Clinical Briefs
By Louis Kuritzky, MD
Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia in the Preclinical Phase
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in America, but often escapes clinical attention until symptoms compromise quality of life, activities of daily living, or safety. Interventions might be enhanced by early detection of AD, but little investigation of early detection techniques has been done.
Palmer and colleagues evaluated 1435 persons aged 75-95 years who were without dementia at baseline. All persons underwent evaluation at baseline, 3 years, and 6 years with 3 different tools; subjects were asked, "Do you currently have any problems with your memory?" Additionally, each subject underwent mini-mental status examination, and neuropsychological testing assessed cognitive function.
At follow-up, almost 20% of survivors had dementia. All 3 screening tools, if positive, increased relative risk of AD. Having a memory complaint at baseline doubled the relative risk of subsequent dementia, and cognitive impairments increased relative risk of dementia by 2- to 5-fold.
Although using all 3 tools had a high predictive value if positive, the tools are too insensitive for routine employment, since only 18% of persons who ultimately developed dementia were identified using this 3-step process. That we can identify, with some reliability, a subgroup of persons likely to progress to dementia is promising. For broader applicability, more sensitive screening tools will be required.
Palmer K, et al. BMJ. 2003;326: 245-247.
Shoe Design and Plantar Pressures in Neuropathic Feet
Clinicians have tried a variety of maneuvers to reduce the incidence and effect of neuropathic foot ulcers in an attempt to reduce their subsequent morbidity. Since a substantial proportion of diabetics will ultimately develop distal sensory neuropathy and be at risk of foot ulcers, learning which type of footwear might help minimize the consequences of this neuropathy is of great importance. The most commonly used orthopedic shoe for diabetic neuropathy is the "rocker bar" variety (RB shoe), others suggest that a simple extra depth shoe, which is typically less expensive, more cosmetically pleasing, and more readily accessible, may be equally effective.
Praet and colleagues studied 10 diabetic women suffering from peripheral sensory neuropathy, but without evidence of foot deformity or ulceration. Women were tested in 3 categories of shoes: Category A were simple popularly styled traditional shoes, category B were extra depth shoes, and category C were specially crafted (based upon plaster casts of feet) shoes with rocker bottoms.
Overall, only the RB shoes effectively reduced forefoot pressure more than traditional "over the counter" footwear. Praet et al acknowledge that choosing footwear for any one individual diabetic remains a difficult choice and that shoe-specific pressure measurements in different types of footwear may be the best alternative for some patients, especially for those who balk at use of the less cosmetically acceptable RB shoes.
Praet S, et al. Diabetes Care. 2003;26: 441-445.
Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone in Assessment of Severity of Tissue Hypothyroidism in Patients with Overt Primary Thyroid Failure
Although there is good agreement that thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is the most appropriate indicator of hypothyroidism, it is little understood whether absolute levels of TSH correlate either with degree of tissue effect of hypothyroidism, or levels of thyroid hormone. Meier and colleagues used a composite of clinical score, ankle reflex time, CK, and total cholesterol as markers of what they term "thyroid hormone action at the tissue level." They then correlated TSH with thyroid hormone levels and tissue parameters.
The correlation of tissue parameters and TSH was weak. This review suggests that there is a poor correlation between levels of TSH and clinical or metabolic severity of hypothyroidism. Meier et al have no quarrel with the sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of TSH to discern the presence or absence of hypothyroidism. Rather, they hypothesize that once TSH is maximally stimulated, no further increase will occur, despite progressively greater degrees of hypothyroidism. Meier et al suggest that thyroxine treatment should be guided by clinical signs and thyroid hormone concentrations, rather than solely by TSH concentration.
Meier C, et al. BMJ. 2003;326: 311-312.
Detection of Alzheimers Disease and Dementia in the Preclinical Phase; Shoe Design and Plantar Pressures in Neuropathic Feet; Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone in Assessment of Severity of Tissue Hypothyroidism in Patients with Overt Primary Thyroid Failure.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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