Implementing pre-exposure prophylaxis could prevent most new HIV infections in transsexual women and men who have sex with men. / La implementación de la profilaxis preexposición podría evitar la mayoría de las nuevas infecciones por el VIH en hombres que tienen sexo con hombres y mujeres transexuales.

BACKGROUND: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) consists of administering antiretroviral drugs to HIV-seronegative individuals who engage in high-risk practices, with the aim of reducing the probability of acquiring the infection. Despite its safety and efficacy, PrEP is still not available within Spain's public healthcare system. The aim of this study was to estimate the preventive impact of adding PrEP to the other preventive measures. We estimated the number of HIV seroconversions that could have been prevented (if PrEP had been available) among initially seronegative transsexual women and men who have sex with men. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study of recent HIV seroconverters between 2014-2016 in a reference HIV/sexually transmitted infection clinic in Madrid. We analysed the individuals who were indicated PrEP, according to the guidelines of the 2016 AIDS Study Group. The statistical analysis to estimate the HIV infections that could have been prevented (if PrEP had been available) was conducted using Stata 14. RESULTS: We estimated that 195 of the 228 men who have sex with men and transsexual women, with documented HIV seroconversion, were indicated for PrEP. Considering the preventive efficacy reported in European studies, we estimated that 168 HIV seroconversions could have been prevented, which represents 73.7% of the diagnosed infections. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the need to promote combined preventive programs against HIV that integrate all possible measures, including PrEP.

[Recommendations for the use of cladribine tablets in recurring multiple sclerosis]. / Recomendaciones de uso de cladribina comprimidos en la esclerosis múltiple recurrente.

INTRODUCTION: Cladribine is a prodrug, a synthetic analogue of deoxyadenosine, approved for use as selective immune reconstitution therapy in very active recurring multiple sclerosis in adults. AIMS: To review the development of the drug, its mechanism of action and the efficacy and safety data obtained to date, as well as to establish recommendations of Spanish experts for its use in clinical practice. DEVELOPMENT: The treatment of multiple sclerosis has been simplified with cladribine tablets, and two short courses of administration for two consecutive years (maximum 20 days) are needed to maintain an efficacy of up to four years after the first dose. Results of clinical trials have demonstrated the safety, tolerability and long-term efficacy of cladribine tablets in patients with recurring multiple sclerosis. Thus, patients treated with cladribine presented a significant reduction in the rate of flare-ups, in the risk of disability progression and in the development of new lesions in magnetic resonance imaging compared to those treated with placebo. In terms of safety, the treated patients had a higher frequency of lymphopenia, in relation to its mechanism of action, and of infections by herpes zoster virus. Long-term results with eight years' follow-up have shown that treated patients are not at greater risk of developing serious events, such as malignant neoplasms or opportunistic infections. CONCLUSIONS: Cladribine is the first short-course oral therapy that has been shown to be effective and safe in patients with very active recurring multiple sclerosis, and with a sustained effect over time. The recommendations of Spanish experts on its usage are a fundamental complement to the considerations described by the regulatory agencies.

TITLE: Recomendaciones de uso de cladribina comprimidos en la esclerosis múltiple recurrente.Introducción. La cladribina es un profármaco, análogo sintético de la desoxiadenosina, aprobado como terapia de reconstitución inmune selectiva en la esclerosis múltiple (EM) recurrente muy activa del adulto. Objetivos. Revisar el desarrollo del fármaco, su mecanismo de acción y los datos de eficacia y seguridad obtenidos hasta la fecha, y establecer recomendaciones de manejo por expertos españoles en la práctica clínica. Desarrollo. El tratamiento de la EM se ha simplificado con cladribina comprimidos, y se necesitan dos cursos cortos de administración durante dos años consecutivos (máximo 20 días) para mantener una eficacia de hasta cuatro años tras la primera dosis. Los resultados de los ensayos clínicos han demostrado la seguridad, la tolerabilidad y la eficacia a largo plazo de la cladribina comprimidos en pacientes con EM recurrente. Así, los pacientes tratados con cladribina presentaron una reducción significativa de la tasa de brotes, del riesgo de progresión de la discapacidad y del desarrollo de nuevas lesiones en la resonancia magnética en comparación con los tratados con placebo. En cuanto a la seguridad, los pacientes tratados presentaron una mayor frecuencia de linfopenia, en relación con su mecanismo de acción, y de infecciones por el virus del herpes zóster. Los resultados a largo plazo con ocho años de seguimiento han mostrado que los pacientes tratados no tienen mayor riesgo de desarrollar efectos graves, como neoplasias malignas o infecciones oportunistas. Conclusiones. La cladribina es la primera terapia oral de corta administración que ha demostrado ser eficaz y segura en pacientes con EM recurrente muy activa, y con un efecto sostenido en el tiempo. Las recomendaciones de expertos españoles sobre su manejo suponen un complemento fundamental a las consideraciones descritas por las agencias reguladoras.

