Moxonidine is a new centrally acting alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist that differs from others by a lower incidence of side effects in hypertensive patients. The effects of moxonidine and placebo on blood pressure, pulse rate, plasma catecholamines, plasma renin activity, sedation, and salivary flow were evaluated in eight hypertensive patients by an intraindividual comparison. Moxonidine induced a significant decrease in blood pressure that corresponded with its plasma concentrations. The maximum antihypertensive effect appears to be delayed when compared with the peak plasma level. Plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, and plasma renin activity were significantly reduced by moxonidine, and blood pressure reduction corresponded with decrease of plasma norepinephrine. Heart rate, sedation, and salivary flow were not different using moxonidine compared with placebo. Only one patient mentioned dry mouth. No further relevant adverse effects were seen in the patients. This study demonstrates a significant decrease of blood pressure, plasma renin activity, norepinephrine, and epinephrine with a single dose of 0.25 mg moxonidine, but no significant effect on pulse rate, salivation, and sedation.

Investigations were carried out on 24 hypertensive or borderline hypertensive patients with different degrees of renal function. Eight had normal renal function [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) greater than 90 ml/min], 8 moderate (GFR 30 to 60 ml/min) and 8 severe renal impairment (GFR less than 30 ml/min). All patients were given moxonidine 0.3mg once daily for 7 days and both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data were determined. During moxonidine treatment plasma elimination half-life, area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and apparent total clearance (CLT) showed statistically significant differences among patients in the 3 groups. Elimination half-life was 2.6 +/- 0.9 hours in patients with a GFR greater than 90 ml/min and increased to 6.9 +/- 3.7 hours in those with a GFR less than 30 ml/min (mean +/- SD; p = 0.012). Correspondingly, AUC0-24 h rose from 5.4 +/- 2.7 to 17.2 +/- 7.9 micrograms/L . h (p = 0.001), and CLT decreased from 1150 +/- 602.l ml/min to 369 +/- 227.6 ml/min (p = 0.001). These data suggest that once-daily administration of 0.3mg moxonidine may be appropriate in patients with impaired renal function. Independent of renal function, moxonidine was well tolerated in 22 of 24 patients. No deterioration in renal function as a consequence of the use of moxonidine was found. Thus, in patients with renal failure, dosage of moxonidine should be individually titrated according to the desired clinical response, as is recommended for hypertensive patients without renal impairment.

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Twenty one patients with liver disease (cirrhosis 11, chronic hepatitis 5 and acute hepatitis 5) and 6 healthy volunteers were given a single i.v. dose of nitrendipine 5 mg. Afterwards nitrendipine 20 mg once daily were administered orally for seven days. With the intravenous injection a significant increase in the AUC and elimination half-life of nitrendipine was found in patients with cirrhosis as compared to the normal volunteers. After chronic oral dosing, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve, AUC (0-24), was 94.5 ng ml-1 h and the plasma clearance CL was 1380.6 ml/min in the healthy controls; in patients with cirrhosis the AUC (0-24) h was significantly greater at 309.4 ng ml-1 h and CL had fallen to 686.6 ml/min. Considerable accumulation of nitrendipine was also found in the patients with chronic hepatitis. Nitrendipine could not be detected in urine from any of the subjects. Blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly influenced by the treatment in the various groups investigated. Antipyrine clearance in the patients with cirrhosis was correlated with the nitrendipine plasma clearance. Thus, accumulation of nitrendipine has been demonstrated in the patients with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis.

SummaryObjectives: To determine the attitude of physicians towards the ASCO evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis and treatment in patients with cancer.Methods: The ASCO guideline was published in Jan. 2015. Two specialists in in the field assembled a list of arguments for and against each of the ASCO recommendations. ASCO recommendations and pro & con arguments were presented to physicians attending 3 educational seminars on hemostasis in cancer patients. After the presentation each attendee was asked to fill out a questionnaire on how much he agreed with the recommendations and the pro & con arguments.Results: A total of 89 physicians attended the three meetings. 56 questionnaires were returned. The ASCO recommendation with the highest degree of support was that patients undergoing major cancer surgery should receive prophylaxis for 7–10 days and for four weeks after major abdominal or pelvic surgery with high-risk features (84 % Pro). The recommendation with the lowest degree of support was that anticoagulation should not be used to extend survival of patients with cancer in the absence of other indications (56 % Pro = indifference). Arguments based on A) the scientific evidence underlying each recommendation, B) on clinical practicability and patients’ preferences/adherence, C) on the desire to avoid toxicity, malpractice litigation, and cost concerns, ranked equally.Conclusion: The degree of support for ASCO guideline recommendations on prophylaxis and treatment of VTE in cancer is variable. For some key recommendations it is close to indifference. Scientific evidence for a recommendation is just one decision factor among others. Our study underscores the need to further promote educational activities on VTE prophylaxis and treatment in cancer patients particularly among all physicians caring for cancer patients.