Latest Articles
- The herbal medicine boom: Understanding what patients are taking
One in three people take herbal medicines. A guide to common herbal preparations, their effects, side effects, and interactions.
- The diagnostic utility of c-ANCA in Wegener’s granulomatosis
A positive c-ANCA may suggest Wegener’s granulomatosis, but in most cases it should not be used instead of biopsy to make the diagnosis.
- A 29-year-old man with abnormal thyroid function tests
The patient has elevated serum T4 and T3, but no symptoms of hyperthyroidism. What is the diagnosis?
- What internists should know about amiodarone
Despite side effects involving the lungs, heart, thyroid, and other organs, amiodarone is effective in the treatment of refractory atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and it has unique safety in coronary disease and left ventricular dysfunction.
- Evaluating asymptomatic patients with mildly elevated liver enzymes
Extensive evaluation of all abnormal tests would expose many patients to undue risks and medical costs. But not evaluating minor elevations of liver enzymes could result in missing the early diagnosis of potentially treatable disorders.
- Health care reform in 1998: A resurging debate
This is an election year, so 1998 will be filled with intense debates about expanding Medicare eligibility, regulating managed care, and eliminating health care fraud.
- Angioplasty or fibrinolysis for acute MI?
Primary angioplasty is better than fibrinolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction, but the advantage is not as large as we once thought.
- Two patients with neuroglycopenia
One patient suffers from periodic "silliness," the other suffers from syncope. What is the diagnosis and treatment?
- New hope for impaired physicians: Helping the physician while protecting patients
The medical profession lias greater awareness of the problem of substance abuse among physicians, and has set up programs to confront impaired physicians about their problem so they can overcome their resistance to treatment.