Clin Med
-
The objective of this study was to evaluate the 25-year outcome of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). One hundred and fifty-two patients diagnosed with pSS (American-European classification criteria) were retrospectively and descriptively analysed (1986-2011). Of all 152 patients, 55.9% were alive, 18.4% had died and 25.7% discontinued follow-up (mostly due to old age). ⋯ Seventy-five patients (49.3%) developed other autoimmune diseases (autoimmune thyroid disease [15.8%], pulmonary fibrosis [7.2%] and vasculitis [10.5%]). Although the course of pSS is relatively benign, over 25 years patients experience more clinical complications than previously described. In addition, vasculitis and glandular manifestations were significant predictors for NHL.
-
End-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) can represent dead space ventilation. The authors aimed to define the optimum ETCO2 to conclusively exclude a pulmonary embolic event. One hundred consecutive patients with suspected pulmonary embolisms (PEs) were enrolled over 6 months in 2012. ⋯ This point (4.3 kPa) had a sensitivity and specificity (100% and 68% respectively), with a negative predictive value of 100% and positive predictive value of 66%. ETCO2 may reliably be used to screen and exclude patients with suspected PEs. If used in combination with D-dimer with clinical probability as a screening tool, CTPA will be required in only a minority of patients.