O uso contínuo da terlipressina após a ligadura endoscópica em hemorragia varicosa aguda necessita de mais evidências: um estudo piloto / Rational for continuing terlipressin after endoscopic variceal ligation in acute variceal haemorrhage needs further evidence: a pilot study

ABSTRACT Background Variceal hemorrhage (VH) is a medical emergency. Prompt endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is therapeutic. Terlipressin is used in VH and continued for 2—5 days even after EVL. As hemostasis is primarily achieved by EVL, the benefit of continuing trelipressin after EVL is unknown. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of continuing terlipressin after EVL to prevent re-bleed and mortality. Methods In this pilot study, after EVL 74 patients of VH were randomized into two treatment groups TG2 & TG5, received terlipressin (1 mg IV bolus q 4 hourly) for 2 days and 5 days respectively and one control group (TG0), received 0.9% normal saline (10 mL IV bolus q 4 hourly) and followed up for 8 weeks. Results A total of 9 (12.6%) patients had re-bleed with maximum 4 (5.6%) patients in TG5 group followed by 3 (4.2%) in TG2 and 2 (2.8%) in TG0 groups (P=0.670). The overall mortality was 15 (21.1%) patients, 6 (8.5%) patients in TG0 group, followed by 5 (7.0%) in TG5 and 4 (5.6%) in TG2 group (P=0.691). Adverse drug reactions were significantly higher in treatment groups with maximum 18 (24.32%) patients in TG5, followed by 8 (10.8%) in TG2 and 2 (2.7%) in TG0 groups (P=0.00). Duration of hospital stay was also significantly higher in treatment group, 6.63 (±0.65) days in TG5 followed by 3.64 (±0.57) in TG2 and 2.40 (±0.50) days in TG0 groups (P=0.00). Conclusion The rational for continuing terlipressin after EVL is doubtful as it didn't have any benefit for the prevention of re-bleed or mortality; rather it increased the risk of adverse drug reactions and duration of hospital stay. Further randomized clinical trials are encouraged to generate more evidence in support or against continuing terlipressin after EVL.

RESUMO Contexto A hemorragia varicosa (HV) é emergência médica. A ligadura endoscópica imediata das varizes (LEV) é terapêutica. A terlipressina é usada em HV e contínua por 2—5 dias mesmo após a LEV. Como a hemostasia é alcançada principalmente pela LEV, o benefício do uso contínuo da terlipressina após o evento é desconhecido. Objetivo Avaliar a eficácia da terlipressina contínua após a LEV para evitar o ressangramento e a mortalidade. Métodos Neste estudo piloto, após a LEV, 74 pacientes com HV foram randomizados em dois grupos de tratamento TG2 & TG5, que receberam terlipressina (1 mg EV em bolus a cada 4 horas) durante 2—5 dias, respectivamente, e um grupo controle (TG0), que receberam soro fisiológico normal de 0,9% (10 mL EV em bolus a cada 4 horas) e foram seguidos por 8 semanas. Resultados Um total de 9 (12,6%) pacientes tiveram ressangramento, 4 (5,6%) no grupo TG5, seguidos por 3 (4,2%) no TG2 e 2 (2,8%) no grupo TG0 (P=0,670). A mortalidade geral de pacientes foi de 15 (21,1%), 6 (8,5%) no grupo TG0, seguidos por 5 (7,0%) no TG5 e 4 (5,6%) no TG2 (P=0,691). As reações adversas de medicamentos foram significativamente maiores em grupos de tratamento em 18 (24,32%) pacientes no TG5, seguidos por 8 (10,8%) no TG2 e 2 (2,7%) em grupo TG0 (P=0,00). A duração da internação hospitalar também foi significativamente maior no grupo de tratamento, 6,63 (±0,65) dias no TG5, seguido por 3,64 (±0,57) em TG2 e 2,40 (±0,50) dias em grupos TG0 (P=0,00). Conclusão O uso racional para a continuação da terlipressina após a LEV é duvidoso, pois não teve qualquer benefício para a prevenção de ressangramento ou mortalidade; pelo contrário, aumentou o risco de efeitos adversos e duração da internação hospitalar. Outros ensaios clínicos randomizados são necessários para gerar mais evidências em apoio ou contra a terlipressina contínua após a LEV.

