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Spotlight

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

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Lack of access to drug evaluation data: a recurrent problem, not confined to covid-19

 NEWS UPDATE  An article reporting the results of pharmacoepidemiological studies on the use of hydroxychloroquine in covid-19 has been retracted. The reasons given centre on the fact that access to the raw data was only granted to certain authors. This is a recurrent problem, not confined to evaluations of drugs for covid-19.
08 June 2020

Dabrafenib (Tafinlar°) and trametinib (Mekinist°) combined, as adjuvant therapy for stage III melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation

FEATURED REVIEW This combination has now been authorised in the European Union for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma and lymph node involvement but no other metastases, when the tumour cells express a BRAF V600 mutation. Does this combination extend survival in this situation? Does it reduce the incidence of recurrence? What more is known about its adverse effects?
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.
1 June 2020

In the June issue of Prescrire International: Antispasmodics during pregnancy, in brief

FREE DOWNLOAD Various drugs termed antispasmodics are offered to treat pain of gastrointestinal, urinary or gynaecological origin, often despite unconvincing evaluation. What are the risks to the mother and the unborn child when taken during pregnancy?
Full article available for free download.
1 June 2020

Curiosity is an admirable quality

Editorial How is it that the link between benfluorex (formerly marketed under the brand name Mediator°) and heart valve disease was unrecognised for decades by most French cardiologists? Despite the drug’s widespread use, the frequency of these valve disorders, and constant advances in echocardiography?
1 June 2020

Drug-induced heart valve disease: a blind spot for cardiologists

1 June 2020

Prescrire: independence and transparency, in the name of better patient care

The independent French medical journal Prescrire is produced by healthcare professionals who strive to protect medical information and continuing education from the contradictory influences at play in the medico-pharmaceutical arena.
1 June 2020

Tramadol: an opioid analgesic to be used with caution

Classified as a weak opioid, tramadol poses risks that require the same vigilance as with morphine.
1 June 2020

Thyroid hormone treatment: no proof of benefit in asymptomatic subclinical hypothyroidism

According to a systematic review of comparative trials in approximately 2 000 patients, symptomless hypothyroidism discovered incidentally does not require thyroid hormone treatment (levothyroxine).
1 June 2020

Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR): no link with autism

FEATURED REVIEW Studies based on a very significant number of children, taken together, do not show any link between MMR vaccination and the occurrence of autistic disorders. The authors of the two studies claiming the opposite used incorrect data or applied inappropriate analytical methods.
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.
1 May 2020

In the May issue of Prescrire International: Dulaglutide (Trulicity°) and type 2 diabetes. No reduction in all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality

FREE DOWNLOADIn patients with type 2 diabetes who had a modest elevation of HbA1c, a recent trial suggested that addition of dulaglutide to hypoglycaemic therapy slightly reduced the risk of stroke, but did not reduce either all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality.
Full text available for free download.
1 May 2020

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