Frecuencia de genes que codifican factores de virulencia en staphylococcus aureus aislados de niños que concurrieron al hospital general pediátrico niños de acosta ñú, durante el año 2010 / Frequency of gens that codify virulence factors in staphylococcus aureus isolated from children attending the niños de acosta ñú pediatric general hospital in 2010

Staphylococcus aureus es un microorganismo con habilidad de infectar diferentes tejidos celulares, por portar genes que le confieren resistencia a antibióticos, factores de virulencia y su plasticidad genética, que podrían contribuir a una progresión rápida y complicada de la enfermedad. El Paraguay no cuenta con datos epidemiológicos que indiquen los factores de virulencia que presentan las cepas de S. aureus, por lo que el objetivo del trabajo fue determinar un perfil de virulencia detectando los genes codificantes de: hemolisinas α y β,enterotoxinas A, B, C, D, H y toxinas exfoliativas A y B. Este estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transverso, con muestreo no probabilístico de casos consecutivos, incluyó 50 aislados de S. aureus obtenidos a partir de muestras clínicas de secreciones de piel, partes blandas o líquidos corporales de pacientes menores de 17 años que concurrieron al Hospital General Pediátrico Niños de Acosta Ñú durante el año 2.010. Las reacciones de PCR incluyeron la detección de los genes: sea+seb+sec+ADNr16S, hlA+hlB, eta+etb, sed y seh. El 82% de los aislados provenía de niños que presentaron cuadros clínicos compatibles con infecciones de piel y partes blandas y el 18% de cuadros clínicos graves como sepsis, osteomielitis y neumonías. Los aislados contaban con datos de portación de Leucocidina de Panton-Valentine, el cual fue el factor de virulencia más frecuentemente detectado (58%), seguido de las hemolisinas alfa (16%) y beta (8%). Las enterotoxinas y las toxinas exfoliativas fueron menos frecuentes (0-2%), y no se detectaron genes codificantes de las enterotoxinas C y D.

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen that has the ability to successfully infect differenttissues, because it carries genes that confer antibiotic resistance, virulence factors and itshigh genetic plasticity, that could contribute to a quick and complicated diseaseprogression. Paraguay does not have epidemiological data indicating the virulence factorspresented in S. aureus strains. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine thevirulence profile by molecular methods detecting the codifying genes of: α and β hemolysin, enterotoxins A, B, C, D, H and exfoliative toxins A and B. This descriptiveobservational study with non-probability sampling of consecutives cases, included 50 S.aureus isolates obtained from clinical specimens from skin secretions, soft tissue or bodyfluids of patients younger than 17 years who attended the Niños de Acosta Ñú PediatricGeneral Hospital in 2010. The PCR reactions included the detection of the followinggenes: sea+seb+sec+ADNr16S, hlA+hlB, eta+etb, sed and seh. The 82% of the isolatescame from children skin and soft tissue infections and 18% came from invasive diseasessuch as sepsis, osteomyelitis and pneumonia. The Panton Valentine leukocidin, whichdata was previously obtained, was the most frequently virulence factor detected (58%),followed by alpha (16%) and beta (8%) hemolysins. Enterotoxins and exfoliative toxinswere less frequent (0-2%) and the enterotoxins C and D genes were not detected.

Estudio comparativo de la eficacia de diversas modalidades terapéuticas en pacientes con blefaritis crónica / Comparative study of the efficacy of different treatment options in patients with chronic blepharitis

