The American journal of medicine
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To examine the differential effect of stress ulcer prophylaxis on overt bleeding, clinically important bleeding, and mortality in critically ill patients. ⋯ Overt gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients is reduced by prophylaxis with antacids or histamine-2-receptor antagonists. Histamine-2-receptor antagonists are more effective than antacids at decreasing overt bleeding and are more effective than no treatment at reducing the incidence of clinically important bleeding. Mortality rates in the intensive care unit are not decreased by stress ulcer prophylaxis.
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Incidence, predictability, and pathogenesis of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism.
To determine the incidence and predictability and to elucidate the pathogenesis of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) and hypothyroidism (AIH). ⋯ In euthyroid subjects living in an area with a moderately sufficient intake of iodine, there is a higher incidence of AIT than of AIH. AIH is an early event, occurring especially in women with thyroid autoantibodies prior to treatment. Cases of AIT continue to occur during amiodarone therapy; its development is unpredictable and of unexplained sudden onset. The value of regular thyroid function testing is therefore limited during amiodarone administration.