ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Hydroxyurea (HU) is an antineoplastic drug used in chronic myeloproliferative disorders. In this article we will go into detail about the rare but serious appearance of lower limb ulcers in relation to HU treatment. METHODOLOGY: Two simultaneous cases are presented, both from patients with lower limb torpid lesions unresponsive to conventional treatments. After dismissing other aetiologies, HU was found to be the causal agent in both cases. DISCUSSION: In spite of HU's known correlation to lower limb ulcers, pathogenesis isn't clearly defined. In this article we add two more cases to the existing bibliography, with the goal of both insisting on the importance of integral valuation of patients with ulcers and contemplating dermatologic screening on patients treated with HU. CONCLUSION: HU laden ulcers are usually underdiagnosed. Integral valuation and dermatologic screening on patients are critical.
Subject(s)
Hydroxyurea/therapeutic use , Leg Ulcer/drug therapy , Aged , Ankle , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this randomized clinical trial follow-up at three months was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention with a focus on diet and physical activity (PA) to change the amount of PA, body mass index (BMI) and the waist circumference (WC) in patients with severe mental illness. METHODS: We recruited 332 outpatients with severe mental disorders undergoing treatment with antipsychotic medication from Mental Healthcare Centers of Barcelona. They were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The patients in the intervention group participated in a group PA and diet educational program. The blinded measurements at 0 and 3 months were: the level of PA (IPAQ questionnaire), BMI, WC, blood pressure, dietary habits (PREDIMED questionnaire), quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire) and laboratory parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose). RESULTS: The average age was 46.7 years and 55% were males. Schizophrenia had been diagnosed in 67.1% of them. At 3 months, the average weekly walking METs rose significantly in the IG 266.05 METs (95%CI: 16.86 to 515.25; P=0.036). The total MET average also rose although not significantly: 191.38 METs (95%CI: 1.38 to 381.38; P=0.086). However, the BMI decreased significantly more in the CG, by 0.26kg/m(2) (95%CI: 0.02 to 0.51; P=0.038), than in the IG. There were no significant differences in the WC. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term results suggest that the intervention increases the level of PA, but does not improve physical or laboratory parameters. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01729650 (effectiveness of a physical activity and diet program in patients with psychotic disorder [CAPiCOR]).