January/February 2025

Peer Reviewed Feature Articles
Rheumatology

When worlds collide – connective tissue disease and interstitial lung disease

Dennis Neuen, Matthew J.S. Parker

Interstitial lung disease may be the first, and sometimes even the only, potentially serious presenting feature of an underlying connective tissue disease. GPs play a key role in recognising new symptoms, identifying adverse effects of treatment and ensuring that preventive health and comorbidities are addressed.

Toxicology

Snake envenoming – approach to suspected snakebites and delivering effective antivenom

Geoffrey K. Isbister, Ingrid Berling

Although a rare occurrence in Australia, clinicians need to be aware of how to respond to suspected snakebite. Early clinical assessment and identification of signs and symptoms of systemic envenoming, rather than the type of snake involved, are crucial to guide early decision-making about antivenom treatment.

Free Access
Free access
Women’s health

Hypertensive diseases in pregnancy

Annemarie Hennessy, Theepika Rajkumar

Blood pressure should be measured to assess risk in pregnancy. Different types of hypertension can indicate a risk of pre-eclampsia, which is associated with poorer maternal and neonatal outcomes. Ongoing assessment should be carried out to identify hypertension before, during and after pregnancy.

Peer Reviewed Regular Series
Gastroenterology clinic

Medical therapies for ulcerative colitis: a practical update

Alexander T. Elford, Britt Christensen

Australia has one of the highest rates of ulcerative colitis globally. Timely and appropriate medical therapy can alter the natural history of the disease and prevent serious complications.

Dermatology clinic

A woman with hair loss and nail changes

Vera Y. Miao, Rebecca Bronwyn Saunderson

A 43-year-old woman presents with generalised hair loss that has been gradually worsening over the past year. Examination of her fingernails reveals opaque and diffuse longitudinal ridging, which makes them rough to touch. What’s the diagnosis?

Drug update

Mavacamten: a novel treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Louise A. McCormack, John J. Atherton

Mavacamten is a first-in-class, selective, allosteric and reversible cardiac myosin inhibitor that is now available in Australia as a second-line treatment for adults with New York Heart Association class II and III symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiovascular medicine clinic

Iron deficiency in heart failure – more than just anaemia

David Chan, Andrew P. Sindone

Iron deficiency is common in patients with heart failure, often occurring independently of anaemia. This article provides a discussion of the evidence and guidelines surrounding intravenous iron replenishment in patients who have both conditions.

Physician-authored summaries and commentary on the most important medical research, provided by the NEJM Group, a division of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

© Massachusetts Medical Society