For some time, we have noticed bias in AJHP supplements that are based on industry-sponsored symposia held during the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. Up until now, we have withheld comments about AJHP's editorial integrity, but after reading the August 1,2008, supplement, we feel compelled to be more pointed in our criticism.rnIn that supplement, Dobesh et al. discuss antithrombotic therapy in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The abstract and the section summarizing the Fifth Organization to Assess Strategies in Acute Ischemic Syndromes (OASIS-5) trial results are written in a way that favors the supplement sponsor's product, enoxaparin (Lovenox, sanofi-aventis, U.S.). The OASIS-5 investigators studied enoxaparin and fondaparinux (Arixtra, GlaxoSmithKline), and it was the largest ACS trial to date with about 20,000 patients.3 The supplement's abstract states, "Since fondaparinux use in patients undergoing PCI [percutaneous coronary intervention] has been associated with an increased risk for catheter-related thrombosis, the use of fondaparinux in PCI patients should be limited." Dobesh et al. discuss OASIS-5 day-9 endpoints and dedicate two paragraphs to describing complications of cardiac catheterization and explaining the lower bleeding rate associated with fondaparinux, compared with enoxaparin. Dobesh et al. fail to mention compelling 180-day outcomes or to include an unbiased discussion of catheter-related complications.
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