MedGenMed : Medscape general medicine
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Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) may lead to pulmonary hypertension, a lethal complication of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. There are few viable treatment options for pulmonary hypertension, but pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) has been used to successfully treat this condition in many patient populations. Following is a description of a patient with APS and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with severe pulmonary hypertension and underwent lifesaving surgery with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Successful intervention with thromboendarterectomy for the treatment of severe pulmonary hypertension is possible in patients with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, and surgical referral of these patients is warranted.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A comparison of the lidocaine patch 5% vs naproxen 500 mg twice daily for the relief of pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome: a 6-week, randomized, parallel-group study.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common entrapment neuropathy caused by median nerve compression. This pilot clinical trial was designed to compare the safety and effectiveness of the lidocaine patch 5% to that of naproxen 500 mg twice daily for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with CTS. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the lidocaine patch 5% is effective in significantly relieving the pain associated with CTS and is well tolerated. The patch may offer patients an effective, nonsystemic, noninvasive treatment for the management of their symptoms. Further controlled studies are warranted.