Characterization and prevalence of extraintestinal manifestations in a cohort of patients with inflammatory intestinal disease in Medellin, Colombia. / Caracterización y prevalencia de manifestaciones extraintestinales en una cohorte de pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en Medellín (Colombia).

INTRODUCTION: Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) are frequent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our objective is to characterize and determine the prevalence of MEIs in our cohort of patients with IBD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in adult patients with IBD at the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín. Colombia. Articular MEIs, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), both ophthalmological and dermatological, were considered. Absolute and relative frequencies were used. The Chi square test of independence was used to compare 2proportions and the odds ratio (OR) was estimated. RESULTS: Our registry has 759 patients with IBD, 544 present UC (71.6%), 200 CD (26.3%) and 15 unclassifiable IBD (1.9%); 177 patients with IBD (23.3%) presented EIMs, 123 of 544 (22.6%) with UC and 53 of 200 (26.5%) with CD (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.55-1.17, P=0.31). Regarding the type of EIMs, the articular ones were the most frequent (13.5%), more in CD than in UC (20.0 vs. 11.3%, OR 1.94, 95% CI: 1.25-3.00, P=0.0037). Patients with IBD and EIMs used more antibodies against tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNFs), compared to those without EIMs (43.5 vs. 18.5%, OR 3.38, 95% CI: 2.31-4.90, P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of EIMs in our cohort is high (23.3%) and the most frequent type is joint. Anti-TNFs are most used when IBD and EIMs coexist. Our study provides valuable information on the association of EIMs and IBD in Latin America.

Association of dead space fraction to mortality in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS: A historical cohort observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation of dead space fraction (VD/VT) measured through time capnography, corrected minute volume (CMV) and ventilation ratio (VR) with clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Observational study of a historical cohort. SETTING: University hospital in Medellin, Colombia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 15 and above with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to the ICU and requiring mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS: Measurement of VD/VT, CMV, and VR in COVID-19 patients. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: VD/VT, CMV, VR, demographic data, oxygenation indices and ventilatory parameters. RESULTS: During the study period, 1047 COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation were analyzed, of whom 446 (42%) died. Deceased patients exhibited a higher prevalence of advanced age and obesity, elevated Charlson index, higher APACHE II and SOFA scores, as well as an increase in VD/VT ratio (0.27 in survivors and 0.31 in deceased) and minute ventilation volume on the first day of mechanical ventilation. The multivariate analysis revealed independent associations to in-hospital mortality, higher VD/VT (HR 1.24; 95%CI 1.003-1.525; p = 0.046), age (HR 1.024; 95%CI 1.014-1.034; p < 0.001), and SOFA score at onset (HR: 1.036; 95%CI: 1.001-1.07; p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: VD/VT demonstrated an association with mortality in COVID-19 patients with ARDS on mechanical ventilation. These findings suggest that VD/VT measurement may serve as a severity marker for the disease.

[Epidemiology of febrile neutropenia in adult patients with hematologic neoplasms in a period of 26 months in Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Colombia]. / Epidemiología de la neutropenia febril en pacientes adultos con neoplasia hematológica, en un período de 26 meses en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a significant adverse effect post-chemotherapy due to its high morbidity and mortality. There are few studies in our country with these kind of patients. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and mortality in patients with hematologic neoplasms who developed FN post-chemotherapy. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive case series in patients with hematologic neoplasms who developed FN post-chemotherapy in Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe. RESULTS: 101 episodes of FN in 43 patients. The median age was 44 years. 63.5% of patients had no apparent clinical focus of infection at admission, 11.8% had soft tissue compromise and 8.9% urinary tract infection. Bacteremia was documented in 41.5% and catheter-associated bacteremia in 3.9%. The most common organisms were Escherichia coli 43.4%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 17.3% and Staphylococcus aureus 8.6%. Of those isolated in blood 84.7% were Gram negative rods and 15.2% were Gram positive bacteria. Piperacillin/tazobactam was the most common empirically prescribed antibiotic (81.1%). Mortality of FN episodes occurred in 8 (7.92%) patients, 5 (62.5%) attributable to infection and 3 (37.5%) due to progression of hematologic malignancy with a resolution of FN. CONCLUSIONS: In our case series of FN the microbiological characteristics differed significantly from developed countries, but a similar mortality rate per episode was observed.

Trends in the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Colombia by demographics and region using a nationally representative claims database and characterization of inflammatory bowel disease phenotype in a case series of Colombian patients.

