Cross-Sectional Validation of a Quality of Life Questionnaire in Spanish for Patients Allergic to Hymenoptera Venom.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The first quality of life questionnaire for Vespula-allergic patients (Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire [VQLQ) was developed in 2002. Our objective was to perform the cross-sectional validation of the Spanish version of this questionnaire. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the original English-language version of the VQLQ as a starting point, the Spanish translation and cultural adaptation were performed and the first Spanish version was backtranslated into English and discussed with the authors of the original version. The result was the Spanish Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Hymenoptera Venom-Allergic Patients (HRQLHA). Cross-sectional validation was carried out in a multicenter study using a test-retest design. Patients over the age of 14 diagnosed with systemic allergic reaction to venom from Apis, Vespula, or Polistes species were included. The test-retest reliability, external validity, and internal consistency of the questionnaire were measured. RESULTS: The sample comprised 116 patients. The mean HRQLHA score was 3.48. Test-retest reliability showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.85. HRQLHA showed a positive correlation (0.5) with an external questionnaire, thus demonstrating its external validity. Analysis of the internal consistency of the HRQLHA yielded a Cronbach α of 0.95, which can be considered to be excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical analysis revealed the high test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and external validity of the HRQLHA. The HRQLHA is the first validated questionnaire to include patients allergic to Polistes species, which is common in our area. Our findings show that the questionnaire is also valid for these patients.

Prevalence of asthma and severity of allergic rhinitis comparing 2 perennial allergens: house dust mites and Parietaria judaica pollen.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an increasingly prevalent worldwide disease that has a considerable impact on quality of life and health care costs. Asthma and AR may be part of the same disease, with AR leading to an increased risk of asthma. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of asthma in patients with AR due to house dust mites (HDMs) or Parietaria judaica and analyze the characteristics of asthma and AR in each group. METHODS: Cross-sectional, multicenter study with recording of demographic and clinical characteristics. All patients had AR confirmed by symptoms and a positive skin prick test to HDMs or P judaica. They were classified according to the severity and frequency ofAR following the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) and modified ARIA criteria and according to the severity of asthma following the Global Initiative for Asthma criteria. RESULTS: We studied 395 patients (226 in the HDM group and 169 in the Pjudaica group) with a mean (SD) age of 43 (15.3) years. Using the modified ARIA criteria, we detected more severe and persistent AR in the P judaica group than in the HDM group (44.5% vs 24.8%, P < .001). Nevertheless, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of the severity or prevalence (50% in HDM vs 47.9% in P judaica, P = .685) of asthma. CONCLUSION: AR due to P judaica pollen, which behaves like a perennial allergen, is associated with the same prevalence of asthma and with more severe rhinitis than AR due to HDMs.

Kounis syndrome: report of 5 cases.

Kounis syndrome has been defined as an acute coronary syndrome that manifests as unstable vasospastic or nonvasospastic angina, and even as acute myocardial infarction. It is triggered by the release of inflammatory mediators following an allergic insult. We report 5 patients attended at our hospital between January 2005 and May 2008 who were diagnosed with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction-according to analytical parameters, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and/or coronary angiography--in the context of an anaphylactic episode. Age at the time of the episode, age ranged between 50 and 68 years. The results of an allergology study revealed the causal agents to be drugs in 4 cases (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and omeprazole) and food in 1 case (kiwi). Coronary disease of a blood vessel was observed in 2 patients. Serious allergic reactions may be the cause of acute coronary syndrome in patients with healthy or altered coronary arteries and no cardiovascular risk factors.

Oestrogen-dependent hereditary angio-oedema with normal C1 inhibitor: description of six new cases and review of pathogenic mechanisms and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angio-oedema (HAE) is a rare condition in which there is a deficiency in the quantity or activity of C1 inhibitor (C1INH). Recently, an additional type of HAE with no alterations in the levels or the function of C1INH has been reported. It is defined as HAE with normal C1INH, and named type III HAE or oestrogen-dependent HAE. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and laboratory findings of six new cases of type III HAE and to review the literature about this disease. METHODS: A short description of six women with recurrent angio-oedema is provided. The characteristics of the patients are compared with the previously reported case series in a literature-based review. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at onset was 22 years (range 16-30). All of them had angio-oedema attacks during oestrogen-based contraceptive treatment and four reported episodes during pregnancy. Four patients reported a positive past family history. Two of them had experienced episodes of laryngeal oedema. None of the patients responded to corticoids or antihistamines during the attacks. Levels and functional activity of C1INH were within the normal range in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and laboratory findings mirror the observations of previous reports of oestrogen-dependent angio-oedema with normal C1INH. This is the first published series of type III HAE in Spain.