OBJETIVO: Comparar la eficacia de 3 modalidades de tratamiento en pacientes con blefaritis crónica. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó un estudio experimental, aleatorizado y controlado en 45 pacientes (sexo femenino: 67%; edad media: 40,5 años) con diagnóstico de blefaritis crónica para comparar la eficacia de 3 modalidades de tratamiento. Grupo 1: higiene palpebral con champú neutro 3 veces/día; grupo 2: higiene palpebral con champú neutro y gel tópico de metronidazol al 0,75% 2 veces/día; grupo 3: higiene palpebral con champú neutro y pomada antibiótica de neomicina al 3,5% y polimixina al 10% con dexametasona al 0,5% 3 veces/día. Los síntomas y signos fueron valorados asignándoles puntuaciones entre 0: sin síntomas ni signos; 1: síntomas o signos leves; 2: síntomas o signos moderados y 3: síntomas o signos severos. RESULTADOS: En los 3 grupos de tratamiento se observó mejora significativa de los signos y síntomas. Mientras que los grupos 1 y 2 presentaron una mayor mejoría en todas las variables estudiadas (p < 0,05), el grupo 3 no presentó mejoría clínica para comezón (p = 0,16), ojo seco (p = 0,29), caída de pestañas (p = 0,16) ni eritema en el borde palpebral (p = 0,29). CONCLUSIÓN: La higiene palpebral con champú neutro y el uso combinado de champú neutro con gel de metronidazol reportaron mejores resultados que la higiene palpebral con champú neutro y pomada antibiótica de neomicina y polimixina con dexametasona

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 3 treatment options in patients with chronic blepharitis. METHODOLOGY: An experimental, randomized, controlled study was conducted on 45 patients (female 67%; Mean age: 40.5 years) diagnosed with chronic blepharitis, in order to compare the effectiveness of three treatment options. Group 1: eyelid hygiene with neutral shampoo three times/day; group 2: neutral shampoo eyelid hygiene plus topical metronidazole gel 0.75% twice/day; group 3: neutral eyelid hygiene with shampoo plus neomycin 3.5% and polymyxin 10% antibiotic ointment with 0.5% dexamethasone 3 times/day. The symptoms and signs were assessed by assigning scores from 0: no symptoms and/or signs; 1: mild symptoms and/or signs, 2: moderate symptoms and/or signs; and 3: severe symptoms and/or signs. RESULTS: A significant improvement was observed in the signs and symptoms in all 3 treatment groups. While groups 1 and 2 had more improvement in all variables studied (P < .05), Group 3 showed no clinical improvement for itching (P = .16), dry eye (P = .29), eyelashes falling (P=.16), and erythema at the eyelid margin (P = .29). CONCLUSIONS: Shampoo eyelid hygiene neutral and neutral shampoo combined with the use of metronidazole gel reported better hygiene results than neutral shampoo lid with antibiotic ointment and neomycin and polymyxin dexamethasone

Comparative study of the efficacy of different treatment options in patients with chronic blepharitis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 3 treatment options in patients with chronic blepharitis. METHODOLOGY: An experimental, randomized, controlled study was conducted on 45 patients (female 67%; Mean age: 40.5 years) diagnosed with chronic blepharitis, in order to compare the effectiveness of three treatment options. Group 1: eyelid hygiene with neutral shampoo three times/day; group 2: neutral shampoo eyelid hygiene plus topical metronidazole gel 0.75% twice/day; group 3: neutral eyelid hygiene with shampoo plus neomycin 3.5% and polymyxin 10% antibiotic ointment with 0.5% dexamethasone 3 times/day. The symptoms and signs were assessed by assigning scores from 0: no symptoms and/or signs; 1: mild symptoms and/or signs, 2: moderate symptoms and/or signs; and 3: severe symptoms and/or signs. RESULTS: A significant improvement was observed in the signs and symptoms in all 3 treatment groups. While groups 1 and 2 had more improvement in all variables studied (P<.05), Group 3 showed no clinical improvement for itching (P=.16), dry eye (P=.29), eyelashes falling (P=.16), and erythema at the eyelid margin (P=.29). CONCLUSIONS: Shampoo eyelid hygiene neutral and neutral shampoo combined with the use of metronidazole gel reported better hygiene results than neutral shampoo lid with antibiotic ointment and neomycin and polymyxin dexamethasone.

