Evaluación del estado nutricional de pacientes en un hospital con lepra en Argentina / Nutritional status assessment in leprous hospitalized patients in Argentina

Introducción: En la República Argentina la Lepra es un problema de salud pública regional. Se observa un continuo descenso de la tasa de prevalencia en los últimos 10 años. El hospital Nac. Dr. Baldomero Sommer brinda asistencia integral al enfermo de Lepra en las modalidades de atención de los pacientes en pabellones y salas de internación en casas que habitan enfermos autoválidos y sus familiares, donde se les provee asistencia alimentaria . Objetivos: Evaluar el estado nutricional de pacientes que residen en el hospital. Analizar el aporte calóricoproteico brindado por la Institución. Material y métodos: Estudio Transversal y Descriptivo. Se realizó una Evaluación Nutricional a los pacientes que residen en los 4 barrios que se encuentran en el hospital. Se obtuvo información disponible en las historias clínicas sobre Parámetros Bioquímicos y de las patologías asociadas prevalentes. Resultados: Se evaluaron 219 pacientes, de un total de 246, edad promedio 56,4 años, 62,2% Hombres y 37,8% Mujeres. La Obesidad resultó el trastorno nutricional de mayor prevalencia (74,3%). Desnutrición 3,6%, Eunutridos 23,7%. No concurrieron a la evaluación 10,9% de los pacientes y 2,8% no tenían laboratorio actualizado (+ de 2 años). El promedio Albúmina fue 4,2 g/dl, 28,45% no tenían registrado valor de Albúmina. Los valores de Hto, Urea determinaron un adecuado aporte proteico. Dentro del diagnóstico nutricional se tuvo en consideración la búsqueda de patologías prevalentes como Diabetes que estuvo presente en el 9,7% de los pacientes, Dislipidemia = 32,8%, IRC = 9,3%, HTA = 33,6%. Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de Obesidad Moderada-Severa en la población estudiada que no es coincidente con la literatura actual y pone de manifiesto la necesidad de adecuar a la brevedad el aporte calórico-proteico. Impulsar medidas preventivas a través de Programas de Educación con el propósito de mejorar el estado nutricional de la población en riesgo, mejorar la calidad de vida, reducir los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares, utilizando un modelo de intervención que incluya estrategias para el seguimiento de una dieta saludable y el aumento de la actividad física

Introduction: Leprosy is a regional problem of public health in the Argentine Republic. It has seen a continuous decrease of the prevalence in the last 10 years, with value is about 0.17/10000 citizen and the detection rate is constant about 0.10/10000 citizen. Even the death rate is low, its importance is given for the physicals, socials, permanents and the progressive disabilities that its produce if there no early diagnostic and a regular and complete treatment. The Dr. Baldomero Sommer National Hospital, that give a complete assistance to the leprosy patients either to the pavilion patients or the ill patients that help oneselves and live in houses with their families and where it is given food assistance to promote and increase their quality of life. Objectives: Evaluate The nutritional state of the ill patients that help oneselves and live in houses with their families. Analyze the caloric and proteic brought by the institution. Material and methods: It is a transversal and descriptive study. We made a nutritional evaluation of the patients that live in each of the 4 suburb of the hospital, whom has been previously appointed by the coordinator of the zone, with the porpoise of identify the nutritional state of each one of the patients, quantify the nutritional risk, and indicate, adequate and monitories the nutritional support. The diagnostic was realized by the dietician through: anthropometric parameters (weight, height and body mass index), biochemical parameters, according to the clinical history: albumin, cholesterol, urea, hematocrito and associated illness. Results: We evaluated 219 patients of 246, with a middle age of 56.4 years, 62.2% males and 57.8% females. We detected that obesity was the nutritional disorder with mayor prevalence in these population (74.3%) and with mayor incidence in the moderate obesity in males and mayor incidence in severe obesity in females. The prevalence of malnourishment was 3.6% and well-nourished was 23.7%, 27 of the patients (10.9%) did not go to the nutritional evaluation. The 2.8% of the patients did not have an actual laboratory for more than 2 years. In the clinical histories, we found that the dosage of albumin in an average of 4.2 g/dl, and the 2.8% of the patients did not have any value of albumin. The values of hematocrito and urea determinate an adequate brought of proteins in the evaluated population. Inside the nutritional diagnostic we considerate the search of diabetes (present ion the 9.7% of the patients), dislipemia (present ion the 32.8% of the patients, taken a level of 200 mg / dl of cholesterol), chronic renal deficiency (present in the 9.3% of the patients), and arterial hypertension (present in the 33.6% of the patients). Conclusions: Exist a high prevalence of moderate-severe obesity in the studied population that have no coincidence with the universal literature. These data shows the necessity to adequate the caloric and proteic brought to the patients. The majority of the patients presented Dislipemia and or diabetes and or arterial hypertension. Promote the development of educational programs to better the nutritional state of the risk population, better the quality of life and reduce cardiovascular risks, using an international model that include strategies for the following of a health diet and an increase of physical activity