Ránula cervical gigante: a propósito de un caso / Huge plunging ranula: about a case

La ránula es una lesión pseudoquística causada por la retención de contenido salival de la glándula sublingual en el tejido conjuntivo subyacente, siendo la patología más frecuente de esta glándula. Su localización es a nivel del suelo de la boca, pudiendo en ocasiones extenderse a través del músculo milohioideo hacia la región submaxilar o cervical (ránula plunging o cervical), presentándose clínicamente como una tumoración laterocervical de crecimiento lento. El apoyo de imágenes mediante ecografía, tomografía computarizada, o RM (resonancia magnética) es fundamental para un correcto diagnóstico. Respecto al tratamiento, el procedimiento más aceptado y con menos tasas de recurrencia es la escisión de la ránula cervical por abordaje laterocervical, asociada a la extirpación de la glándula sublingual implicada vía transoral. Aquí presentamos el caso clínico de un varón de 25 años quien presenta una masa laterocervical derecha de seis meses de evolución de crecimiento progresivo e indoloro. La ecografía y RM confirman una ránula cervical gigante de 62x45x101 mm, que se localiza en espacio submandibular derecho, alcanzando el espacio parafaríngeo en su vertiente más craneal. Debido a las características de la lesión y su anatomía se decide tratamiento quirúrgico.

The ranula is a pseudocystic lesion caused by the retention of salivary content of the sublingual gland in the underlying connective tissue, being the most frequent pathology of this gland. Its location is at the level of the floor of the mouth and can sometimes extend through the mylohyoid muscle towards the submaxillary or cervical region (plunging or cervical ranula), clinically presenting as a slow-growing laterocervical tumor. The support of images by ultrasound, computed tTomography or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is essential for a correct diagnosis. Regarding treatment, the most accepted procedure, and with the lowest recurrence rates is excision of the cervical ranula by the laterocervical approach, associated with the transoral removal of the involved sublingual gland. Here, we present the clinical case of a 25-year-old man who presented a six-month-old right laterocervical mass of progressive and painless growth. Ultrasound and MRI confirmed a giant cervical ranula measuring approximately 62x45x101 mm, located in the right submandibular space, reaching the parapharyngeal space in its most cranial aspect. Due to the characteristics of the injury and its anatomy, surgical treatment was decided.

Tendinitis calcificante del longísimo del cuello / Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscles

RESUMEN La tendinitis calcificante prevertebral es una patología benigna y poco frecuente, con una incidencia anual de 0,5 casos por cada 100.000 habitantes. Se presenta un caso de una paciente de 52 años que consultó por cervicalgia, odinofagia y disfonía de 5 días de evolución. Tras una exploración otorrinolaringológica completa se sospechó ocupación del espacio retrofaríngeo, confirmada con pruebas de imagen. Ante estos hallazgos y con la sospecha de absceso retrofaríngeo, se decidió ingreso hospitalario para tratamiento intravenoso. Por discordancia entre la clínica, la TC y los hallazgos analíticos, se solicitó RM cervical, cuya imagen hizo sospechar una tendinitis aguda calcificante del longísimo del cuello. En este trabajo se ha realizado una revisión de la sintomatología, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de esta entidad. Consideramos importante sospecharla dentro del diagnóstico diferencial de la ocupación del espacio retrofaríngeo para evitar realizar procedimientos innecesarios.

ABSTRACT Prevertebral calcific tendinitis is a benign and infrequent pathology, with an annual incidence of 0.5 cases per 100,000 habitants. We report the case of a 52-year-old woman that presented with a 5-day history of cervicalgia, odynophagia and dysphonia. Otolaryngological examination and radiological images showed occupation of the retropharyngeal space. The patient was admitted to the hospital for intravenous treatment. A cervical MRI was requested, suggesting an acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscles. The authors provide a discussion of the clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of this condition. We consider it to be an important differential diagnosis of a retropharyngeal space occupation, in order to avoid unnecessary procedures.

Carcinoma papilar de quiste de conducto tirogloso sincrónico con carcinoma papilar de tiroides / Synchronous papillary carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst and papillary thyroid carcinoma

Presentamos el caso de un paciente diagnosticado de quiste de conducto tirogloso y un nódulo tiroideo ístmico en el que se evidenciaron focos de carcinoma papilar intraquístico concomitantes con carcinoma papilar en el nódulo tiroideo. La indicación terapéutica en estos casos es controvertida, y dependerá en la mayoría de los casos del estudio microscópico de la muestra. En nuestro caso se realizó en un primer tiempo la intervención de Sistrunk asociada a una istmectomía y tras conocer el resultado de ambas muestras se decidió realizar tiroidectomía total.

We report the case of a patient with a thyroglossal duct cyst and a nodule at the thyroid isthmus which showed intracystic papillary carcinoma foci concomitant with papillary carcinoma in the thyroid nodule. The therapeutic indication in these cases is controversial. In our case it was done in a first intervention a Sistrunk technique associated to an isthmectomy and after knowing the results of both samples was decided to perform a total thyroidectomy.