Bruxism and health related quality of life in southern Italy's prison inmates.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-assessed bruxism, the level of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and their relationship in a group of male inmates. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN, SETTING: The present study was cross-sectional, its setting was two penal institutions in Italy. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 280 male prisoners (mean age 39.7 years). Due to the very small number of female prisoners, it was not possible to study both genders. INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects were administered a questionnaire with items investigating demographic data, self-assessed bruxism and HRQoL using EuroQoL EQ-5D instrument. RESULTS: Bruxism was present in 29.7% of inmates. Results for EQ-5D (in brackets are data for the general population age and gender matched) were: EQ-index 1.3 (0.8), EQ-VAS 62 (80). Percentage reporting a problem for each dimension: Mobility (MO): 7.5 (9.6), Self Care (SC): 6.1 (4.3), Usual Activities (UA): 17.9 (10.1), Pain/discomfort (PD): 43.9 (40.8), Anxiety/depression (AD): 54.6 (31.9). There was a strong correlation between bruxism and EQ-index, showing concordance and dependence and, as expected, discordance and dependence between bruxism and EQ-VAS. CONCLUSION: Bruxism prevalence is higher and HRQoL is worse in the prison population than in the general population; the presence of bruxism is correlated with lower HRQoL levels, and correlation is stronger for subjects at first prison experience and for higher education levels, thus suggesting higher effect of stress on these subjects.

Frecuencia de serogrupos de estreptococos beta-hemolíticos enhisopados faríngeos de pacientes con faringitis / Frequency of beta-hemolytic streptococci serogroups in throat swabs of

El Streptococcus pyogenes o estreptococo beta-hemolítico (EBH) grupo A es la causa másfrecuente de faringitis bacteriana; su importancia radica en las secuelas no supurativasque puede desencadenar como la fiebre reumática aguda y la glomerulonefritis agudapost-estreptocócica. Casos de faringitis por grupos de EBH diferentes al grupo A,específicamente los del grupo C y G están documentados, pero su papel no estácompletamente claro. El objetivo de este estudio retrospectivo fue determinar lafrecuencia de serogrupos de EBH aislados de hisopados faríngeos de niños y adultos confaringitis, que acudieron al departamento de Microbiología del Laboratorio San Roque enAsunción-Paraguay, entre junio de 2006 a junio de 2007. Las muestras de hisopadosfaríngeos fueron cultivadas en agar sangre de carnero al 5 por ciento e incubadas por 48h a 35ºCen atmósfera de 5 por ciento de CO2 y las colonias beta-hemolíticas identificadas por métodosmicrobiológicos convencionales. De los 303 cultivos, 42 (13,9 por ciento) resultaron positivos paraEBH, de estos 25 (8,3 por ciento) fueron identificados como EBHA, 4 (1,3 por ciento) EBHC y 13 (4,3 por ciento)EBHG. La frecuencia relativa de los serogrupos fue de 59,5 por ciento del grupo A, 9,5 por ciento del grupoC y 31 por ciento del grupo G. Teniendo en cuenta que el 40,5 por ciento de los aislamientos de EBH eradiferente al grupo A, no debería considerarse al EBHA como único estreptococo patógenode la faringe, por lo tanto se debería identificar e informar todos los serogrupos en formarutinaria para un correcto diagnóstico y tratamiento, como una medida para prevenir laslesiones no supurativas que las infecciones por estos serogrupos pueden desencadenar.

Úlcera de córnea bacteriana: agentes etiológicos, sensibilidad antimicrobiana y tratamiento instituido / Bacterial corneal ulcer: ethiological agents, antimicrobial susceptibility and treatment

