Sonographic evolution of the superficial vein thrombosis of the lower extremity.

BACKGROUND: Superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) is a common clinical problem across various treatment settings. SVT shares risk factors with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and carries a risk of thromboembolic complications, greater than previously expected. Little is known about the pathophysiology, resolution and recurrence of this disease. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to describe the natural course of SVT, and factors correlated with the progression or resolution of the thrombus. METHODS: We included 218 patients with a recent diagnosis of SVT that were consecutively referred to a thrombosis clinic from the Emergency Department (ED) between January 2016 and April of 2018. RESULTS: The resolution of the thrombus prior to discharge was correlated to gender (female 73.8% vs. male 57.5%, p = 0.015), presence of varicose veins (62.4% vs. 46.4, p = 0.026), absence of family or personal history of thrombosis (98% vs. 91.3%, p = 0.021). The factor most correlated to thrombus resolution prior to discharge was the result of the 2nd ultrasound (improvement 83.9% vs. 16.1%, p < 0.001) immediately after initiation of heparin treatment. In the multivariate analysis, a high thrombus burden in the early follow-up ultrasound was the most significant predictive variable with prior to discharge recanalization (B = 20.9, 95% CI 9.8-44.7; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The follow-up of SVT with duplex lower extremity ultrasound allows us to monitor the evolution and early identify residual thrombosis, as a marker of hypercoagulability and recurrence. This study offers new perspectives for future research, necessary to improve the management of this disease, to reduce long-term complications.

Reaffirmation of the importance of follow-up ultrasound studies in patients with high D-dimers and clinical suspicion of vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism is a common disease seen in the emergency department and a cause of high morbidity and mortality, constituting a major health problem. OBJECTIVES: To assess the potential benefit of follow-up ultrasound of patients who attended the emergency department with suspected superficial venous thrombosis or deep venous thrombosis and were found to have an initial negative whole-leg (or arm) ultrasound study. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients aged 18 years or older who were consecutively referred to a thrombosis clinic from the emergency department, with abnormal D-dimer test and moderate to high pre-test probability of deep venous thrombosis (Well's score ≥ 1), but a negative whole-leg (or arm) ultrasound. Demographic characteristics, symptom duration, laboratory and ultrasound data were recorded. At one-week follow-up, an experienced physician repeated ultrasound, and recorded the findings. RESULTS: From January 2017 to April 2018, 54 patients were evaluated. The mean age was 66.8 years (SD 15.0) and 63% were women. The average D-dimer was 2159.9 (SD 3772.0) ng/mL. Ultrasound abnormalities were found in 12 patients (22.2%; 95% confidence interval of 12.5 to 36.0%), with 4 patients having proximal deep venous thrombosis, distal deep venous thrombosis in 2 patients and superficial venous thrombosis in 6 patients. We did not find any significant differences in demographic characteristics, venous thromboembolism risk factors or laboratory parameters between patients with negative and positive follow-up ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that a negative whole-leg (or arm) ultrasound in addition to an abnormal D-dimer in moderate to high deep venous thrombosis pretest probability patients, might be an insufficient diagnostic approach to exclude suspected deep venous thrombosis or superficial venous thrombosis. Confirmation of this higher than expected prevalence would support the need to repeat one-week ultrasound control in this population.

Historia natural de la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa en el área mediterránea. Una revisión sistemática / Natural history of venous thromboembolism in patients from the Mediterranean region. A systematic review

Antecedentes: El pronóstico de las enfermedades cardiovasculares es mejor en los países mediterráneos que en otras partes del mundo. Se desconoce si estas diferencias también acontecen en la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa (ETV) Métodos: En las bases de datos Medline y EMBASE se revisaron los ensayos clínicos y estudios de cohortes de pacientes con ETV que habían recibido tratamiento anticoagulante durante 3 meses. Dos revisores extrajeron independientemente los datos de forma reglada. Se seleccionaron 24 estudios con un total de 7.225 pacientes incluidos (2.414 del área mediterránea y 4.811 de otras regiones). Resultados: Entre los pacientes del área mediterránea predominaban las mujeres, tenían mayor edad, y la ETV idiopática fue menos frecuente que en otras regiones del mundo. Comparados con otros países, los pacientes del área mediterránea presentaron más recidivas de trombosis venosa profunda (4,35% frente a 2,68%; odds ratio [OR]: 1,65; intervalo de confianza al 95% [IC95%]: 1,27-2,15), recidivas mortales de ETV (0,75% frente a 0,35%; OR: 2,11; IC95%: 1,09-4,12) y sangrado mortal (0,25% frente a 0,06%; OR: 3,99; IC95%: 1-16). En el área mediterránea el porcentaje de recidivas de ETV mortal fue del 12,8%, IC95%: 7,99-19,1 frente al 8,41%, IC95%: 5,15-12,9 en otras zonas del mundo. El porcentaje de hemorragias mortales fue del 11,3%, IC95%: 4,72-22,1 frente al 3,22%, IC95%: 0,83-8,53 en otras zonas geográficas. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con ETV del área mediterránea tienen una mayor mortalidad durante los 3 primeros meses de tratamiento imputable a una mayor incidencia de ETV recidivante y de hemorragias graves (AU)

