[A mortal cause of syncope]. / Una causa mortal de síncope.

Anaphylaxis is a generalized reaction produced by the massive release of mediators from mast cells, is rapid in onset and may cause death. The diagnosis is clinical, and the initial symptoms often overlap with those of many other disorders such as, vasovagal reactions, anxiety or asthma, and is often underdiagnosed. A high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis. We report the case of a young woman who presented with syncope in a Primary Care Centre. In spite of the absence of skin lesions, we suspected an anaphylaxis because of the refractory low blood pressure. Thus treatment was started she was transferred to the Hospital. In the Emergency Department, the elevated serum tryptase levels supported our diagnosis. The absence of a clear exposure to a known allergen lead us to suspect a hydatid cysts rupture. The abdominal ultrasound and CT scan confirmed this.

[Prevalence of tobacco dependency and its prevention in patients with persistent asthma]. / Prevalencia del tabaquismo y prevención en pacientes con asma persistente.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse in patients with persistent bronchial asthma the prevalence of tobacco dependency and its degree; and to assess measures of prevention. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING: Allergy Service of the Lozano Blesa University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 121 patients, from systematic selection of asthmatics attending for consultation. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaire filled out in the consulting room, recording social, demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: A sample of 121 patients was obtained, 62.7% women and 37.3% men. They had 5.87 +/- 4.99 years mean evolution of asthma. 21.5% were daily smokers, 4.1% occasional smokers, 27.3% ex-smokers, and 47.1% non-smokers. The ages of starting to smoke were < 10 years old, 1.7%; 10-15, 30%; 15-20, 56.7%; 20-25, 6.7%, and > 25, 5% (P > .05). There were significant differences between gender and tobacco dependency and between age and tobacco dependency (P < .01 and P < .014, respectively). 96.8% of smokers thought that tobacco was harmful to their health. This figure was 100% in daily smokers and 80% in occasional smokers (P < .02). 83.9% of smokers had the intention of giving up. Counselling to give up was received from the specialist (41.9%), the primary care doctor (12.9%), and both (9.7% of cases). 35.5% received no counselling. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tobacco dependency in patients with persistent asthma is lower than in the population as a whole; over a third receive no counselling about giving up. Interventions must be conducted in still healthy smokers and chronically ill patients in both primary and specialist care.

Hepatocellular carcinoma complicating liver cirrhosis in type IIIa glycogen storage disease.

Type III glycogen storage disease (GSD III) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the accumulation of abnormal glycogen in the liver and, in most patients, in the muscle. Although liver fibrosis is a well-known consequence of GSD III, until now only eight cases of liver cirrhosis and two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma have been described in patients affected by this disease. In this case report, the authors describe the clinical history of a patient affected by GSD III who developed severe liver disease during her adult life, progressing from fibrosis to cirrhosis and finally to hepatocellular carcinoma. Until now, the hepatic involvement in GSD III has been considered by most authors as mild and almost always self-limiting. This report, together with the previously published cases, clearly indicates that severe and progressive liver disease may complicate this metabolic disorder. These observations advise a careful hepatologic follow-up of patients affected by GSD III.