HIV/HBV coinfection: serological control and therapeutic strategies.

OBJECTIVES: The evolution and prognosis of patients co-infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV) is not well know. This study describes the treatment and serological, virological and biochemical and elastographic responses of HIV and HBV-coinfected patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective study of all the HIV/HBV-coinfected patients seen in a specialized HIV department between 1 January 2007 and 30 November 2008 was performed. Virological and serological determinations of HIV and HBV infections as well as CD4 lymphocytes and transaminases prior to antiretroviral treatment and at the time of analysis were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 54 (5.4%) cases of HIV/HBV coinfection were identified. The median nadir and current CD4 were 179 and 437 cells/L, respectively. There was undetectable RNA-HIV in 70%. There were 52 patients (96.3%) who followed active drugs treatment against HBV. After treatment, 68.8% had HBeAg negative result, with 81.6% virologic response. The HBsAg became negative in 10.4%. ALT was normal in 75.5%. FibroScan(®) was performed in 30 (55.6%) patients, yielding a median of 7.0kPa. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest a good serological, virological and biochemical control of HIV/HBV-coinfected patients with treatments recommended by clinical guidelines.

HIV/HBV coinfection: Serological control and therapeutic strategies. / Coinfección por VIH/VHB: estrategias terapéuticas y control serológico.

OBJECTIVES: The evolution and prognosis of patients co-infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV) is not well know. This study describes the treatment and serological, virological and biochemical and elastographic responses of HIV and HBV-coinfected patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective study of all the HIV/HBV-coinfected patients seen in a specialized HIV department between 1 January 2007 and 30 November 2008 was performed. Virological and serological determinations of HIV and HBV infections as well as CD4 lymphocytes and transaminases prior to antiretroviral treatment and at the time of analysis were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 54 (5.4%) cases of HIV/HBV coinfection were identified. The median nadir and current CD4 were 179 and 437 cells/L, respectively. There was undetectable RNA-HIV in 70%. There were 52 patients (96.3%) who followed active drugs treatment against HBV. After treatment, 68.8% had HBeAg negative result, with 81.6% virologic response. The HBsAg became negative in 10.4%. ALT was normal in 75.5%. FibroScan(®) was performed in 30 (55.6%) patients, yielding a median of 7.0kPa. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest a good serological, virological and biochemical control of HIV/HBV-coinfected patients with treatments recommended by clinical guidelines.

[Endocarditis caused by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans]. / Endocarditis por Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

The HACEK group endocarditis are infrequent in general population. They usually develop subacute endocarditis with large vegetations, peripheral emboli, heart failure, requiring frequent valvular replacement. We report a clinical case of endocarditis caused by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (AA), without the typical findings of the HACEK group endocarditis and with a successful evolution with medical treatment.

[Tuberculosis as cause of death]. / Tuberculosis como causa de muerte.

Despite the availability of an effective treatment for most cases, tuberculosis (TB) is still a cause of death in our environment. The necropsic sections of patients died because of TB during the 1987-1996 period at Hospital Clínico de San Carlos, Madrid, were reviewed. The investigated data from each patient included age, gender, chronology of suggestive symptoms of TB, degree of histological involvement, radiological pattern in chest X-ray, delay in initiating therapy, concomitant diseases and other alternative diagnosed considered. The delay in diagnosis was the main cause for TB mortality. Advanced age, delay in seeking medical care and the presence of atypical clinical and radiological patterns contributed to the fatal end. Other factors included alcoholism and immunodeficiency.

[Ischemic colitis: a descriptive analysis in a Madrid hospital]. / Colitis isquémica: análisis descriptivo en un hospital madrileño.

