pathogenesis of HIT is due to formation of antibodies against the complex of heparin and PF4. HIT is characterized by a reduction in the platelet count approximately 4–14 days after the initiation of heparin therapy plus a paradoxical prothrombotic state. The typical diagnostic clues are a drop in platelet count of 50% from baseline with the initiation of heparin and a positive assay for heparin-PF4-immunoglobulin G. This condition may result in PCD, which presents as the triad of pain, edema, and cyanosis. This condition often results in venous or arterial thrombus formation. The treatment for PCD includes immediate discontinuation of heparin products and anticoagulation with a direct thrombin inhibitor. Conclusions: Thromboembolic complications such as PCD are often observed as a presenting feature of HIT. To avoid these potentially limb- and life-threatening complications, clinicians must be vigilant in their monitoring of platelets and clinical signs and symptoms of HIT while patients are on heparin therapy.