Registro colombiano de trasplante cardíaco: año 1985-2021 / Colombian Heart Transplant Registry: 1985-2021

Resumen Introducción: El trasplante cardíaco tiene como objetivo principal mejorar la calidad de vida y la sobrevida de los pacientes con falla cardiaca avanzada. Pocos países en Latinoamérica tienen un sistema nacional de registro de trasplante de órganos sólidos, incluido corazón. En el caso de Colombia, cada institución maneja sus propias estadísticas. Objetivo: Describir la evolución de los trasplantes cardíacos realizados en Colombia desde sus inicios, como parte de la estrategia de implementación de un registro nacional de trasplante cardíaco. Materiales y método: Estudio descriptivo acerca de los trasplantes cardíacos realizados en las instituciones de Colombia que han hecho trasplante cardíaco en cualquier momento, desde el 01 de enero del 1985 hasta el 31 de diciembre del 2021. La información fue recolectada en un formato electrónico a través del capítulo de Falla Cardiaca, Trasplante Cardíaco e Hipertensión Pulmonar de la Asociación Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular. Resultados: se identificaron 10 instituciones que han realizado al menos un procedimiento de trasplante cardíaco en un período de 36 años (1985 a 2021), para un total de 1.451 trasplantes cardíacos. De estos procedimientos, 1.327 (91%) se realizaron en población adulta, 124 (9%) en población pediátrica y 80% en población masculina. Por otro lado, se han hecho 26 trasplantes cardíacos combinados (23 corazón/riñón y 3 corazón/pulmón) y 16 retrasplantes cardíacos. Conclusión: El número de trasplantes cardíacos que se realizan en Colombia es cada vez mayor. A pesar de las dificultades económicas, geográficas, logísticas, de disponibilidad de donantes, entre muchas otras, las instituciones trasplantadoras de Colombia, junto con el Instituto Nacional de Salud, continúan trabajando para lograr una mejor y mayor cobertura en salud de la población con falla cardíaca avanzada que requiere trasplante cardíaco y de los pacientes que son llevados a trasplante cardíaco. Este artículo pretende ser el inicio de un registro nacional de trasplante cardíaco.

Abstract Introduction: the main goal of heart transplantation is to improve the quality of life and survival of patients with advanced heart failure. Few Latin American countries have a national registry of solid organ transplants, including heart transplants. In Colombia, each institution handles its own statistics. Objective: To describe the development of heart transplantation in Colombia from its beginning, as part of the strategy for implementing a national heart transplant registry. Materials and method: a descriptive study of the heart transplants performed in all Colombian institutions that performed heart transplants at any time between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2021. The information was gathered in an electronic format through the Heart Failure, Heart Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension Chapter of the Asociación Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular [Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery Association]. Results: ten institutions were found in which at least one heart transplant had been performed over a 36-year period (1985 to 2021), for a total of 1,451 heart transplants. Of these procedures, 1,327 (91%) were in adults, 124 (9%) in children, and 80% in males. Furthermore, 26 combined heart transplants have been performed (23 heart/kidney and three heart/lung) as well as 16 heart retransplants. Conclusion: the number of heart transplants performed in Colombia is growing. Despite economical, geographical, logistical and donor availability difficulties, among many others, the Colombian transplant institutions, together with the Instituto Nacional de Salud [National Institute of Health], continue to work toward a better and fuller healthcare coverage for those with advanced heart failure requiring heart transplantation and for patients undergoing heart transplantation. This article seeks to initiate a national heart transplant registry.

Síndrome de takotsubo relacionado con COVID-19: primer caso reportado en Latinoamérica / Takotsubo syndrome related to COVID-19: first reported case in Latin America

Resumen Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 67 años, con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial y obesidad, que acudió a urgencias por tos, fatiga, fiebre y disnea. Durante la monitorización se documentó elevación del segmento ST anterolateral e inferior y elevación de troponina; la arteriografía coronaria no evidenció lesiones significativas; en el ventriculograma y en el ecocardiograma transtorácico se documentó acinesia apical. Se confirmó RT-PCR positiva para SARS-CoV-2; se consideró como diagnóstico síndrome de takotsubo.

Abstract A 67-years-old woman with hypertension, obesity as previous diseases, presented to the emergency department due to cough, fatigue, fever, and dyspnea. ST-segment elevation was visualized during monitoring, troponin was positive, the coronary angiography was negative; the ventriculogram and transthoracic echocardiogram documented apical akinesia. The RT-PCR was positive for SARS CoV-2; the diagnosis was takotsubo-syndrome.