Decreases in mean hemoglobin and serum albumin values in erythema nodosum leprosum and lepromatous leprosy.

Changes in hemoglobin (HGB) and serum albumin (SA) concentration associated with the onset of symptomatic erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) were studied by comparing the values obtained on the day thalidomide or prednisone therapy commenced, with each patients' preceding values. In three groups of ENL patients mean HGB values fell with statistical significance: 1) in 38 patients who had been begun on thalidomide in the decade of the 1990s and who had been receiving dapsone for a minimum of 6 months, mean HGB values fell from 13.19 gm/dl to 12.27 gm/dl, or 7.0%, p = 6.0 x 10(-6); 2) in 8 patients who were in the active patient file not overlapping with the preceding group, and who had been on dapsone for a minimum of 6 months, mean HGB values feel from 13.40 gm/dl to 11.96 gm/dl, or 10.7%, p = 0.0015; and 3) in 8 patients not overlapping with the preceding groups, who were treated with rifampin and minocylcine or clarithromycin mean HGB values fell from 13.25 gm/dl to 12.48 gm/dl, or 5.8%, p = 0.0035. In two groups of ENL patients SA values also fell with statistical significance: 1) in 34 patients who were begun on thalidomide in the decade of the 1990s and who had been on dapsone for a minimum of 6 months, mean SA values fell from 4.14 gm/dl to 3.77 gm/dl, or 8.9%, p = 1.2 x 10(-5); and 2) in 10 patients from the active file not overlapping with the preceding group, and who had been on dapsone for a minimum of 6 months, mean SA values fell from 4.45 gm/dl to 4.06 gm/dl, or 8.8%, p = 0.039. A brisk fall in HGB values was often accompanied by a fall in SA concentration, and vice versa. Recovery from extreme falls in HGB and SA values was complete in 13 weeks. Recovery occurred in the presence of continued dapsone treatment. The falls could be rapid, occurring too soon to be the result of decreased erythropoiesis or hepatic SA synthesis. This study provides no direct evidence as to the mechanism responsible for the fall in these two parameters, but an interleukin-6 mediated hemodilution is an attractive hypothesis. The ENL-associated fall in HGB values was distinct from dapsone-induced hemolysis and the anemia of chronic disease. The ENL-associated anemia is not a good reason to discontinue dapsone therapy.

Serum markers of treatment success in leprosy.

UNLABELLED: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin and other variables were evaluated as possible markers of the success of multidrug therapy (MDT) in leprosy. Multibacillary (MB, N = 45) and paucibacillary (PB, N = 29) leprosy patients were examined during MDT, which typically lasted 12 months for MB and 6 months for PB patients. Serum values for total protein, albumin, immunoglobulin gamma (IgG), ICAM-1, and E-selectin (selectin) were recorded, as were lesion type, number, and distribution. Response at the end of therapy was assessed as good, fair, or poor. The bacterial index (BI) of lesions was measured at the beginning and end of therapy. The earlier reported findings of this investigation are herein re-examined. RESULTS: age and lowered serum albumin correlated with the poorer condition of the patients, as did elevated selectin. Albumin was inversely correlated with the BI (p = 0.008) in MB patients, and IgG was positively correlated (p = 0.009). ICAM and E-selectin alone were not useful markers of individual patient condition. A regression combining serum albumin under 41 g/l, age and E-selectin was able to identify 85% of the patients in poorer condition. CONCLUSION: serum albumin was a useful nonspecific marker of both patient condition and infection. Age is an important negative factor in patient response. Albumin and IgG correlate with the BI and with each other (p = 0.011) in MB patients, but not in PB patients.

