Correlación clínico-patológica en casos fatales de dengue en Maracaibo, Venezuela / Clinical and pathological correlation in fatal dengue cases found in Maracaibo, Venezuela

INTRODUCCIÓN: dada la importancia del dengue en América, es elemental conocer la causa de muerte de los infectados y evaluar los escasos estudios de necropsias. OBJETIVO: describir y analizar los hallazgos anatomopatológicos relevantes en casos fatales de dengue en un área endémica venezolana. MÉTODOS: se estudiaron 8 casos mortales con criterios clínico-epidemiológicos de dengue o comprobados mediante pruebas serológicas (o ambos), sometidos a necropsia clínica completa. Los tejidos se procesaron con técnicas histopatológicas habituales. RESULTADOS: todos los casos evidenciaron enfermedad pulmonar severa (daño alveolar difuso, edema pulmonar no cardiogénico, tromboembolismo, bronconeumonía, neumonitis, hemorragia intraalveolar); 6 mostraron derrame en cavidad pleural o abdominal, o en ambas. Necrosis hepática focal se presentó en 2 casos. La causa de muerte se relacionó con insuficiencia respiratoria en 6 casos secundaria a enfermedad pulmonar, 2 con choque hipovolémico y 1 desarrolló insuficiencia hepática. CONCLUSIONES: los casos mortales por dengue estudiados evidenciaron compromiso pulmonar severo relacionado con la muerte, a diferencia de lo reportado en otros estudios de necropsias en América. También desarrollaron afectación multiorganica, que en la mayoría de los casos condujo a la muerte no vinculada directamente a choque hipovolémico. Estos hallazgos de necropsias permitirían proyectar estrategias terapéuticas en pro de evitar la mortalidad(AU)

INTRODUCTION: given the importance of dengue in America, it is indispensable to know the cause of death of the infected people and to evaluate the few necropsy studies available. OBJECTIVE: to describe and to analyze the relevant clinical and pathological findings in fatal dengue cases of dengue in a Venezuelan endemic area. METHODS: eight fatal cases, according to clinical and epidemiological dengue criteria and/or confirmed by complete serological tests were studied after complete clinical necropsy. The tissues were processed by standard histopathological techniques. RESULTS: all these cases showed severe lung disease (diffuse alveolar damage, non cardiogenic pulmonary edema, thromboembolism, bronchopneumonia, pneumonitis, intralveolar hemorrhage). Six presented with pleural or abdominal effusion. Focal hepatic necrosis was found in two cases. The cause of death was related to respiratory failure in six cases secondary to lung disease; two with hypovolemic shock, and one developed liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: the studied dengue cases showed fatal severe pulmonary compromise leading to death, unlike those reported in other studies of autopsies in The Americas. They also developed multiple organ failure, which in most cases led to death not directly associated to hypovolemic shock. These findings in autopsies will allow designing therapeutic strategies to avoid mortality(AU)

Correlación clínico-patológica en casos fatales de dengue en Maracaibo, Venezuela / Clinical and pathological correlation in fatal dengue cases found in Maracaibo, Venezuela

INTRODUCCIÓN: dada la importancia del dengue en América, es elemental conocer la causa de muerte de los infectados y evaluar los escasos estudios de necropsias. OBJETIVO: describir y analizar los hallazgos anatomopatológicos relevantes en casos fatales de dengue en un área endémica venezolana. MÉTODOS: se estudiaron 8 casos mortales con criterios clínico-epidemiológicos de dengue o comprobados mediante pruebas serológicas (o ambos), sometidos a necropsia clínica completa. Los tejidos se procesaron con técnicas histopatológicas habituales. RESULTADOS: todos los casos evidenciaron enfermedad pulmonar severa (daño alveolar difuso, edema pulmonar no cardiogénico, tromboembolismo, bronconeumonía, neumonitis, hemorragia intraalveolar); 6 mostraron derrame en cavidad pleural o abdominal, o en ambas. Necrosis hepática focal se presentó en 2 casos. La causa de muerte se relacionó con insuficiencia respiratoria en 6 casos secundaria a enfermedad pulmonar, 2 con choque hipovolémico y 1 desarrolló insuficiencia hepática. CONCLUSIONES: los casos mortales por dengue estudiados evidenciaron compromiso pulmonar severo relacionado con la muerte, a diferencia de lo reportado en otros estudios de necropsias en América. También desarrollaron afectación multiorgánica, que en la mayoría de los casos condujo a la muerte no vinculada directamente a choque hipovolémico. Estos hallazgos de necropsias permitirían proyectar estrategias terapéuticas en pro de evitar la mortalidad.

