[Cardiovascular risks and management during Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder treatment with methylphenidate.]

[Cardiovascular risks and management during Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder treatment with methylphenidate.] Arch Pediatr. 2013 Dec 2; Authors: Bange F, Le Heuzey MF, Acquaviva E, Delorme R, Mouren MC Abstract Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common of the pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. Methylphenidate is an important element of therapeutic strategies for ADHD. Clinicians are interested in the safety of methylphenidate. Because this drug raises heart rate and blood pressure, concerns have been raised about its cardiovascular safety. Concerns were based on case reports of sudden cardiac death in methylphenidate users, plausible pharmacological pathways involving well-established stimulant effects on heart rate and blood pressure. Until recently, data were limited to a number of observational studies too small to examine serious cardiac events. In the past two years, large retrospective, population-based cohort studies were performed. These studies did not show any evidence that methylphenidate was associated with an increase in risk of myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, or stroke. Treatment of children with methylphenidate is not significantly associated with an increase in the short term or mid-term risk of severe cardiac events. For many, available data now will be seen as reassuring. But gaps persist in the methodical and comprehensive assessments of the safety of methylphenidate. A...
Source: Archives de Pediatrie - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Arch Pediatr Source Type: research