Therapeutic plasmapheresis for the treatment of thyrotoxicosis: A retrospective multi-center study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Thyroid storm and severe thyrotoxicosis remain among the most frequent endocrine emergencies, and first-line hyperthyroidism treatment is not always an option. Since the first report in 1970, plasmapheresis is a second-line treatment for severe or otherwise untreatable thyrotoxicosis when rapid euthyroidism is desired. METHODS: We present a retrospective study of the experience in treating thyrotoxicosis with plasmapheresis between 2012 and 2020 in two specialized centers in Colombia. We register the demographic and clinical characteristic and compare the thyroid hormones and other biochemical measurements before and after treatment. RESULTS: Data from 19 patients was obtained, 58% female with a median age of 35 years (IQR 23.5), and most of them with Graves' disease. The most frequent indication for plasmapheresis was thyroid storm. A median of 4 (IQR 2) sessions lead to a significant reduction in FT4 (P .0001) and TT3 (P < .0003) with a nonsignificant decrease in beta-blocker (P .7353) dose, no change in hepatic enzymes, and no adverse events. After plasmapheresis, thyroidectomy was performed in 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Plasmapheresis is an effective and safe treatment option for reducing circulating thyroid hormones in severe thyrotoxicosis when other forms of treatment are contraindicated or in case of urgent thyroid and non-thyroid surgery. It is limited by its cost and the need for highly specialized resources.

Descripción de dos casos de síndrome de ALCAPA / Description of two cases of ALCAPA syndrome

Resumen El origen anómalo de la arteria coronaria izquierda desde la arteria pulmonar o, por su sigla en inglés, síndrome de ALCAPA (Anomalous origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery), también conocido como síndrome Bland-White-Garland es una rara cardiopatía congénita; sin embargo, es una de las causas más comunes de falla cardiaca, isquemia e infarto de miocardio en niños, que, en ausencia de tratamiento, alcanza una tasa de mortalidad del 35 al 85 % en el primer año de vida. Hay dos tipos de síndrome de ALCAPA, aquel que se presenta en infantes y el que ocurre en adultos. El segundo tipo es raro y puede manifestarse como infarto de miocardio, disfunción ventricular izquierda e insuficiencia mitral, o isquemia silente que podría llevar a muerte súbita. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 30 años, con cardiopatía dilatada y disfunción ventricular severa, secundaria a síndrome de ALCAPA, y el caso de un paciente de 61 años con cuadro de dolor torácico en quien se documentó el mismo síndrome.

Abstract The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery or its acronym ALCAPA syndrome (Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery), also known as Blande-Whitee-Garland syndrome, is a rare congenital heart disease. However, one of the most common causes of heart failure, ischemia and myocardial infarction in children, which in the absence of treatment, reaches a mortality rate of 35 to 85% in the first year of life. There are two types of ALCAPA syndrome, that occurs in infants and adults. The presentation of the second type is rare and can manifest as myocardial infarction, left ventricular dysfunction and mitral insufficiency, or silent ischemia that could lead to sudden death. We present the case of a 30-year-old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and severe ventricular dysfunction, secondary to the ALCAPA syndrome, another case of a 61-year-old patient with chest pain where the mentioned syndrome was documented.

Systems of Risk Stratification of Malignancy by Ultrasound of Thyroid Nodules.

Thyroid nodules (TN) are more frequently identified with the use of thyroid ultrasonography, and they have a low risk of malignancy. Ultrasonographic features have been established that increase the probability of being faced with thyroid carcinoma; however, individually, these characteristics do not perform adequately in the diagnosis of malignancy, limiting their usefulness when indicating cytological studies by means of fine-needle aspiration (FNC). This situation motivated the development of risk stratification systems for thyroid nodules, which unified their ultrasound characteristics, with the aim of establishing risk categories, standardizing the preparation of reports, and providing the clinician with useful tools to define the surveillance option or form invasive studies. The objective of this review is to compare the different systems developed by some scientific societies for the stratification of thyroid nodules, with respect to their predictive capacities for malignancy, their operational characteristics for diagnosis, and, to suggest recommendations for the implementation of these systems, placing emphasis on those with the best ability to reduce the performance of unnecessary invasive studies and to guide decision-making in the face of undetermined cytological results.

