Plasmapheresis and other extracorporeal filtration techniques in critical patients / Plasmaféresis y otras técnicas de depuración extracorpórea en pacientes críticos

Plasmapheresis is an extracorporeal technique that eliminates macromolecules involved in pathological processes from plasma. A review is made of the technical aspects, main indications in critical care and potential complications of plasmapheresis, as well as of other extracorporeal filtration techniques such as endotoxin-removal columns and other devices designed to eliminate cytokines or modulate the inflammatory immune response in critical patients

La plasmaféresis es una técnica extracorpórea mediante la cual se procede a la eliminación de macromoléculas del plasma que se consideran mediadores de procesos patológicos. En este artículo se revisan los aspectos técnicos, las principales indicaciones en las patologías que suelen motivar ingreso en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos y las potenciales complicaciones de la plasmaféresis. Así mismo, se incluye una revisión de otras técnicas de depuración extracorpórea, tales como las columnas de fijación de endotoxinas y otros procedimientos que persiguen la eliminación de citoquinas o la inmunomodulación del proceso inflamatorio en el paciente crítico

Plasmapheresis and other extracorporeal filtration techniques in critical patients.

Plasmapheresis is an extracorporeal technique that eliminates macromolecules involved in pathological processes from plasma. A review is made of the technical aspects, main indications in critical care and potential complications of plasmapheresis, as well as of other extracorporeal filtration techniques such as endotoxin-removal columns and other devices designed to eliminate cytokines or modulate the inflammatory immune response in critical patients.

Medición semiautomática de la relación arteriovenosa retiniana como posible marcador de riesgo de infarto cerebral silente en pacientes hipertensos / Semi-automatic measuring of arteriovenous relation as a possible silent brain infarction risk index in hypertensive patients

PROPÓSITO: Evaluar la utilidad de un sistema semiautomático de medición de relación arteriovenosa (RAV) retiniana sobre imágenes retinográficas de pacientes hipertensos en la valoración del riesgo cardiovascular y la detección de isquemia cerebral silente (ICS). MÉTODO: Un total de 976 pacientes de la cohorte Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives: a magnetic resonance imaging study (ISSYS) estudiados mediante resonancia magnética craneal para valorar la presencia o no de ICS fueron invitados a realizar una retinografía para un examen convencional de fondo de ojo y una medición semitautomática del promedio de los calibres vasculares para el cálculo de la relación arteriovenosa (RAV). RESULTADOS: Se analizaron las retinografías de 768 pacientes. Entre las lesiones observadas, solamente se encontró una asociación con la detección de ICS en aquellos pacientes con microaneurismas (OR: 2,50; IC 95%: 1,05-5,98) o una RAV alterada (<0,666) (OR: 4,22; IC 95%: 2,56-6,96). En el análisis de regresión logística multivariante ajustado por edad y sexo, solamente la RAV alterada continuó manifestándose como un factor de riesgo (OR: 3,70; IC 95%: 2,21-6,18). CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran que el análisis semiautomático de la vasculatura retiniana a partir de retinografías tiene el potencial de ser considerado como un factor de riesgo vascular importante en la población hipertensa

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a semiautomatic measuring system of arteriovenous relation (RAV) from retinographic images of hypertensive patients in assessing their cardiovascular risk and silent brain ischemia (ICS) detection. METHODS: Semi-automatic measurement of arterial and venous width were performed with the aid of Imedos software and conventional fundus examination from the analysis of retinal images belonging to the 976 patients integrated in the cohort Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives: a magnetic resonance imaging study (ISSYS), group of hypertensive patients. All patients have been subjected to a cranial magnetic resonance imaging (RMN) to assess the presence or absence of brain silent infarct. RESULTS: Retinal images of 768 patients were studied. Among the clinical findings observed, association with ICS was only detected in patients with microaneurysms (OR 2.50; 95% CI: 1.05-5.98) or altered RAV (<0.666) (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.56-6.96). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted by age and sex, only altered RAV continued demonstrating as a risk factor (OR: 3.70; 95% CI: 2.21-6.18). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the semiautomatic analysis of the retinal vasculature from retinal images has the potential to be considered as an important vascular risk factor in hypertensive population