Altered calcium-binding ability of plasma proteins as the cause of hypocalcemia in lepromatous leprosy.

This paper reports a study performed on 10 lepromatous leprosy outpatients and on the same number of age- and sex-matched contacts. All of the lepromatous patients were hypocalcemic, but plasma levels of ionized calcium and the acid-base status were normal. The average daily food intake assessed through a questionnaire revealed adequate nutrition of patients and controls. Plasma proteins and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and intestinal absorption of calcium were discarded as the causes of the hypocalcemia. In vitro experiments designed to investigate the effect of hydrogen ion concentration on the equilibrium between calcium ion and proteins revealed that, at normal pH values, plasma proteins from lepromatous leprosy patients bind a smaller fraction of total plasma calcium than those from controls. This phenomenon produces a normal concentration of ionized calcium that determines a normal parathyroid status as indicated by the normal urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and plasma concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (total and bone isoenzyme) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase.

Electrophoretic pattern of proteins in lepromatous leprosy.

Serum total proteins and the various protein fractions were studied in fifty cases of lepromatous leprosy and in eleven cases of lepromatous leprosy with lepra reaction. The study revealed a significant increase in serum total proteins in both lepromatous leprosy and lepra reaction groups, when compared with normal healthy subjects. The percentage rise was found to be 14.5% and 22.95% for lepromatous leprosy and lepra reaction respectively. The globulin fraction showed a significant elevation, while albumin showed a decrease. Thus a reversal of A/G ratio was observed in both the disease groups. Alpha-1 and Alpha-2 globulins were found to be significantly increased in both the disease groups. Beta globulins did not reveal any significant alteration. It was interesting to note the presence of an additional globulin fraction in seventeen patients of lepromatous leprosy and two cases of lepra reaction. Gammaglobulin showed a significant rise in lepromatous leprosy (56.16%) and in lepra reaction (60.72%). The significance of the above findings are discussed in the light of available literature.

[Hepatic function in the clinical spectrum of Hansen's disease]. / La función hepática a través del espectro clínico de la hanseniasis.

The liver function was studied in 100 hanseniasis patients. They were classified in the following 10 groups: quiescent LL (20 patients), quiescent BL (13 patients), quiescent BB (7 patients), quiescent BT (9 patients), quiescent TT (12 patients), reactional LL (12 patients), reactional BL (10 patients), reactional BB (7 patients), reactional BT (5 patients), reactional TT (5 patients); a comparison was made with a control group (10 healthy individuals). It was found a hyperproteinemia with high levels of globulin and normal levels of albumin in the serum of all clinical forms, and a typical pattern of "light damage hepatic cells" with raised in the enzymatic activity of GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase with no changes in turbidity tests and bilirrubinemia, in all reactional patients. The physiopathology of this problem and the types III and IV hypersensitivity phenomena are discussed.

A study of serum protein in leprosy.

Total serum protein albumin, globulin and A/6 ratio were determined in 50 patients of different types of Leprosy and 15 healthy controls. A significant elevation of total serum proteins (P < 0.001) was observed in 25 patients of Lepromatous leprosy and 10 patients of lepra reaction. No statistically significant alteration in total serum protein (P < 0.05) was observed in 15 patients of non-lepromatous leprosy. A significant fall in serum albumin with concomitant rise in serum globulin level (P < 0.001) was observed in non-lepromatous leprosy, lepromatous and patients having lepra-reaction.

Immunoglobulins in leprosy.

Serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM were estimated in 22 lepromatous (LL) patients, 28 tuberculoid (TT), 9 borderline tuberculoid (BT), and 8 borderline lepromatous (BL), and compared with 50 normal healthy adult males belonging to a low socio-economic class. Immunoglobulin IgM was invariably significantly raised in TT, BT and LL subgroups of leprosy patients compared to the control but variation among different subgroups was statistically insignificant. Mean serum IgA levels were also raised in TT, BL and LL subgroups but statistically the rise was not significant. In the BT subgroup, significantly low IgA levels were observed both compared to the control and the other leprosy subgroups. Immunoglobulin G levels were significantly raised only in the LL subgroups compared to the control and the other subgroups of leprosy patients. It is proposed that persistently raised gamma globulins and immunoglobulin G, A and M levels observed in lepromatous leprosy patients could be caused by macrophage blockade hindering the suppressor T-cell mediated homeostatic control for immunoglobulins.