Feocromocitoma-paraganglioma: revisión de tema / Pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma: a review

Resumen: el feocromocitoma es una enfermedad poco frecuente, correspondiente a un tumor derivadode las células cromafines, originado en la médula de la glándula suprarrenal. Cuando este tumor se origina en los paraganglios el término correcto es paraganglioma. Las manifestaciones clínicas son variables y secundarias a la masa tumoral o a la producción exagerada de catecolaminas. Los síntomas originados por el crecimiento de la masa tumoral incluyen dolor abdominal, malestar epigástrico, obstrucción de estructuras cercanas como la vía biliar y los uréteres, y, cuando está localizado en otros sitios como el mediastino, disnea. Los síntomas secundarios a la hiperproducción de catecolaminas son diaforesis, palpitaciones, cefalea, crisis hipertensivas, hipertensión sostenida, constipación, náuseas, vómito y, en la forma más exagerada, crisis catecolaminérgicas. El diagnóstico se realiza mediante la medición de metanefrinas libres en orina de 24 horas o en plasma, y como alternativa se puede realizar medición de catecolaminas en orina de 24 horas. La medición de ácido vanilmandélico es poco sensible, lo mismo que la medición de catecolaminas en plasma, la cual no es recomendada. El tratamiento de esta enfermedad es quirúrgico. En aquellos pacientes con feocromocitomamaligno o paraganglioma se puede realizar una estrategia de observación activa y en quienes tengan progresión de la enfermedad el uso de quimioterapia o, según el grado de compromiso, el uso de metayodobencilguanidina marcada con yodo-131 es la terapia de elección. El uso de terapia molecular diana utilizando inhibidores de tirosina quinasa es un área de investigación activa.

Abstract: Pheochromocytoma is a rare disease, corresponding to a tumor originated in the chromaphincells, and located in the adrenal medulla. When the tumor is located in the paraganglia the appropriate term is paraganglioma. Clinical manifestations are variable and secondary to the tumoral local extension or to the overproduction of catecholamines. Symptoms secondary to local growth of the tumor includes abdominal pain, epigastric discomfort, obstruction of nearby structures such as biliary tree and ureters, and when is located in other regions such as the mediastinum, dyspnea. Symptoms secondary to overproduction of catecholamines are diaphoresis, headache, hypertensive emergencies, sustained hypertension, constipation, nausea, vomiting and, in the most extreme form, catecholaminergic crisis. Diagnosis is based on the measurement of free plasmatic or urinary metanephrines.As an alternative can be used 24 hours urinary catecholamines. The detection of vanillylmandelic acid and plasma catecholamines has poor sensibility and is no longer recommended. The treatment of this entity is surgical resection. In those patients with malignant pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma an observation and watch strategy can be used. If disease progression is detected, the use of chemotherapy or iodine-131-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine, according to the severity of compromise, is the next step. The use of targeted molecular therapies using tyrosine kinase inhibitoris an area under active research.

Cáncer epitelial avanzado de ovario en un grupo de pacientes colombianas / Advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in a group of colombian patients

Objetivo: Describir la experiencia de 14 años del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de Colombia en el tratamiento de los estados avanzados de cáncer epitelial de ovario. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo tipo serie de casos que incluyó pacientes con cáncer epitelial de ovario en estados III y IV, las cuales fueron llevadas a tratamiento primario en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología entre el 1 de enero de 1997 y el 31 de diciembre de 2011. Resultados: Se identificación 119 pacientes para el período de interés. Con una mediana de edad de 56 años, la mayoría de pacientes presentó compromiso en el estado funcional (63,9%) e hipoalbuminemia (82,4%). El tipo histológico más frecuente fue el adenocarcinoma seroso (62,2%), y el grado histológico mal diferenciado ocurrió en el 63,3% de los casos. Un 94,1% de los pacientes presentó compromiso de superficies peritoneales, con afectación de abdomen superior en un 38,7% y enfermedad extraabdominal un 29,4%. Se tuvo como intención de tratamiento la cirugía primaria más quimioterapia adyuvante en el 89,1% de las pacientes, logrando una citorreducción óptima en el 25,2% de los casos. El 29% presentó progresión durante el tratamiento y en un 57% se registró recaída. La mediana de supervivencia libre de enfermedad fue de 16,61 meses, y la de supervivencia global, de 28,93 meses. Conclusiones: Las pacientes con cáncer epitelial de ovario avanzado de nuestro medio se presentan con alta carga tumoral y con un comportamiento agresivo de la enfermedad reflejado en un pobre resultado oncológico.

