Publications

Recombinant human factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in the setting of hemorrhage associated with factor VIII or factor IX inhibitors in patients with congenital or acquired hemophilia. This indication represents only a small number of bleeding conditions. Since it became available, rFVIIa has been increasingly used in the management of off-label indications, ranging from emergent hemostasis in traumatic hemorrhage to prophylactic hemostasis in patients undergoing major surgery. Prominent off-label indications include the management of patients with coagulopathies, such as occurs in trauma patients experiencing massive and uncontrolled hemorrhage, and in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Other occasions for use occur in patients with intact coagulation systems, with nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage being the most common in this group. Uncertainties regarding the efficacy and safety associated with use of rFVIIa in these off-label scenarios have led to evidence-based assessments of patient outcomes, including mortality, the rate of thromboembolic adverse events, and posttreatment functional status. We review the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of this important, but controversial, hemostatic agent in the off-label setting.

The acute phase response is characterized by elevations in serum triglyceride levels due to both an increase in hepatic VLDL production and a delay in the clearance of triglyceride rich lipoproteins secondary to a decrease in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. Recently there has been a marked increase in our understanding of factors that regulate LPL activity. GPIHBP1 facilitates the interaction of LPL and lipoproteins thereby allowing lipolysis to occur. Angiopoietin like proteins (ANGPTL) 3 and 4 inhibit LPL activity. In the present study, treatment of mice with LPS, an activator of TLR4 and a model of Gram-negative infections, did not alter the expression of GPIHBP1 in heart or adipose tissue. However, LPS decreased the expression of ANGPTL3 in liver and increased the expression of ANGPTL4 in heart, muscle, and adipose tissue. Serum ANGPTL4 protein levels were markedly increased at 8 and 16h following LPS treatment. Administration of zymosan, an activator of TLR2 and a model of fungal infections, also increased serum ANGPTL4 protein and mRNA levels in liver, heart, muscle, and adipose tissue. Finally, treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with LPS or cytokines (TNF alpha, IL-1 beta, and interferon gamma) stimulated ANGPTL4 expression. These studies demonstrate that ANGPTL4 is a positive acute phase protein and the increase in ANGPTL4 could contribute to the hypertriglyceridemia that characteristically occurs during the acute phase response by inhibiting LPL activity.

The incidence of hepatitis A infection in the United States has decreased dramatically in recent years because of childhood immunization programs. A decision analysis of the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccination for adults with hepatitis C was conducted. No vaccination strategy is cost-effective for adults with hepatitis C using the recent lower anticipated hepatitis A incidence, private sector costs, and a cost-effectiveness criterion of $100,000/QALY. Vaccination is cost-effective only for individuals who have cleared the hepatitis C virus when Department of Veterans Affairs costs are used. The recommendation to vaccinate adults with hepatitis C against hepatitis A should be reconsidered.

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive survey-based COPD severity score has usefulness for epidemiologic and health outcomes research. We previously developed and validated the survey-based COPD Severity Score without using lung function or other physiologic measurements. In this study, we aimed to further validate the severity score in a different COPD cohort and using a combination of patient-reported and objective physiologic measurements.

METHODS

Using data from the Function, Living, Outcomes, and Work cohort study of COPD, we evaluated the concurrent and predictive validity of the COPD Severity Score among 1,202 subjects. The survey instrument is a 35-point score based on symptoms, medication and oxygen use, and prior hospitalization or intubation for COPD. Subjects were systemically assessed using structured telephone survey, spirometry, and 6-min walk testing.

RESULTS

We found evidence to support concurrent validity of the score. Higher COPD Severity Score values were associated with poorer FEV(1) (r = -0.38), FEV(1)% predicted (r = -0.40), Body mass, Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise Index (r = 0.57), and distance walked in 6 min (r = -0.43) (P < .0001 in all cases). Greater COPD severity was also related to poorer generic physical health status (r = -0.49) and disease-specific health-related quality of life (r = 0.57) (P < .0001). The score also demonstrated predictive validity. It was also associated with a greater prospective risk of acute exacerbation of COPD defined as ED visits (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31; 95% CI, 1.24-1.39), hospitalizations (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.44-1.75), and either measure of hospital-based care for COPD (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.26-1.41) (P < .0001 in all cases).

CONCLUSION

The COPD Severity Score is a valid survey-based measure of disease-specific severity, both in terms of concurrent and predictive validity. The score is a psychometrically sound instrument for use in epidemiologic and outcomes research in COPD.