Latest Articles
- Chronic tension-type headache: Advice for the viselike-headache patient
About 3% of people complain of daily viselike headaches without associated symptoms. Therapy consists of tricyclic antidepressants, biofeedback, and stress management, although solid data are lacking.
- Halting the progression of heart failure: Finding the optimal combination therapy
Recommendations on how to find the optimal combination of agents that can slow the progression of heart failure while minimizing side effects.
- Tired, aching, ANA-positive: Does your patient have lupus or fibromyalgia?
Do not rely on the antinuclear antibody test to make the distinction between fibromyalgia and lupus.
- Advances in treatment of chronic hepatitis C: ‘Pegylated’ interferons
New formulations of interferon alfa that incorporate polyethylene glycol in the drug molecule are an important advance in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
- Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: Prompt diagnosis preserves organ function
The chief dangers from idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis— ureteral obstruction with loss of renal function, and other organ involvement—are avoidable and treatable with prompt diagnosis.
- What is the best way to diagnose streptococcal pharyngitis?
Rapid tests are highly specific but less sensitive. Throat culture is still the gold standard.
- A 23-year-old man with a continuous heart murmur
What is the cause of this patient’s cardiac symptoms? A self-test.
- A primer on referring patients for psychotherapy
With many models of psychotherapy available, finding a good fit between therapist and patient is crucial.
- Cultural and clinical issues in the care of Asian patients
Three case studies that illustrate some of the special problems affecting the health care of Asian patients and ways to deal with them constructively.