Description of a single centre cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis from the University Hospital of Buenos Aires and factors associated with lung function deterioration. A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Given the paucity of data in Latin America and especially in Argentina regarding the epidemiology of SSc, the prevalence of ILD, its course, and particularly the response to treatment, our objective was to evaluate a cohort of SSc patients evaluated in a single University Hospital in Buenos Aires. PATIENTS/METHODS: We included 152 patients with SSc, followed from disease onset to last pulmonary function test and with at least two PFT and up to 30 months between each. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent had diffuse SSc (DSSc) and 32% limited SSc (LSSc). The only significant clinical differences between these groups were a higher initial mRodnan score and prevalence of ILD in the DSSc. These also had significantly more anti Scl-70 (Topoisomerase 1) antibodies compared to the LSSC group who had significantly more anti centromere antibodies. The DSSc group also had significantly more extensive damage on HRCT with no differences in terms of imaging patterns. Comparing patients with and without ILD by HRCT, those with ILD had significantly more extensive damage, significantly more anti Scl-70 antibodies, and significantly fewer anti centromere antibodies than those without ILD. Patients whose ILD progressed had a smoking history (OR 4.97) and prior immunosuppressive treatment (OR 15.6) (multivariate analysis). Overall disease duration was significantly shorter in those who progressed. CONCLUSIONS: Our SSc population had similar characteristics to those described elsewhere as well as prevalence of ILD and its progression. We found a shorter disease duration, smoking, and prior immunosuppressive treatment to be associated with ILD progression.

[Factors associated with the development of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis]. / Factores asociados al desarrollo de enfermedad pulmonar intersticial en esclerosis sistémica.

INTRODUCTION: interstitial lung involvement occurs in 80% of chest CT scans of patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) and has a great impact on morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to describe factors associated with the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients diagnosed with SS in our division. METHODS: a retrospective case-control study of patients followed up between 2005-2021 who met the classification criteria for SS was performed. ILD was defined as the finding of interstitial manifestations on high-resolution chest tomography (HRCT): non-specific interstitial pneumonia pattern (NSIP) or usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), and/or findings on pulmonary function tests (FVC less than 80% and DLCO less than 80%). Patients with ILD (cases) and without it (controls) were identified. Demographic, clinical and serological variables were analyzed. Percentage, mean (SD) and median (IQR) measurements were calculated for each variable. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression to establish its association with ILD. RESULTS: Seventy nine patients with SS were included, 31 with ILD. Univariate analysis showed that sclerosis subtype (according to Le Roy classification), lung function measures, and anticentromere antibody positivity were factors associated with ILD in a statistically significant way. In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of anti-centromere antibodies was statistically significant. DISCUSSION: the analysis of risk factors to determine the development and progression of lung damage is of vital importance for an early implementation of treatment, which would impact the mortality rate of patients with SS.

Introducción: el compromiso pulmonar intersticial se presenta en 80% de las tomografías de tórax de pacientes con esclerosis sistémica (ES) y tiene gran impacto en la morbimortalidad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir factores asociados al desarrollo de enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPI) en pacientes con diagnóstico de ES de nuestra división. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, casos y controles, de pacientes seguidos entre 2005-2021 que cumplían criterios de ES. Se definió EPI al hallazgo de manifestaciones intersticiales en tomografía de tórax con cortes de alta resolución (TACAR): patrón neumonía intersticial no específica (NINE) o neumonía intersticial usual (NIU), y/o hallazgos en pruebas de función pulmonar (CVF menor al 80% y DLCO menor al 80%). Se identificaron pacientes con EPI (casos) y sin ella (controles). Se analizaron variables demográficas, clínicas y serológicas. Se calcularon medidas de porcentaje, media (DS) y mediana (RIQ) en cada variable. Se efectuó análisis univariado y multivariado, mediante regresión logística para establecer su asociación con EPI. Resultados: Se incluyeron 79 pacientes con ES, 31 con EPI. El análisis univariado demostró que el subtipo de esclerosis (según clasific ación Le Roy), las medidas de función pulmonar y positividad del anticuerpo anticentrómero fueron factores asociados en forma estadísticamente significativa con EPI. En el análisis multivariado solo la presencia de anticuerpos anti-centrómero fue estadísticamente significativa. Discusión: el análisis de los factores de riesgo para determinar desarrollo y progresión de daño pulmonar tiene vital importancia para una implementación temprana del tratamiento, lo que impactaría en la tasa de mortalidad de los pacientes con ES.

