Diagnostic accuracy of the care dependency scale.

Aim: This paper reports an investigation of the diagnostic accuracy of the Care Dependency Scale (CDS).

Background: Assessment tools can be described in terms of diagnostic accuracy, or the ability to correctly classify subjects into clinically relevant subgroups. Diagnostic accuracy can be determined by several techniques as sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating curve analysis and likelihood ratios.

The role of splenectomy in the treatment of relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a serious disorder of unknown etiology. Clinical findings are the result of vascular occlusions by platelet aggregates. Treatment with plasma exchange, often used in combination with corticosteroids, vincristine, aspirin, and dipyridamole, has reduced mortality to 20%.