Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2007
ReviewWITHDRAWN: Non-aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treating osteoarthritis of the knee.
Osteoarthritis(OA) is the most common rheumatic disease. Simple analgesics are now accepted as the appropriate first line pharmacological treatment of uncomplicated OA. Non-aspirin NSAIDs are licensed for the relief of pain and inflammation arising from rheumatic disease. ⋯ In spite of the large number of publications in this area, there are few randomized controlled trials. Furthermore, most trials comparing two or more NSAIDs suffer from substantial design errors. From the results of this review it is concluded that no substantial evidence is available related to efficacy, to distinguish between equivalent recommended doses of NSAIDs. Had studies employed appropriate doses of comparator drug, most would have been sufficiently powerful to detect clinically important differences in efficacy. As differences in efficacy between NSAIDs have not been recorded, the selection of an NSAID for prescription for OA knee should be based upon relative safety, patient acceptability and cost.
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Even though corticosteroids have been used alongside antituberculosis drugs for tuberculous meningitis (TBM) since the 1950s their role remains controversial. Some believe corticosteroids improve outcome while others point to the lack of supportive evidence. In patients who are immunocompromised because of HIV infection the risks and benefits of steroids are unknown. ⋯ Adjunctive steroids might be of benefit in patients with TBM. However, existing studies are small, and poor allocation concealment and publication bias may account for the positive results found in this review. No data are available on the use of steroids in HIV positive persons. Future placebo-controlled studies should include patients with HIV infection and should be large enough to assess both mortality and disability.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2007
ReviewWITHDRAWN: Primary angioplasty versus intravenous thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.
Intravenous thrombolytic therapy is the standard care for patients with acute myocardial infarction, based upon its widespread availability and ability to reduce patient mortality well demonstrated in randomised trials. Despite its proven efficacy, thrombolytic therapy has limitations. Many patients are ineligible for treatment with thrombolytics. Of those given thrombolytic therapy, 10 to 15 percent have persistent occlusion or reocclusion of the infarct-related artery. Consequently, primary angioplasty (primary PTCA) has been advocated as a better treatment of myocardial infarction. ⋯ This meta-analysis suggests that angioplasty provides a short-term clinical advantage over thrombolysis which may not be sustained. Primary angioplasty when available promptly at experienced centres, may be considered the preferred strategy for myocardial reperfusion. In most situations, however, optimal thrombolytic therapy should still be regarded as an excellent reperfusion strategy.
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Mannitol is an osmotic agent and a free radical scavenger which might decrease oedema and tissue damage in stroke. ⋯ There is currently not enough evidence to support the routine use of mannitol in acute stroke patients. Further trials are needed to confirm or refute whether mannitol is beneficial in acute stroke.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jul 2007
ReviewWITHDRAWN: Ribavirin with or without alpha interferon for chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Ribavirin plus interferon combination therapy is presently considered the optimal treatment of interferon naive patients with chronic hepatitis C, but its role in relapsers and non-responders to previous interferon therapy is not established. ⋯ Combination therapy increased the number of naive patients, relapsers, and non-responders with a sustained virological, biochemical, or histological response, but also the occurrence of adverse events.