[Bamifylline in the therapy of asthmatic syndromes. Efficacy and side effects vs delayed-action theophylline anhydride]. / La bamifillina nella terapia delle sindromi asmatiche. Efficacia ed effetti collaterali vs teofillina anidra ad azione prolungata.

Two homogeneous groups of 8 patients suffering from bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive bronchial pneumonia were treated with slow release theophylline anhydride or bamiphylline respectively, both products being given orally twice a day. The results showed that both drugs possess a powerful bronchodilatory action and therefore have a beneficial effect on subjective symptoms. Statistical analysis confirmed the absence of any significant difference between the two xanthine derivatives, both of which were well-tolerated though bamiphylline offered a slight advantage in this respect. In fact there were no side effects at all in the bamiphylline group whereas there was one case of moderate gastric intolerance in the group given theophylline anhydride, though it was not severe enough to warrant suspension of the treatment or reduction of the dose.

[Antiblastic agent-induced vomiting: possibilities of its prevention and alizapride therapy]. / Vomito indotto da antiblastici: possibilità di prevenzione e terapia con alizapride.

The spread of cytostatics has made the search for safe drugs for the prevention and treatment of induced vomiting important. In the present study, the protective (prophylactic and therapeutic) effect of Alizapride has been examined. Ten oncological patients of average age 60 were treated with a total of 30 cycles according to the commonest protocols of drugs with varying emetic potential (from bland bleomycin type to high cisplatin type). The patients were subdivided into two groups: a) prophylaxis before and after chemotherapy; b) treatment only as needed. Analysis of the data showed excellent tolerance and significant effectiveness in both groups.

[High-frequency atrial arrhythmia induced by a cisplatin-etoposide combination]. / Aritmia atriale ad alta frequenza indotta dalla combinazione cisplatino-etoposide.

The cardiotoxicity of cytostatic drugs reported in the literature is marked for some (adriamycin), rather rare for others. Cases of angina, infarction, and atrial arrhythmia have been reported during treatment with cisplatin. The case is reported of a 65-year-old patient with no risk factors for cardiovascular disease who had two attacks of high-frequency atrial arrhythmia during combined treatment with cisplatin and etoposide. The first attack came after the first cycle and disappeared spontaneously; the second, after the second cycle, required antiarrhythmic treatment. The potential myocardial toxicity of cisplatin, especially when combined with other potentially cardiotoxic drugs or administered after cycles of adriamycin is discussed.