La úlcera de córnea bacteriana o queratitis es una condición seria que puede llevar a la pérdida de la visión. La selección del tratamiento se basa en estudios microbiológicos y en el patrón de sensibilidad en un área geográfica determinada. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la sensibilidad y la mejor terapia empírica para el tratamiento de pacientes con queratitis bacteriana; de la Cátedra de Oftalmología del Hospital de Clínicas, y cuyas muestras fueron tomadas en el laboratorio de Microbiología del Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Se revisaron las fichas de todos los pacientes con queratitis en cuyos cultivos se aislaron bacterias, desde julio de 2003 a diciembre de 2006. De 175 pacientes con queratitis, se encontró que 73 eran de origen bacteriano, encontrándose más de una bacteria en algunas muestras. De las 87 bacterias,; estafilococos coagulasa negativo (Scn: 27,6%) fueron predominantes, seguido de Staphylococcus aureus (Sau: 11,2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn: 10,3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae: 12,6%) y Acinetobacter sp Ac - 8%). El 100% de los aislados de Scn y Sau, fue sensible a ciprofloxacina y a oxacilina, 89% y 100% a gentamicina, 80% y 88% a tobramicina, respectivamente. Todos los aislados de Spn fueron sensibles a eritromicina, de igual manera todos los aislados de Pae y Ac- a ciprofloxacina y tobramicina; 73% y 100% a gentamicina, respectivamente. El 93% de los pacientes recibió tratamiento empírico de colirio antibiótico reforzado (CAR) de cefazolina 50 mg/ml y gentamicina 16mg/ml; y 7% ciprofloxacina al 0,3%. En esta serie, para las úlceras de córnea debidas a estafilococos y a bacilos gramnegativos no fermentadores, la droga de elección es la ciprofloxacina, y debida a S. pneumoniae, eritromicina. En base a los datos obtenidos se concluye que la combinación de cefazolina y ciprofloxacina es un esquema terapéutico empírico que puede ser recomendado para las queratitis bacterianas.

Bacterial corneal ulcer or keratitis is a serious condition that can lead to visual loss. Treatment selection is based on microbiologic studies and in susceptibility pattern of the especific geographical area. The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility and best empirical treatment of patients with bacterial keratitis of the Chair of Ophthalmology of the Hospital de Clinicas whose samples were collected in the Microbiology Laboratory of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. A retrospective review of the medical records of all culture-positive bacterial keratitis seen from July 2003 to December 2006 was performed. Out of 175 patients with keratitis 73 were found to be of bacterial ethiology. Of the 87 bacteria, coagulase-negative staphylococci (Scn: 27.6%) was predominant followed by Staphylococcus aureus (Sau: 11.2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn: 10.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae: 12.6%) and Acinetobacter sp (Ac- 8%). All Scn and Sau isolates showed susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and oxacillin, 89% and 100% to gentamicin and 80% and 88% to tobramycin, respectively. All Spn isolates were susceptible to eritromicin; all Pae and Ac- isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and tobramycin, 73% and 100% to gentamicin, respectively. Ninety three percent of the patients received an empirical treatment with a reinforced antibiotic eyedrops of cefazolin 50 mg/ml and gentamicine 16mg/ml; and 7% with ciprofloxacine 0.3%. In this series, for the corneal ulcer due to Staphylococcus species and non-fermenting Gram-negative rods, the drug of choice is ciprofloxacin and for S. pneumoniae is eritromicin. Based in the results of this study, it can said that cefazolin and ciprofloxacin combination is an empirical therapeutic scheme that could be recommended for bacterial keratitis.

Queratitis infecciosas: características clínicas y microbiológicas: período 2003-2006 / Infectious keratitis: clinical and microbiological characteristics: 2003-2006 period

Las queratitis infecciosas poseen una elevada morbilidad, poniendo en riesgo la visión sino son tratadas rápida y apropiadamente. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar lascaracterísticas clínicas y microbiológicas, el tratamiento implementado y la evoluciónclínic120.A los dos meses del post-tratamiento en pacientes con queratitis infecciosas queconsultaron en el Departamento de Oftalmología del Hospital de Clínicas entre julio de2003 a diciembre de 2006. De 167 pacientes, 74,3% eran varones; la edad media ± DEfue de 40 ± 19 años. Los cultivos fueron positivos en el 71,9% de los casos; aislándosebacterias como único agente etiológico en el 43,7%; exclusivamente hongos 17,4%;hongos y bacterias 10,8%. Entre las bacterias aisladas se encontraron, estafilocococoagulasa-negativa (29%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16%), Streptococcus pneumoniae(10,5%) y Staphylococcus aureus (8,1%) y entre los hongos Fusarium sp (57,4%). De154 pacientes, que tenían datos sobre el tratamiento empleado, el 77,8% recibió colirioreforzado de cefazolina 50 mg/ml y gentamicina 16mg/ml; 33,5% fluconazol y 12%ciprofloxacina. Se tuvo información sobre la evolución a los dos meses en 133 pacientes,de los cuales el 82% presentó leucoma, 13,5% recubrimiento conjuntival y 4,5%evisceración. Una mala evolución estuvo asociada al origen micótico y al tamaño grandede la úlcera. La frecuencia de las queratitis infecciosas de origen micótico es alta en estaserie, y relacionada con una peor evolución. El fluconazol es el único antimicóticodisponible en nuestro medio, pero su efecto es principalmente sobre hongos nofilamentosos, por lo tanto se deberían incorporar nuevos esquemas de tratamientoantimicótico, como la natamicina, que podría evitar la pérdida de la visión de numerosos pacientes