ABSTRACT: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is on the rise in Latin America. The aims of this study were to examine epidemiologic trends of IBD in Colombia by demographics, region, urbanicity, and to describe the IBD phenotype in a large well-characterized Colombian cohort.We used a national database of 33 million adults encompassing 97.6% of the Colombian population in order to obtain epidemiologic trends of IBD using International Classification of Diseases 10codes for adults with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD). We calculated the incidence and prevalence of UC and CD from 2010-2017 and examined epidemiologic trends by urbanicity, demographics, and region. We then examined the IBD phenotype (using Montreal Classification), prevalence of IBD-related surgeries, and types of IBD-medications prescribed to adult patients attending a regional IBD clinic in Medellin, Colombia between 2001 and 2017.The incidence of UC increased from 5.59/100,000 in 2010 to 6.3/100,000 in 2017 (relative risk [RR] 1.12, confidence interval (CI) (1.09-1.18), P < .0001). While CD incidence did not increase, the prevalence increased within this period. The Andes region had the highest incidence of IBD (5.56/100,000 in 2017). IBD was seen less in rural regions in Colombia (RR=.95, CI (0.92-0.97), p < .01). An increased risk of IBD was present in women, even after adjusting for age and diagnosis year (RR 1.06 (1.02-1.08), P = .0003). The highest IBD risk occurred in patients 40 to 59 years of age. In the clinic cohort, there were 649 IBD patients: 73.7% UC and 24.5% CD. Mean age of diagnosis in CD was 41.0 years and 39.9 years in UC. UC patients developed mostly pancolitis (43%). CD patients developed mostly ileocolonic disease and greater than a third of patients had an inflammatory, non-fistulizing phenotype (37.7%). A total of 16.7% of CD patients had perianal disease. CD patients received more biologics than UC patients (odds ratio: 3.20, 95% CI 2.19-4.69 P < .001).Using both a national representative sample and a regional clinic cohort, we find that UC is more common in Colombia and is on the rise in urban regions; especially occurring in an older age cohort when compared to Western countries. Future studies are warranted to understand evolving environmental factors explaining this rise.

Biomicroscopic Findings and Management of Anterior Stromal Necrosis After Long-term Implantation of Intacs.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the visual, refractive, and biomicroscopic findings pre- and posttreatment of observed anterior stromal necrosis (ASN) after long-term Intacs intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation. DESIGN: Consecutive interventional case series. METHODS: All consecutive patients implanted with Intacs ICRS at a single center by 1 of the authors between October 2006 and October 2011 with a minimum follow-up time of 5 years were included. All Intacs were implanted using the Prolate system console and instrumentation from Addition Technology Inc (Chicago, Illinois, USA). The slit lamp, refractive, and visual findings and the management of those patients are described in detail. The primary outcome measures included the size of the epithelial defect overlying the Intacs body, the intended implantation depth measured by high-magnification slit lamp photography, and the management of the cases described in detail. The percentage of eyes with ASN out of those that reached the 5-year follow-up is reported. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-seven eyes (84 patients) were implanted with 215 ICRSs during the study period, and 77.16% (98/127) eyes had a follow-up of ≥5 years, out of which 9 eyes (7 patients) had ASN corresponding to at least 9.18% (95% confidence interval 4.29%-16.72%). The mean ± standard deviation time between implantation and ASN diagnosis was 10.5 ± 1.3 years. CONCLUSION: After 5 years of implantation, INTACS-treated eyes could present with an ASN over the ICRS body. Longer-term follow-up of patients implanted with INTACS is important to monitor if this complication keeps occurring over time.

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer Is Associated with Indigenous American Ancestry in Latin American Women.

Women of Latin American origin in the United States are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and have a higher risk of mortality than non-Hispanic White women. Studies in U.S. Latinas and Latin American women have reported a high incidence of HER2 positive (+) tumors; however, the factors contributing to this observation are unknown. Genome-wide genotype data for 1,312 patients from the Peruvian Genetics and Genomics of Breast Cancer Study (PEGEN-BC) were used to estimate genetic ancestry. We tested the association between HER2 status and genetic ancestry using logistic and multinomial logistic regression models. Findings were replicated in 616 samples from Mexico and Colombia. Average Indigenous American (IA) ancestry differed by subtype. In multivariate models, the odds of having an HER2+ tumor increased by a factor of 1.20 with every 10% increase in IA ancestry proportion (95% CI, 1.07-1.35; P = 0.001). The association between HER2 status and IA ancestry was independently replicated in samples from Mexico and Colombia. Results suggest that the high prevalence of HER2+ tumors in Latinas could be due in part to the presence of population-specific genetic variant(s) affecting HER2 expression in breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: The positive association between Indigenous American genetic ancestry and HER2+ breast cancer suggests that the high incidence of HER2+ subtypes in Latinas might be due to population and subtype-specific genetic risk variants.

[Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection in a population of multiply-transfused patients in Colombia]. / Seroprevalencia de infección por virus de la hepatitis B y por virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en una población de pacientes con múltiples transfusiones en cuatro hospitales, Colombia, Sur América.

INTRODUCTION: Although the transfusion of blood products is a common therapy, it carries risk of transmission of infections, especially hepatitus B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). OBJECTIVE: As part of the blood safety initiative, the Pan American Health Organization supported studies to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus infection in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February and September 2003, a cross sectional study examined 500 multiply-transfused patients at four hospital centers in the cities of Bogota and Medellin. The serum samples were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using commercial kits. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HIV infection was 1.8% (CI 95% 0.5-3.1). The seroprevalence of HBV infection was 18.6% (CI 95% 15.1-22.1). Six risk factors were associated with HIV and HBV infection: (1) receiving more than 48 units of blood or blood components, (2) diagnosis of hemophilia, (3) receiving transfusions for more than one year, (4) receiving whole blood, (5) coinfection with hepatitis C virus and (6) receiving transfusions before 1993. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first epidemiological study with a significant sample size performed in multiply-transfused patients in Colombia. The principal finding was the high prevalence of HBV and HIV infection in patients with diagnosis of hemophilia compared with the other five groups of multiply-transfused patients.

BRAF and TERT mutations in papillary thyroid cancer patients of Latino ancestry.

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy in U.S. Latinas and in Colombian women. Studies in non-Latinos indicate that BRAF and TERT mutations are PTC prognostic markers. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical associations of BRAF and TERT mutations in PTC Latino patients from Colombia. We analyzed mutations of BRAF (V600E) and TERT promoter (C228T, C250T) in tumor DNA from 141 patients (75 with classical variant PTC, CVPTC; 66 with follicular variant PTC, FVPTC) recruited through a multi-center study. Associations between mutations and clinical variables were evaluated with Fisher exact tests. Survival was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier plots. Double-mutant tumors (BRAF+/TERT+, n = 14 patients) were more common in CVPTC (P = 0.02). Relative to patients without mutations (n = 48), double mutations were more common in patients with large tumors (P = 0.03), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.01), extra-thyroid extension (P = 0.03), and advanced stage (P = 6.0 × 10-5). In older patients, TERT mutations were more frequent (mean age 51 years vs 45 years for wild type TERT, P = 0.04) and survival was lower (HR = 1.20; P = 0.017); however, given the small sample size, the decrease in survival was not statically significant between genotypes. Comparisons with published data in US whites revealed that Colombian patients had a higher prevalence of severe pathological features and of double-mutant tumors (10 vs 6%, P = 0.001). Mutations in both oncogenes show prognostic associations in Latinos from Colombia. Our study is important to advance Latino PTC precision medicine and replicates previous prognostic associations between BRAF and TERT in this population.

Strict glycaemic control in patients hospitalised in a mixed medical and surgical intensive care unit: a randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Critically ill patients can develop hyperglycaemia even if they do not have diabetes. Intensive insulin therapy decreases morbidity and mortality rates in patients in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and decreases morbidity in patients in a medical ICU. The effect of this therapy on patients in a mixed medical/surgical ICU is unknown. Our goal was to assess whether the effect of intensive insulin therapy, compared with standard therapy, decreases morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalised in a mixed ICU. METHODS: This is a prospective, randomised, non-blinded, single-centre clinical trial in a medical/surgical ICU. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either intensive insulin therapy to maintain glucose levels between 80 and 110 mg/dl (4.4 to 6.1 mmol/l) or standard insulin therapy to maintain glucose levels between 180 and 200 mg/dl (10 and 11.1 mmol/l). The primary end point was mortality at 28 days. RESULTS: Over a period of 30 months, 504 patients were enrolled. The 28-day mortality rate was 32.4% (81 of 250) in the standard insulin therapy group and 36.6% (93 of 254) in the intensive insulin therapy group (Relative Risk [RR]: 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85 to 1.42). The ICU mortality in the standard insulin therapy group was 31.2% (78 of 250) and 33.1% (84 of 254) in the intensive insulin therapy group (RR: 1.06; 95%CI: 0.82 to 1.36). There was no statistically significant reduction in the rate of ICU-acquired infections: 33.2% in the standard insulin therapy group compared with 27.17% in the intensive insulin therapy group (RR: 0.82; 95%CI: 0.63 to 1.07). The rate of hypoglycaemia (< or = 40 mg/dl) was 1.7% in the standard insulin therapy group and 8.5% in the intensive insulin therapy group (RR: 5.04; 95% CI: 1.20 to 21.12). CONCLUSIONS: IIT used to maintain glucose levels within normal limits did not reduce morbidity or mortality of patients admitted to a mixed medical/surgical ICU. Furthermore, this therapy increased the risk of hypoglycaemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifiers: 4374-04-13031; 094-2 in 000966421.

