Lancet
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There is still controversy about whether all antiepileptic drugs are associated with the severe cutaneous reactions Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). We have studied the role of antiepileptic drugs in SJS and TEN, taking into account potential cofactors that might confound or modify the risk. ⋯ SJS and TEN are associated with short-term therapy with phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine. The association with valproic acid seems to be confounded by concomitant short-term therapy with other causal drugs. Lamotrigine also has the potential for severe skin reactions. The period of increased risk is largely confined to the first 8 weeks of treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Prediction of benefit from carotid endarterectomy in individual patients: a risk-modelling study. European Carotid Surgery Trialists' Collaborative Group.
Carotid endarterectomy lowers the risk of carotid territory ipsilateral ischaemic stroke, and is the treatment of choice, in patients with recently symptomatic 70-99% carotid stenosis. However, the 3-year risk of stroke on medical treatment alone is only about 20%. We investigated whether the efficacy of endarterectomy would be improved if patients with a high risk of stroke on medical treatment and a low risk of operative stroke or death could be identified. ⋯ Many patients with recently symptomatic 70-99% carotid stenosis may not benefit from carotid endarterectomy. Validation of the predictive score is needed on external datasets, but risk-factor modelling could be useful to identify those patients in whom endarterectomy will be beneficial.