Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine
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According to the 2021 updated guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians, the location of venous thromboembolism, the severity of symptoms, the risk of thrombus extension vs that of bleeding, and comorbidities all affect the decision to treat, the choice of anti-thrombotic agent, and the duration of therapy. In patients with isolated distal deep vein thrombosis without high-risk features, monitoring progression is recommended over initiating anticoagulation. However, treatment of proximal deep vein thrombosis with anticoagulation is strongly recommended by the guidelines. More evidence now supports the treatment of superficial vein thrombosis with anticoagulation in high-risk patients.
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Medical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has progressed gradually in recent years and remains the starting point for most symptomatic patients seeking treatment. Beyond well-known alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, there is growing evidence for the use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and beta-3 agonists in managing the condition, which may afford additional relief of "bothersome" symptoms in some patients. This review details contemporary medical management of BPH with an emphasis on the indications for certain classes of pharmacotherapy and their relative benefits and side effects. Surgical and procedural treatment of BPH is covered in a separate review.
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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major health burden in patients with cancer, causing morbidity, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and death. Treatment is challenging, as it is necessary to balance the risk of recurrent thrombosis and bleeding associated with anticoagulants. ⋯ Multiple recent randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants in this setting. Current studies are evaluating factor XI inhibitors as potential treatments for cancer-associated VTE.
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von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder, results when patients either do not make enough von Willebrand factor (VWF) or make defective VWF. The pathophysiology of this disorder is complex but needs to be understood to interpret the diagnostic tests. Most patients have mild to moderate symptoms and can be adequately counseled and managed by a general internist, but some need to consult a hematologist. We review the pathophysiology of VWD, its subtypes, common presentations of each subtype, diagnostic testing, and management of mild as well as severe clinical manifestations of VWD.
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Although most pancreatic cystic lesions do not progress to cancer, they create concern for patients and their primary care physicians. The lack of consensus guidelines on diagnosis and surveillance of these lesions can lead to a management conundrum. We review current guidelines on diagnosis and management.