INTRODUCTION: given the importance of dengue in America, it is indispensable to know the cause of death of the infected people and to evaluate the few necropsy studies available. OBJECTIVE: to describe and to analyze the relevant clinical and pathological findings in fatal dengue cases of dengue in a Venezuelan endemic area. METHODS: eight fatal cases, according to clinical and epidemiological dengue criteria and/or confirmed by complete serological tests were studied after complete clinical necropsy. The tissues were processed by standard histopathological techniques. RESULTS: all these cases showed severe lung disease (diffuse alveolar damage, non cardiogenic pulmonary edema, thromboembolism, bronchopneumonia, pneumonitis, intralveolar hemorrhage). Six presented with pleural or abdominal effusion. Focal hepatic necrosis was found in two cases. The cause of death was related to respiratory failure in six cases secondary to lung disease; two with hypovolemic shock, and one developed liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: the studied dengue cases showed fatal severe pulmonary compromise leading to death, unlike those reported in other studies of autopsies in The Americas. They also developed multiple organ failure, which in most cases led to death not directly associated to hypovolemic shock. These findings in autopsies will allow designing therapeutic strategies to avoid mortality.

[Clinical and pathological correlation in fatal dengue cases found in Maracaibo, Venezuela]. / Correlación clínico-patológica en casos fatales de dengue en Maracaibo, Venezuela.

INTRODUCTION: Given the importance of dengue in America, it is indispensable to know the cause of death of the infected people and to evaluate the few necropsy studies available. OBJECTIVE: To describe and to analyze the relevant clinical and pathological findings in fatal dengue cases of dengue in a Venezuelan endemic area. METHODS: Eight fatal cases, according to clinical and epidemiological dengue criteria and/or confirmed by complete serological tests were studied after complete clinical necropsy. The tissues were processed by standard histopathological techniques. RESULTS: All these cases showed severe lung disease (diffuse alveolar damage, non cardiogenic pulmonary edema, thromboembolism, bronchopneumonia, pneumonitis, intralveolar hemorrhage). Six presented with pleural or abdominal effusion. Focal hepatic necrosis was found in two cases. The cause of death was related to respiratory failure in six (6) cases secondary to lung disease; two with hypovolemic shock, and one developed liver failure. CONCLUSION: the studied dengue cases showed fatal severe pulmonary compromise leading to death, unlike those reported in other studies of autopsies in The Americas. They also developed multiple organ failure, which in most cases led to death not directly associated to hypovolemic shock. These findings in autopsies will allow designing therapeutic strategies to avoid mortality.

Ultrastructural cutaneous microvascular pathology of young adults aged up to 50 years with chronic kidney disease and vascular cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest a link between chronic kidney disease and cognitive impairment. Skin biopsy is hire in the study of leucoaraiosis since permit establish the responsible vascular pathology of subcortical white matter changes because the pathological hallmark is systemic. The aim was to study the ultrastructural changes of cutaneous small vessel of patients aged up to 50 years with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). METHODS: Clinical, laboratorial, cerebral imaging, neuropsycological evaluation for executive functions (Clox test), and skin biopsy to 4 patients aged up to 50 years with CKD and VCI were done. Skin biopsy was prepared for conventional transmission electron microscopy study. RESULTS: Clinical diagnosis included hypertension, diabetes, and CKD in all cases. All cases developed VCI in a relatively short period. Small vessels study revealed small vessel disease type-degenerative microangiopathy. The principal findings were increase of wall-lumen ratio, thickened basal membrane, and collagen fibers proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous degenerative microangiopathy is matched with cerebral microvascular pathology and could be important for the development of cognitive impairment in young adults with CKD. The characterization of microvascular pathology in skin biopsies, in this type of patients, could contribute to the knowledge of some pathophysiological and therapeutical topics and possibly be useful in clinical setting. Added patients are needed to establish a complete characterization of microangiopathy.