Natural history of portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis. The New Italian Endoscopic Club for the study and treatment of esophageal varices (NIEC).

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The clinical importance of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) as a source of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis is poorly defined. We investigated the natural history of this condition in a large series of patients. METHODS: All patients with cirrhosis seen at 7 hospitals during June and July 1992 were followed up with clinical and endoscopic examinations every 6 months for up to 3 years. Gastropathy was classified according to the classification of the New Italian Endoscopic Club. RESULTS: The prevalence of gastropathy was 80% and was correlated with the duration of disease, presence and size of esophagogastric varices, and a previous history of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy. During 18+/-8 months of follow-up, gastropathy was stable in 29% of patients, deteriorated in 23%, improved in 23%, and fluctuated with time in 25%. The evolution of gastropathy with time was identical in patients with and without previous or current sclerotherapy. Acute bleeding from gastropathy occurred in 8 of 315 patients (2.5%). The bleeding-related mortality rate was 12.5%. Chronic bleeding occurred in 34 patients (10.8%). CONCLUSIONS: PHG is common in patients with cirrhosis, and its prevalence parallels the severity of portal hypertension. Gastropathy can progress from mild to severe and vice versa or even disappear completely. Bleeding from this lesion is relatively uncommon and rarely severe. Sclerotherapy of esophageal varices does not seem to influence the natural history of this condition.

Portal hypertensive gastropathy: reproducibility of a classification, prevalence of elementary lesions, sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver. A NIEC multicentre study. New Italian Endoscopic Club.

OBJECTIVE: To classify elementary endoscopic lesions of portal hypertensive gastropathy, assess their reproducibility, prevalences, sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver. METHODS: 1) A classification of portal hypertensive gastropathy elementary lesions was defined. 2) Thirty-two endoscopists evaluated videotapes of endoscopic examinations of patients with liver cirrhosis to assess beyond-chance agreement (kappa). 3) Fifteen centres enrolled consecutive patients with or without cirrhosis of the liver and recorded portal hypertensive gastropathy pattern according to its location. RESULTS: 1) Four elementary lesions (Mosaic-Like Pattern, Red Point Lesions, Cherry Red Spots, Black-Brown Spots) were identified, and graded. 2) A fair to good beyond-chance agreement was obtained for all 4 lesions. 3) portal hypertensive gastropathy prevalence was higher in patients with cirrhosis of the liver (0.63, sensitivity) than in controls (0.17). Mosaic-like pattern was the most prevalent sign (0.54). Specificity of portal hypertensive gastropathy was 0.83. Portal hypertensive gastropathy was tentatively classified as mild or severe when mosaic-like pattern alone or red marks of any kind were present, respectively; this classification led to a further improvement in reproducibility. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a sufficient degree of agreement can be achieved in recording portal hypertensive gastropathy. Therefore, the New Italian Endoscopic Club classification should be used to evaluate the natural history of this condition.

Evaluation of the abnormal platelet function in von Willebrand disease by the blood filtration test.

We have evaluated platelet function in different subtypes of von Willebrand disease (vWD) by pushing blood through the capillary-sized channels of a glass filter. Patients, including those with type IIB vWD, showed lower than normal platelet retention and increased cumulative number of blood drops passing through the filter as a function of time. In contrast, shear-induced platelet aggregation, measured in the cone-and-plate viscometer, was paradoxically increased in type IIB patients. Treatment with 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) tended to normalize the filter test in patients with type I-platelet normal and type I-platelet low vWD, but infusion of a factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (vWF) concentrate lacking the largest vWF multimers was without effect in type 3 patients. Experiments with specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that the A1 and A3 domains of vWF, as well as the glycoproteins Ib alpha and IIb-IIIa on platelets, are required for platelet retention in the filter. Thus, the test may reflect vWF function with regard to both platelet adhesion and aggregation under high shear stress, and provide relevant information on mechanisms involved in primary hemostasis.

