The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society : official organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society
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Case Reports
Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease: management options in HIV-negative patients.
We present a case series and review of the literature of the management options in non-HIV-infected patients with Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) with a focus on treatment failure and drug resistant disease. ⋯ MAC has protean pulmonary manifestations, especially in those with no recognizable impairments in their immune system. Drug treatment, however, remains difficult with high failure rates and poor long-term sputum conversion. This case series is based on our clinical experience highlighting treatment options and the often unrecognized morbidity and mortality of severe, progressive MAC-PD. It underscores the need for increased awareness of MAC-PD and MDRMAC and the difficulties encountered in their management.
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This prospective study was conducted to evaluate improvements in pain and disability in a series of 53 consecutive worker's compensation patients with discogenic low back pain following treatment with the intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) procedure. ⋯ IDET procedure can be a useful, safe and cost-effective option in the management of carefully selected workers' compensation claimants with chronic low back pain of discogenic etiology.