More articles from 1-Minute Consult
- Does allergic conjunctivitis always require prescription eyedrops?
We reserve prescription drops for patients with persistent, bothersome symptoms despite using over-the-counter drops.
- Should all patients with significant proteinuria take a renin-angiotensin inhibitor?
Most of them should, with exceptions due to adverse effects such as angioedema, cough, and hyperkalemia.
- What can we offer patients with mild cognitive impairment?
Physicians can promote healthy nutrition, physical activity, socialization, and mental activity, but no drug is approved for it.
- Are breast and pelvic exams necessary when prescribing hormonal contraception?
Only a medical history and blood pressure measurement are needed before prescribing estrogen contraceptives.
- Do healthy patients need routine laboratory testing before elective noncardiac surgery?
Testing often increases costs and anxiety, with little benefit.
- What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
The two have different indications and goals and are often provided in different settings.
- Does stenting of severe renal artery stenosis improve outcomes compared with medical therapy alone?
Added to drug therapy, it can modestly improve blood pressure control, but has no significant effect on outcomes.
- Should thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity be determined before prescribing azathioprine, mercaptopurine, or thioguanine?
Testing can identify patients at risk of life-threatening myelosuppression on these drugs.
- When does pericarditis merit a workup for autoimmune or inflammatory disease?
Further evaluation is required for recurrent pericarditis resistant to conventional therapy or for manifestations of systemic disease.
- Can the test for human papillomavirus DNA be used as a stand-alone, first-line screening test for cervical cancer?
Yes. The FDA has approved the test for this indication, and guideline committees are reviewing the data.