Sclerotherapy plus octreotide versus sclerotherapy alone in the prevention of early rebleeding from esophageal varices: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. New Italian Endoscopic Club.

Because of its ability to decrease portal pressure, azygos blood flow, and postprandial splanchnic hyperemia, octreotide administration could be effective in reducing early rebleeding in patients undergoing endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS). We report the results of a trial comparing EVS + octreotide versus EVS alone. Consecutive patients with cirrhosis and endoscopically proven variceal hemorrhage were considered eligible for the trial if hemodynamically stable for at least 24 hours after bleeding stopped. Patients with advanced liver cancer or having received EVS treatment in the past were not enrolled. After enrollment patients were submitted to EVS (day 1); all patients were randomized to receive octreotide, 100 micrograms three times a day subcutaneously, or an identical placebo, up to day 29; EVS was repeated at days 8, 15, and 29. Fifty-eight patients were randomized to receive either EVS + octreotide (n = 26) or EVS alone (n = 32). The two groups were evenly balanced for sex, age, Child-Pugh class, history of previous bleeding, endoscopic appearance of varices, or treatment received in emergency. Eight of 26 (31%) patients in the EVS + octreotide group rebled, compared with 11 of 32 (34%) in the EVS group. Four of the eight (50%) patients in the former group and 8 of 11 (73%) in the latter, respectively, bled within day 15. There were 10 (38.5%) deaths in the EVS + octreotide group (seven bleeding-related), compared with seven (21.9%) (five bleeding-related) in the EVS group; these differences did not reach statistical significance. Administration of octreotide, 100 micrograms three times a day, subcutaneously, to patients undergoing EVS for prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding does not decrease the incidence of early rebleeding.

Randomized controlled trial of desmopressin plus terlipressin vs. terlipressin alone for the treatment of acute variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients: a multicenter, double-blind study. New Italian Endoscopic Club.

1-Deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP, desmopressin), a synthetic analog of the antidiuretic hormone L-arginine vasopressin, improves hemostasis parameters in cirrhotic patients. Hence its use in combination with a vasoactive drug such as terlipressin might improve the performance of this drug in controlling variceal bleeding. The aim of this trial was to compare the efficacy of desmopressin plus terlipressin with that of terlipressin alone in controlling acute variceal hemorrhage. Cirrhotic patients with active variceal hemorrhage diagnosed endoscopically were randomized within 2 hr of admission to receive desmopressin plus terlipressin or placebo plus terlipressin. Terlipressin (2 mg, intravenous bolus) was given at time 0 and every 4 hr thereafter for 24 hr. Desmopressin (0.3 microgram/kg, intravenously) or placebo was given in saline solution over 30 min at time 0 and at 26 hr. Patients were monitored for 24 hr after cessation of treatment. Treatment failure was defined as recurrence of active bleeding during treatment or within the 24 hr after treatment. After enrolling 51 of the planned 84 patients, we carried out an interim analysis. Treatment failure occurred in 13 of 24 patients randomized to receive desmopressin plus terlipressin (54.2%) and in 6 of 22 patients randomized to receive terlipressin (27.3%) (p = 0.06, Fisher's exact test). The trial was interrupted at this stage because patients treated with the "new" therapy fared worse than those treated with the standard therapy, and the possibility of reversing this trend by completing the trial was deemed remote. The addition of desmopressin does not improve and may worsen the efficacy of terlipressin in controlling acute variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients.

[A rare systemic vasculitis with asthmatic syndrome]. / Una rara vasculite sistemica con sindrome asmatica.

The Authors describe the case of a multisystem disease affecting a young asthmatic patient. The history and the course of the disease suggested the diagnosis of a primary systemic vasculitis, which had a pathologic picture (both bioptic and autoptic) typical of an allergic angiitis and granulomatosis, also known as Churg-Strauss syndrome.