Bilateral Lumbosacral Plexopathy As the Initial Manifestation of Systemic Sarcoidosis: A Case Report.

Neurosarcoidosis is one of the most relevant involvements in systemic sarcoidosis and can be the initial presentation. Its diagnosis is often considered difficult because of unusual clinical manifestations or diagnostic mimics. The peripheral nervous system is less frequently involved than the central nervous system, although it may also lead to irreversible neurologic impairment. Lumbosacral plexopathy in sarcoidosis is a rare presentation and has been scarcely described in anecdotal case reports and small case series. We describe the case of a 61-year-old female who presented with right inguinal pain, right thigh weakness, and gait limitation, with imaging evidence of bilateral lumbosacral plexopathy as the initial manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis and subsequently developed joint and pulmonary involvement. This case report aims to bring awareness of this involvement as a possible initial manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis and mention key features of the differential diagnosis. Prompt recognition and treatment may prevent neurologic impairment.

Vitamin D in Colombian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with disease activity.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently present low levels of vitamin D. However, studies that have evaluated its association with disease activity have generated contradictory results. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on patients diagnosed with SLE in two hospitals in Manizales, Colombia. Disease activity was evaluated by the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by chemiluminescence. The correlation analysis was accomplished with the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The study included 51 patients. The median SLEDAI-2K score was 8 points. The mean serum level of 25(OH)D was 24.5 ng/ml. Of the participants, 37.3% had vitamin D insufficiency and 35.3% had deficiency. An inverse correlation was found between the levels of the 25(OH)D and the SLEDAI-2K score (r = -0.578, p < 0.001), being greater in late-onset lupus, with absence of polyautoimmunity and in patients using glucocorticoids. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of vitamin D are frequent in SLE, presenting an inverse correlation with the disease activity. This is influenced by the use of glucocorticoids, the presence of late-onset lupus and the absence of polyautoimmunity.

Afiliación en salud de los estudiantes de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira y sus características socio demográficas en el 2010 / Health affiliation among students of the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira and their sociodemographical characteristics in 2010

La afiliación al sistema de salud colombiano es un componente fundamental para acceder a la prestación de servicios de salud. Sin embargo, dentro del territorio nacional no se ha logrado una cobertura total de la población debido a diferentes factores sociodemográficos. En esta investigación se caracteriza la población estudiantil de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira respecto a la afiliación al sistema general de seguridad social en salud en Colombia con relación a algunos factores sociodemográficos durante el primer semestre de 2010.Para la recolección de información se usó una encuesta a modo de entrevista, dicho formato contenía preguntas a cerca de la información general, familiar, académica y de salud del encuestado. Dentro de los resultados aportados por este estudio se puede señalar que en el régimen contributivo hay un 65,1% con sólo un 2,6% como cotizante, en el régimen subsidiado hay 24,5%, en el régimen de excepción un 3,1% y 7,3% es población No POS. También se realizó un análisis multivariado y se llegó a la hipótesis de que a menor edad de los estudiantes hay mayor porcentaje de afiliación al SGSSS. Se concluye que debe haber vigilancia al proceso cambiante de la afiliación al sistema de salud en los estudiantes.

Colombian health system affiliation is a basic element to access to health service attention. However, inside the national territory a total coverage of the population, due to different sociodemographical factors has not be possible. In this research, the students population of the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira is characterized regard its affiliation to the general system of social security in health in Colombia and regard to some sociodemographical factors during the first semester of 2010. For the data collection, a survey through an interview was applied; that format contained questions about the general, family, academic and health information of the interviewed person. Among the results, we can remark that the contributive regimen was on 65.1% with only 2.6% as payer, at the subsided regimen there is 24.5%, at the exception region a 3.1% and 7.3% population not POS. A multivariate analysis was also made and we reached the hypothesis that at lower ages there is a higher proportion of affiliation to the system. We can conclude that surveillance to this changing process of the affiliation to the system in students should be applied.