Presse Med
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FREQUENT DIVERSE COMPLICATIONS: Skin problems in organ recipients mainly result from the induced immunosuppression but also from specific adverse effects of immunosuppressive drugs. The degree of extension and gravity of the clinical manifestations are often proportional to the intensity and/or duration of the immunosuppressive therapy. Immunodepression mainly leads to infectious and neoplastic complications.
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LOCAL CARE: Local antiseptics and antibiotics must be avoided to preserve the local bacterial ecosystem of the wound. If surgical debridement is not possible, hypercolloid, alginate or hydrogel dressings should be applied to achieve natural autolytic cleansing. The budding and epithelization phases are also treated either with oily or humid dressings or more modern hypercellular, hydrocolloid and polyurethane film dressings. Other treatments under evaluation include physical means (negative pressure, electrical stimulation) or use of recombinant growth factors.
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A FREQUENT CONDITION IN GERIATRICS: Myelodysplastic syndromes comprise a group of bone marrow disorders characterized by abnormal hematopoetic stem cell clones. They are generally observed after 60 years of age with a peak frequency in the 70-80 year age group. Prevalence is probably underestimated and diagnosis is commonly made in geriatric wards.
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Review
[Drug use in the elderly. Undesirable drug effects in the elderly: epidemiology and prevention].
A COMMON PROBLEM: Adverse drug effects are common and severe in patients over 70. Most concern widely prescribed drugs or drugs with small safety margins.