The cardiac effects of Formaterol in mild to moderate asthma and COPD patients

Cardiac side effects of beta 2 agonists have been evaluated in many studies. The most important factors were hypoxia and hypokalemia. We searched for the cardiac side effects of formaterol in asthma and COPD patients with Pa 02> 60 mm Hg, FEV1 > %50 and without any other cardiac disease. Patients after a period of withdrawal of bronc-hodilatator therapy were applied placebo, Formaterol 12 microgram and 24 microgram on days 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Their arterial blood gases, serum electrolytes and cardiac rithyms by Holter moniterisation were evaluatedfor three days. Serum potassium levels significantly decreased in correlation with formaterol dose. 12 microgram formoterol did not change Pa 02 levels compared with placebo though 24 microgram decreased Pa 02 significantly. Also 24 microgram caused a significant decrease of Pa 02 compared with 12 microgram (p<0.05). 24 microgram formaterol decreased serum potassium levels more than 12 microgram; but neither doses caused difference in atrial and ventricular arrythmia pruduction. We conclude that in mild to moderate stable asthma and COPD patients without hypoxemia both 12 and 24 microgram of formaterol did not cause significant arrythmia although they gave rise a decrease in potassium levels inaccordance with dose

Incidence and clinical characteristics of acute rheumatic fever in Turkey: Results of a nationwide multicentre study

© 2021 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians)Aim: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in Turkey, following the revised Jones criteria in 2015. Methods: This multicentre study was designed by the Acquired Heart Diseases Working Group of the Turkish Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Association in 2016. The data during the first attack of 1103 ARF patients were collected from the paediatric cardiologists between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2016. Results: Turkey National Institute of Statistics records of 2016 were used for the determination of ARF incidence with regard to various cities and regions separately. The estimated incidence rate of ARF was 8.84/100 000 in Turkey. The ARF incidence varied considerably among different regions. The highest incidence was found in the Eastern Anatolia Region as 14.4/100 000, and the lowest incidence was found in the Black Sea Region as 3.3/100 000 (P < 0.05). Clinical carditis was the most common finding. The incidence of clinical carditis, subclinical carditis, polyarthritis, aseptic monoarthritis, polyarthralgia and Sydenham's Chorea was 53.5%, 29.1%, 52.8%, 10.3%, 18.6% and 7.9%, respectively. The incidences of clinical carditis, subclinical carditis, polyarthritis and polyarthralgia were found to be significantly different among different regions (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this nationwide screening of ARF suggest that Turkey should be included in the moderate-risk group