Importance and repercussions of renal and cardiovascular pathology on stroke in young adults: an anatomopathologic study of 52 clinical necropsies.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke in young adults has seldom been studied in a necropsy series. The objective of the present clinical necropsy-based investigation was to analyze stroke and its relationship with cardiovascular and renal pathology in young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protocols of 52 clinical necropsies with diagnoses of stroke in patients aged 18 - 49 years, performed between the years 1990-2006, were reviewed. RESULTS: Hemorrhagic stroke was diagnosed in 36 patients (69.3%), whereas the remaining 16 (30.7%) had ischemic stroke. Hypertensive cardiopathy was evident in 88.4% of the cases. Chronic renal pathology, directly or indirectly related to hypertension, was observed in 55.7% of the patients. Ischemic stroke as a result of occlusive atherosclerotic disease was seen in 50% of cases. Cardiogenic emboli were found in 25% of the cadavers. Hemorrhagic stroke was associated with hypertension in 43% of the cases, with ruptured vascular malformations in 29%, and coagulopathies in 17% of the cases. Hypertensive cardiopathy was present in patients with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (81.2% and 91.6%, respectively). The most frequently observed renal ailments were chronic pyelonephritis (23%) and nephrosclerosis (21.1%). These were associated with ischemic stroke in 43.7%, and 12.5% of the cases, respectively, and with 13.8% and 25% of the hemorrhagic stroke cases. DISCUSSION: Hypertensive cardiopathy, occlusive atherosclerotic disease, chronic pyelonephritis and nephrosclerosis are among the pathophysiologycal mechanisms that apparently and eventually interact to induce a significant number of cases of stroke in young adults. A chronic systemic inflammatory state appears to be an important related condition because it possibly constitutes an accelerant of the pathophysiologycal process.

Importance and repercussions of renal and cardiovascular pathology on stroke in young adults: an anatomopathologic study of 52 clinical necropsies

INTRODUCTION: Stroke in young adults has seldom been studied in a necropsy series. The objective of the present clinical necropsy-based investigation was to analyze stroke and its relationship with cardiovascular and renal pathology in young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The protocols of 52 clinical necropsies with diagnoses of stroke in patients aged 18 - 49 years, performed between the years 1990-2006, were reviewed. RESULTS: Hemorrhagic stroke was diagnosed in 36 patients (69.3 percent), whereas the remaining 16 (30.7 percent) had ischemic stroke. Hypertensive cardiopathy was evident in 88.4 percent of the cases. Chronic renal pathology, directly or indirectly related to hypertension, was observed in 55.7 percent of the patients. Ischemic stroke as a result of occlusive atherosclerotic disease was seen in 50 percent of cases. Cardiogenic emboli were found in 25 percent of the cadavers. Hemorrhagic stroke was associated with hypertension in 43 percent of the cases, with ruptured vascular malformations in 29 percent, and coagulopathies in 17 percent of the cases. Hypertensive cardiopathy was present in patients with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (81.2 percent and 91.6 percent, respectively). The most frequently observed renal ailments were chronic pyelonephritis (23 percent) and nephrosclerosis (21.1 percent). These were associated with ischemic stroke in 43.7 percent, and 12.5 percent of the cases, respectively, and with 13.8 percent and 25 percent of the hemorrhagic stroke cases. DISCUSSION: Hypertensive cardiopathy, occlusive atherosclerotic disease, chronic pyelonephritis and nephrosclerosis are among the pathophysiologycal mechanisms that apparently and eventually interact to induce a significant number of cases of stroke in young adults. A chronic systemic inflammatory state appears to be an important related condition because it possibly constitutes an accelerant of the pathophysiologycal process.

[Frequency and clinical implications of lupus anticoagulant in patients with terminal chronic renal failure in hemodialysis]. / Frecuencia e implicaciones clínicas del Anticoagulante Lúpico en pacientes con Insuficiencia Renal Crónica Estadio V en Programa de Hemodiálisis en Maracaibo, Venezuela.

