Pearls & Oy-sters: Managing Cholesterol in a Patient With Statin Intolerance Due to Anti-HMG-CoA Reductase-Associated Myopathy.

Statins are the first line of treatment for hypercholesterolemia and of prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). It is estimated that one in four Americans over the age of 40 years use statins. In rare cases patients may develop an autoimmune myopathy associated with antibodies against 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). Anti-HMGCR associated myopathy requires immediate discontinuation of statins plus initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. Suspension of statin treatment worsens low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) control, leading to an increased risk of ASCVD and necessitating commencement of another treatment for dyslipidemia. Unfortunately, the management of dyslipidemia in these patients is still unclear. Herein, we describe the case of a 65-year-old woman with dyslipidemia treated with atorvastatin, who consulted for long-standing muscle pain associated with symmetrical proximal weakness. Laboratory tests showed elevated levels of creatine kinase and anti-HMGCR antibodies. She was diagnosed with an anti-HMGCR associated myopathy and was successfully treated with corticosteroids and azathioprine as immunosuppressive therapy, followed by ezetimibe for LDL-C reduction. We present key findings for early recognition and treatment of anti-HMGCR associated myopathy and give recommendations on how to manage hypercholesterolemia in a patient with statin intolerance due to this disease.

Síndrome de ovario poliquístico y embarazo / Polycystic ovary syndrome and pregnancy

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine metabolic dysfunction closely associated with insulin resistance and obesity, which predisposes to pregnancy complications and prenatal programming of the offspring. The aim of this review is to report our experience in PCOS patients who became pregnant and were followed during the whole pregnancy. Firstly, we analyzed the effect of pregnancy on PCOS pathophysiology and secondly the role of PCOS in pregnancy outcomes. Regarding the firstpoint, during normal pregnancy a progressive insulin resistance, serum lipid changes and an increase in androgen levels is observed, which is exacerbated in the PCOS condition. This adverse intrauterine environment could have a prenatal programming effect with detrimental consequences for female or male fetuses. Regarding the second point, PCOS is associated with an increased risk for maternal complications such as gestational diabetes (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Moreover, these adverse pregnancy outcomes are more frequently associated with an increase in low birth weight and high birth weight newborns. According to our clinical experience, PCOS patients who became pregnant and were not treated with metformin during the whole pregnancy, showed a higher prevalence of gestational diabetes and SGA newborns, which was improved with metformin treatment. In summary, pregnancy may constitute a period in which an abnormal condition is established or aggravated in the fetus of a PCOS mother. Moreover, PCOS enhanced adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

[Polycystic ovary syndrome and pregnancy]. / Síndrome de ovario poliquístico y embarazo.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine metabolic dysfunction closely associated with insulin resistance and obesity, which predisposes to pregnancy complications and prenatal programming of the offspring. The aim of this review is to report our experience in PCOS patients who became pregnant and were followed during the whole pregnancy. Firstly, we analyzed the effect of pregnancy on PCOS pathophysiology and secondly the role of PCOS in pregnancy outcomes. Regarding the firstpoint, during normal pregnancy a progressive insulin resistance, serum lipid changes and an increase in androgen levels is observed, which is exacerbated in the PCOS condition. This adverse intrauterine environment could have a prenatal programming effect with detrimental consequences for female or male fetuses. Regarding the second point, PCOS is associated with an increased risk for maternal complications such as gestational diabetes (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Moreover, these adverse pregnancy outcomes are more frequently associated with an increase in low birth weight and high birth weight newborns. According to our clinical experience, PCOS patients who became pregnant and were not treated with metformin during the whole pregnancy, showed a higher prevalence of gestational diabetes and SGA newborns, which was improved with metformin treatment. In summary, pregnancy may constitute a period in which an abnormal condition is established or aggravated in the fetus of a PCOS mother. Moreover, PCOS enhanced adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Síndrome de ovario poliquístico (SOP) y embarazo: Experiencia clínica / Polycystic ovary syndrome and pregnancy: Clinical experience

