Fortschritte der Medizin
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Fortschritte der Medizin · Dec 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Flupirtine in comparison with chlormezanone in chronic musculoskeletal back pain. Results of a multicenter randomized double-blind study].
The analgesic and muscle-relaxing properties of flupirtine maleate, chlormezanone and placebo were compared in a total of 184 patients. Of these patients, 164 met the criteria of the treatment plan (intention to treat), and the data of 140 patients were finally evaluated in accordance with the test protocol. A positive response was defined as a reduction in pain intensity and muscle tension by 2 categories on the 5-category verbal scale "very severe/severe/moderate/mild/ none" on the seventh day of treatment. ⋯ In the per-protocol-analysis the responder rate was 60.9% for flupirtine, 47.8% for chlormezanone, and 43.8% for placebo, the difference between drugs and placebo not being significant. The overall assessment of the physicians involved was very good/ good in 47.8% and satisfactory in 37.0% of the flupirtine group, very good/good in 45.6% and satisfactory in 17.4% of the chlormezanone group, the corresponding figures for the placebo group being 33.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Flupirtine was thus superior to placebo (p = 0.007). The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 14.8% (8/54) for flupirtine, 19.3% (11/57) for chlormezanone, and 7.3% (4/55) for placebo.
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Fortschritte der Medizin · Dec 1996
Review[Coma in myxedema--a rare complication of hypothyroidism. Possible iatrogenic factors should be taken into account].
Myxedema coma is the most severe form of hypothyroidism and is characterized by extreme hypothermia, bradycardia, central hypoventilation and hypoxia. Common causes are intercurrent diseases, interruption of thyroid hormone treatment, or an overdose of sleeping pills or sedatives. ⋯ Consideration must also be given to an extra-thyroidal influence on the hormone levels. Intensive care treatment involving intravenous high-dose L-thyroxine and the reversal of hypoxia improve the prognosis of the serious disease.