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In osteoporosis or osteopenia, exercise interventions improve BMD; effects vary by exercise type and BMD site

Source Citation Zhang S, Huang X, Zhao X, et al. Effect of exercise on bone mineral density among patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Clin Nurs. 2021. [Epub ahead of print]. 34725872

How Would You Manage This Patient With Iron Deficiency Anemia? Grand Rounds Discussion From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide and a major cause of disability, manifesting with symptoms including fatigue, weakness, exercise intolerance, worsening heart failure, impaired concentration, irritability, and depression. Women of reproductive age are disproportionately affected due to menstrual blood loss and gynecologic disorders. Iron deficiency anemia is diagnosed in patients who have both iron deficiency (ID), noted by low ferritin level and/or transferrin saturation, and anemia. Notably, iron deficiency (ID) can also occur in the absence of anemia, and overreliance on hemoglobin thresholds may risk missing the diagnosis in menstruating women due to flawed sex-specific reference ranges. Work-up for ID and IDA should focus on identifying the underlying cause of anemia, and may include a gynecologic work-up, bidirectional endoscopy, testing for Helicobacter pylori infection and celiac disease, as well as administering a trial of iron. Iron deficiency can be treated with either oral or intravenous iron. Although several guidelines address the diagnosis or management of ID and IDA, they differ in their recommendations based on the population studied, the clinical context, and the quality of the underlying evidence. Here, 2 hematologists and coauthors of the 2025 Iron Consortium Guideline published in Lancet Haematology discuss areas of guideline uncertainty relating to the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of patients with IDA and for Ms. B, a young woman diagnosed with ID.

Hypertension

Updated U.S. and international hypertension guidelines reflect new studies and analyses that support changes in hypertension management. The 2025 U.S. guideline for prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure (BP) recommends lower BP targets, greater use of out-of-office BP for diagnosis and medication titration, and a different approach to severe hypertension presenting without acute or evolving cardiovascular disease symptoms or signs. New treatments for resistant hypertension are recommended. Trial evidence supports benefit from tighter BP control to prevent mild cognitive impairment and dementia, further emphasizing the importance of lower BP goals.

Giant Cell Arteritis

Giant cell arteritis is a relapsing large-vessel vasculitis affecting the aorta and its branches. It is the most common vasculitis in persons 50 years of age and older. Vision loss occurs in 18% of patients and is preventable with prompt recognition, evaluation, and treatment. Large-artery complications include stenosis, aortic aneurysms, or dissections. Glucocorticoid therapy is effective, but nearly 50% of patients experience relapse. Tocilizumab and upadacitinib are efficacious glucocorticoid-sparing therapies. Patients require long-term monitoring for aortic aneurysms, a late disease complication, even after therapy is discontinued.

How Would You Manage This Patient With Frequent Migraine Headaches? Grand Rounds Discussion From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Migraine headaches are highly prevalent and, for women below the age of 50, the leading cause of years lived with disability. Migraines disproportionately affect persons of lower socioeconomic status and those who are uninsured, and they result in millions of office and emergency department visits annually. Migraines are also responsible for billions of dollars in lost productivity and health care expenses each year. Medication classes traditionally used for migraine headache treatment have included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, antihypertensive drugs, antiseizure drugs, antidepressant drugs, and botulinum toxin. In recent years, triptans have come into widespread use for acute treatment, and calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists, including gepants and monoclonal antibodies, have been used for both acute treatment and prevention. In 2025, the International Headache Society and the American College of Physicians published guidelines on pharmacotherapy for migraine headaches covering both acute and preventive treatments. Here, 2 experts in this field, a primary care physician and a neurologist and headache specialist, debate how to manage the case of a patient with frequent migraine headaches. They discuss the diagnostic considerations and the acute and preventive treatment challenges in the care of this population.