Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Monoclonal antibodies such as daclizumab could be a possible alternative immunotherapy to interferon beta treatment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It blocks the interleukin-2 receptor alpha subunit (CD25), and seems to be beneficial to patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of outcomes.This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2010, and previously updated in 2012. ⋯ There was insufficient evidence to determine whether daclizumab was more effective than placebo in patients affected by RRMS in terms of clinical and MRI measures of outcomes. Daclizumab appeared to be relatively well tolerated. Infections were the most frequent adverse events, and were resolved with standard therapies.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Dec 2013
Review Meta AnalysisLocal versus general anaesthesia for carotid endarterectomy.
Carotid endarterectomy may significantly reduce the risk of stroke in people with recently symptomatic, severe carotid artery stenosis. However, there are significant perioperative risks that may be reduced by performing the operation under local rather than general anaesthetic. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 1996, and previously updated in 2004 and 2008. ⋯ The proportion of patients who had a stroke or died within 30 days of surgery did not differ significantly between the two types of anaesthetic techniques used during carotid endarterectomy. This systematic review provides evidence to suggest that patients and surgeons can choose either anaesthetic technique, depending on the clinical situation and their own preferences.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Dec 2013
Review Meta AnalysisFibrinolytic agents for peripheral arterial occlusion.
Peripheral arterial thrombolysis is used in the management of peripheral arterial ischaemia. Streptokinase was originally used but safety concerns led to a search for other agents. Urokinase and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) have increasingly become established as first line agents for peripheral arterial thrombolysis. Potential advantages of these agents include improved safety, greater efficacy and a more rapid response. Recently drugs such as pro-urokinase, recombinant staphylokinase and alfimperase have been introduced. This is an update of a review first published in 2010. ⋯ There is some evidence to suggest that intra-arterial rt-PA is more effective than intra-arterial streptokinase or intravenous rt-PA in improving vessel patency in people with peripheral arterial occlusion. There was no evidence that rt-PA was more effective than urokinase for patients with peripheral arterial occlusion and some evidence that initial lysis may be more rapid with rt-PA, depending on the regime. Incidences of haemorrhagic complications were not statistically significantly greater with rt-PA than with other regimes. However, all of the findings come from small studies and a general paucity of results means that it is not possible to draw clear conclusions.