Supervivencia a largo plazo del ictus isquémico / Long-term survival of ischemic stroke

Objetivo. El ictus isquémico es una enfermedad vascular grave, cuyo pronóstico a largo plazo no conocemos en toda su dimensión. Hemos estudiado la supervivencia a largo plazo y sus factores pronósticos tras un primer episodio de ictus agudo de origen isquémico (cardioembólico y aterotrombótico). Pacientes y métodos. Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo de pacientes que han requerido ingreso por un primer episodio de ictus isquémico. El ictus se clasificó en aterotrombótico, cardioembólico, lacunar e indeterminado. Los enfermos fueron seguidos durante 10 años. Resultados. Se incluyeron 415 pacientes (varones: 60%), con una edad media de 68,4 años. La media de seguimiento fue de 66 meses (IC del 95%: 24-108 meses). La supervivencia global a los 10 años fue del 55,4% (54,9-55,9) (aterotrombótico, 57,5% vs cardioembólico, 43,7%; p=0,002). En el análisis multivariante las variables relacionadas con la mortalidad fueron la mayor edad, presencia de insuficiencia renal crónica, dislipemia, antecedentes de insuficiencia cardiaca, fibrilación auricular, presentación con hemiplejía, y los signos de isquemia aguda y de edema perilesional en el TAC realizado en el ingreso hospitalario. Se asociaron a un mejor pronóstico la afectación del territorio de la arteria cerebral media derecha y el tratamiento con estatinas. Conclusiones. La supervivencia tras un ictus isquémico a los 10 años es algo superior al 40%, y tiene mejor pronóstico el ictus aterotrombótico que el cardioembólico(AU)

Objective. Ischemic stroke is a serious vascular disease whose long term prognosis in all of its dimensions is not known. We have studied the long-term survival and its predictors after a first episode of acute ischemic stroke (atherothrombotic and cardioembolic). Patients and methods. A retrospective cohort study was made of patients with a first episode of ischemic stroke. The ictus was classified into atherothrombotic, cardioembolic, lacunar and undetermined. Patients were followed up for 10 years. Results. A total of 415 cases (60% men) with mean age of 68.4 years, were included. Mean follow-up was 66 months (95% CI: 24-108 months). Overall survival at 10 years was 55.4% (54.9-55.9) (atherothrombotic, 57.7% vs cardioembolic, 43.7%, P=.002). In the multivariate analysis, variables related to mortality in acute ischemic stroke were age, chronic renal failure, dyslipidemia, history of heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF), presenting as hemiplegia, signs of acute ischemia and perilesional edema in the brain scan on hospital admission. Involvement of the territory of right middle cerebral artery and treatment with statins were associated to a better prognosis. Conclusions. Survival of patients after ischemic stroke at ten year is over 40%, and atherothrombotic stroke as a better prognosis than cardioembolic one(AU)

[Long-term survival of ischemic stroke]. / Supervivencia a largo plazo del ictus isquémico.

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic stroke is a serious vascular disease whose long term prognosis in all of its dimensions is not known. We have studied the long-term survival and its predictors after a first episode of acute ischemic stroke (atherothrombotic and cardioembolic). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was made of patients with a first episode of ischemic stroke. The ictus was classified into atherothrombotic, cardioembolic, lacunar and undetermined. Patients were followed up for 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 415 cases (60% men) with mean age of 68.4 years, were included. Mean follow-up was 66 months (95% CI: 24-108 months). Overall survival at 10 years was 55.4% (54.9-55.9) (atherothrombotic, 57.7% vs cardioembolic, 43.7%, P=.002). In the multivariate analysis, variables related to mortality in acute ischemic stroke were age, chronic renal failure, dyslipidemia, history of heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF), presenting as hemiplegia, signs of acute ischemia and perilesional edema in the brain scan on hospital admission. Involvement of the territory of right middle cerebral artery and treatment with statins were associated to a better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Survival of patients after ischemic stroke at ten year is over 40%, and atherothrombotic stroke as a better prognosis than cardioembolic one.

[Agranulocytosis from metamizole: a potential problem for the British population]. / Agranulocitosis por metamizol: un potencial problema en la población británica.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the clinical and epidemiological features of this adverse effect and assess its incidence in the general population, especially in the British one. METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective analysis of all the patients discharged at Hospital Costa del Sol (Marbella) with a main diagnosis of dipyrone-related agranulocytosis in the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) from January 1998 to December 2003. Neutropenia was defined as severe (neutrophils lower than 500/ml), moderate (500-1000/ml) and mild (1000-1500/ml). RESULTS: 13 patients developed dipyrone-related agranulocytosis, 8 of them foreign (61.5%) and 5 from United Kingdom. The rate of events was 8.33/106 inhabitants/year. With regard to British population registered in the area, the estimated rate of events was 20.4 cases/106 inhabitants/year. CONCLUSION: Dipyrone-related agranulocytosis is an adverse effect more frequent in British population, and its use must be avoided.

Agranulocitosis por metamizol: un potencial problema en la población británica / Agranulocytosis from metamizole: a potential problem for the British population

Material y métodos: Hemos estudiado a 90 pacientes ambulatorios con IC (61 hombres, edad 66±12) y 30 sujetos control apareados por edad y género. Resultados: Se encontró un aumento en los niveles urinarios de BNP en los pacientes con fracción de eyección (FE)≤40% comparados con los de FE>40% (p<0,0001) y con los controles (p<0,0001). Se obtuvieron correlaciones significativas entre los niveles urinarios de BNP y los parámetros funcionales del ventrículo izquierdo. Se realizó un análisis multivariado y el mejor modelo asociado con los niveles urinarios de BNP incluyó a los niveles de BNP en plasma (p<0,0001), FE (p=0,02) y volúmenes del ventrículo izquierdo (p<0,0001). La curva ROC para la detección de FE≤40% usando BNP urinario mostró un área bajo la curva de 0,74±0,05, (p<0,0001). A partir de la curva ROC, el punto óptimo de corte (2,30 pg/ml) tuvo una sensibilidad del 60% y una especificidad del 90%. Finalmente, se realizó una regresión binaria logística para la detección de FE≤40%, y los niveles urinarios de BNP mostraron un buen valor predictivo con una odds-ratio de 21. Discusión: Los niveles urinarios de BNP se correlacionan con los parámetros funcionales del ventrículo izquierdo, demostrando que este marcador biológico es útil para el diagnóstico de la disfunción ventricular izquierda en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca (AU)

Background: It was aimed to compare urine B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) according to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and to investigate its diagnostic value in heart failure (HF) patients. Material and methods: A total of 90 HF outpatients (61 men, age 66±12) and 30 age- and gender-matched controls were studied. Results: An increase in urine BNP was observed in patients with EF≤ 40% compared to EF> 40% (p<0.0001), and controls (p<0.0001). Significant correlations between urinary BNP and left ventricular functional parameters were obtained. A multivariate regression analysis was performed and the best model associated with urine BNP included plasma BNP (p<0.0001), EF (p=0.02) and LV volume indexes (p<0.0001). The ROC for detection of EF≤40% using urine BNP levels showed an area under the curve of 0.74±0.05, (p<0.0001). From the ROC curve, the optimal cut-off value (2.30 ng/l) had a 60% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Finally, we performed a binary logistic regression for detection of EF≤40%, and urine BNP was shown to be a strong predictor with an odds ratio of 21. Discussion: Urine BNP levels correlated with left ventricular functional parameters. This biomarker is a useful tool for detecting and diagnosing left ventricular systolic dysfunction in heart failure (AU)