Rheumatology
- Off-label and oft-prescribed
When prescribing drugs for uses beyond their FDA indications, we need to explain their anticipated side effects and benefits.
- Beyond depression: Other uses for tricyclic antidepressants
The pharmacology of these drugs, their potential uses in conditions other than depression, and safety considerations.
- A link between A-fib and sleep apnea is no surprise, but why?
The two conditions commonly coexist, and treating the sleep apnea results in better rhythm-directed outcomes in the A-fib.
Appropriate laboratory testing in Lyme diseaseTesting for Lyme disease is challenging and if done incorrectly can lead to unnecessary treatment.
- A few pearls can help prepare the mind
The caregiver with a prepared mind is more likely to experience the diagnostic epiphany.
- Myopathy for the general internist: Statins and much more
How to evaluate and manage muscle complaints in patients taking a statin, interpret creatine kinase test results, and recognize common as well as potentially dangerous myopathies.
Cardiovascular complications of systemic sclerosis: What to look forPulmonary arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, arrhythmias, pericardial disease, and valvular heart disease.
- Mediastinal granuloma due to histoplasmosis in a patient on infliximab
Immunosuppressive drugs can predispose to invasive fungal infection.
- Do patients on biologic drugs for rheumatic disease need PCP prophylaxis?
Consider it in those with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or pulmonary disease, or those on high-dose steroids.
- Giant cell arteritis: An updated review of an old disease
Glucocorticoids, the mainstay of treatment, should be started as soon as the disease is suspected.