Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Membranous nephropathy is an autoimmune disease caused in most cases by binding of circulating antibodies to antigens on podocytes. PLA2R1 and THSD7A have been identified as target antigens in 70-80 % and 2-3 % of patients, respectively. The detection of PLA2R1- and THSD7A-antibodies in the blood and staining of renal biopsies for the respective antigens allow the correct diagnosis of PLA2R1- and THSD7A-associated membranous nephropathy, respectively, in practically 100 % of cases. ⋯ Rituximab was shown to be non-inferior to ciclosporine A to induce remission of proteinuria after 12 months. After 24 months rituximab was superior to ciclosporine A for the same endpoint. Development of novel treatment strategies, focusing on disease pathogenesis, remains highly relevant for these patients.
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Decisions about the initiation, continuation and termination of life-supporting treatments are a permanent challenge in intensive care units (ICUs). Decisions should be based on patient preferences and the medical indication. The medical indication is mainly the result of an assessment of the patient's prognosis and the applicable therapeutic options. ⋯ Because in many patients all these informations are not available at the time of admission, in these cases a time-limited trial is often justified to gather all this information before a decision is made. These principles of decision making can also applied to situations in which ICU-capacities are limited (e. g. COVID-19 pandemic).
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Oct 2020
[Recommendations for Drug Treatment in Patients with Multimorbidity].
Applying guidelines in patients with multimorbidity can result in dangerous or contraindicated drug-drug and drug-disease-interactions. A representative working group of medical scientific associations identifies such therapeutic conflicts and develops management strategies that will be published as a formally consensus based (S2K) guideline. Rational, aims and methods used are described, as well as evaluation and updating of recommendations.
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The 2019 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) rename stable coronary heart disease to chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Under CCS, six different scenarios have been defined, which take its heterogeneity into account. An important part of the current guideline plays the diagnostic assessment of the pre-test probability in the event of the possible presence of stenosing coronary heart disease. ⋯ Imaging techniques such as CT angiography have been significantly upgraded as diagnostic procedures for the detection of CHD, while exercise ECG is no longer routinely recommended in this regard. Invasive coronary angiography with revascularization option remains a central diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. In addition to antianginal, lipid-lowering and antithrombotic therapy, the current CCS guideline places special emphasis on prevention by means of lifestyle modification.
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Vaccination practices in Germany are driven by scientific developments and a complex regulatory environment. Some important developments in 2019/20 are described here: Work-related vaccination recommendations for measles, rubella, and chickenpox have been streamlined and expanded. In addition, measles vaccination or documentation of immunity is now mandatory for employment at and attendance of many institutions, specifically including day care centers and schools. ⋯ After years of development and clinical studies the first vaccine against Ebolavirus disease has been licensed by EMA in November and by FDA in December 2019. More than 150 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates are being developed with massive financial support, several phase 1/2 trials have started. A licensed vaccine may actually be available in 2021 and thus dramatically faster compared to any other modern vaccine development.