In a prospective study of 20 patients with NMS, those who received dantrolene (2 patients) or bromocriptine (2 patients) or both (4 patients) tended to have a more prolonged course of illness and a greater incidence of sequelae than those treated with supportive care alone. These results do not indicate a useful role for dantrolene or bromocriptine in the treatment of NMS.

The pathogenetic mechanisms of thrombosis in cancer involve a complex interaction between tumour cells, activation of blood coagulation such as in acute-phase reactions, paraprotein production, inflammation, necrosis and haemodynamic disorders. Malignant cells can activate blood coagulation by releasing proinflammatory and proangiogenic cytokines and by interacting with vascular and blood cells. 4 It has been thought that patients with idiopathic or primary VTE are at higher risk of occult cancer than patients with a venous thrombotic event secondary to a provoking factor. 5 However, several studies have shown that VTE in patients with chronic diseases like psoriasis may also be a marker for occult cancer. 6 Comprehensive research has shown that extensive screening for occult cancer in patients with VTE in general will lead to a higher rate of cancer detection, but these strategies have not been associated with improved cancer-related mortality. 7 It is not clear from existing literature whether some subgroups of patients, like those with psoriasis, may benefit from extensive diagnostic investigations for cancer. Therefore, patients with psoriasis with a VTE should follow the same guidelines for occult cancer screening as other patients with VTE, until more evidence becomes available. 8

No abstract

Vasomotor rhinitis is a condition of chronic nasal congestion which is noninfectious and nonallergic. Its cause is thought to be an imbalance of autonomic control to the nasal mucosa. This disorder is a diagnosis of exclusion, and other causes of chronic nasal obstruction must be considered first. Treatment measures include avoidance of nonspecific stimuli which exacerbate symptoms and, for symptomatic relief, use of oral sympathomimetics. Antihistamine-decongestant combinations may be effective in some patients. Topical vasoconstrictors should not be used.