Incidence, factors related to presentation, course and mortality of metformin-associated lactic acidosis in the healthcare area of a tertiary hospital. / Incidencia, factores relacionados con la presentación, evolución y mortalidad de la acidosis láctica asociada a metformina en el área sanitaria de un hospital de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of metformin-induced lactic acidosis during the period January 2014 to March 2017 in Aragon Healthcare Area III. To analyse the associated clinical and analytical factors and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 31 cases (61.3% males). Incidence: 79.76 cases/100,000 patients-year; mean age 75.39±9.34 years; 23 of them with levels of serum metformin (21.91±15.52 mcg/ ml); milligrams/day of metformin ingested: 1790.32±499; 96.8% of cases in the context of acute kidney failure; 11 cases with a history of chronic kidney disease (35.5%); 12 required intensive care (38.7%); 13 required purification treatment (41.9%; 3 haemodiafiltration, 10 haemodialysis). There was a significant correlation between daily milligrams of metformin ingested and drug levels; levels of metformin; and peak creatinine, pH and lactate. Mortality was 25.8%. There were only significant differences between the deceased and survivors regarding the duration of stay and final creatinine. Multivariate logistic regression did not detect any study variables associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence in our healthcare area is higher than in other series, with a 25.8% mortality rate. Virtually all cases were in the context of prerenal acute kidney failure. In 29% of cases, there was an overdose. Patients must be warned about the most common lactic acidosis-inducing situations, especially dehydration, if they continue taking the drug at such times.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in Andalusian families: a genetic population study.

BACKGROUND: The BRCA1/2 mutation profile varies in Spain according to the geographical area studied. The mutational profile of BRCA1/2 in families at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer has not so far been reported in Andalusia (southern Spain). METHODS: We analysed BRCA1/2 germline mutations in 562 high-risk cases with breast and/or ovarian cancer from Andalusian families from 2010 to 2015. RESULTS: Among the 562 cases, 120 (21.4%) carried a germline pathogenic mutation in BRCA1/2; 50 in BRCA1 (41.7%) and 70 in BRCA2 (58.3%). We detected 67 distinct mutations (29 in BRCA1 and 38 in BRCA2), of which 3 in BRCA1 (c.845C > A, c.1222_1223delAC, c.2527delA) and 5 in BRCA2 (c.293 T > G, c.5558_5559delGT, c.6034delT, c.6650_6654delAAGAT, c.6652delG) had not been previously described. The most frequent mutations in BRCA1 were c.5078_5080delCTG (10%) and c.5123C > A (10%), and in BRCA2 they were c.9018C > A (14%) and c.5720_5723delCTCT (8%). We identified 5 variants of unknown significance (VUS), all in BRCA2 (c.5836 T > C, c.6323G > T, c.9501 + 3A > T, c.8022_8030delGATAATGGA, c.10186A > C). We detected 76 polymorphisms (31 in BRCA1, 45 in BRCA2) not associated with breast cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study reporting the mutational profile of BRCA1/2 in Andalusia. We identified 21.4% of patients harbouring BRCA1/2 mutations, 58.3% of them in BRCA2. We also characterized the clinical data, mutational profile, VUS and haplotype profile.

[Occult renal disease and drug prescription in primary care]. / Insuficiencia renal oculta y prescripción de fármacos en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60ml/min/1.73m(2)] and occult kidney disease (OKD) (normal serum creatinine values with GFR <60) in elderly patients. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Four primary care centres in the province of Huesca, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: About 4014 patients older than 65 years were randomly selected. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: GFR was calculated for all subjects using the four-variable modified MDRD equation. We registered all drugs prescriptions to the patients during a period of twelve months focusing on the potential nephrotoxic drugs. RESULTS: After exclusions, GFR was estimated in 3286 patients (1424 men of 75.49+/-6.6 years and 1862 women of 76.29+/-7.04 years; P=.001). The prevalence of CKD was 21.2%. A total of 10.1% of patients (12.8% of women and 6.44% of men) had OKD. We recorded the complete drug prescription in 269 patients. Mean of all different drugs that were prescribed by patient-year was 10.69+/-5.92 (men 9.55+/-5.57 and women 11.11+/-6; P=.05)]. A large number of patients were treated with potentially dangerous drugs, particularly the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with 165 cases (61.34%), and 72% were exposed to drugs that can lead to hyperkalaemia. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that GFR estimation by clinical laboratories in the setting of primary care can contribute to prevent the adverse effects of inappropriate drug prescriptions.

La derivación temprana al nefrólogo mejora los resultados a largo plazo en la enfermedad renal crónica / Early referral to nephrologists of patients with chronic kidney disease: an opportunity to improve the outcome

La enfermedad renal crónica es una patología creciente en todo el mundo y cada vez es mayor la prevalencia de pacientes en diálisis, lo que ocasiona un costo muy elevado. En los últimos años han cobrado relevancia los adecuados cuidados en la etapa prediálisis. Para ello es fundamental detectar la enfermedad en sus primeras fases, lo que puede permitir adoptar las medidas necesarias para su tratamiento o, en su caso, retrasar su progresión y prevenir las complicaciones asociadas. A pesar de todo siguen siendo muchos los pacientes que son vistos por primera vez por un especialista en nefrología en etapas avanzadas de la enfermedad como consecuencia de su derivación tardía. Los factores que ocasionan este fenómeno son numerosos e implican tanto a los médicos, como a los pacientes y al sistema sanitario. Las consecuencias negativas de la derivación tardía ya han sido demostradas en cuanto a morbilidad, mortalidad y costos, pero todavía no está demostrado cuál es el mejor momento de iniciar la diálisis en función del filtrado glomerular. Es imprescindible la elaboración y difusión de guías clínicas junto con la colaboración entre nefrólogos y médicos generales para disminuir el impacto de la derivación tardía.