The challenges to control epilepsy in an isolated indigenous tribe in Brazil's Amazon: 15 years of follow-up / Os desafios do controle de epilepsia em indígenas de uma tribo isolada da Amazônia: 15 anos de seguimento

Abstract Background Epilepsy is a common neurological disease that affects people all over the world, but it is rarely described in indigenous peoples. Objective To study the epilepsy characteristics and risk factors for seizure control in people from an isolated indigenous population. Methods This is a retrospective and historical cohort study conducted from 2003 to 2018 (15 years), at a neurology outpatient clinic, of 25 Waiwai tribes' indigenous individuals with epilepsy, inhabitants of an isolated forest reserve in the Amazon. Clinical aspects, background, comorbidities, exams, treatment, and response were studied. Factors that impacted seizure control over 24 months were identified using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox and Weibull regression models. Results The majority of cases started in childhood, with no difference regarding gender. Focal epilepsies were predominant. Most patients had tonic-clonic seizures. A quarter of them had a family history, and 20% had referred febrile seizures. There was intellectual disability in 20% of patients. Neurological examination and psychomotor development were altered in one third of the participants. The treatment controlled 72% of the patients (monotherapy in 64%). Phenobarbital was the most prescribed anti-seizure medication, followed by carbamazepine and valproate. The most relevant factors that impacted seizure control over time were abnormal neurological exam and family history. Conclusion Family history and abnormal neurological exam were predicted risk factors for refractory epilepsy. Even in an isolated indigenous tribe, the partnership between the indigenous people and the multidisciplinary team ensured treatment adherence. The public healthcare system must guarantee modern anti-seizure medications, mainly for this vulnerable population, which has no other source of treatment.

Resumo Antecedentes A epilepsia é uma doença neurológica que afeta povos do mundo todo, mas raramente é descrita em povos indígenas. Objetivos Estudar as características da epilepsia e os fatores de risco para o controle das crises em pessoas de uma população indígena isolada. Métodos Este é um estudo de coorte retrospectivo e histórico, conduzido de 2003 a 2018 (15 anos) no ambulatório de neurologia, de 25 indígenas Waiwai com epilepsia, habitantes de uma reserva florestal na Amazônia. Aspectos clínicos, antecedentes, comorbidades, exames, tratamento e resposta foram estudados. Identificou-se os fatores que afetaram o controle das crises ao longo de 24 meses usando curvas de Kaplan-Meier e modelos de regressão de Cox e Weibull. Resultados A maioria dos casos teve início na infância, sem diferença quanto ao gênero. Predominavam as epilepsias focais. A maioria dos pacientes apresentava crises tônico-clônicas. Um quarto deles tinha história familiar e 20% referiram convulsões febris. Vinte por cento dos pacientes apresentava deficiência intelectual. Um terço tinha exame neurológico e desenvolvimento psicomotor alterados. O tratamento controlou 72% dos pacientes (monoterapia em 64%). Fenobarbital foi o medicamento mais prescrito, seguido por carbamazepina e valproate, e os fatores que mais impactaram o controle das crises ao longo do tempo foram exame neurológico anormal e história familiar. Conclusão História familiar e exame neurológico anormal foram fatores de risco preditores para epilepsia refratária. Mesmo em uma tribo indígena isolada, a parceria entre os indígenas e a equipe multidisciplinar garantiu a adesão ao tratamento. O sistema público de saúde deve garantir medicamentos modernos anticrise, principalmente para essa população vulnerável, que não tem outra fonte de tratamento.

The challenges to control epilepsy in an isolated indigenous tribe in Brazil's Amazon: 15 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a common neurological disease that affects people all over the world, but it is rarely described in indigenous peoples. OBJECTIVE: To study the epilepsy characteristics and risk factors for seizure control in people from an isolated indigenous population. METHODS: This is a retrospective and historical cohort study conducted from 2003 to 2018 (15 years), at a neurology outpatient clinic, of 25 Waiwai tribes' indigenous individuals with epilepsy, inhabitants of an isolated forest reserve in the Amazon. Clinical aspects, background, comorbidities, exams, treatment, and response were studied. Factors that impacted seizure control over 24 months were identified using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox and Weibull regression models. RESULTS: The majority of cases started in childhood, with no difference regarding gender. Focal epilepsies were predominant. Most patients had tonic-clonic seizures. A quarter of them had a family history, and 20% had referred febrile seizures. There was intellectual disability in 20% of patients. Neurological examination and psychomotor development were altered in one third of the participants. The treatment controlled 72% of the patients (monotherapy in 64%). Phenobarbital was the most prescribed anti-seizure medication, followed by carbamazepine and valproate. The most relevant factors that impacted seizure control over time were abnormal neurological exam and family history. CONCLUSION: Family history and abnormal neurological exam were predicted risk factors for refractory epilepsy. Even in an isolated indigenous tribe, the partnership between the indigenous people and the multidisciplinary team ensured treatment adherence. The public healthcare system must guarantee modern anti-seizure medications, mainly for this vulnerable population, which has no other source of treatment.

