The use of fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine, particularly for four months or longer, is associated with an increased risk of newly diagnosed cardiac-valve disorders, particularly aortic regurgitation.

Aims Metformin could have benefits on cardiovascular disease and kidney disease progression but is often withheld from individuals with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) because of a concern that it may increase the risk of lactic acidosis. Materials and methods All‐cause mortality, cardiovascular death, cardiovascular events (death, hospitalization for heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke or myocardial ischemia), end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the kidney disease composite (ESRD or death) were compared in metformin users and non‐users with diabetes and CKD enrolled in the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp (darbepoeitin‐alfa) Therapy (TREAT) (NCT00093015). Outcomes were compared after propensity matching of users and non‐users and in multivariable proportional hazards models. Results There were 591 individuals who used metformin at baseline and 3447 non‐users. Among propensity‐matched users, the crude incidence rate for mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular events and the combined endpoint was lower in metformin users than in non‐users, but ESRD was marginally higher (4.0% vs 3.6%). Metformin use was independently associated with a reduced risk of all‐cause mortality (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.36‐0.69), cardiovascular death (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.32‐0.74), the cardiovascular composite (HR, 0.67, 95% CI, 0.51‐0.88) and the kidney disease composite (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61‐0.98). Associations with ESRD (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.65‐1.55) were not significant. Results were qualitatively similar in adjusted analyses of the full population. Two cases of lactic acidosis were observed. Conclusions Metformin may be safer for use in CKD than previously considered and may lower the risk of death and cardiovascular events in individuals with stage 3 CKD.

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Thirteen juvenile-onset diabetics with azotemic diabetic nephropathy (mean serum creatinine level, 6.8 mg/dl) being evaluated fro renal transplantation underwent cardiac catheterization with angiography. All were followed for development of acute renal failure. Twelve (92%) developed some evidence of acute renal failure. Two required potassium exchange resin therapy. Six required dialysis acutely. There were no deaths. All patients who received greater than 65 ml/m2 of iodinated contrast developed acute renal failure. No patient with a hemoglobin value greater than 9.9 g/dl required dialysis or potassium exchange resin. The single patients without acute renal failure received less than 50 ml/m2 of iodinated contrast and had the highest hemoglobin value (12.0 g/dl). No cardiac or angiographic variables were predictive of acute renal failure. In this group at high risk for acute renal failure, radiographic contrast procedures should only be done if the information to be obtained is weighed against the potential for injury.