Primary Care
Physician perspectives on preventive care, chronic disease management, and evidence-based primary care practice.
Recent Discussions
What is the recommended fungal workup in an immunocompromised patient after 5 days of persistent fever?
For any patient with fevers, I focus significantly on any symptoms that a patient might have, like headache, diarrhea, and sinus symptoms, and work up a differential diagnosis based on possible pathogens in this area. If I am not finding anything, I would obtain a CT chest/abd/pelvis, as both invasi...
Would you initiate antifibrotic therapy in a patient with CTD-ILD experiencing worsening symptoms and declining lung function, despite no clear evidence of fibrosis on CT scans?
If the predominant findings on CT were ground glass opacities and/or nodules without any evidence of fibrosis on CT, I would not start with an antifibrotic and, instead, would start with immunosuppression as a first-line agent. Based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and American Thoraci...
How do you approach the management of extremely low LDL levels in older adult patients receiving statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease?
In the absence of side effects, I am not concerned about very low LDL levels (e.g., less than 20 mg/dL), as there is a fairly linear association between LDL and CV risk, and there is no convincing evidence that even extremely low LDL levels are associated with cognitive impairment, intracranial hemo...
Do you recommend, based on current evidence, avoiding antimotility agents in patients with non-fulminant C. difficile infection who have no evidence of ileus?
I generally avoid their use based on the notions that diarrhea may contribute to the elimination of non-invasive GI pathogens and that impairment of intestinal motility could increase the risk of complications, such as toxic megacolon.The data and recommendations have not progressed beyond the follo...
How do you approach management of new onset ILD in a patient with RA who is otherwise well controlled on methotrexate or leflunomide?
We do not have any randomized controlled trials for DMARDs in RA-ILD. Most of the data is case series or retrospective analysis. Nonetheless, we can use current data to at least make clinical decisions until we receive more direction from high-quality clinical trials. We now know that in general met...
Do you screen for interstitial lung disease in patients with newly diagnosed polymyositis or dermatomyositis in the absence of respiratory symptoms?
I do screen all newly diagnosed IIM patients with PFTs and chest CT. This has a double purpose: establishing a baseline of lung function and, screening for lung cancer. While the patient might not have lung symptoms on presentation, respiratory involvement can manifest later on the course of the d...
In patients with suspected RCVS, is there a role for preventative CCB if headache has resolved/now asymptomatic?
A number of these patients experience a dull, lingering headache, and I typically maintain them on verapamil, with or without magnesium, until their headache subsides. Afterward, I gradually taper off the medication over 7-10 days. I don't use it as a preventative measure as long as the patient is s...
What is your preferred oral regime with duration for treatment of onychomycosis?
My new favorite regimen is: terbinafine 500 mg once daily for one week, then take 3 weeks off. Repeat for 4, once weekly cycles. Sprenger et al., PMID 31487828
In what clinical scenario would you consider the use of budesonide over prednisone as part of the pharmacologic management of autoimmune hepatitis?
Primarily in patients where the side effects of prednisone will or are too difficult to tolerate (diabetics, weight gain, metabolic syndrome, psychiatric disease, etc). I like to try prednisone first because of its ability to elucidate a biochemical response, fairly rapidly, so we know what we are d...
Do you routinely recommend transition to dual PO antibiotic coverage for strep species and MRSA, for patients with purulent cellulitis and in the absence of culture data?
I use mostly Linezolid because: It’s now much cheaper. Even if on serotonin drugs, I can half the serotonin dose while they are on it. Covers pretty much all Strep and Staph, including MRSA. Protein synthesis inhibition may reduce toxins (like clinda in Strep fasciitis). There is no renal dose adju...