Background: Patients with cardiovascular diseases living in the Mediterranean area have a better outcome than those in other parts of the world, but it is not known whether these differences also occur with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Methods: We searched the Medline and EMBASE databases to identify clinical trials and cohort studies of patients with VTE who had been treated with anticoagulant therapy for 3 months. Two reviewers independently extracted the data in a standardized manner. A total of 24 studies that included 7,225 patients (2,414 from the Mediterranean region and 4,811 from other regions) were analyzed. Results: The patients from the Mediterranean area were predominately women and older, and the idiopathic VTE was less frequent than in other regions. Compared with patients from other regions, patients from the Mediterranean region had an increased rate of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (4.35% vs. 2.68%; odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.27-2.15), fatal recurrent VTE (0.75% vs. 0.35%; OR, 2.11; 95% CI 1.09-4.12) and fatal bleeding (0.25% vs. 0.06%; odds ratio: 3.99; 95% CI 1.00-16.0). The case-fatality rate (CFR) for recurrent VTE was 12.8% (95% CI 7.99-19.1) in the Mediterranean region and 8.41% (5.15-12.9) in other areas. The CFR for major bleeding was 11.3% (95% CI 4.72-22.1) and 3.22% (95% CI 0.83-8.53), respectively. Conclusions: Compared to other regions, patients with VTE from the Mediterranean region have greater mortality during the first 3 months of treatment due to a greater incidence of recurrent VTE and severe hemorrhaging (AU)

Natural history of venous thromboembolism in patients from the Mediterranean region. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cardiovascular diseases living in the Mediterranean area have a better outcome than those in other parts of the world, but it is not known whether these differences also occur with venous thromboembolism (VTE). METHODS: We searched the Medline and EMBASE databases to identify clinical trials and cohort studies of patients with VTE who had been treated with anticoagulant therapy for 3 months. Two reviewers independently extracted the data in a standardized manner. A total of 24 studies that included 7,225 patients (2,414 from the Mediterranean region and 4,811 from other regions) were analyzed. RESULTS: The patients from the Mediterranean area were predominately women and older, and the idiopathic VTE was less frequent than in other regions. Compared with patients from other regions, patients from the Mediterranean region had an increased rate of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (4.35% vs. 2.68%; odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.27-2.15), fatal recurrent VTE (0.75% vs. 0.35%; OR, 2.11; 95% CI 1.09-4.12) and fatal bleeding (0.25% vs. 0.06%; odds ratio: 3.99; 95% CI 1.00-16.0). The case-fatality rate (CFR) for recurrent VTE was 12.8% (95% CI 7.99-19.1) in the Mediterranean region and 8.41% (5.15-12.9) in other areas. The CFR for major bleeding was 11.3% (95% CI 4.72-22.1) and 3.22% (95% CI 0.83-8.53), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to other regions, patients with VTE from the Mediterranean region have greater mortality during the first 3 months of treatment due to a greater incidence of recurrent VTE and severe hemorrhaging.

[Prognostic factors of mortality during the episode of pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii in patients with HIV infection]. / Factores pronósticos de mortalidad durante el episodio de neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii en pacientes con infección por VIH.

BACKGROUND: Despite a steady decrease in its incidence, pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii (PCP) are still diagnosed, and they occur frequently in patients unaware of being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since it is a disease with a high mortality risk, its early diagnosis and therapy would allow these patients to benefit from the advantages afforded Pneumocystis carinii, neumonía, infecciones oportunistas relacionadas con el sida, pronóstico.by anti-retroviral therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study, in which all adult HIV infected patients with microbiologically demonstrated PCP diagnosed at two tertiary-level hospitals in our country between 1985 and 1996 were included. The clinical records of patients were used as information source. The relative risks (RR) of death were estimated by the multivariant logistic regression. RESULTS: PCP was the first AIDS indicating disease in approximately 70 % of cases. Thirteen percent of patients died during the episode. Patients aged over 45 years had a death RR during the episode of 3.15 (95 % CI from 0.8 to 12.2); patients previously diagnosed of AIDS had a death RR of 3.4 (95 % CI from 1.3 to 9), and those with an alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (pA-aO2) > 50 mmHg, a death RR of 3 (95% CI from 1.1 to 8). CONCLUSIONS: Factors independently related to survival to the PCP episode are age below 45 years, not to have had another AIDS indicating disease, and to have a pA-aO2 below 50 mmHg at diagnosis.