Factores asociados al desarrollo de enfermedad pulmonar intersticial en esclerosis sistémica / Factors associated with the development of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis

Resumen Introducción: el compromiso pulmonar intersticial se presenta en 80% de las tomografías de tórax de pacientes con esclerosis sistémica (ES) y tiene gran impacto en la morbimortalidad. El objeti vo de este trabajo fue describir factores asociados al desarrollo de enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPI) en pacientes con diagnóstico de ES de nuestra división. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, casos y controles, de pacientes seguidos entre 2005-2021 que cumplían criterios de ES. Se definió EPI al hallazgo de manifestaciones intersticiales en tomografía de tórax con cortes de alta resolución (TACAR): patrón neumonía intersticial no específica (NINE) o neumonía intersticial usual (NIU), y/o hallazgos en pruebas de función pulmonar (CVF menor al 80% y DLCO menor al 80%). Se identificaron pacientes con EPI (casos) y sin ella (controles). Se analizaron variables demográficas, clínicas y serológicas. Se calcularon medidas de porcentaje, media (DS) y mediana (RIQ) en cada variable. Se efectuó análisis univariado y multivariado, mediante regresión logística para establecer su asociación con EPI. Resultados: Se incluyeron 79 pacientes con ES, 31 con EPI. El análisis univariado demostró que el subtipo de esclerosis (según clasific ación Le Roy), las medidas de función pulmonar y positividad del anticuerpo anticentrómero fueron factores asociados en forma estadísticamente significativa con EPI. En el análisis multivariado solo la presencia de anticuerpos anti-centrómero fue estadísticamente significativa. Discusión: el análisis de los factores de riesgo para determinar desarrollo y progresión de daño pulmonar tiene vital importancia para una implementación temprana del tratamiento, lo que impactaría en la tasa de mortalidad de los pacientes con ES.

Abstract Introduction: interstitial lung involvement occurs in 80% of chest CT scans of patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) and has a great impact on morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to describe factors associated with the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients diagnosed with SS in our division. Methods: a retrospective case-control study of patients followed up between 2005-2021 who met the classification criteria for SS was performed. ILD was defined as the finding of interstitial manifestations on high-resolution chest tomography (HRCT): non-specific interstitial pneumonia pattern (NSIP) or usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), and/or findings on pulmonary function tests (FVC less than 80% and DLCO less than 80%). Patients with ILD (cases) and without it (controls) were identified. Demographic, clinical and serological variables were analyzed. Percentage, mean (SD) and median (IQR) measurements were calculated for each variable. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression to establish its association with ILD. Results: Seventy nine patients with SS were included, 31 with ILD. Univariate analysis showed that sclerosis subtype (according to Le Roy classification), lung function measures, and anticentromere antibody positivity were factors associated with ILD in a statistically significant way. In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of anti-centromere antibodies was statistically significant. Discussion: the analysis of risk factors to determine the development and progression of lung damage is of vital importance for an early implementation of treatment, which would impact the mortality rate of patients with SS.

Sex-dependent grades of haematopoietic modulation in patients with major depressive episodes are associated with suicide attempts.

Suicide is the leading cause of non-natural death worldwide, and major depressive disorder (MDD) is the mood disorder with the highest prevalence among individuals with suicidal behaviour (SB). The role of inflammation and immunomodulation in mood disorders has raised interest in recent years, as inflammation biomarkers have been reported to be increased in mood disorder patients, suggesting a role of inflammation in their pathogenesis. The influence of inflammation on the haematopoietic production is well known; however, a comprehensive study of the haematopoietic production in patients with major depressive episodes (MDE) is lacking. We examined global haematopoietic parameters from complete blood counts (CBC) of patients with MDE, in search of prognostic patterns. MDE patients presented differences in several CBC parameters, differences that were clearly pronounced and/or significant in concurrence with suicide attempts (SA). Red and white blood cell lineage parameters were affected, suggesting general haematopoietic modulation or imbalance. We observed distinct haematological parameter changes in women versus men, with men presenting milder alterations than women. Interestingly, we found that the List of Threatening Experiences (LTE) score, but not the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), was associated with the haematopoietic alterations observed exclusively in women and, more importantly, served as a parameter to stratify female MDE patients based on concurrence or non-concurrence with SA. In conclusion, grades of haematopoietic modulation in MDE patients are associated with absence or presence of SA. Haematopoietic manifestations differ between men and women and, in the latter, are markedly influenced by late, and not early, traumatic events.

[Hypoxic hepatitis in a patient with endomyocardial fibrosis]. / Hepatitis hipóxica en paciente con endomiocardiofibrosis.

