BMJ  2007;335 (15 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39427.546030.47

Editor's choice

Reasons for optimism

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Why would we publish a clinical review of a condition that affects only about 7000 people in the United Kingdom? We reject many articles because the condition described is "too rare for the BMJ." Why is cystic fibrosis (p 1225; doi: 10.1136/bmj.39391.713229.AD) an exception? Much has changed for patients with the condition. They live longer—the predicted survival for babies born in the 21st century is now more than 50 years; the standard treatment is changing; and the focus is now on screening newborns. Therefore non-specialists are more likely to encounter patients with cystic fibrosis than they did in the past. All of which is good news.

This week’s BMJ provides solutions for several clinically important problems. A systematic review (p 1248; doi: 10.1136/bmj.39398.682500.25) finds that antithrombin III should not be given to critically ill patients. This is good news because not using this expensive drug could save . . . [Full text of this article]

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