The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of lupus anticoagulant (LA), in patients with terminal chronic renal failure (TCRF), and its association with thrombotic events. Sixty three patients were separated into two groups: Group A, consisted of 32 patients under treatment with hemodialysis, and Group B was formed of 31 patients who were treated in a conservative manner. Presence of LA was found in 4 patients from Group A and none from Group B. Seven thrombotic events were registered, all in patients from Group A, and three of the episodes happened in 2 patients with LA, showing a statistically significant difference with LA negative patients from the same Group A (p < 0.001). Three of the LA positive patients suffered from type 2 diabetes and all of them had been under dialysis for less obtained by than 6 months. Vascular access was catheterization which means that 57.1% of patients with this type of procedure were positive for LA. The present results show a strong relationship between the presence of LA and thrombotic episodes in patients with TCRF, under hemodialysis with the use of catheter, instead of a permanent vascular access. Due to the fact that prolonged use of catheters for hemodialysis has been related to positive LA, it is advisable to screen patients under dialysis for the presence of this antibody, and to promote the prompt availability of a permanent vascular access, in order to prevent complications, such as thrombosis.

Frecuencia e implicaciones clínicas del anticoagulante lúpico en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica estadio V en programa de hemodiálisis en Maracaibo Venezuela / Frequency and clinical implications of lupus anticoagulant in patients with terminal chronic renal failure in hemodialysis

El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer la frecuencia del anticoagulante lúpico (AL) en una población de pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica (IRC) estadio V y su posible asociación con fenómenos trombóticos. Se estudiaron 63 pacientes que se clasificaron en dos (2) grupos: el Grupo A integrado por 32 pacientes con IRC estadio V sometidos a tratamiento de hemodiálisis y el Grupo B constituido por 31 pacientes con IRC en diferentes estadios bajo tratamiento conservador. Se determinó la presencia del AL por medio del método del veneno de v¡bora de Russell diluido. Se encontró AL positivo en cuatro pacientes (12,5 por ciento) del Grupo A y ninguno del Grupo B. Se presentaron siete eventos trombóticos (21,87 por ciento) en el grupo A y ninguno en el grupo B, tres de los eventos corresponden a 2 pacientes con AL positivo. Se estableció una diferencia estadísticamente significante (p < 0,001) entre los pacientes con AL positivo y con AL negativo que mostraron eventos trombóticos sometidos a hemodiálisis. 3 de los 4 pacientes con AL positivo, eran diabéticos y tenían menos de seis meses en hemodiálisis. El acceso vascular de todos los pacientes con AL positivo fue el catéter, representando el 57,1 por ciento de todos los pacientes con ésta forma de acceso vascular. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren la existencia de una relación entre la positividad del AL y la producción de eventos trombóticos en los pacientes con IRC estadio V sometidos a hemodiálisis a través de catéter, por lo que es conveniente determinar el AL en la exploración diagnóstica de los pacientes sometidos a hemodiálisis, cuyo resultado posibilite la intervención preventiva o terapéutica adecuada a cada caso así como promover la confección precoz del acceso vascular permanente para hemodiálisis y evitar el uso prolongado de los accesos vasculares transitorios (catéter).

[Acute non-specific splenitis as indicator of systemic infection. Assessment of 71 autopsy cases]. / Esplenitis aguda inespecífica como indicador de infección sistémica. Evaluación de 71 casos de autopsias.

Classic pathology textbooks claim that acute splenitis reflects septic states, nevertheless, the evidence upon which that association is based remains unclear. We assessed the occurrence of acute splenitis, as an indicator of systemic infection, in 34 autopsies performed in patients in whom the cause of death was due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, secondary to sepsis (group A); and in 37 cases of death by non-infectious causes (group B). These necropsies were done during the period January 31, 1999-December 31, 2000, at the Pathology Department of the Hospital General del Sur "Dr. Pedro Iturbe", Maracaibo, Venezuela. Acute splenitis was observed in 79% of the cases in group A, whereas it was absent in group B (p < 0.001). Thirty three (97%) of the patients of group A did not receive antibiotic therapy, and died within the first 24 hours following admission. Our results suggest that based on a proper clinical-pathological correlation, non-specific acute splenitis constitutes a finding that reflects a septic state, at least in cases that do not receive anti-microbial therapy.