ANTECEDENTES: A epilepsia é uma doença neurológica que afeta povos do mundo todo, mas raramente é descrita em povos indígenas. OBJETIVOS: Estudar as características da epilepsia e os fatores de risco para o controle das crises em pessoas de uma população indígena isolada. MéTODOS: Este é um estudo de coorte retrospectivo e histórico, conduzido de 2003 a 2018 (15 anos) no ambulatório de neurologia, de 25 indígenas Waiwai com epilepsia, habitantes de uma reserva florestal na Amazônia. Aspectos clínicos, antecedentes, comorbidades, exames, tratamento e resposta foram estudados. Identificou-se os fatores que afetaram o controle das crises ao longo de 24 meses usando curvas de Kaplan-Meier e modelos de regressão de Cox e Weibull. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos casos teve início na infância, sem diferença quanto ao gênero. Predominavam as epilepsias focais. A maioria dos pacientes apresentava crises tônico-clônicas. Um quarto deles tinha história familiar e 20% referiram convulsões febris. Vinte por cento dos pacientes apresentava deficiência intelectual. Um terço tinha exame neurológico e desenvolvimento psicomotor alterados. O tratamento controlou 72% dos pacientes (monoterapia em 64%). Fenobarbital foi o medicamento mais prescrito, seguido por carbamazepina e valproate, e os fatores que mais impactaram o controle das crises ao longo do tempo foram exame neurológico anormal e história familiar. CONCLUSãO: História familiar e exame neurológico anormal foram fatores de risco preditores para epilepsia refratária. Mesmo em uma tribo indígena isolada, a parceria entre os indígenas e a equipe multidisciplinar garantiu a adesão ao tratamento. O sistema público de saúde deve garantir medicamentos modernos anticrise, principalmente para essa população vulnerável, que não tem outra fonte de tratamento.

Efficacy and tolerance profile of risperidone use in people with autism spectrum disorder in a clinic in Santarém, Pará, Brazil. A retrospective study.

Objectives: This study aimed to obtain the profile of efficacy and tolerance of risperidone in the treatment of people with autism spectrum disorder. Materials and Methods: This research was a cross-sectional and retrospective study. The medical records of 100 patients diagnosed with ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) were analyzed and measures of central tendency and correlation between variables such as gender, age at diagnosis, symptoms, daily dose, comorbidities, polytherapy, adverse drug effects, and outcome (improvement, worsening, and drug discontinuation) were calculated using Pearson's R test with a level of statistical significance P < 0.05. Results: The male gender was the most affected, corresponding to 80% of the participants. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.88 ± 6.24 and the mean dose was 1.89 ± 1.68 mg/day. The use of risperidone for patients with aggressiveness, hyperactivity, insomnia, or self-harm improved in 76% of patients and adverse effects were reported in 27% of cases. The presence of self-harm implied lower chances of improvement (P = 0.05/r = -0.20). Adverse effects were strong predictors of discontinuation (P = 0.01/r = 0.39), and epileptic patients were more likely to have them (P = 0.02/r = 0.20). Male gender was associated with dosages lower than 2 mg/day (P = 0.05/r = 0.23). Conclusion: Risperidone is a good option in the management of secondary symptoms of ASD, generally requiring low doses and presenting an acceptable profile of adverse effects. The age of diagnosis does not affect the drug's efficiency, but it can make the management of ASD difficult.

