Browse Internal Medicine Articles by Topic

Pulmonary Embolism Common Cause for Syncope in Hospitalized Patients

A recent review of clinical features of patients with syncope found that pulmonary embolism may be one of the most common causes, and thus should be considered by all physicians who are evaluating such patients.

Time to Treatment with Endovascular Thrombectomy Remains a Critical Variable

this meta-analysis of thrombectomy in patients with large vessel ischemic stroke demonstrated that earlier treatment compared with medical therapy alone was associated with lower degrees of disability at three months.

Disability in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Long-Term Study

SYNOPSIS: In a long-term study, the rate of disability progression in treated relapsing and progressive, multiple sclerosis patients was lower than that reported in earlier natural history studies.

Prognosticating Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow

In a large retrospective review of treatment outcome for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow, no difference was found in outcomes between any of the various conservative or surgical therapies, but prognosis was determined by the severity of the lesion at time of diagnosis.

Cognition in Older Migraine Sufferers: The Data Are Not Clear!

Older migraineurs, particularly migraineurs with aura, tend to score higher in tests of executive functioning and fine motor skills than do non-migraineurs. However, the lack of a detailed analysis of an unrepresentative headache population may confound the conclusions.

Migraine Prophylaxis in Children

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of migraine prophylaxis in children ages 8-17 years, treatment with neither amitriptyline nor topiramate showed significant differences in headache frequency or headache-related disability compared to placebo.

Warning: Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus Coinfection During Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

SYNOPSIS: Prior to initiation of hepatitis C virus treatment with direct-acting antivirals, patients should be screened for hepatitis B virus coinfection. Those who are hepatitis B virus-infected should receive ongoing monitoring for flares and reactivation of hepatitis B.

Vasopressin as a Single Vasopressor Agent in Patients with Septic Shock

SYNOPSIS: The use of vasopressin as a vasopressor for septic shock produced similar outcomes as the use of norepinephrine.

What Influences ICU Admission?

SYNOPSIS: There is widespread variability between hospitals in rates of ICU admission. High ICU utilization hospitals were more likely to use invasive procedures and incurred higher costs than low ICU utilization hospitals with no difference in mortality.

Reported Beta-lactam Allergy Is Associated with More Adverse Events Among Inpatients

SYNOPSIS: A prospective cohort study from three hospitals determined that patients who did not receive a preferred beta-lactam antibiotic were at greater risk for an adverse event (adjusted odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-7.89) compared to controls without a beta-lactam allergy.