Internal Medicine Alert – October 15, 2003
October 15, 2003
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Hip Pointers
Schoffs and colleagues looked at the occurrence of hip fracture (excluding pathologic fractures and fractures in prosthetic hips) from 1991 to 1999 and their relationship to thiazide diuretics and chlorthalidone, which is not strictly a thiazide, but behaves like one. -
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Regression — Losartan vs Atenolol
In this sophisticated analysis of ECG-LVH regression, more than 9000 hypertensive patients were randomized to losartan or atenolol therapy, treated to target blood pressure levels, and followed for up to 5 years. -
When Can People With Epilepsy Drive?
When is it safe to sit behind the wheel if youve just had a seizure? Specific seizure-free intervals vary from state to state. In this time-trend study, an analysis was undertaken to determine if lowering the interval from 12 months to 3, as was done in Arizona, increased motor vehicle accident frequency. -
Oral Contraceptive Mortality
This report confirms previous reports (especially the publications from the World Health Organization and the Nurses Health Study) that the risk of cardiovascular mortality associated with oral contraceptives is confined to smokers. -
Pharmacology Update: Rosuvastatin Calcium (Crestor)
The FDA has approved another HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) for the treatment of elevated cholesterol. -
Clinical Briefs
Ultralow-Dose Estrogen and Bone in Older Women; Effect of Intensity of Oral Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation; Patient Knowledge and Awareness of Hypertension -
ECG Review: Typical LBBB? LVH? Acute MI?
The ECG in the Figure was obtained from a 63-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, heart failure, and atypical chest pain. Would you say there is typical LBBB (left bundle branch block)? Would you interpret this tracing as suggestive of LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy)? of acute MI (myocardial infarction)? -
Pharmacology Watch: Vardenafil Will Compete for Share of ED Market
The FDA has approved vardenafil (LevitraBayer and GlaxoSmithKline) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. Vardenafil joins sildenafil (Viagra) as the only 2 drugs approved for this indication in this country.