Electrophoresis and immuno electrophoresis in leprosy.

50 cases of leprosy belonging to various subgroups i.e. 10 tuberculoid, 25 lepromatous leprosy, 10 lepra reaction, 5 dimorphic leprosy, and 25 cases or normal individuals were subjected to agar gel electrophoresis. The slides were scanned by densitometry. It showed profound departure from normal in various fractions of electrophoretic patterns. All of them showed rise of gamma globulin. Albumin was markedly decreased in lepromotous leprosy and lepra reaction. In dimorphic leprosy Alfa-1 was decreased. Qualitative immuno electrophoresis was done by using antihuman serum raised in the laboratory, by immunising rabbits. It revealed changes in IgM and IgG arcs. Results are discussed and tried to explain on immunological derangement.

Sequential biochemical investigations in lepromatous leprosy.

Sequential biochemical investigations were conducted in cases of lepromatous leprosy in the reactive as well as subsided phases. Low levels of blood sugar and serum cholesterol were indicated in the reactive phase of lepromatous leprosy. Significant increase in thymol turbidity and decrease in A/G ratio were noted in most of the cases of lepromatous leprosy. Enhancement of serum levels of transaminases was observed in the reactive phase of lepromatous leprosy. Serum protein electrophoresis indicated increases in alpha2--globulin and r--globulin and decrease in albumin in the reactive as well as subsided phases. The results are discussed in this paper.

Haematological profile in leprosy. Part II--Relationship to severity of disease and treament status.

321 adult male lepromatous leprosy patients were studied for relationship between haematological findings, severity of disease and duration of treatment. Significant changes were noticed in relation in haemoglobin concentration, serum vitamin B12 and serum folate levels, serum albumin and globulin. No significant changes were observed in serum iron levels in relation to disease and treatment status. With rising bacterial load, there was a trend towards lower haemoglobin concentration, higher vitamin B12 level and lowered serum folate levels. Serum albumin showed a significant decline, while serum globulin showed a significant rise. The findings are discussed in relation to replacement of bone marrow by lepromatous tissue as well as possible interference in the metabolism of haematinics by M. leprae. The exact mechanism of neurlogical deficit in leprosy in relation to deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid need to be further elucidated.

Electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in leprosy.

Sera collected from 65 patients having various types of leprosy and 20 healthy human beings were studied for the determination of total serum proteins, paper electrophoresis for protein types and albumin globulin ratios. Significant changes in protein equilibrium with the presence of hypoalbuminemia and increases in various globulin fractions (except beta globulin) were observed in patients having lepromatous and dimorphous leprosy. An abnormal protein band was also detected in 3 of 20 cases of lepromatous leprosy. The patients suffering from tuberculoid and polyneuritic leprosy did not show much protein disequilibrium except for mild rises in serum alpha-2 and reductions in serum beta globulins.

Trophic skin ulceration of leprosy: skin and serum zinc concentrations.

Skin and serum zinc measurements have been made in patients with leprosy with and without trophic skin ulceration and in several other groups. Serum zinc concentrations were decreased in leprosy irrespective of the presence or absence of skin ulceration. Serum zinc concentrations in leprosy were also unrelated to smears positive for Mycobacterium leprae and to the clinical type of leprosy. Since a decrease of the serum zinc was also found in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and pulmonary tuberculosis it seems likely that the decreased serum zinc in leprosy is a nonspecific metabolic consequence of chronic skin and internal disease. The mean skin zinc concentration in leprosy did not differ significantly from the corresponding value in control subjects, the lack of agreement between serum and skin concentrations being possibly related to the presence of nonexchangeable keratin-bound zinc in skin. Though the clinical significance of lowered serum zinc concentrations in leprosy is uncertain therapeutic trials of zinc treatment in leprosy with trophic skin ulceration seem justifiable.