Objective: To describe fourteen years of experience of in the treatment of advanced stages of epithelial ovarian cancer in the National Cancer Institute of Colombia. Methods: A retrospective observational case series including patients with epithelial ovarian cancer in stages III and IV, who received primary treatment in National Cancer Institute of Colombia between January 1st, 1997 and December 31th, 2011. Results: A total of 119 patients were identified durin the study period. With a median age of 56 years, most patients showed functional status compromise (63.9%) and hypolbuminemia (82.4%). The most common histological type was serous adenocarcinoma (62.2%) and there was poorly differentiated histological grade in 63.3% of cases. Almost all (94.1%) patients had peritoneal surfaces compromise with involvement of the upper abdomen in 38.7% and extra-abdominal disease in 29.4%. Treatment with primary surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy was performed on 89.1%, achieving optimal cytoreduction in 25.2%; 29% of cases showed progression during treatment, and 57% of them relapsed. The median disease-free survival was 16.61 months, and the overall survival was 28.93 months. Conclusions: In our setting, patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer have a high tumor burden and aggressive behavior of the disease, reflected in a poor oncological outcome.

Enfoque del paciente con enfermedad de graves: revisión / An approach graves'diseases. Review

La enfermedad de Graves se caracteriza por hipertiroidismo, bocio difuso, oftalmopatía yalgunas veces dermopatía. Aunque el diagnóstico es fácil, una vez las pruebas diagnósticas losugieren, el clínico necesita estar atento a la presentación heterogénea de la enfermedad,especialmente en el paciente anciano. Debido a que la morbilidad puede asociarse aún conformas leves de hipertiroidismo, se necesita de tratamientos que restauren el eutiroidismo.Aunque todos los tratamientos son efectivos, se deben discutir los riesgos y beneficios de cadaaproximación. Esta revisión busca orientar al clínico en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del pacientecon hipertiroidismo

Polarized expression of CD74 by gastric epithelial cells.

CD74 is known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-associated invariant chain (Ii) that regulates the cell biology and functions of MHC class II molecules. Class II MHC and Ii expression was believed to be restricted to classical antigen-presenting cells (APC); however, during inflammation, other cell types, including mucosal epithelial cells, have also been reported to express class II MHC molecules. Given the importance of Ii in the biology of class II MHC, we sought to examine the expression of Ii by gastric epithelial cells (GEC) to determine whether class II MHC molecules in these nonconventional APC cells were under the control of Ii and to further support the role that these cells may play in local immune and inflammatory responses during Helicobacter pylori infection. Thus we examined the expression of Ii on GEC from human biopsy samples and then confirmed this observation using independent methods on several GEC lines. The mRNA for Ii was detected by RT-PCR, and the various protein isoforms were also detected. Interestingly, these cells have a high level expression of surface Ii, which is polarized to the apical surface. These studies are the first to demonstrate the constitutive expression of Ii by human GEC.

Helicobacter pylori binds to CD74 on gastric epithelial cells and stimulates interleukin-8 production.

The pathogenesis associated with Helicobacter pylori infection requires consistent contact with the gastric epithelium. Although several cell surface receptors have been suggested to play a role in adhesion, the bacterium-host interactions that elicit host responses are not well defined. This study investigated the interaction of H. pylori with the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-associated invariant chain (Ii; CD74), which was found to be highly expressed by gastric epithelial cells. Bacterial binding was increased when CD74 surface expression was increased by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) treatment or by fibroblast cells transfected with CD74, while binding was decreased by CD74 blocking antibodies, enzyme cleavage of CD74, and CD74-coated bacteria. H. pylori was also shown to bind directly to affinity-purified CD74 in the absence of class II MHC. Cross-linking of CD74 and the engagement of CD74 were verified to stimulate IL-8 production by unrelated cell lines expressing CD74 in the absence of class II MHC. Increased CD74 expression by cells increased IL-8 production in response to H. pylori, and agents that block CD74 decreased these responses. The binding of H. pylori to CD74 presents a novel insight into an initial interaction of H. pylori with the gastric epithelium that leads to upregulation of inflammatory responses.