Esplenitis aguda inespecífica como indicador de infección sistémica: evaluación de 71 casos de autopsias / Non specific acute splenitis as an indicator of systemic infection: evaluation of 71 autopsy cases

Los textos clásicos de patología plantean que la presencia de esplenitis aguda es reflejo de estados sépticos, pero está poco clara la evidencia en la que se basa tal asociación. Se evaluó la presencia de esplenitis aguda inespecífica como indicador de infección sistémica en casos de autopsias clínica. Se seleccionaron 34 casos que presentaron síndrome de disfunción de órganos secundario a sepsis como causa de muerte (Grupo A) y 37 casos fallecidos por procesos no infecciosos (Grupo B), de las 145 autopsias clínicas practicadas en el lapso 31 de enero de 1999 - 31 de diciembre de 2000 en el Departamento de Patología del Hospital General del Sur "Dr. Pedro Iturbe" de Maracaibo - Venezuela. El 79 por ciento de los casos del grupo A presentó esplenitis aguda mientras que en el grupo B ningún caso la desarrolló (p< 0,001). Treinta y tres casos del grupo A (97 por ciento) fallecieron en las primeras 24 horas de su ingreso y no recibieron terapia antimicrobiana. Los resultados sugieren que bajo una correlación clínico patológica adecuada, la esplenitis aguda inespecífica es un hallazgo de manera significativa la presencia de un estado séptico, al menos en los casos que no reciben terapia anti-microbiana

Apectos clínicos y tomográficos de la enfermedad cerebrovascular hemorrágica asociada con crisis hipertensiva en adultos menores de 50 años / Clinical and tomographic aspects of the hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease associated with hypertensive crisis in adults under 50 years of age

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar los aspectos clínicos y tomográficos de la Enfermedad Cerebrovascular Hemorrágica (ECVh) asociada con crisis hipertensiva en adultos menores de 50 años. Se estudiaron 46 pacientes, que no estuviesen bajo terapia anticoagulante, no utilizaran drogas ilícitas, sin enfermedad tumoral cerebral, malformaciones arteriovenosas ni antecedentes traumáticos. El 78 por ciento de los pacientes presentaron hipertensión arterial preexistente, 30 por ciento tuvo el antecedente de crisis hipertensiva tipo urgencia. La mortalidad del hematoma intracerebral (HIC) y la hemorragia subaracnoidea (HSA) fue de 21 por ciento y 23 por ciento respectivamente. El HIC se ubicó en estructuras profundas del encéfalo en el 68 por ciento de los casos. La asimetría del sistema ventricular, la compresión y ausencia de la cisterna mesencefálica se asociaron significativamente (p<0,01; p<0,001 respectivamente) con mayor mortalidad. No se obtuvo diferencia significativa entre los fallecidos y los sobrevivientes en relación a los niveles de presión arterial diastólica en la admisión. Se obtuvo una relación positiva considerable a positiva muy fuerte entre la severidad del tipo de lesión (por ciento de pacientes con Escala de Coma de Glasgow menor igual a 8 puntos) y el porcentaje de mortalidad por el tipo de ECVh (r= 0,81 para el HIC con p<0,001, r=0,098 para la HSA con P<0,001). La edad y la baja puntuación según la Escala de Coma de Glasgow en la admisión, constituyen factores de pronóstico desfaborable. Las comparaciones con otros estudios en relación a las características tomográficas del hematoma, son difíciles, debido a los diferentes criterios utilizados por los investigadores para el estudio de estos hallazgos

Anticoagulante lúpico en preeclampsia e hipertensión gestacional no proteinúria en primigestas / Lupus anticoagulant in preeclampsia and non-proteinuric gestational hypertensión in primigravids

El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la relación entre el Anticoagulante Lúpico y la Hipertensión Gestacional Proteinúria y no Proteinúria en primigestas sin patología subyacente. Se estudiaron 65 pacientes primigestas, con embarazo de 20 o más semanas de duración. Treinta y cuatro pacientes (Grupo A) fueron embarazadas normotensas y 31 (Grupo B) presentaron Enfermedad Hipertensiva desarrollada en el embarazo según la clasificación de Davey y MacGillivray. A todas se les practicó una prueba para determinar la presencia del Anticoagulante Lúpico según el método de veneno de víbora de Russell diluido. Ninguna de las pacientes presentó otra patología subyacente sintomática. El 55 por ciento de las pacientes del Grupo B desarrolló Hipertensión Gestacional Proteinúrica (Preeclampsia) y el 45 por ciento Hipertensión Gestacional no Proteinúria. Las pruebas para la determinación del Anticoagulante Lúpico resultaron negativas en todas las pacientes de ambos grupos. Los resultados sugieren que en la Hipertensión Gestacional Proteinúrica y no Proteinúrica en primigestas sin patología subyacente, es poco probable la presencia de Anticoagulante Lúpico, por lo que persiste como un área de estudio controversial