Semi-automatic measuring of arteriovenous relation as a possible silent brain infarction risk index in hypertensive patients. / Medición semiautomática de la relación arteriovenosa retiniana como posible marcador de riesgo de infarto cerebral silente en pacientes hipertensos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a semiautomatic measuring system of arteriovenous relation (RAV) from retinographic images of hypertensive patients in assessing their cardiovascular risk and silent brain ischemia (ICS) detection. METHODS: Semi-automatic measurement of arterial and venous width were performed with the aid of Imedos software and conventional fundus examination from the analysis of retinal images belonging to the 976 patients integrated in the cohort Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives: a magnetic resonance imaging study (ISSYS), group of hypertensive patients. All patients have been subjected to a cranial magnetic resonance imaging (RMN) to assess the presence or absence of brain silent infarct. RESULTS: Retinal images of 768 patients were studied. Among the clinical findings observed, association with ICS was only detected in patients with microaneurysms (OR 2.50; 95% CI: 1.05-5.98) or altered RAV (<0.666) (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.56-6.96). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted by age and sex, only altered RAV continued demonstrating as a risk factor (OR: 3.70; 95% CI: 2.21-6.18). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the semiautomatic analysis of the retinal vasculature from retinal images has the potential to be considered as an important vascular risk factor in hypertensive population.

Severe infections after single umbilical cord blood transplantation in adults with or without the co-infusion of CD34+ cells from a third-party donor: results of a multicenter study from the Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyético (GETH).

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT) is an established alternative source of stem cells in the setting of unrelated transplantation. When compared with other sources, single-unit CBT (sCBT) is associated with a delayed hematologic recovery, which may lead to a higher infection-related mortality (IRM). Co-infusion with the sCBT of CD34+ peripheral blood stem cells from a third-party donor (TPD) (sCBT + TPDCD34+) has been shown to markedly accelerate leukocyte recovery, potentially reducing the IRM. However, to our knowledge, no comparative studies have focused on severe infections and IRM with these 2 sCBT strategies. METHODS: A total of 148 consecutive sCBT (2000-2010, median follow-up 4.5 years) were included in a multicenter retrospective study to analyze the incidence and risk factors of IRM and severe viral and invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Neutrophil engraftment occurred in 90% of sCBT (n = 77) and 94% sCBT + TPDCD34+ (n = 71) recipients at a median of 23 and 12 days post transplantation, respectively (P < 0.01). RESULTS: The 4-year IRM was 24% and 20%, respectively (P = 0.7), with no differences at day +30 (5% and 4%, respectively) and day +100 (10% and 8%, respectively). In multivariate analysis early status of the underlying malignancy, cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seronegative recipient and high CD34+ cell content in the cord blood unit before cryostorage (≥1.4 × 10(5) /kg) were protective of IRM. Among the causes of IRM, bacterial infections and IFIs were more common in sCBT (15% vs. 4%), while CMV disease and parasitic infections were more common in the sCBT + TPDCD34+ cohort (5% vs. 16%). CONCLUSION: These data show that sCBT supported with TPDCD34(+) cells results in much shorter periods of post-transplant leukopenia, but the short- and long-term rates of IRM were comparable to those of sCBT, presumably because immune recovery is equally delayed in both graft types.

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and its associated factors in Spain: An analysis of 6 population-based studies. DARIOS Study. / Prevalencia de fibrilación auricular y factores asociados en España, análisis de seis estudios de base poblacional. Estudio DARIOS.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors in Spain. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study based on a grouped analysis of 17,291 randomized individuals recruited in 6 population studies. RESULTS: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 1.5% (95% CI:1.3-1.7%). Men had a greater prevalence of the disease than women (1.9 vs. 1.1%, respectively). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation progressively increased with age: 0.05% for patients younger than 45 years, 0.5% for those between 45-59 years of age, 2.3% for those between 60-74 years of age and 6.3% for those older than 75 years. The percentage of individuals who were underwent anticoagulant treatment was 74.3%. The risk factors significantly associated with arrhythmia were an age older than 60 years (odds ratio [OR]: 7.6; 95% CI: 5.1-11.2), the male sex (OR:1.8; 95% CI: 1.4-2.4), arterial hypertension (OR:1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1), obesity (OR:1.5; 95% CI:1.2-2.1) and a history of coronary artery disease (OR:1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-3.0). CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation is a common disease in elderly individuals, while its prevalence is low in individuals younger than 60 years. Most individuals with atrial fibrillation were on anticoagulant treatment. The risk factors for this type of arrhythmia are age, the male sex, hypertension, obesity and a history of coronary artery disease.

