Abstract
Background and Objectives
Case reports and case series are often the first evidence of innovative treatment,
but clinical trials need to follow to substantiate this evidence. The objective of
this article was to evaluate case reports or case series describing innovative treatment
concerning their impact.
Methods
Case reports and case series (n ≤ 10) from a high-impact journal, The Lancet, published from 1 January 1996 to 30 June 1997, were evaluated according to predefined
criteria. To assess publication impact, Pubmed, Science Citation Index, the Register
of Current Controlled Clinical Trials, and the Cochrance Controlled Clinical Trials
Register were searched.
Results
Sixty-four case reports and 39 case series were identified. They were cited in average
17 times (median 6,5; range 0–336). Twenty-Four follow-up trials were identified,
nine in the register of current controlled clinical trials.
Conclusion
Case reports and case series can be well received, and have significant influence
on subsequent literature and possibly on clinical practice. Many were followed by
clinical trials. Often, though, they report rare conditions for which trials may not
be feasible, and more or less explicitly transfer established treatment into other
conditions. Overall, there is a strong publication bias favoring positive results,
and opportunity should be created for publication of follow-up reports.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 14, 2005
Accepted:
April 20,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
