More articles from Review
- Spondyloarthropathies: Using presentation to make the diagnosis
Spondylitis is easy to miss and is often falsely assumed to be “just back pain.” Inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor show promise as treatments, but data are still limited.
- Hearing loss is often undiscovered, but screening is easy
Does your patient need a hearing aid? Primary care physicians—the gatekeepers of audiologic care—can play a more active role in improving the hearing of their adult patients.
- What physicians can do to prevent suicide
No one can predict whether any given patient will or will not attempt suicide, but we should notice when a patient might be at risk—and not be afraid to ask about it.
Omalizumab: Where does it fit into current asthma management?This drug offers substantial promise, but owing to its cost and other limitations, it is not a first-line therapy.
- Fish oil supplementation: Evidence for health benefits
We have solid and compelling evidence that two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids help prevent coronary heart disease.
- Pulmonary sarcoidosis: New genetic clues and ongoing treatment controversies
The wide-ranging manifestations of sarcoidosis can make its diagnosis and management difficult.
- The internist’s role in managing diabetic retinopathy: Screening for early detection
Early treatment of diabetic retinopathy can prevent visual loss. Internists can ensure that patients get screened annually.
- How to use statins in patients with chronic liver disease
Statin-induced liver disease is uncommon, and there is little evidence to suggest that it is more likely in patients with chronic liver disease.
- New fibrinolytic agents for MI: As effective as current agents, but easier to administer
Ease of administration is important. Many patients who might be candidates for fibrinolytic therapy are not getting it, and the complicated regimens of the current drugs may partly account for their underuse.
- The preoperative evaluation: Use the history and physical rather than routine testing
The cornerstone of the preoperative evaluation is a thorough history and physical examination, not routine laboratory testing.