Toxoplasmosis in cord blood transplantation recipients.

Toxoplasmosis is a devastating opportunistic infection that can affect immunocompromised patients such as cord blood transplantation (CBT) recipients. The clinical characteristics of 4 toxoplasmosis CBT patients treated at our institution are reviewed, together with 5 cases collected from the literature. The rate of toxoplasmosis in our hospital was 6% in CBT recipients and 0.2% in other types of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (P < 0.001). Five patients (56%) presented disseminated toxoplasmosis and 4 patients (44%) had localized infection in the central nervous system. In 5 of the 9 patients considered (56%), cytomegalovirus viral replication had been detected before the clinical onset of toxoplasmosis. Seven patients (78%) had previously developed graft-versus-host disease. All patients who exhibited disseminated disease died due to Toxoplasma infection. Pre-transplant serology was positive in 1 patient, negative in 3 patients, and not performed in another. Only 1 of these 5 patients with disseminated disease had received Toxoplasma prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole. It could be concluded that mortality in CBT patients with disseminated toxoplasmosis is unacceptably high. The negative results of serology in the majority of these cases, and its unspecific clinical presentation, makes diagnosis exceedingly difficult. Better diagnostic tests and prophylaxis strategy are needed in CBT recipients.

Immune reconstitution after cord blood transplants supported by coinfusion of mobilized hematopoietic stem cells from a third party donor.

Low severity of GVHD, substantial graft vs tumor (GVT) and slow development of protective immunity are well-documented features of cord blood transplants (CBT). We have evaluated the immune reconstitution of adult recipients of single-unit CBT supported by the coinfusion of third party donor (TPD) mobilized hematopoietic stem cells (MHSC), a procedure-'dual CB/TPD-MHSC transplant'-that results in early recovery of circulating granulocytes, high rates of CB engraftment and full chimerism. Cumulative recovery of natural killer and B cells at or above the median values of normal controls were 1.0 and 0.76 by the sixth and ninth months. Recovery of T cells was much slower, naive cells lagging behind those of memory and effector (committed) immunophenotypes. Serial analyses of signal joint TCR excision circles showed a general pattern of very low levels by the third month after CBT, followed by recovery to levels persistently similar or higher than those observed before transplantation and in normal controls. Our results are consistent with the clinical observations of substantial GVT effect together with low incidence of serious GVHD and slow development of protective immunity and suggest that thymic function contributes substantially to the recovery of T-cell populations in adults receiving dual CB/TPD-MHSC transplants.

Cord blood transplants supported by co-infusion of mobilized hematopoietic stem cells from a third-party donor.

This open label clinical study provides updated evaluation of the strategy of single unit cord blood transplants (CBTs) with co-infusion of third-party donor (TPD) mobilized hematopoietic stem cells (MHSC). Fifty-five adults with high-risk hematological malignancies, median age 34 years (16-60 years) and weight 70 kg (43-95 kg), received CBTs (median 2.39 x 10(7) total nucleated cell (TNC) per kg and 0.11 x 10(6) CD34+ per kg) and TPD-MHSC (median 2.4 x 10(6) CD34+ per kg and 3.2 x 10(3) CD3+ per kg). Median time to ANC and to CB-ANC >0.5 x 10(9)/l as well as to full CB-chimerism was 10, 21 and 44 days, with maximum cumulative incidences (MCI) of 0.96, 0.95 and 0.91. Median time to unsupported platelets >20 x 10(9)/l was 32 days (MCI 0.78). MCI for grades I-IV and III-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) were 0.62 and 0.11; 12 of 41 patients (29%) who are at risk developed chronic GVHD, becoming severely extensive in three patients. Relapses occurred in seven patients (MCI=0.17). The main causes of morbi-mortality were post-engraftment infections. CMV reactivations were the most frequent, their incidence declining after the fourth month. Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival (Kaplan-Meier) were 56 % and 47% (63% and 54% for patients

