Study of correlation between forced vital capacity and demand for healthcare services in severe asthmatics.

BACKGROUND: Involvement of the small airways may be related to increased severity and increased demand for health care services and incurring in high costs, private or for the healthcare system. The hyperinflation consequent to this involvement reduces lung volumes, such as FVC, FEV1 and SVC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the predicted values of FVC, FEV1 and SVC with the demand for healthcare services by severe asthmatics. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated in order of arrival, the medical records of 98 patients with severe asthma, in step 4 treatment in the intercritical period of the disease, correlating the number of times each patient sought health care services represented by admissions to the ER, ICU and hospital wards due to asthma, in the year before the last spirometry and the predicted values of FVC, FEV1 and SVC. RESULTS: Our sample showed a clear and significant negative correlation between the predicted values of FVC, FEV1 and SVC and demand for healthcare services. CONCLUSION: For this sample we conclude, that reduced forced vital capacity correlated with asthma severity, defined by greater demand for care in the ER, ICU and hospital ward and was more evident in women.

Isolation and genotype analysis of rubella virus from a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Rubella virus (RV) infection has sporadically been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), but the association with RV has been based only on clinical and/or serological backgrounds. In the present case it was possible to isolate RV (genotype 1a) from cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of an 18-year-old woman diagnosed with GBS after clinical manifestations of rubella. This report contributes to confirm RV as one of the triggering pathogens of this peripheral nervous system disease.

[Comparison between HDL and LDL cholesterol as risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis]. / Comparação das frações HDL e LDL colesterol como fatores de risco para a aterosclerose carotídea.

In order to find out whether there exists a relationship between HDL and LDL serum levels and atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery (CA), a prospective study was carried out involving 125 patients. They were aleatorily included, of both sexes and age between 45-75 years old. HDL and LDL serum levels were measured as well CA ultrasonographic mode B investigated. It was verified that the number of patients having atherosclerotic plaques in CA was inversely proportional to the HDL levels. We came up with the same ratio when the HDL levels were compared to the number of patients having CA stenosis. These results were statistically significant (x2 = 6.57 and x2 = 9.24 respectively; critical x2 = 5.99 to alpha = 5%). A direct ratio was also found out in the relationship between the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the CA and the LDL serum levels (greater in patients with plaques). However no relationship between LDL levels and the occurrence or not of CA stenosis in patients having plaques was demonstrated. The results were not statistically significant (x2 = 0.97 and x2 = 0.41, respectively, critical x2 = 5.99 to alpha = 5%). The obtained results seem to be at least in part in agreement with literature findings. Statistically significative results in the comparison of HDL and LDL levels with the grade of stenosis of the CA were not found out (x2 = 11.78 and x2 = 4.03, respectively; critical x2 = 12.59 to alpha = 5%).

Bradiarritmia grave induzida por antidepressivo tricíclico em paciente idosa / Severe bradyarrythmia induced by tricyclic antidepressants in an elderly patient

Paciente de 66 anos, do sexo feminino, fazendo uso da associaçao amitriptilina e carbamazepina, indicada para o tratamento de dor crônica devido a radiculopatia diabética, apresentou, durante o tratamento antidepressivo, bradicardia sinusal grave com repercussao hemodinâmica, evoluindo para rítmo juncional, tendo sido necessária a implantaçao de marcapasso cardíaco provisório. Após 36 horas da suspensao da medicaçao antidepressiva observou-se retorno ao ritmo sinusal. Os antidepressivos tricíclicos (ADT) têm sido indicados no controle da síndrome dolorosa crônica, e seus efeitos farmacológicos compreeendem a melhor transmissao das monoaminas por inibiçao da recaptaçao do transmissor na sinapse, alteraçoes na sensibilidade do receptor andrenérgico pré e pós- sináptico e açoes anticolinérgicas. A utilizaçao de doses elevadas de ADT pode provocar graves efeitos cardíacos, principalmente distúrbios do ritmo e da conduçao intraventricular. Conclui-se que o uso de ADT, particularmente em idosos, deve ser cuidadosamente monitorado.

[Severe bradyarrythmia induced by tricyclic antidepressants in an elderly patient]. / Bradiarritmia grave induzida por antidepressivo tricíclico em paciente idosa.

A 66 year-old female patient, with severe chronic pain caused by diabetic radiculopathy, treated with association of amitriptiline and carbamazepine, presented severe sinusal bradycardia with hemodynamic disturbances ensuing junctional rhythm, which required installation of temporary pace-maker. The drugs were withdrawn. Reversion to sinusal rhythm occurred 36 hours after the installation of bradycardia. The pace-maker was withdrawn. It was concluded that the use of tricyclic antidepressive drugs, particularly in the elderly, should be carefully monitored.