Cochrane Db Syst Rev
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
ReviewVitamin K antagonists or low-molecular-weight heparin for the long term treatment of symptomatic venous thromboembolism.
People with venous thromboembolism are generally treated for five days with intravenous unfractionated heparin or subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin followed by three months of vitamin K antagonists treatment. Treatment with vitamin K antagonists requires regular laboratory measurements and some patients have contraindications for treatment. ⋯ Low-molecular-weight heparins are possibly as effective as vitamin K antagonists in preventing symptomatic venous thromboembolism after an episode of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis, but are much more expensive. Treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin is significantly safer than treatment with vitamin K antagonists and is possibly a safe alternative in some patients; especially those in geographically inaccessible places, reluctant to visit the thrombosis service regularly, or with contraindications to vitamin K antagonists. However, treatment with vitamin K antagonists remains the treatment of choice for the majority of patients.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisDeep transverse friction massage for treating tendinitis.
Deep transverse friction massage (DTFM) is one of several physiotherapy interventions suggested for the management of pain due to iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS). ⋯ DTFM combined with other physiotherapy modalities did not show consistent benefit over control of pain for runners experiencing ITBFS. These conclusions are limited by the low methodological quality of the one small sample size trial (n=17) included. No conclusions can be drawn about the use or non use of DTFM for the treatment of ITBFS. Future trials, utilizing appropriate methods and adequate sample sizes are needed before conclusions can be drawn regarding the effect of massage on iliotibial band friction syndrome.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisRecombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (rhIGF-I) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.
Trophic factors, including recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I have been postulated as possible disease modifying therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Randomised clinical trials of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to date have yielded conflicting results. ⋯ Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I may be modestly effective but the evidence currently available is insufficient for a definitive assessment. Further randomised clinical trials need to be done.
-
Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisSingle dose dipyrone for acute renal colic pain.
Renal colic pain is extremely painful and requires immediate treatment with strong analgesics. Dipyrone is the most popular non-opioid first line analgesic in many countries but in others it has been banned (e.g. USA, UK) because of its association with blood dyscrasias such as agranulocytosis. Since dipyrone is used in many countries (e.g. Brazil, Spain) there is a need to determine the benefits and harms of its use to treat renal colic pain. ⋯ Limited available data indicated that single dose dipyrone was of similar efficacy to other analgesics used in renal colic pain, although intramuscular dipyrone was less effective than diclofenac 75 mg. Combining dipyrone with antispasmolytic agents did not appear to improve its efficacy. Intravenous dipyrone was more effective than intramuscular dipyrone. Dry mouth and somnolence were commonly reported with intravenous dipyrone. None of the studies reported agranulocytosis.