La Revue de médecine interne
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Review Case Reports
[Opioid-induced adrenal insufficiency: Case report and synthesis of the literature].
Opioid therapy for pain relief is associated with several adverse effects. Herein, we report the potential consequences of opioid use on the adrenal function. ⋯ Opioids suppress cortisol secretion, primarily mediated by direct negative effect on hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Further studies are needed to define the incidence and the clinical significance of opioid-induced adrenal insufficiency, as well as the need for hormone replacement.
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In 2030, the European Union will include 14 to 17 million atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, with 120,000 to 215,000 new cases each year. The increase in the prevalence of this arrhythmia has led to the development of new therapeutic intervention strategies to manage the different aspects of this disease. ⋯ Finally, in the event of a major bleeding risk and contraindication to anticoagulants, percutaneous occlusion of the left atrium has proven its value in preventing AF-related embolic events. The future will certainly see the emergence of new technologies but also personalized strategies based on an optimal selection of the right candidates for these interventions, thanks in particular to the contribution of imaging before the procedure.
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A huge variety of medical diseases may potentially present with isolated psychotic symptoms, and disease-specific treatment or management is available for a significant part of them. The initial medical work-up of a first-episode psychosis (FEP) is of crucial importance. ⋯ Each patient presenting with a first-episode psychosis should be evaluated with a precise anamnesis, a careful clinical examination, and routine laboratory tests. Brain imaging and tests (depending on the context) should be performed in the presence of atypical clinical features or "red flags", leading to suspect an organic disease.
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Oxygen therapy is used to reverse hypoxemia since more than a century. Current usage is broader and includes routine oxygen administration despite normoxemia which may result in prolonged periods of hyperoxemia. While systematic oxygen therapy was expected to be of benefit in some ischemic diseases such as stroke or acute myocardial infarction, recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have challenged this hypothesis by showing the absence of clinical improvement. ⋯ For patients at risk, oxygen therapy should be started when SpO2 is≤88% and stopped when it is>92%. For patients without risk factors, oxygen therapy should be started when SpO2 is≤92% and stopped when it is >96%. High-flow oxygen should only be used in a few diseases such as carbon monoxide poisoning, cluster headaches, sickle cell crisis and pneumothorax.
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Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have an increased risk of malignancy. In this study, we aimed to analyze the prevalence of cancer, the risk factors and the impact on overall survival. ⋯ The history of renal scleroderma crisis and the positivity of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies were associated with an increased risk of cancer in SSc patients in this monocentric study.