[SHTLV-I/II seroprevalence in blood donors of Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe Blood Bank during the period 2014-2015].

INTRODUCTION: The human-T cell lymphotropic virus is a retrovirus with various types known so far. HTLV-I and HTLV-II are of clinically importance as they cause different diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, tropical spastic paraparesis, and human T-lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy (HAM). OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of presumptive and confirmatory reactivity to HTLV-I/II in blood donors of Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe Blood Bank between 2014 and 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information was obtained from the Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe Blood Bank database. We analyzed age, sex, place of origin, and place of residence of donors, and the reactivity using the screening test (ELISA) as well as the confirmatory test (immunoblot). RESULTS: The donor population studied included 6,275 men and 8,148 women, for a total of 14,423 donors recruited between March 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015. Of all tested donors, 25 were positive for HTLV-I/II by the screening test (ELISA). After performing the confirmatory test (immunoblot), only nine patients were positive for HTLV-I/II (36%), of whom eight were reactive to HTLV-I (32%) and one to HTLV-II (4%), for a global seroprevalence of 0.06% (CI 95%: 0.10-0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings were consistent with those found in similar studies in non-endemic areas of the country and with those from studies at international level reported in the literature.

El índice de fragilidad y sus características en ensayos clínicos aleatorizados de diabetes mellitus / The Fragility Index and its characteristics in randomized clinical trials of diabetes mellitus

Resumen Introducción: para valorar la robustez de los resultados se ha propuesto una herramienta llamada el Índice de Fragilidad (IF), esta se define como el mínimo número de pacientes que se tienen que cambiar de "No eventos" a "Eventos" en el grupo de intervención para que un resultado estadísticamente significativo pase a no significativo, evidenciando que entre menor sea el IF, los resultados serán más frágiles. Diferentes autores han encontrado que la significancia de los resultados de muchos Ensayos Clínicos Controlados (ECA) dependen de pocos eventos. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el IF de los ECA en diabetes mellitus de cinco de las revistas médicas de mayor impacto a nivel mundial. Metodología: se realizó búsqueda electrónica en PubMed, para identificar ECA en Annals of Internal Medicine, BMJ, The Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine y JAMA. Se revisaron los ECA en pacientes con diabetes mellitus o prediabetes y se calculó el IF para cada desenlace según el método descrito por Walsh et al, usando tablas de contingencia 2x2. Se planeó usar el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman para evaluar la correlación entre el IF y el tamaño de la muestra, el número de eventos, el valor de p y el tiempo de seguimiento. Se evaluó la significancia de todos los resultados con un valor de p<0,05. Resultados: la mediana del IF fue 11, y en tres estudios (7,3%) se encontró que el resultado no era estadísticamente significativo después de recalcular la p con el test exacto de Fisher. Se encontró relación directa leve entre el número de eventos y el IF (Rho= 0,343, p= 0,02) y correlación moderada inversa entre el valor de p y el IF (Rho= -0,632, p= 0,000). No se encontró correlación estadísticamente significativa entre el tamaño de muestra, tiempo de seguimiento y pérdidas con el IF. Conclusiones: en los ECA sobre diabetes, los resultados estadísticamente significativos dependen de pocos eventos, evidenciado por un bajo valor en el IF, los valores de esta medición están relacionados de forma directa con el número de eventos, e inversa con el valor de p.