Tutorización activa continua: una metodología para intentar ser tutor durante los 3 años de la especialidad / Ongoing active tutoring: a way to try to be a tutor during the 3 years of the course

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Nivel de resolución de un equipo de atención primaria: el "cuánto" como indicador del producto y el "qué" como instrumento de formación y mejora

Objetivo. Facilitar a los profesionales de los equipos de atención primaria (EAP) un instrumento de medida de la capacidad resolutiva que permita conocer la situación de cada equipo respecto a los de su misma gerencia o servicio de atención primaria (SAP) e identificar las oportunidades de mejora. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento. Los 4 EAP del SAP Ciutat Vella del ámbito de Barcelona Ciutat (Institut Català de la Salut).Participantes. Todas las derivaciones para primera visita hechas por los profesionales de medicina general de todos los EAP durante el año 2001 a la atención especializada. Mediciones principales: Cuantitativas: número de derivaciones por cada 100 pacientes atendidos (ND); capacidad resolutiva (CR) = ND del EAP/ND del SAP. Cualitativas: motivo de derivación por especialidad y EAP (NDM) (número, porcentaje acumulado y tasa por 1.000 atendidos).Resultados. Se atendió a 55.399 personas y se produjeron 19.198 derivaciones, lo que representa un ND de 34,7/100 atendidos en el conjunto del SAP, que oscila entre las 29,7 del EAP menos derivador a las 41,6 del más derivador. La CR oscilaba desde 0,87 hasta 1,2. Las especialidades en que se observaba una mayor variabilidad en el comportamiento de los EAP eran neumología, neurología, digestología y reumatología. Conclusiones. La medición de la CR que proponemos es una forma eficiente y factible de complementar la medida del producto de un EAP y constituye un buen instrumento para orientar las estrategias de mejora en las especialidades en las que la CR es baja (AU)

[Diagnosing osteoporosis in primary care in Spain (ABOPAP 2000 study)]. / Abordaje de la osteoporosis en la atención primaria en España (estudio ABOPAP-2000).

OBJECTIVE: To discover how osteoporosis is tackled in Spanish primary care before the publication of the semFYC osteoporosis guide. DESIGN: Self-filled questionnaire for primary care doctors sent out by commercial mail (in blocks per province). SETTING: Five thousand family medicine clinics in Spain.Participants. Doctors working in primary care.Measurements. Level of activity relating to osteoporosis in daily consultations (identification of risk factors, screening, who conducts diagnosis and follow-up, level of access to densitometry and specialist) and identification data (province, type of work centre and number of consultations per day). MAIN RESULTS: 414 replies embracing reformed and non-reformed centres from the entire country, with different case overloads. 32.3% stated that osteoporosis treatment was viewed as a preventive activity in their centre and only 35.5% systematically asked for family history of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis screening was high in determined situations (82.9% in vertebral compression, 78.3% in hip fracture) and deficient in others (59.6% in glucocorticoid treatment, 46.6% in colles fractures, 36% in chronic nephropathy, 29.2% in thinness, 17.1% in chronic hepatopathy and 11.8% in treatment for epilepsy or with lithium). 73.9% could not request bone densitometry and 64.3% thought that access to other care levels was complicated. 51.9% said they continued to monitor osteoporosis. The impossibility of requesting densitometry or difficult access conditioned the screening level. There were differences in access according to autonomous communities, with Catalonia having best access to Densitometry (75%), followed by the communities of Madrid, Valencia and Euskadi (30%). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of osteoporosis in primary care is deficient and is partly conditioned by difficulty in access to diagnostic tests and the lack of systematic screening.

