Primary Care
Physician perspectives on preventive care, chronic disease management, and evidence-based primary care practice.
Recent Discussions
Which patients do you recommend referral to interventional radiology to perform a kidney biopsy?
There are a few instances when I would refer to an IR to perform a kidney biopsy: Obese patients when the kidney is deep Biopsy of target lesions within the kidney Transjugular kidney biopsy
What is your approach to the medical management of struvite kidney stones?
It is difficult to separate medical and surgical management of struvite stones, since these stones are typically the consequence of persistent or recurring infections. Surgically, risk factors for infection need to be addressed, which may include efforts to remove any retained stone material, follow...
Do you use 24 hour urine stone risk profiles for purposes other than managing nephrolithiasis?
I have used stone risk urine profiles in patients with calcium handling disorders, as well as sodium or potassium disorders, to identify dietary factors (excess or inadequate intake). They can be useful in any patient with concerns for dietary adequacy or maladsorption.
How do you typically treat aortitis associated with spondyloarthritis?
This is a complicated question - I typically think about combination therapy or CellCept/methotrexate plus TNFis. Depending on the severity, Cytoxan is always a good option to start. Typically IL-6 blockade does not help for the spondy patient - so I only use IL-6 when the spondy symptoms are not pr...
What is your go to steroid regimen for post SRS headache?
Start with Dex 2mg. If that works, then that's it. If it continues, can take a second dose later in the day. It is usually transient, so I don't prefer to give high/long doses and just manage as it comes. Typically, in a day or two, it appears to resolve in my experience.
How do you manage an infection that occurs in the treatment field while under treatment?
I believe it is rare to develop an infection within the treated volume. When it does happen, treating with antibiotics and continuing treatment is probably best. If it is an abscess, then sometimes drainage with possible re-planning is necessary. I generally do not stop treatment unless the patient ...
Would you consider clearing a patient with essential thrombocytosis for a kidney donation?
For brevity, I am assuming that the patient is already medically approved for surgery and organ donation, and I will focus on the clinical significance of the essential thrombocytosis (ET) with regard to both. I am also going to assume that the patient actually has ET, and not masked polycythemia ve...
How would you approach a patient with incidentally noted infrarenal periaortitis with positive C-ANCA, normal inflammatory markers and no systemic symptoms?
Based on data we and others have published over the past 20 years, the specificity of testing for ANCA depends on testing for antibodies to the specific antigens proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) by ELISA or other newer methods. Immunofluorescence (IF) testing alone for ANCA is not accept...
How do you approach low to moderate titer of APLS when working up unprovoked DVT if it is persistent on repeat testing?
I have a low threshold to recommend long term (indefinite) anticoagulation for unprovoked thrombosis, regardless of whether there is positive APLS testing. I do agree with Dr. @Dr. First Last, however, that shared decision-making is important when committing a patient to prolonged anticoagulation, a...
What is your approach to managing RA patients with history of organ transplant already on immunosuppressive therapy such as cyclosporine or cellcept?
In contrast to my esteemed colleague, @Dr. First Last, in 38+ years in clinical rheumatology practice (maybe those 3 years make a difference), I have seen RA occur in 3 patients with solid organ transplants. All 3 were renal transplants; all 3 were recurrent diseases that had been previously control...