BACKGROUND: Ischaemic colitis represents the most common form of intestinal ischaemia and involves more commonly elderly patients with a variety of underlying conditions. This study analyses the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the disease in our environment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The IC cases occurred at our institution during the last two years were studied. Twenty-eight cases of IC obtained by reviewing colonoscopy and pathological records were analyzed. RESULTS: The non-occlusive type is the most common presentation form of IC. It affected elderly patients (74 +/- 10 years) with cardiovascular risk factors. Most cases manifested with abdominal pain (68%). In 64% cases, colonoscopy showed ulcerations, located mainly at descending colon and rectosigmoid. The clinical course was generally favourable with conservative measures. The overall mortality rate was 10%. CONCLUSION: The possibility of IC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of elderly patient with abdominal pain and cardiovascular risk factors.

[Acute abdomen of urologic origin]. / Abdomen agudo de origen urológico.

Presentation of one case of bladder carcinoma which caused acute abdomen following spontaneous perforation. This presentation is extremely rare and should be taken into account when haematuria and abdominal pain appear simultaneously.

[Ogilvie's syndrome. Benefits of repeat colonoscopic decompression on its developmental course]. / Síndrome de Ogilvie. Beneficios de la descompresión colonoscópic repetida sobre su curso evolutivo.

Seven cases of Ogilvie's syndrome are described. In six of ther good recovery was related to repeated endoscopic colonic decompressions. This is the safest and most precise procedure in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. We emphasize the usefulness of repeated decompressions in the outcome of Ogilvie's syndrome. One of patients in which decompression was not attempted died of a colonic rupture.

[The role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of primary peritoneal mesothelioma]. / Papel de la laparoscopia en el diagnóstico del mesotelioma peritoneal primario.

In this study we demonstrate the usefulness of laparoscopy on the diagnosis of some unusual causes of ascites, such as primary mesothelioma, usually overlooked by other diagnostic modalities, like ultrasound, computed tomography and cytology of the ascitic fluid. We describe three cases of primary peritoneal mesothelioma among 27 patients with exudative ascites submitted to laparoscopy at our institution during the past two years. The final diagnosis inaccessible to the conventional diagnostic modalities, was reached only by laparoscopy.

[Effort thrombosis of the subclavian-axillary vein: a report of 3 cases and the individualization of treatment]. / Trombosis de esfuerzo de la vena subclavioaxilar: descripción de tres casos e individualización del tratamiento.

The previous history, clinical evolution, diagnostic procedure and treatment in three cases of effort thrombosis of the subclavian-axillary vein are described. Only one patient presented on admittance signs compatible with thoracic outlet syndrome. We insist on the importance of individualizing treatment. A patient presented on admittance an advanced clinical picture and underwent anticoagulant treatment for six months, showing important clinical and phlebographic alterations during this time. The other two patients presented an acute picture of a few hours of evolution and initially underwent fibrinolytic treatment followed by anticoagulant treatment during three months. The clinical data as well as phlebography was normal in these patients six months after admission.

[Gastrointestinal involvement and the response to dapsone in a case of the urticarial vasculitis syndrome]. / Afección gastrointestinal y respuesta a dapsona en un caso de síndrome vasculitis urticaria.

A case of urticarial vasculitis syndrome is described in which the gastrointestinal disease was the main clinical manifestation. The gastroduodenal barium meal demonstrated signs compatible with intestinal ischemia which reversed upon medical treatment. The colonoscopy with biopsy showed changes compatible with unspecific colitis. The role of reversible acute vasculitis as a pathogenic factor implicated in the gastrointestinal manifestations in this entity is discussed. Although the response to treatment with corticoids and cochicine was not constant, there was good response to dapsone in successive relapses of the disease. Despite some antibodies becoming positive during the third year of follow up, the patient did not fulfill the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

[Digestive manifestations of common variable immunodeficiency]. / Manifestaciones digestivas de la inmunodeficiencia común variable.

We present 4 cases of common variable immunodeficiency with main digestive clinical manifestations. In all four cases chronic diarrhea with intestinal malabsorption predominated, as well as the presence lymphoid nodular hyperplasia; in one case Giardia infestation could be identified; one patient also presented chronic pancreatitis, or recurrent aphthous stomatitis and active chronic hepatitis; sideroblastic anemia could be observed in another patient. All patients had favorable evolution during follow-up which lasted at least 14 months in substitutive treatment with immunoglobulins. One of our patients presented an elevated number of suppressor T lymphocytes, with inversion of the T helper/T suppressor ratio which improved with cimetidine treatment.