[Pulmonar pseudotumor in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Pulmonary cancer and/or GPA? Diagnostic implications of pulmonary nodules]. / Pseudotumor pulmonar en granulomatosis con poliangeítis (GPA). ¿Cáncer pulmonar y/o GPA?, implicaciones diagnósticas de los nódulos pulmonares.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis, which affects small and medium sized blood vessels and is often associated with cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Inflammatory pseudotumor is a rare condition characterized by the appearance of a mass lesion that mimics a malignant tumor both clinically and on imaging studies, but that is thought to have an inflammatory/reactive pathogenesis. We report a patient with a GPA which was originally diagnosed as malignancy.

Subglottic stenosis in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis): Report of 4 cases. / Estenosis subglótica en granulomatosis con poliangitis (granulomatosis de Wegener): presentación de 4 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Subglottic stenosis (SGS) in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) may result from active disease or from chronic recurrent inflammation. The objective of the study was to describe the clinical features and treatment of patients with subglottic stenosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients with SGS due to GPA diagnosed at Rheumatology deparment between January 2000 and June 2015. RESULTS: We present 4 cases of SGS at our department during a period of 15 years. The interval between the presentation of the GPA and SGS varied between 2 and 144 months. The leading symptoms of SGS were dyspnoea on exertion and stridor. Three patients presented SGS without evidence of systemic activity. Two patients presented SGS grade i and received tracheal dilatation; two recurred and three needed a tracheostomy due to severe airway-limiting stenosis. CONCLUSION: SGS presents high morbidity. Even though subglottic dilatation provides symptomatic relief, recurrences may present. Severe airway-limiting stenosis often requires tracheostomy.

Biosimilar drugs in Mexico: position of the Mexican College of Rheumatology, 2012.

Biotechnological drugs (BTDs) are complex molecules whose manufacturing process precludes the ability to identically reproduce the structure of the original product, and therefore there cannot be an absolute equivalence between the original (innovative) medication and its biosimilar counterpart. BTDs have been proven useful in the treatment of several rheumatic diseases, however their high cost has prevented their use in many patients. Several BTD patents have expired or are close to expire, triggering the development of structurally similar drugs with efficacy and safety profiles comparable to the innovative compound; however, these must be evaluated through evidence based medicine. The Mexican General Health Law contemplates the registry of these biosimilar drugs for their use in our country. This document is a forethought from members of the Mexican College of Rheumatology, pharmacologists, and epidemiologists, in accordance with Mexican health authorities regarding the necessary scientific evidence required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biosimilar drugs before and after their arrival to the Mexican market.