[Serotonin syndrome: four report cases and review of the literature]. / Síndrome serotoninérgico: Presentación de cuatro casos y revisión de la literatura.

The serotonin syndrome is a clinical condition associated with serotonin agonists. Is due to an overstimulation of central and peripheral serotonin receptors that leads to mental, autonomic and neuromuscular changes. Usually the disorder resolves within the first 24 hours after the medications are discontinued, however some patients progress to a multiple organ failure and die. We describe four elderly patients that presented with the classic triad. They presented the symptoms in average at the third day after the initiation or variation of the treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors. All had a favorable response with the suspension of medications and, in three cases, with the treatment with chlorpromazine. We believe it is a potentially fatal but reversible condition, probably underdiagnosed that requires a high index of suspicion.

[Myelomatous ascites]. / Ascitis mielomatosa: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Ascites is rare in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). It may be due to diverse mechanisms, most frequently because of an increased permeability of the peritoneum or because of portal hypertension due to liver infiltration. Myelomatous ascites occurs more frequently in patients having Ig-G or Ig-A paraprotein and their prognosis is poor. It is submitted the case of a female patient aged 50 years with IgA-kappa MM, who evolved with cardiac failure (CF), plasma cells leukemia and ascites of mixed cause, because of peritoneal infiltrate of myelomatous cells, hepatic compromise and CF. A review of the different causes of ascites in patients with MM is performed. There are also summarized all myelomatous ascites cases published in the literature. Our report presents the first case of myelomatous ascites in a patient with plasma cells leukemia.

[Gastroesophageal reflux as a cause of vocal dysfunction]. / Disfunción de cuerdas vocales secundaria a reflujo gastroesofágico.

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), is characterized by a paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords during inspiration, and occurs predominantly in young women. Common symptoms are cough, wheezing, episodic dyspnea, and inspiratory stridor. The true incidence and course of the disease are unknown, and it is usually self limited. It can coexist with, or mimic refractory asthma. Psychological disorders were thought to be the principal cause, subsequently multiple organic diseases have also been reported, like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Diagnosis is made by clinical suspicion and direct observation. The Gold standard for diagnosis is laryngoscopy with visualization of the paradoxical motion of the vocal cords when the patient is symptomatic. Speech therapy and psychotherapy have been used extensively without any prospective study. We report two cases of VCD associated with GERD, both with excellent respond to treatment.

[Gastroesophageal reflux as a cause of night sweating]. / Sudoración nocturna secundaria a reflujo gastroesofágico.

Night sweats has been defined as drenching sweats that require the patient to change bed clothes. In current studies night sweats appear in 30% of non-obstetric patients and affects approximately 60% of pregnant women. Differential diagnoses include infections, malignancy, medications, hot flashes and panic attacks, making of each patient a challenge. We present two patients with night sweating. After excluding systemic diseases the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux was made, with excellent response to anti-reflux treatment. The presentation of our two patients coupled with a deep literature review, underscores the importance of gastroesophageal reflux as a cause of night sweating.

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus in the elderly: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a usually underdiagnosed and potentially treatable cause of altered awareness in the elderly. To assess etiologies, associations with other medical problems, and prognosis of NCSE in a population aged >75 years we performed a nested case-control study. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical manifestations and EEG findings in 19 consecutive elderly patients (mean age 83.3 years) presenting with NCSE and compared them with 34 elderly patients (mean age 83.3 years) with altered mental status but without EEG evidence of NCSE. The variables compared included brain lesions on CT or MRI, number of concomitant chronic active diseases, previous neurological disorders, acute medical problems, the use and withdrawal of medications, and outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test, t-test, Fisher's exact two-tailed test, and Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: The etiology of NCSE was epilepsy in 2, acute medical disorders in 14, and a cryptogenic cause in 4. The NCSE group had a more frequent history of epilepsy, 35% versus 8.8% (p = 0.028); tramadol use, 31% versus 0% (p = 0.00151); longer hospitalization, 25 days versus 7 days (p = 0.0004); and unfavorable outcome, 50% versus 5.8% (p = 0.00031). No significant differences were found in the other variables. Unfavorable outcome was associated with a higher number of comorbidities (>2) and to a severely altered mental status. CONCLUSIONS: NCSE is a serious cause of altered mental status in the elderly. Although its direct role in brain damage is controversial, elderly patients with NCSE have higher morbidity and worst prognosis than those with altered mental status without NCSE.

[Graves disease, sign and symptoms]. / La enfermedad de Graves, signos y síntomas.

Graves disease is by far the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Is an immunologic disorder and it is distinguished clinically from other forms of hyperthyroidism by the presence of diffuse thyroid enlargement, ophthalmopathy, and occasionally pretibial myxedema. In this paper we summarize the prolific life of Robert Graves and we also describe the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism. In today s medicine, were technology plays a very important role, we would like to remark the value of anamnesis and physical exam as some of the most useful tools.

Takotsubo, discinesia apical transitoria: presentación de 4 casos y revisión de la literatura / Takotsubo, reversible apical ballooning of the left ventricle: report of 4 cases

A syndrome of apical ballooning, with ECG mimicking acute myocardial infarctation, mild or no enzymatic changes, and normal coronary angiogram was described in 1990. It presents mainly in middle aged and elderly women and it is preceded by stress triggering circumstances. Several mechanisms have been proposed although the precise cause remains unclear. The most accepted theory proposes the interaction of catecholamines and an inadequate inotropic response. We report four cases that presented with chest pain and sudden onset of heart failure, all patients had physical or emotional stress as a triggering factor. On ECG, ST segment elevation and inverted T waves were observed in the acute phase. All patients had typical echocardiogram image and normal coronary angiogram. Both ECG and echocardiogram returned to normal within two weeks.

En 1990 se describió un síndrome caracterizado por discinesia apical transitoria, cambios en el electrocardiograma(ECG), mínima elevación de enzimas cardíacas y arterias coronarias normales. Sepresenta con mayor frecuencia en mujeres añosas y es precedido por un evento de estrés, ya sea físico opsíquico. La fisiopatología aún no está aclarada y se proponen diversas teorías. La de mayor peso es la quepostula una afección secundaria a la descarga de catecolaminas desencadenada por el estrés, sobre un corazón incapaz de mantener una respuesta inotrópica adecuada. Se presentan cuatro casos de pacientes atendidos en nuestro hospital que se manifestaron con síntomas sugerentes de infarto agudo de miocardio asociadosa insuficiencia cardiaca, en el contexto de un episodio estresante. Los síntomas preponderantes fueron dolor precordial opresivo y disnea. En el ECG se evidenciaron tanto supradesnivel del segmento ST, como inversiónde la onda T. Todos los pacientes presentaron la imagen ecocardiográfica típica de discinesia apical, y todos tuvieron en la cinecoronariografía coronarias normales. Cabe destacar que tanto el ECG, como el ecocardiograma volvieron a la normalidad a partir de las dos semanas.