Abstract Introduction: to evaluate the robustness of the results, a tool called the Fragility Index (FI) has been proposed, which is defined as the minimum number of patients that have to be changed from "No events" to "Events" in the intervention group to change a statistically significant to nonsignificant result. Showing that among a lower Fragility Index, the results of the trial will be less robust or more fragile. Different authors have found that the significance of the results of many controlled clinical trials (RCTs) depend on very few events. The objective of the study is to evaluate the FI of controlled clinical trials in diabetes mellitus in five of the general medical journals with the greatest impact factor worldwide. Methods: an electronic search was conducted in PubMed to identify randomized clinical trials in The Annals of Internal Medicine, BMJ, The Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA. Clinical trials were reviewed with diabetic or prediabetic patients and the FI was then calculated for each outcome according to the method described by Walsh et al, using 2x2 contingency tables. A priori was planned to use the Spearman correlation coefficient to evaluate the direct correlation between the Fragility Index and sample size, number of events, p-value and follow-up time. The significance of all the results was evaluated with a value of p <0.05. Results: the median Fragility Index was 11, and in three studies (7.3%) the result were not statistically significant after recalculating the p value with Fisher's exact test. A slight direct relationship between the number of events and the Fragility Index (Rho = 0.343, p = 0.02) was found and a moderate inverse correlation was observed between the p value and the FI (Rho = -0.632, p = 0.000 ). No statistically significant correlation was found between sample size, follow-up time and losses with the FI. Conclusions: in controlled clinical trials on diabetes, we found that the statistically significant results depend on a few events, evidenced by a low value in the Fragility Index. The values of this measurement are related to the number of events and negatively to the p value.

[Effect of antenatal spiramycin treatment on the frequency of retinochoroiditis due to congenital toxoplasmosis in a Colombian cohort].

INTRODUCTION: Gestational toxoplasmosis is frequent and severe. There is still debate about the benefits of treatment against ocular manifestations in the newborn. Spiramycin treatment is used for this purpose, unfortunately prenatal diagnosis is sometimes delayed and pregnant women are not treated. OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between treatment with spiramycin during pregnancy in mothers with gestational toxoplasmosis and development of ocular toxoplasmosis in newborns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study of a case series. We evaluated a prospective cohort of patients diagnosed with gestational toxoplasmosis during three years at the Retinology Service at the Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana in Medellín. RESULTS: Gestational toxoplasmosis was found in 23 mothers; 15 (65%) were treated during pregnancy with 3 g per day of spiramycin, eight (35%) patients were untreated. In the treated group just one newborn developed ocular toxoplasmosis (6.6%), in contrast with five (62.5%) of the eight patients who did not receive treatment. These results suggest that pregnancy treatment reduces the relative risk of ocular toxoplasmosis in the newborn by 96% (95% CI: 33 - 100%). Only two (14%) of the patients who were evaluated, had nervous system involvement related to toxoplasmosis in CT scan or cerebral ultrasound. These two patients also developed ocular pathology and were diagnosed at the time of birth, so they did not received antenatal treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A protective effect was found against the ocular involvement in patients whose mother received treatment with spiramycin (OR=0.04;95% CI: 0.00-0.67), p<0.01 (Fisher's Exact Test).

Prevalencia y manejo de anemia en enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en un centro de referencia en Colombia / Prevalence and treatment of anemia in inflammatory bowel disease in a Colombian reference center

Resumen Introducción: la anemia es la complicación más frecuente en enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII). El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia, asociaciones y tratamiento de la anemia en EII en nuestro medio. Materiales y métodos: se analizaron de forma retrospectiva datos de pacientes adultos con EII del Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe en Medellín, Colombia, que consultaron desde 2001 hasta febrero de 2019. Se emplearon frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Para comparar dos proporciones se utilizó la prueba de chi cuadrado de independencia y se estimó el Odds ratio (OR). Resultados: se documentaron 759 pacientes con EII, de los cuales 544 (71,6 %) presentaron colitis ulcerativa (CU); 200 (26,3 %), enfermedad de Crohn (EC), y 15, EII no clasificable (1,9 %). En total, 185 (24,4 %) pacientes con EII presentaron anemia, que es menos frecuente en CU que en EC (22,2 % frente a 32,5 %, respectivamente; OR: 0,684; IC: 0,456-0,96; p = 0,03). Los pacientes con CU extensa (54,1 %) tenían más anemia que aquellos con CU no extensa (46,3 %) (OR: 4,4; IC: 2,6-7,4; p = 0,001); lo mismo se observó al comparar la CU grave (66,1 %) con la no grave (32,3 %) (OR: 4,95; IC: 2,87-8,51; p = 0,000). En la EC, los pacientes con comportamiento no inflamatorio (B2, B3: 73,9 %) presentaron más anemia en comparación con aquellos con comportamiento inflamatorio (B1: 26,2 %) (OR: 0,35; IC: 0,18-0,67; p = 0,000). 44,3 % de los pacientes no recibió tratamiento, 19,5 % recibió hierro oral, 20,0 % recibió hierro intravenoso y 16,2 % fue transfundido. Conclusiones: la anemia es una complicación frecuente de la EII en nuestro medio (24,4 %). A pesar de las guías internacionales, el tratamiento es subóptimo en nuestro medio.