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine metabolic dysfunction closely associated with insulin resistance and obesity, which predisposes to pregnancy complications. Aim: To report a prospective clinical experience in PCOS patients who became pregnant after diet, exercise and metformin treatment intervention, and were followed up during the whole pregnancy. Patients and Methods: Seventy pregnant PCOS (PPCOS) women and forty normal pregnant (NP) women of similar age and with singleton pregnancies were included in the study. During gestational ages 10-16 and 22-28 weeks, a 2h, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed with measurement of glucose and insulin in each sample. Results: No differences were found in duration of gestation, weight gain during pregnancy, or systolic and diastolic blood pressure between PPCOS and NP women. There were significant differences in body mass index (BMI) at the initiation and in the third trimester of pregnancy between both groups. The incidence of gestational diabetes was significantly higher (p <0.01) in the PCOS group (35.2 percent) compared to the control group (5.0 percent). The prevalence of small for gestational age (SGA) infants tended to be higher (p =0.09) in the PCOS group. During pregnancy, 2h glucose and insulin were significantly higher in PPCOS than in NP women. Conclusions: PCOS mothers showed a higher prevalence of gestational diabetes and SGA newborns, which cannot be attributed to the weight gain during pregnancy, and seems to be more related to the BMI at the initiation of pregnancy, and to the PCOS condition of the mothe.

[Polycystic ovary syndrome and pregnancy: clinical experience]. / Síndrome de ovario poliquístico (SOP) y embarazo: Experiencia clínica.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine metabolic dysfunction closely associated with insulin resistance and obesity, which predisposes to pregnancy complications. AIM: To report a prospective clinical experience in PCOS patients who became pregnant after diet, exercise and metformin treatment intervention, and were followed up during the whole pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy pregnant PCOS (PPCOS) women and forty normal pregnant (NP) women of similar age and with singleton pregnancies were included in the study. During gestational ages 10-16 and 22-28 weeks, a 2h, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed with measurement of glucose and insulin in each sample. RESULTS: No differences were found in duration of gestation, weight gain during pregnancy, or systolic and diastolic blood pressure between PPCOS and NP women. There were significant differences in body mass index (BMI) at the initiation and in the third trimester of pregnancy between both groups. The incidence of gestational diabetes was significantly higher (p <0.01) in the PCOS group (35.2%) compared to the control group (5.0%). The prevalence of small for gestational age (SGA) infants tended to be higher (p =0.09) in the PCOS group. During pregnancy, 2h glucose and insulin were significantly higher in PPCOS than in NP women. CONCLUSIONS: PCOS mothers showed a higher prevalence of gestational diabetes and SGA newborns, which cannot be attributed to the weight gain during pregnancy, and seems to be more related to the BMI at the initiation of pregnancy, and to the PCOS condition of the mother.

Síndrome de Guillain-Barré: revisión de aspectos clínicos y etiopatogénicos a propósito de un caso clínico / Guilleain-Barreïs syndrome: review of clinical and etiopathogenical aspects in relation to a clinical case

El síndrome de Guillain-Barré es una enfermedad poco frecuente en la cual el sistema nervioso periférico es infiltrado con linfocitos y macrófagos y la mielina es destruida. Su característica principal, secundaria al enlentecimiento de velocidad de conducción nerviosa, es el déficit motor. Más de la mitad de los casos ocurren en relación con una enfermedad infecciosa previa. Hay evidencias que sugieren que la patogenia involucra una reacción autoinmune de tejido nervioso periférico gatillada por la infección. El conocimiento de la patogenia es la base sobre la que se sustentan los procedimientos terapéuticos útiles como la plasmaféresis y el uso de inmunoglobulina endovenosa, cuya eficacia depende de la precocidad de su aplicación. Se comunica un caso clínico de síndrome de Guillain-Barré común a propósito del cual se revisan aspectos clínicos, etiopatogénicos y terapéuticos. La importancia del conocimiento de la génesis del daño no sólo tiene importancia teórica, sino también ha servido de base en la búsqueda e instauración de procedimientos terapéuticos específicos, además de los sintomáticos actualmente utilizados. Es el caso de la instauración de la plasmaféresis y de la administración de inmunoglobulina endovenosa en altas dosis como elementos útiles en la actualidad