Langerhans cell sarcoma with BRAF?V600E mutation and hemophagocytosis: An autopsy report

Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) is a rare high-grade neoplasm of langerhans cell phenotype having unambiguous malignant cytological features. We report such a rare case in a 20-year-old man who presented with dyspnea and high-grade fever. On evaluation, he had generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and a large anterior mediastinal mass. Fine needle aspiration from the mediastinal mass and bone marrow aspirate showed numerous atypical cells, many of which showed grooved nuclei. In addition, the bone marrow showed prominent hemophagocytosis. The patient had a stormy hospital stay and succumbed to the illness. The autopsy revealed a rare multisystem involvement by LCS involving the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lungs, and intestine, which harbored a BRAFV600E mutation and was associated with hemophagocytosis

Wilson’s Disease - A Case Report

Introduction: Wilson's disease (WD) is a disorder of coppermetabolism leading to the accumulation of this metal indifferent organs. Hepatic manifestations tend to occur in thefirst decade and neurological symptoms in the third decade.Neurological manifestations are said to worsen with chelationtherapy.Case report: In our patient however the initial manifestationwas head tremor at the age of 43 years which improved withtreatment. The patient for some reason stopped the therapy for8 years after which he decided to resume it only to precipitatethe liver cirrhosis clinically –something that has not beenreported earlier. The diagnosis was missed initially. Howevertreatment produced good results.Conclusion: The case also serves as a reminder not to dismissthis disease as a rare theoretical possibility but to suspect itin a case of liver cirrhosis of unknown etiology or when thepatient presents with an obscure isolated neurological signsuch as tremor. Delayed recognition of the disease or stoppingtherapy can lead to a progression of the disease. The patienthad many unusual features which are being reported for futurereference by researchers and practioners

Changing chronobiology of cardiovascular outcome following prophylaxis.

Cardiovascular events like angina, myocardial infarction and stroke have shown an increasing occurrence in the morning hours. We did this pilot nested case control study to see for any change in the time pattern of occurrence of cardiovascular events among patients on prophylaxis. A pilot study was done and the demographic characters, history of cardiovascular diseases, time of occurrence of cardiovascular event, history of drug intake and compliance were noted. Eighty four patients on prophylaxis and 135 patients presenting for the first time reported during the study period. Age did not show any significant difference. More males were getting prophylaxis for stroke and for the combined cardiovascular events. Time distribution of events showed peak occurrence between 8 to 12 hr followed by 20 to 24 hr among those who were not on prophylaxis and reverse in those on secondary prophylaxis. Odds of developing cardiovascular events though was not significantly different, was higher between 16-20 hr (1.26), 20-24 hr (1.48) and 0-4 hr (1.22) among those on prophylaxis. Seventy eight patients were taking antihypertensives. This observation demands further studies to determine the cause of evening increase in cardiovascular event especially since very little is known regarding evening exaggeration of risk factors which is becoming relevant especially in those getting prophylaxis.

Utilization of Telefax System for Early Detection, Interpretation and Management of Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: An Initial Experience from Rural Punjab Telecardiology Rapid Access Project.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of telecardiology-guided initiation of therapy and management of acute coronary syndrome at primary care hospitals before the transfer of the patient to a tertiary care center. METHODS: This study covered 25 of 41 patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome at the Kharar Civil Hospital over a period of 15 months. These 25 patients (group A) had ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The remaining 16, with non- ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, were excluded from the study. The group A patients were thrombolyzed at the Kharar Civil Hospital under telecardiology guidance (transmission of the electrocardiograms by fax to the coronary care unit of the PGIMER, where they were analyzed by a cardiologist). The patients were later sent to the PGIMER for further treatment. The group A patients were compared with two control groups (B and C) of 25 patients each with similar problems. The group B patients were referred for thrombolysis to the emergency ward of the PGIMER from local hospitals (situated at a distance of about 15 km), after acute myocardial infarction had been confirmed by electrocardiograms. The group C patients had come directly to the PGIMER emergency ward for thrombolysis. The patients in all groups were evaluated in terms of door-to-needle time saved, improvement in left ventricular systolic function and adverse events during hospitalization, as well as at three months' follow-up. RESULTS: For patients in group A, the mean door-to-needle time was 67.08 +/- 18.21 minutes. It was 121.8 +/- 48.71 minutes for those in group B and 22.68 +/- 9.24 minutes for those in group C. Thus, the differences among the groups were significant (p < 0.0001). Complications were rare and none occurred during transfer from the Kharar Civil Hospital to the PGIMER. The ejection fraction of all the patients showed an improvement between the time of admission and at three months' follow-up (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing telecardiology advances, district hospital physicians, in collaboration with cardiologists at the tertiary center, can provide adequate standard diagnosis at the pre-coronary care unit level and also provide adequate therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Early administration of streptokinase in the civil hospital brought about a significant reduction in door-to-needle time and considerable improvement in left ventricular function.