Abstract Introduction: Anemia is the most frequent complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aims to determine the prevalence, connection, and treatment of anemia in IBD in a local context. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at The Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, in Medellín (Colombia) with adult patients who (were admitted) came for consultation from 2001, until February 2019. Absolut and relative frequencies were calculated. The Chi square test of independence was applied for comparing two proportions and the odds ratio (OR) was estimated. Results: A total of 759 IBD patients were enrolled, 544 (71.6%) with ulcerative colitis (UC); 200 (26.3%) Crohn's disease (CD), and 15 (1.9%) with non-classifiable IBD. In total, 185 (24,4 %) IBD patients had a diagnosis of anemia, that is less frequent in UC patients that in CD patients (22,2 % versus 32,5 %, respectively; OR: 0,684; CI: 0,456-0,96; p = 0,03). Extensive UC patients (54,1 %) had a more recurrent level of anemia than non-extensive UC (46,3 %) (OR: 4,4; CI: 2,6-7,4; p = 0,001); the same result was observed when severe UC (66,1 %) was compared with UC non-severe (32,3 %) (OR: 4,95; CI: 2,87-8,51; p = 0,000). In the analysis of CD, patients with a non-inflammatory response (B2, B3: 73,9 %) had a more recurrent level of anemia than patients with an inflammatory response (B1: 26,2 %) (OR: 0,35; CI: 0,18-0,67; p = 0,000). 44,3 % of the total number of patients received treatment, 19,5 % received oral iron, 20,0 % received intravenous iron, and 16,2 % received a blood transfusion. Conclusions: In our context, Anemia is a common complication in IBD cases (24,4 %). Despite the existence of international guidelines, the treatment in our context is not optimal.

The HABP2 G534E polymorphism does not increase nonmedullary thyroid cancer risk in Hispanics.

Familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) has not been clearly linked to causal germline variants, despite the large role that genetic factors play in risk. Recently, HABP2 G534E (rs7080536A) has been implicated as a causal variant in NMTC. We have previously shown that the HABP2 G534E variant is not associated with TC risk in patients from the British Isles. Hispanics are the largest and the youngest minority in the United States and NMTC is now the second most common malignancy in women from this population. In order to determine if the HABP2 G534E variant played a role in NMTC risk among Hispanic populations, we analyzed 281 cases and 1105 population-matched controls from a multicenter study in Colombia, evaluating the association through logistic regression. We found that the HABP2 G534E variant was not significantly associated with NMTC risk (P=0.843) in this Hispanic group. We also stratified available clinical data by multiple available clinicopathological variables and further analyzed the effect of HABP2 on NMTC presentation. However, we failed to detect associations between HABP2 G534E and NMTC risk, regardless of disease presentation (P≥0.273 for all cases). Therefore, without any significant associations between the HABP2 G534E variant and NMTC risk, we conclude that the variant is not causal of NMTC in this Hispanic population.

Clinical features of Hispanic thyroid cancer cases and the role of known genetic variants on disease risk.

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the second most common cancer among Hispanic women. Recent genome-wide association (GWA) and candidate studies identified 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs966423, rs2439302, rs965513, rs6983267, rs944289, and rs116909374), associated with increased TC risk in Europeans but their effects on disease risk have not been comprehensively tested in Hispanics. In this study, we aimed to describe the main clinicopathological manifestations and to evaluate the effects of known SNPs on TC risk and on clinicopathological manifestations in a Hispanic population.We analyzed 281 nonmedullary TC cases and 1146 cancer-free controls recruited in a multicenter population-based study in Colombia. SNPs were genotyped by Kompetitive allele specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) technique. Association between genetic variants and TC risk was assessed by computing odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CIs).Consistent with published data in U.S. Hispanics, our cases had a high prevalence of large tumors (>2 cm, 43%) and a high female/male ratio (5:1). We detected significant associations between TC risk and rs965513A (OR = 1.41), rs944289T (OR = 1.26), rs116909374A (OR = 1.96), rs2439302G (OR = 1.19), and rs6983267G (OR = 1.18). Cases carried more risk alleles than controls (5.16 vs. 4.78, P = 4.8 × 10). Individuals with ≥6 risk alleles had >6-fold increased TC risk (OR = 6.33, P = 4.0 × 10) compared to individuals with ≤2 risk alleles. rs944289T and rs116909374A were strongly associated with follicular histology (ORs = 1.61 and 3.33, respectively); rs2439302G with large tumors (OR = 1.50); and rs965513A with regional disease (OR = 1.92).To our knowledge, this is the first study of known TC risk variants in South American Hispanics and suggests that they increase TC susceptibility in this population and can identify patients at higher risk of severe disease.

