[Functional classification of chronic alcoholic hepatopathy in primary care]. / Clasificación funcional de la hepatopatía crónica alcohólica en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of Pugh's Classification in assessing patients with diffuse alcoholic Chronic Hepatopathy in the out-patient context. DESIGN: Descriptive-retrospective study. SITE. The Base Health Area of "La Mina" in Barcelona. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 143 patients over the age of 14 diagnosed as suffering diffuse chronic Hepatopathy were identified. 37 of these were excluded because of lack of data. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The following data were gathered: those relating to semeiology, anamnesis, quantifying alcoholic intake, where the original diagnosis was made, how rapidly the condition evolved, laboratory and complementary explorations' parameters. Out of the 106 patients studied 71 (67%) were classified in group A; 22 (21%) in B and 13 (12%) in C. No significant differences were found in relation to age or sex. Significant differences concerning the speed of the condition's evolution and the average intake in grammes of alcohol per day were observable. The number of hospital admissions increased as the patient's functional stage became worse and complications increased. CONCLUSIONS: Pugh's test was shown to be useful in the out-patient context for classifying patients suffering chronic diffuse Hepatopathy in line with the severity of their condition.

[Thyrotropic hormone in an adult population seeking care at a primary health care center]. / Hormona tirotropa en la población adulta demandante de un centro de atención primaria.

In a study of the need for detecting subclinical hypothyroidism in a population aged 60-80 years, the measurement of thyrotropin with the immunofluorometric technique in 446 individuals seeking attention identified 58 with high TSH (greater than 4 microU/ml); only 33 of these were evaluated in a specialized endocrinological unit. The abnormality was confirmed by radioimmunometric technique in 19 patients (4%), and in the remaining 14 individuals disease was ruled out. The prevalence in this group of individuals is comparable to that found in other studies which recommend screening for subclinical hypothyroidism, but the requirement for the implementation of such a screening program in our area should be carefully evaluated before it could be recommended.

[Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and trimethoprim in the treatment of urinary infection in primary care]. / Amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico y trimetoprim en el tratamiento de la infección urinaria en atención primaria.

The effectiveness of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (A/Cl) and trimetoprim (TMP) were compared in two different schedules: 10 days treatment and monodose, in 80 patients with, urinary tract infection (UTI) demonstrated by urine culture. The patients over 65 years, the males and those with underlying risk conditions randomly received A/Cl or TMP during 10 days. The rates of cure were 76.9% for A/Cl and 73.9% for TMP. The difference was not significant. Thirty-one patients without those features randomly received a short A/Cl course or a single dose of TMP. The rates of cure were 92.8% for A/Cl and 58.8% for TMP. The difference was statistically significant. It was concluded that, in our patients, complicated lower UTI have a similar response rate to a ten days course of A/Cl or TMP, whereas A/Cl for three days is more effective than a single TMP dose to treat noncomplicated lower UTI.