Endomyocardial fibrosis is a restrictive cardiomyopathy with high morbidity and mortality rates, prevalent in the sub-Saharan Africa region but infrequent in our population. It has a close relation with blood hypereosinophilia. Hypoxic hepatitis is frequently observed in intensive care units and its diagnosis is clinical. It shows a typical enzyme pattern with high mortality too. There are multiple mechanisms responsible for this condition, such as ischemia, passive congestion and dysoxia. We described the case of a 35 year-old cocaine addict woman diagnosed with endomyocardial fibrosis and hypereosinophilic syndrome who developed cardiogenic shock with hypoxic hepatitis. The patient evolved favorably with the appropriate treatment.

La endomiocardiofibrosis es una causa de miocardiopatía restrictiva frecuente en la región de áfrica subsahariana, aunque poco frecuente en nuestra población. Posee estrecha relación con la presencia de hipereosinofilia en sangre y tiene alta morbimortalidad. La hepatitis hipóxica es una afección clínica con un patrón enzimático característico, muy prevalente en unidades de cuidados intensivos y elevada mortalidad. Se reconocen múltiples mecanismos fisiopatológicos, como la isquemia, la congestión venosa y la alteración en la utilización de oxígeno del hepatocito. Describimos el caso de u na paciente de 35 años, consumidora de cocaína, con diagnóstico de endomiocardiofibrosis secundario a síndrome hipereosinofílico idiopático que presentó shock cardiogénico y hepatitis hipóxica asociada. Evolucionó favorablemente con el tratamiento de sostén adecuado.

Hepatitis hipóxica en paciente con endomiocardiofibrosis / Hypoxic hepatitis in a patient with endomyocardial fibrosis

La endomiocardiofibrosis es una causa de miocardiopatía restrictiva frecuente en la región de África subsahariana, aunque poco frecuente en nuestra población. Posee estrecha relación con la presencia de hipereosinofilia en sangre y tiene alta morbimortalidad. La hepatitis hipóxica es una afección clínica con un patrón enzimático característico, muy prevalente en unidades de cuidados intensivos y elevada mortalidad. Se reconocen múltiples mecanismos fisiopatológicos, como la isquemia, la congestión venosa y la alteración en la utilización de oxígeno del hepatocito. Describimos el caso de u na paciente de 35 años, consumidora de cocaína, con diagnóstico de endomiocardiofibrosis secundario a síndrome hipereosinofílico idiopático que presentó shock cardiogénico y hepatitis hipóxica asociada. Evolucionó favorablemente con el tratamiento de sostén adecuado.

Endomyocardial fibrosis is a restrictive cardiomyopathy with high morbidity and mortality rates, prevalent in the sub-Saharan Africa region but infrequent in our population. It has a close relation with blood hypereosinophilia. Hypoxic hepatitis is frequently observed in intensive care units and its diagnosis is clinical. It shows a typical enzyme pattern with high mortality too. There are multiple mechanisms responsible for this condition, such as ischemia, passive congestion and dysoxia. We described the case of a 35 year-old cocaine addict woman diagnosed with endomyocardial fibrosis and hypereosinophilic syndrome who developed cardiogenic shock with hypoxic hepatitis. The patient evolved favorably with the appropriate treatment.

Infección de la herida quirúrgica: aspectos epidemiológicos / Infection in surgical wound: epidemiological features

Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sobre las infecciones de la herida quirúrgica y sus aspectos epidemiológicos, debido a que continúan siendo un importante problema para muchas instituciones hospitalarias. La tasa de infección de la herida quirúrgica es uno de los índices más importantes para establecer la calidad de un servicio quirúrgico por el enorme costo económico y en salud que esta ocasiona. Esto se debe en gran medida a la falta de estudios en las instituciones hospitalarias para identificar aquellos factores que incrementan el riesgo de infección de la herida quirúrgica y la falta de métodos de vigilancia posoperatoria después del alta, lo que trae consigo un subregistro de las tasas de incidencia y un inadecuado control de las infecciones. De ahí el interés de conocer la incidencia real y la comparación con las cifras obtenidas en otros centros, que pueden servir de referencia, para mejorar la práctica asistencial.

A bibliographic review on surgical wound infections and its epidemiological features was made, because of they remain as a significant problem for many hospital institutions. Rate of surgical wound infection is one of more important indexes to establish the quality of surgical service due to its huge economical and health cost. This is provoked by lack of studies on hospital institutions to identify those factors increasing risk of infection of surgical wound, and also lack of postoperative surveillance methods after discharge, resulting in a sub-registry of incidence rates, and a inappropriate control of infections. From that we can deduce interest to know real incidence and comparison with figures obtained in other centers, that may be a reference to improve assistance practice.