Recomendaciones para reumatólogos sobre el manejo farmacológico durante la emergencia sanitaria por COVID-19: opinión de un grupo de expertos / Recommendations for rheumatologists on pharmacological management during the COVID-19 health emergency: Expert group opinion

RESUMEN La enfermedad por Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) es una pandemia inesperada que ha pro vocado un estado de emergencia y que ha generado cambios drásticos en los protocolos de atención clínica. Para su tratamiento se ha descrito el papel de algunos medicamen tos usados habitualmente en artritis reumatoide, lupus eritematoso sistémico y otras enfermedades autoinmunitarias sistémicas. Debido a ello, existe un inminente riesgo de desabastecimiento, por lo cual el objetivo de esta revisión narrativa y opinión de expertos es formular recomendaciones generales clínicas y administrativas sobre el manejo de pacien tes ambulatorios con enfermedad autoinmunitaria o inflamatoria sistémica en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is an unexpected pandemic that has caused a state of emergency, as well as generating drastic changes in clinical care protocols. Some drugs commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other systemic autoimmune diseases have been described for its treatment. Therefore, there is an imminent risk of shortages. The aim of this narrative review and expert opinion is to present general recommendations on the clinical and administrative management of outpatients with autoimmune or systemic inflammatory disease, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in multi-transfused patients in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem worldwide, with particular relevance in multi-transfused patients given that HCV is principally transmitted by exposure to infected blood. STUDY DESIGN: Between February and September 2003 a cross-sectional study was carried out in four hospital centres in Bogotá and Medellin, Colombia, to determine the risk factors for HCV infection in 500 multi-transfused patients. RESULTS: The study population was distributed in five groups: haemophilia, haemodyalsis, acute bleeding, ontological illnesses and sickle cell disease or thalassemia. Serum samples from patients were tested for HCV antibodies (Asxym, Abbott). An overall prevalence (9.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.4-11.6) (45/500) of HCV infection was found. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 32.2% of patients with haemophilia, 6.1% of patients undergoing haemodialysis, 7.1% of patients with sickle cell disease or thalassemia, 2.6% of patients with acute bleeding and 3.4% of patients with ontological or hematological diseases. The main risk factors associated with infection by HCV were: to be hemophilic (odds ratio, OR = 18.03; 95% Cl: 3.96-114.17), having received transfusions before 1995 (OR = 12.27; 95% Cl: 5.57-27.69), and having received more than 48 units of blood components (OR = 6.08; 95% CI: 3.06-12.1). In the multivariate analysis, only the year of transfusions (before 1995) remained significantly associated with risk of infection by HCV. CONCLUSIONS: The data show a 3-fold reduction in the infection risk between 1993 and 1995, when the serological screening for HCV in blood donors was being introduced. A reduction greater than 90% was achieved by 1995 when the screening coverage reached 99%.

Influenza-like illness sentinel surveillance in one hospital in Medellin, Colombia. 2007-2012.

BACKGROUND: The city of Medellin in Colombia has almost no documentation of the causes of acute respiratory infections (ARIs). As part of an ongoing collaboration, we conducted an epidemiologic surveillance for influenza and other respiratory viruses. It described the influenza strains that were circulating in the region along with their distribution over time, and performing molecular characterization to some of those strains. This will contribute to the knowledge of local and national epidemiology. OBJECTIVES: To analyze viral etiologic agents associated with influenza like illness (ILI) in participants reporting to one General hospital in Medelllin, Colombia. RESULTS: From January 2007 to December 2012, a total of 2039 participants were enrolled. Among them, 1120 (54.9%) were male and 1364 (69%) were under the age of five. Only 124 (6%) were older than the age of 15. From all 2039 participants, 1040 samples were diagnosed by either isolation or RT-PCR. One or more respiratory viruses were found in 737 (36%) participants. Of those, 426 (57.8%) got influenza A or B. Adenoviral and parainfluenza infections represented 19.1% and 14.9% of viral infections, respectively. Influenza A was detected almost throughout the whole year except for the first quarter of 2010, right after the 2009 influenza A pandemic. Influenza B was detected in 2008, 2010, and 2012 with no pattern detected. During 2008 and 2010, both types circulated in about the same proportion. Unusually, in many months of 2012, the proportion of influenza B infections was higher than influenza A (ranging between 30% and 42%). The higher proportion of adenovirus was mainly detected in the last quarter of years 2007 and 2010. Adenoviral cases are more frequent in participants under the age of four. CONCLUSIONS: The phylogenetic analysis of influenza viruses shows that only in the case of influenza A/H1N1, the circulating strains totally coincide with the vaccine strains each year.

