Hypertension in elderly Egyptians

Global census studies reveal that the elderly are the most rapidly growing population group in both industrialized and less industrialized nations. During 1991 and 1992, three major interventional trials dealt with hypertension in older subjects and the value of antihypertensive treatment in the elderly. These were the American Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program [SHEP], the Swedish Trial in Old Patients with Hypertension [STOP-Hypertension], and the British Medical Research Council Trial on treatment of hypertension in older adults. All three trials showed that therapy for hypertension in the elderly reduces the risk of stroke and cardiovascular events. In 1993 evidence from the Egyptian Hypertension Project highlighted hypertension as a national public health problem that must be addressed. Guidelines for primary prevention among all sectors of the community are discussed

Amiloride: A review

Amiloride is a potassium retaining diuretic and natriuretic which acts by reversibly blocking luminal epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs) in the late distal tubule and collecting duct. Amiloride is indicated in oedematous states, and for potassium conservation adjunctive to thiazide or loop diuretics for hypertension, congestive heart failure and hepatic cirrhosis with ascites. Historical studies on its use in hypertension were poorly controlled and there is insufficient data on dose-response. It is clearly highly effective in combination with thiazide diuretics where it counteracts the adverse metabolic effects of the thiazides and its use in the Medical Research Council Trial of Older Hypertensive Patients, demonstrated convincing outcome benefits on stroke and coronary events. Recently it has been shown to be as effective as spironolactone in resistant hypertension but there is a real need to establish its potential role in the much larger number of patients with mild to moderate hypertension in whom there is a paucity of information with amiloride particularly across an extended dose range.

Salvage chemotherapy with gemcitabine, paclitaxel, ifosphamide, and cisplatin (Gem-TIP) for relapsed germ cell tumours (GCT)

e16031 Background: Patients with relapsed metastatic GCT following treatment with cisplatin based combination chemotherapy, may be cured with further intensive chemotherapy. A Medical Research Council trial of TIP achieved 1 year progression free survival (PFS) of 38% with 65% survival (Br J Cancer. 2005;93:178). A more dose intense schedule of TIP with growth factors achieved 2-year PFS of 91% (Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 22:2003 [abstr 1537]). Gemcitabine has activity in the treatment of multiply relapsed disease. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of adding gem to TIP with the addition of growth factor support, while maintaining TIP dose intensity, with a view to improving the outcome from TIP alone. Methods: A phase I dose escalation study of Gem-TIP was carried out in patients at first relapse from metastatic GCT following cisplatin chemotherapy. All patients received TIP without dose reduction (paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 d1, cisplatin 20 mg/m2 d1–5, ifosphamide 1 g/m2 d2–6) with GCSF days 7–18 of a 21 day cycle for maximum 4 cycles. 3 dose levels of gem were investigated, 600 mg/m2 d1, 900 mg/m2 d1 and 1,200 mg/m2 d1. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was non-haematological grade 3 or 4, except nausea, vomiting and alopecia. Results: 13 patients treated, 12 male, 1 female, age 21–48 years. Baseline histology seminoma 8, non-seminoma 5. Cohort 1: 4 patients treated, 1 withdrew after 1 cycle. No DLT observed. Cohort 2: 3 patients completed treatment with no DLT. Cohort 3: 1 patient treated suffered allergic pneumonitis at cycle 1 complicated by a malignant pleural effusion. A further 5 patients were treated at this dose level. The minimum course duration was 63 days. The mean duration for each cohort was 69 days for cohort 1 and 2, 64 days for cohort 3. Grade 3/4 haematological toxicity was; neutropaenia 9 patients, thrombocytopaenia 10 patients, with 2 episodes of febrile neutropaenia but no bleeding. 10 platelet transfusions were required. 10 patients were assessable for response, 5 CR, 3 PR, 2 PD. At median follow up 18 months the median PFS is 10 months. Conclusions: Gem-TIP can be delivered with 1200mg/m2 gem with manageable toxicity in the context of growth factor support. This dose will be taken forward to a phase II study. No significant financial relationships to disclose.