Reviews

Anticonvulsants for alcohol dependence
At the current stage of research, randomised evidence supporting the clinical use of anticonvulsants to treat alcohol dependence is insufficient. Results are conditioned by heterogeneity and by the low number and quality of studies comparing anticonvulsants with other medications. The uncertainty associated with these results leaves to clinicians the need to balance possible benefits/risks of treatment with anticonvulsants versus other medications as supported by evidence of efficacy. Pani PP, Trogu E, Pacini M, Maremmani I. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Feb 13;2:CD008544. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24523233

Treatment for primary postpartum haemorrhage
Clinical trials included in the current review were not adequately powered to assess impact on the primary outcome measures. Compared with misoprostol, oxytocin infusion is more effective and causes fewer side effects when used as first-line therapy for the treatment of primary PPH. When used after prophylactic uterotonics, misoprostol and oxytocin infusion worked similarly. The review suggests that among women who received oxytocin for the treatment of primary PPH, adjunctive use of misoprostol confers no added benefit.The role of tranexamic acid and compression methods requires further evaluation. Furthermore, future studies should focus on the best way to treat women who fail to respond to uterotonic therapy. Mousa HA, Blum J, Abou El Senoun G, Shakur H, Alfirevic Z. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Feb 13;2:CD003249. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24523225