Puntaje de tinción ocular en pacientes con diagnóstico de síndrome de Sjögren en una institución de salud en Medellín, Colombia / Ocular staining score in patients diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome in a health institution in Medellín, Colombia

RESUMEN Introducción: El síndrome de Sjögren es una enfermedad autoinmune asociada a múltiples factores, tanto genéticos como ambientales, que afecta principalmente a las glándulas salivales y lagrimales con infiltración celular de estas, lo cual causa síntomas secos. Con frecuencia se describe la queratoconjuntivitis sicca y sus complicaciones. Sus criterios clasificatorios han cambiado a lo largo de los años por la diversidad de los órganos implicados y los espectros clínicos de la enfermedad. Hoy se cuenta con parámetros clínicos y paraclínicos para su identificación; uno de estos, el puntaje de tinción ocular ocular staining score (OSS, por sus siglas en inglés), estandarizado a partir de la cohorte SICCA. Objetivo: Describir los hallazgos en la evaluación ocular, el resultado de las pruebas que hacen parte del OSS y las características clínicas de los criterios clasificatorios en pacientes con síndrome de Sjögren en el servicio de consulta externa de reumatología de un hospital universitario en el noroccidente colombiano. Método: Se condujo un estudio observacional, descriptivo y de corte transversal. Se describieron las características de los criterios clasificatorios del síndrome de Sjögren, incluyendo el puntaje de tinción ocular durante un año. Se realizaron las pruebas clínicas y tinciones oculares estandarizadas, evaluando características de la superficie ocular, producción lagrimal y tinciones con verde lisamina y fluoresceína sobre la conjuntiva y la córnea. Según los hallazgos se asignó una puntuación a cada parámetro para evaluar positividad, de acuerdo con el estándar clasificatorio. Las variables cualitativas se expresaron por medio de frecuencias absolutas y relativas y las cuantitativas como mediana y rango intercuartílico (P25-P75), según la distribución de los datos. Se empleó el paquete estadístico Epidat, versión 4.2. Resultados: Se incluyeron 28 pacientes. Los síntomas de ojo seco estuvieron presentes en el 89,2% de ellos; un 96,4% tuvo hallazgos positivos en el examen ocular y el 78,5% alcanzó un puntaje a favor de los criterios clasificatorios en la evaluación del OSS. La mediana del OSS fue 6,14; los anticuerpos anti-Ro fueron positivos en un 57,1%. Conclusión: La evaluación ocular por medio de pruebas objetivas es un método sencillo y reproducible en los pacientes con síndrome de Sjögren. Los índices más afectados fueron aquellos de disminución en la producción lagrimal. Las tinciones oculares no tuvieron una relación directa con la positivad de anticuerpos ni del factor reumatoide.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease associated with multiple genetic and environmental factors. It mainly affects the salivary and lacrimal glands with cellular infiltration leading to dry eye symptoms, with keratoconjunctivitis sicca and its complications often being described. Its classification criteria have changed over the years, due to the diversity in the organs involved and clinical spectrum of the disease. Today, there are clinical and para-clinical parameters for its identification. One of these is the ocular staining score (OSS), standardised from the SICCA cohort. Objective: To describe the findings in the ocular evaluation, the results of the tests of the OSS, and the clinical characteristics of the classification criteria in patients with Sjögren syndrome in the outpatient service of Rheumatology Outpatient Department a university hospital in north-western Colombia. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. The characteristics of the Sjögren syndrome classification criteria were described, including the OSS score for one year. Clinical tests and standardised ocular stains were performed, evaluating characteristics of the ocular surface, tearproduction, and lissamine green and fluorescein stains on the conjunctiva and cornea, assigning, according to the findings, a score to each parameter in order to assess positivity according to the classification standard. The qualitative variables were expressed by means of absolute and relative frequencies, and the quantitative ones as the median and interquartile range (P25-P75), according to the distribution of the data. Epidat statistical package, version 4.2, was used. Results: A total of 28 patients were included. Dry eye symptoms were present in 89.2%, 96.4% had positive findings in the eye examination, and 78.5% had a score on the OSS according to the classification criteria. The median OSS was 6.14, and anti-Ro antibodies were positive in 57.1%. Conclusion: Eye evaluation by objective tests is a simple and reproducible method in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. The most affected indices were those of a decrease in tearproduction. The ocular stains did not have a direct relationship with the positivity of antibodies, nor rheumatoid factor.