April 15, 2007

Most cases of low back pain have no serious underlying pathology and can be managed with reassurance, pain medications, and advice to stay active. Selected patients with “red flag” findings need a more thorough evaluation and may require urgent referral to a surgeon.

Potentially serious causes of late pregnancy bleeding include placenta previa, placental abruption, and vasa previa. Management involves rapid assessment of maternal and fetal status, fluid resuscitation, replacement of blood products if necessary, and an appropriately timed…

Continued involvement by a family physician is often a welcome and comforting addition to the care of a patient with cancer. Family physicians can have a role in treatment decisions, psychological support, treating intercurrent disease, preventive care, and recognizing and…

Noninvasive cardiac imaging tests play an important role in diagnosing and treating patients with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and acute coronary syndromes. Establishing the diagnosis, extent, and severity of coronary artery disease, as well as the potential…

In this issue of AFP, we present a new feature—Close-ups: A Patient's Perspective (see page 1177). This department will focus on the human side of medicine. A patient's story, told in his or her own words, is accompanied by commentary from the patient's physician and resources…

States Prepare for SCHIP Reductions As Congress Moves to Fill Shortfalls | California Chapters Help Refine Health Reform Proposal | Federal Legislation on Health Care Information Technology Introduced | Primary Care Physician Shortage Increases Medically Disenfranchised | Study…

A study published in Pediatrics suggests that unmarried parents with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may be unlikely to legally identify a future guardian for their children. Researchers interviewed 100 married and 222 unmarried parents with HIV infection. When the…

Risk assessment and targeted risk factor modification are critical to the disease prevention paradigm in family medicine. Because coronary artery disease (CAD) represents the leading cause of death in the United States, prevention efforts have tremendous potential to reduce…

In this issue we introduce “Close-ups: A Patient's Perspective,” a feature that focuses on the personal side of medicine. The major component of this feature is a patient's story, told in his or her own words. In these stories, patients speak about the challenges they face in…

The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

Accurate risk stratification in patients with heart failure can help physicians choose the most appropriate place for hospitalization (general hospital ward or intensive care unit) and the intensity of care needed.

Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

Although many patients with RLS do not need pharmacologic therapy, pramipexole is one option for treating moderate to severe symptoms. As with other agents used to manage RLS, potentially serious adverse reactions are possible.

Guidelines on the use of hormonal contraceptives in women with underlying medical conditions are available from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In some women, drugs taken for certain chronic conditions may alter the effectiveness of hormonal…

Indications for Renal Arteriography at the Time of Coronary Arteriography

ACOG Guidelines on Vulvodynia

Low back pain is when you feel sore or uncomfortable in your lower back or buttocks.