Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFENESS OF TERLIPRESSIN THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING

CAMIL-EUGEN VARI1, AMELIA TERO-VESCAN2, DANIELA DOBRU3, CONSTANTIN COPOTOIU4, CIPRIAN ROSCA4, T. DUDAS4, CĂLIN MOLNAR4*

1.Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu-Mureş
2 .Pharmaceutical Biochemistry Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu-Mureş
3 .Clinic of Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu-Mureş
4 .1st Surgical Clinic, Emergency Clinical Departmental Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu-Mureş

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Terlipressin, triglicilargininvasopressin is a vasopressin analogue used in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhages caused by ruptured esophageal varices. The present clinical trial included 43 patients and analyzed safeness and effectiveness of terlipressin treatment for upper gastrointestinal bleedings due to causes other than those specified by manufacturer’s indications: portal hypertension (15 cases) and other causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (8 cases). A comparison was made with cases of upper digestive bleeding (20 cases) caused by ruptured esophageal varices and treated with terlipressin according to drug’s indications. Matching covariates were analyzed (survival rate, blood transfusion requirements, hematocrit and the profile of side effects). The results showed a similar efficiency in both situations, and thus suggesting the extension of terlipressin’s therapeutical use for causes of bleeding, other than those specified in the marketing authorization.