Esclerose múltipla: aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos em uma cidade do interior da Amazônia / Multiple sclerosis: clinical and epidemiological aspects in an interior of the Amazon city

Introdução: A esclerose múltipla (EM) é uma inflamação crônica imunomediada do sistema nervoso central (SNC) caracterizada por diferentes graus de incapacidades físicas e cognitivas. Objetivos: Descrever o perfil clínico e epidemiológico da EM na região Oeste do Pará no período de 2005 a 2019 e verificar a progressão da doença, o grau de debilidade através da Escala Expandida do Estado de Incapacidade (EDSS) e a resposta ao tratamento. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo-descritivo, baseado na pesquisa e revisão de prontuários de pacientes portadores de EM. Participaram da pesquisa 19 pessoas. Resultados: Os sinais e sintomas mais prevalentes foram alteração na marcha, neurite óptica, oftalmoplegia e associação com quadro depressivo. A forma de evolução clínica mais frequente foi a remitente-recorrente. Análise liquórica revelou presença de bandas oligoclonais em 16 (84,2%) pacientes. A ressonância nuclear magnética de crânio evidenciou múltiplas lesões em 12 (63,2%) dos portadores de esclerose múltipla. Em relação à terapia medicamentosa, o Interferon e o Glatirâmer recebem destaque por serem os mais utilizados no tratamento desses pacientes. Em relação à avaliação da EDSS, observou-se que quase 50% dos pacientes obtiveram melhora, enquanto pouco mais de 10% evoluíram com piora neurológica devido a falta ou ineficácia da medicação. A média do tempo de seguimento após o diagnóstico foi de 4,4 anos. Conclusão: Os resultados neste estudo mostram um panorama semelhante ao comparar a realidade da região Oeste do Pará com outras regiões do país no âmbito do diagnóstico da Esclerose Múltipla.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immunemediated inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by different degrees of physical and cognitive disabilities. Objectives: To describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of MS in the western region of Pará in the period of 2005 to 2019 and verify the progression of the disease, the degree of debility using the Expanded Disability State Scale (EDSS) and the response to treatment. Methods: Quantitative-descriptive study, based on research and review of medical records of patients with MS. 19 people participated in the survey. Results: The most prevalent signs and symptoms were changes in gait, optic neuritis, ophthalmoplegia and association with depression. The most frequent form of clinical evolution was relapsing-remitting. CSF analysis revealed the presence of oligoclonal bands in 16 (84.2%) patients. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple lesions in 12 (63.2%) patients with multiple sclerosis. Regarding drug therapy, Interferon and Glatiramer are highlighted because they are the most used in the treatment of these patients. Regarding the EDSS assessment, it was observed that almost 50% of the patients improved, while just over 10% evolved with neurological worsening due to lack or ineffectiveness of medication. The mean follow-up time after diagnosis was 4.4 years, with 31.5% (n=6) above the mean. Conclusion: The results of this study show a similar panorama when comparing the reality of the western region of Pará with other regions of the country in the context of the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

Late-Onset Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome with Chromosome 15q Duplication in Sisters.

Our study reports two nontwin sisters with late-onset Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and chromosome 15q duplication, showing the evolution, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of these patients, with the aim of increasing knowledge about this extremely rare association. They had a variety of generalized seizures types, intellectual disability, electroencephalogram with generalized epileptiform discharges less than 3 Hz, dysmorphisms, and genetic studies with the presence of duplicated chromosome 15. Cases reported here may be related to chromosomal changes inherited from their asymptomatic mother.

Princípio bioético da autonomia na atenção à saúde indígena / The bioethical principle of autonomy in caring for the health of Indigenous peoples / Principio bioético de la autonomía en la atención a la salud indígena

Resumo Neste artigo busca-se caracterizar o respeito ao princípio da autonomia no atendimento a populações indígenas em território brasileiro, tendo por base relatos de experiência e uma revisão bibliográfica. Concluiu-se que esse princípio deve ser especialmente consolidado nas ações práticas de cuidado à saúde desenvolvidas com as populações de culturas diferenciadas, como é o caso das comunidades indígenas.

Abstract This article seeks to characterize the respect to the principle of autonomy in the care to indigenous peoples in the Brazilian territory, based on reports on experiences and a bibliographic review. It concluded that this principle must be specially consolidated in the practical actions of health care developed alongside peoples of different cultures, as is the case of indigenous communities.

Resumen Este artículo busca caracterizar el respeto en el principio de autonomía en la atención a las poblaciones indígenas en territorio brasileño a partir de informes de experiencia y revisión de la literatura. Se concluyó que este principio debe consolidarse especialmente en las acciones prácticas de asistencia sanitaria dirigidas a las poblaciones de diferentes culturas, como las comunidades indígenas.