Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2020
[Diagnostic work-up in central retinal artery occlusion and ischemic optic neuropathy - what is important?]
Ischemia of the retina in central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and of the optic nerve in ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) are common causes of irreversible vision loss in elderly patients and require a thorough diagnostic work-up. First and foremost, giant cell arteritis should be confirmed or ruled out. The further work-up of non-arteritic CRAO and non-arteritic ION (nAION) aims to determine the cardiovascular risk profile. ⋯ In non-arteritic CRAO, the search for embolic sources is the most important diagnostic task. A "white spot sign" seen on transorbital ultrasound confirms the diagnosis of embolic CRAO and rules out an arteritic etiology of CRAO.
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The management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma has shown considerable changes in recent years, moving away from a fixed therapy regimen towards individual treatment strategies. The aim of our work (literature research) is to present current developments in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer. For the management of individual follow-up, an initial evaluation and, at later time points, the re-evaluation of the risk of recurrence is crucial. ⋯ FDG-PET/CT has also shown an excellent performance in this setting. The previously fixed therapy regimen has been realigned towards an individual treatment management. Current studies and guidelines lead to a repetitive recurrence risk evaluation and the adjustment of the aftercare planning to the individual risks with appropriately selected examination methods and personalized intervals of assessment.
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CKD-MBD (chronic kidney disease - mineral and bone disorder) describes a complex syndrome of renal osteodystrophy, mineral disturbances and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. The present articles intends to provide an up-to-date summary of recent clinically important developments in the field of CKD-MBD. ⋯ The summary also comments on which grade of evidence novel aspects and innovative developments in CKD-BMD are based. The author concludes that nephrologists should strive after more high-quality, large-scale randomized-controlled interventional trials in order to optimize the evidence behind CKD-MBD therapy.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2020
Review[Current diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia].
Two major advances were made in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): the addition of the antibody rituximab to chemotherapy two decades ago and the introduction of the targeted agents during the last few years. Four targeted drugs with different mechanisms of action were added to the armamentarium of CLL treatment: the anti-CD20 antibody obinutuzumab, the two kinase inhibitors ibrutinib and idelalisib, which target the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and Phosphatidylinositiol-3-Kinase (PI3K) respectively in the B-cell receptor signalling pathway, as well as the Bcl2-antagonist venetoclax. Recently, the combination of venetoclax/obinutuzumab was approved for the first-line treatment of all CLL patients based on a phase-III trial in elderly unfit patients. ⋯ Patients with the high-risk parameters deletion 17p or TP53mutation are known to poorly respond to chemo(immuno)therapy and should receive either ibrutinib or venetoclax/obinutuzumab. Thus, a choice has to be made between a continuous monotherapy with ibrutinib or a time-limited combination with either venetoclax/obinutuzumab (12 months) or chemoimmunotherapy (usually 6 months). In addition to disease-related factors (e. g. presence of deletion 17p/TP53 mutation, IgHV mutational status, prior therapies), comorbidities, co-medication and the specific side effects of the CLL therapies (myelosuppression, infections and secondary malignancies for chemoimmunotherapy; cardiac toxicity, bleeding and autoimmune disease for ibrutinib; tumour-lysis syndromes and infections for venetoclax) the patient's expectations need to be considered.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Aug 2020
Guideline[Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease - The new ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA Guideline].
The new ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA guideline answers 22 PICO questions on the treatment of lung diseases caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), M. kansasii, M. xenopi and M. abscessus.