Factores pronósticos de mortalidad durante el episodio de neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii en pacientes con infección por VIH / Prognostic factors of mortality during the episode of pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii in patients with HIV infection

Fundamento. A pesar de un claro descenso en su incidencia, se siguen diagnosticando neumonías por Pneumocystis carinii (NPC), presentándose con frecuencia en pacientes que ignoran su situación de infectados por el VIH. Puesto que se trata de una enfermedad con un riesgo elevado de mortalidad, su rápido reconocimiento y tratamiento les permitirá beneficiarse a posteriori de las ventajas aportadas por el tratamiento antirretrovírico. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo en el que se incluyeron todos los pacientes adultos con infección por VIH y NPC confirmada microbiológicamente, diagnosticados en dos hospitales terciarios de nuestro país entre 1985 y 1996. Las historias clínicas de los pacientes se utilizaron como fuente de información. Los riesgos relativos (RR) de muerte se estimaron mediante regresión logística multivariable. Resultados. La NPC fue la primera enfermedad indicadora de sida en aproximadamente el 70 por ciento de los casos. Un 13 por ciento de los pacientes fallecieron durante el episodio. Los pacientes mayores de 45 años tienen un RR de muerte durante el episodio de 3,15 (índice de confianza [IC] 95 por ciento: 0,8, 12,2); aquellos que habían sido previamente diagnosticados de sida tienen un RR de muerte de 3,4 (índice de confianza [IC] 95 por ciento: 1,3, 9) y los que presentan un gradiente alveolo-arterial de oxígeno (pA-a O2) > 50 mmHg, un RR de muerte de 3 (IC 95 por ciento: 1,1,8).Conclusiones. Los factores relacionados de forma independiente con la supervivencia al episodio de NPC son la edad menor de 45 años, el no haber tenido con anterioridad otra enfermedad indicadora de sida y presentar en el momento del diagnóstico un pA-a O2 inferior a 50 mmHg. (AU)

[Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Apropos of 6 cases]. / Linfadenitis necrotizante histiocitaria: enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto. A propósito de 6 casos.

Necrotizing Histiocytic Lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign process of lymphatic system that consists of lymphadenopathy which may be accompanied by fever, rash and some haematological alterations as anaemia. It affects usually young people, mostly women. Although it is more frequent in Oriental countries, there have been some notices about this disease in Europe recently. We present six patients that have been diagnosed in our Hospital between 1986 and 1996. All presented as cervical masses and fever. The diagnostic procedure was the lymph node biopsy, which showed the typical pathology of this disease: some foci of necrosis which contained plasmocytoides cells and atypical lymphocytes. It is also suggestive of this entity the absence of polymorphonuclear cells. Then, the diagnosis of the Necrotizing Histiocytic Lymphadenitis is made by the histology. The treatment is symptomatic. In all cases the evolution is the whole remission of symptoms. In our patients the illness was self-limited and none presented any other symptom. Our proposal with this article is to remind the clinicians of this entity when people ask for cervical masses and fever.

infadenitis necrotizante histiocitaria: enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto.A propósito de 6 casos# / istiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: kikuchi-fujimoto disease: report of six cases#

La Linfadenitis Necrotizante Histiocitaria o Enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto es un proceso benigno del sistema linfático caracterizado por linfadenopatías y que puede acompañarse de síndrome febril prolongado, rash cutáneo, alteraciones hematológicas leves como anemia o trombopenia. Suele aparecer en personas de edad joven, generalmente mujeres. Aunque inicialmente se había descrito en países orientales, en los últimos años se han publicado varios casos en Europa. En este trabajo incluimos los datos de seis pacientes que fueron estudiados en nuestro Hospital entre los años 1986 y 1996. Los seis pacientes estaban siendo estudiados por la presencia de fiebre y tumefacciones cervicales. La prueba diagnóstica en todos ellos fue la realización de una biopsia de una de las adenopatías. Ésta mostraba en todos los casos la histología característica de la enfermedad, que consiste en la observación de focos de necrosis dispersos por el ganglio, además de la presencia de histiocitos atípicos y células plasmocitoides. También es un dato característico en esta enfermedad la ausencia de polimorfonucleares neutrófilos. El diagnóstico de la Linfadenitis Necrotizante Histiocitaria es, por tanto, anatomo-patológico. En cuanto a la evolución y pronóstico, es un proceso autolimitado, benigno, que hasta la fecha no se ha relacionado con la aparición posterior de procesos linfoproliferativos, infecciosos u otros. El tratamiento de esta entidad, cuando es necesario, es puramente sintomático. En nuestros pacientes la evolución fue a la remisión completa de los síntomas, sin que ninguno de los pacientes presentaran recaídas posteriores. Con este trabajo pretendemos llamar la atención sobre esta entidad benigna en todos aquellos pacientes que se presentan con adenopatías y fiebre (AU)

[Coeliac disease in the adult]. / Enfermedad celiaca del adulto.

Coeliac disease can by defined as a chronic disease characterized by a typical mucosal lesion of the small intestine and an impaired nutrient absorption which improves on withdrawal of gluten from the diet. The prevalence rate has increased over the last decades and just 1/3 of cases are diagnosed in childhood. There is a striking association with class II histocompatibility antigens, HLA-DR3 and HLA-DQ2. Cellular immune response mediated by intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes is the primary event in the small intestine damage. Up to 50% of adult coeliac patients don't present intestinal symptoms being more frequent subclinic forms. The immunological markers of coeliac disease are antigliadin, antireticulin and antiendomysial antibodies, being the last one the most specific. Mortality of coeliac patient is increased mainly for malignancies, being the most frequent the intestinal T lymphoma.