[Failure of an anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody in the treatment of migraine. Is it worthwhile trying another one?] / Fracaso de un anticuerpo monoclonal anti-CGRP en el tratamiento de la migraña. ¿Tiene sentido probar otro?

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is a highly prevalent neurological disease and the search for an effective treatment to improve the patient's quality of life is essential. In 2018, anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies were approved in Spain as a preventive treatment, and have proved to be effective in reducing the number of migraine crisis per month compared to placebo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study of 14 patients suffering from high-frequency or chronic episodic migraine, under follow-up in our headache unit, in whom an anti-CGRP monoclonal was changed due to its ineffectiveness. Epidemiological data and variables related to the response to both drugs were collected, such as headache days per month and migraine days per month, as well as validated quality of life scales (Migraine Disability Assessment Scale and Headache Impact Test-6). RESULTS: 50% of patients were males, with a median age of 46.5 years and 92% were diagnosed with chronic migraine. A follow-up of 6 to 12 months after the change of treatment was performed in 91.6% and significant improvement was observed in 33% of the patients. In addition, 50% had an initial response after three doses of the first monoclonal drug. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, 66% of patients who did not respond to a first drug responded initially to the switch and this improvement was maintained in 36% of them. Larger studies are needed to clarify this difference in response to different anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies.

TITLE: Fracaso de un anticuerpo monoclonal anti-CGRP en el tratamiento de la migraña. ¿Tiene sentido probar otro?Introducción. La migraña es una enfermedad neurológica altamente prevalente y la búsqueda de un tratamiento eficaz que mejore la calidad de vida del paciente es fundamental. En 2018 se aprobaron en España los anticuerpos monoclonales anti-CGRP como tratamiento preventivo, y han demostrado eficacia al reducir el número de crisis de migraña al mes frente a placebo. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de 14 pacientes con migraña episódica de alta frecuencia y crónica, en seguimiento en nuestra unidad de cefaleas, en los que se ha realizado el cambio de un monoclonal anti-CGRP por ineficacia. Se han recogido datos epidemiológicos y variables relacionadas con la respuesta a ambos fármacos, como los días de cefalea al mes y los días de migraña al mes, además de escalas validadas de calidad de vida (Migraine Disability Assessment Scale y Headache Impact Test-6). Resultados. El 50% de los pacientes son varones, con una mediana de edad de 46,5, y el 92% estaba diagnosticado de migraña crónica. Se realizó un seguimiento de entre seis y 12 meses tras el cambio de tratamiento en el 91,6%, y se observó mejoría significativa en el 33% de los pacientes. Además, en el 50% se objetivó respuesta inicial tras tres dosis con el primer monoclonal. Conclusiones. En nuestra serie, el 66% de los pacientes que no respondieron a un primer fármaco respondió inicialmente al cambio, y esta mejoría se mantuvo en el 36%. Se precisan estudios más amplios para aclarar esta diferencia de respuesta a los distintos anticuerpos monoclonales anti-CGRP.

European consensus statement on essential colposcopy.

This European consensus statement on essential colposcopy provides standards for the general colposcopist seeing women referred for colposcopy with an abnormal cervical screening test (including cytology and HPV tests) or with a clinically suspicious cervix. The article gives guidance regarding the aims and conduct of colposcopy. Recommendations are provided on colposcopy technique, the management of common colposcopy issues, treatment and follow-up of after treatment of CIN or early stage cervical. Colposcopists should make an informed decision on the management of each individual that is referred and organize appropriate follow-up. Cervical cancer is still a major health issue and the quality of care can only improve if there is a structured guidance for women with an abnormal smear or suspicious cervix.

Case fatality of COVID-19 in patients with neurodegenerative dementia. / Análisis de letalidad por COVID-19 en pacientes con demencia neurodegenerativa.

INTRODUCTION: The elderly population is the group most threatened by COVID-19, with the highest mortality rates. This study aims to analyse the case fatality of COVID-19 in a cohort of patients with degenerative dementia. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive case-control study of a sample of patients diagnosed with primary neurodegenerative dementia. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 88 patients with COVID-19 included in the study died: 10/23 (43.4%) patients diagnosed with dementia and 14/65 (21.5%) controls; this difference was statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that case fatality of COVID-19 is significantly higher among patients with primary degenerative dementia than in other patients with similar mean ages and comorbidities.

[Case fatality of COVID-19 in patients with neurodegenerative dementia]. / Análisis de letalidad por COVID-19 en pacientes con demencia neurodegenerativa.

Introduction: The elderly population is the group most threatened by COVID-19, with the highest mortality rates. This study aims to analyse the case fatality of COVID-19 in a cohort of patients with degenerative dementia. Methods: We conducted a descriptive case-control study of a sample of patients diagnosed with primary neurodegenerative dementia. Results: Twenty-four of the 88 patients with COVID-19 included in the study died: 10/23 (43.4%) patients diagnosed with dementia and 14/65 (21.5%) controls; this difference was statistically significant. Discussion: Our results suggest that case fatality of COVID-19 is significantly higher among patients with primary degenerative dementia than in other patients with similar mean ages and comorbidities.

[Cantrell's pentalogy: complete treatment, step by step]. / Pentalogía de Cantrell: tratamiento completo, paso a paso.

Since MAYOR and CANTRELL described in 1953 and in 1958 the ectopia cordis associated to other four anomalies, few cases have been reported, and only a small part of them have survived. We report the case of a neonate who presented with the features of the pentalogy. On the 3rd day we found at operation the heart laying over the left hepatic lobe, no pericardium could be identified and diaphragm was absent at its anterior edge. We made an "isolating sac" with duramadre fixed to the anterior thoracic wall, to both sides and to the posterior diaphragmatic defect. The initial management of the ventral defect is described. At the age of two years we initiated the definitive treatment aiming to: 1. To protect the heart. 2. To correct the huge abdominal eventration following the closure of the omphalocele. We described in details the technic employed to cover the precordial defect, to reconstruct the diaphragm, and finally as we treated in three consecutives stages the huge abdominal eventration.

[Volvulus of the small intestine. Contribution of abdominal echography to early diagnosis]. / Volvulo de intestino delgado. Contribucion de la ecografia abdominal al diagnostico precoz.

We report six cases of small intestine volvulus associated to malrotation, out of a whole of 11 volvulus managed by us in the last six years. None of them were diagnosed with the only help of clinical and conventional radiological explorations. In the other three cases the diagnosis was made through ultrasounds explorations: It showed the mesenteric vein on the left side of the mesenteric artery. Confirmation and resolution of the cases were reached with a laparotomy.

[Ectopic gastric mucosa in the proximal esophagus]. / Mucosa gástrica ectópica en esófago proximal.

Gastric mucosa is not found often in the proximal and medial esophagus. Hematemesis and dysphagia are the most frequent symptoms. We report a six year-old child who complained of difficulty in swallowing. A filling defect was detect in the esophagogram. We biopsied the suspected area, through an endoscopy and the pathological examination informed of ectopic gastric mucosa. We performed a 99Tc isotopic study. The child is on ambulatory controls and at the moment is asymptomatic.