Abordaje de la osteoporosis en la atención primaria en España (estudio ABOPAP-2000) / Diagnosing osteoporosis in primary care in Spain (ABOPAP 2000 study)

Objetivo. Conocer el abordaje de la osteoporosis en atención primaria en España antes de la edición de la Guía de Osteoporosis de la semFYC. Diseño. Encuesta autoadministrada a médicos de atención primaria remitida por correo comercial (agrupados por provincias). Emplazamiento. Cinco mil consultas de medicina de familia de España. Participantes. Médicos que trabajaban en atención primaria. Mediciones. Nivel de actuación ante la osteoporosis en la consulta diaria (identificación de factores de riesgo, cribado, quién realiza el diagnóstico y seguimiento, nivel de acceso a densitometría y especialista) y datos identificativos (provincia, tipo de centro de trabajo y número de visitas al día). Resultados principales. Se obtuvieron 414 respuestas que abarcaban centros reformados y no reformados de todo el país, con diferente sobrecarga asistencial. El 32,3 per cent manifestó que la osteoporosis era considerada como una actividad preventiva en su centro y tan sólo el 35,5 per cent interrogaba sistemáticamente por el antecedente familiar de osteoporosis. El cribado de osteoporosis era elevado en determinadas situaciones (el 82,9 per cent en aplastamiento vertebral, el 78,3 per cent en fractura de cadera) y deficiente en otras (el 59,6 per cent en tratamiento con glucocorticoides, el 46,6 per cent en fractura de Colles, el 36 per cent en nefropatía crónica, el 29,2 per cent en delgadez, el 17,1 per cent en hepatopatía crónica y el 11,8 per cent en tratamiento con antiepilépticos o litio). El 73,9 per cent no podía solicitar densitometrías óseas y el 64,3 per cent consideraba que el acceso a otros ámbitos asistenciales era complicado, pero el 51,9 per cent manifestaba proseguir el estudio de la osteoporosis. La imposibilidad de solicitar densitometría o el acceso dificultoso condicionaba el grado de cribado. Se observaron diferencias en el acceso según las comunidades autónomas, siendo Cataluña la que tenía un mejor acceso a la densitometría (75 per cent), seguida de las comunidades de Madrid, Valencia y el País Vasco (30 per cent). Conclusiones. El abordaje de la osteoporosis en atención primaria es deficiente y en parte viene condicionado por la dificultad en el acceso a pruebas diagnósticas y a la falta de sistematización de su cribado (AU)

Cord blood transplants: early recovery of neutrophils from co-transplanted sibling haploidentical progenitor cells and lack of engraftment of cultured cord blood cells, as ascertained by analysis of DNA polymorphisms.

The number of infused cells is a very important factor in cord blood transplant (CBT) engraftment. Prior ex vivo expansion of aliquots of transplanted cord blood (CB) units is being investigated as a procedure to increase engraftment potential, but results are difficult to evaluate due to a lack of markers for assessing the contribution of expanded cells. We transplanted five patients, infusing the best available CB unit and cells from a second donor simultaneously. In two patients, these cells were obtained from another frozen CB unit by CD34(+)positive selection and culture expansion; the other three patients received uncultured highly purified haploidentical CD34(+) cells. The first two patients had DNA from the culture expanded CB cells detected only for a few days around day +11 when the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was >200/microl; thereafter and when the ANC was <500/microl, only donor DNA from the uncultured CB was detected. For the other three patients, DNA analysis showed early and transient granulocyte engraftment of haploidentical cells, progressively replaced by the CB-derived granulocytes. We concluded that: (1) simultaneous infusion of lymphocyte-depleted HLA highly mismatched haematopoietic progenitor cells has not produced unfavourable effects for CBT; (2) the double transplant model is suitable for evaluating the engraftment potential of ex vivocultured CB cells in the clinical setting; (3) the culture conditions used did not result in early recovery of ANC; and (4) co-transplantation of purified uncultured HLA haploidentical CD34(+) cells may reduce the time of neutropenia following CBT.

[Acute myocardial infarction in nocturnal paroxysmal hemoglobinuria]. / Infarto agudo de miocardio en el seno de hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna.

The case of a 62-year-old diabetic and smoker male who was under study in another hospital due to anemia, thrombopenia and hematuria of several months of evolution is presented. The patient was admitted to the coronary unit for an acute extensive transmural myocardial infarction and treated with t-PA. A few hours later the patient presented hematuric urine, a decrease in hemoglobin and platelets and acute renal insufficiency. Hematologic study confirmed the diagnosis of paroxystic nocturnal hemoglobinuria. The evolution of the patient was poor despite intensive medical treatment requiring hemodialysis. The patient presented cardiac tamponade and died. The role of hematologic disease in acute myocardial infarction and the treatment and evolution of the coronary syndrome in the context of the disease are discussed.