Análisis de la determinación de niveles de tiopurínicos en pacientes pediátricos con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal / Laboratory determination of thiopurine levels in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Las tiopurinas son fármacos muy empleados para el mantenimiento de la remisión en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Se conocen cuáles son los niveles plasmáticos óptimos, y existe controversia acerca de si reducen la necesidad de otros fármacos o son coste-efectivos. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue describir el uso del tratamiento optimizado con tiopurínicos en pacientes pediátricos con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal seguidos en nuestra unidad desde la implementación de la determinación de niveles de fármaco. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo en el que se analizaron valores en plasma mediante cromatografía líquida de 6-tioguanina (6-TGN), 6-metilmercaptopurina (6-MMP) y sus cocientes, así como estado clínico y variables analíticas y demográficas de pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en seguimiento en nuestra unidad. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 72 pacientes y se realizaron 140 determinaciones de metabolitos. En el 61,5% de las determinaciones los niveles de 6-TGN se encontraban por debajo del rango terapéutico (en 7 casos debido a falta de adherencia terapéutica), y en el 7,4% de las de 6-MMP estaban en rango de toxicidad. Tras la determinación de 77 muestras se tomó alguna actitud derivada, procediéndose a la modificación de dosis, al cambio de formulación o a la suspensión del fármaco. Únicamente 9 pacientes escalaron a fármaco biológico (13,4% del total que estaban en monoterapia). No se encontró relación entre la actividad de la enfermedad y los niveles de tiopurínicos. CONCLUSIONES: En nuestra experiencia la monitorización de niveles de tiopurinas ayudó a modificar la dosis de fármaco que recibía el paciente, adecuando sus niveles terapéuticos y evitando potencialmente la adición de nuevos fármacos

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Thiopurines are drugs widely used in patients for the maintenance of remission in inflammatory bowel disease. The optimal plasma levels are known, but there is controversy about whether the need for other drugs is reduced or is cost-effective. The aim of this study is to describe the use of the optimised treatment with thiopurines in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease followed up in this Unit since the introduction of determining the drug levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted in which the plasma values of 6-thioguanine (6-TGN), 6-methyl-mercapto-purine (6-MMP), and their ratios were analysed using liquid chromatography. Other variables were collected, such as clinical status, analytical and demographic variables of patients with inflammatory bowel disease followed up in this Unit. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were included, and 149 determinations of metabolites were performed. The 6-TGN levels were found to below the therapeutic range in 61.5% of patients (in 7 cases due to lack of adherence to therapy), and 6-MMP was in the toxicity range in 7.4%. After the determination of 77 specimens, some action was taken, such as modifying the dose, change of formula, or withdrawing the drug. Only 9 patients were scaled to a biological drug (13.4% of the total on single therapy). No association was found between the activity of the disease and the thiopurine levels. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the monitoring of thiopurine levels helped to modify the drug dose that the patient received, adjusting their therapeutic levels, and potentially avoiding the addition of new drugs

Colitis eosinofílica en pacientes pediátricos intervenidos de enfermedad de Hirschsprung / Eosinophilic colitis in children after surgery for Hirschsprung disease

Introducción: la colitis eosinofílica suele debutar con signos de enterocolitis, aunque hay casos descritos en los que se diagnostica tras episodios de obstrucción intestinal subaguda. Presentamos nuestra experiencia en niños diagnosticados de colitis eosinofílica que han sido intervenidos previamente de enfermedad de Hirschsprung. Resultados: 7 de los 44 pacientes intervenidos por enfermedad de Hirschsprung fueron diagnosticados de colitis eosinofílica. Mediana de edad de cirugía de enfermedad de Hirschsprung: tres meses; mediana de edad de colitis eosinofílica: 21 meses. Debutaron con diarrea mucosanguinolenta seis casos. Seis de siete niños presentaron cuadro de enteritis previo al diagnóstico de colitis eosinofílica y uno de siete rectorragia. El cribado infeccioso fue negativo en todos los casos. El diagnóstico de colitis eosinofílica mediante biopsia en todos los casos. Un paciente sin tratamiento, tres con fórmula elemental y solo dos con esteroides sistémicos (uno de ellos requirió cirugía finalmente). En todos los niños tratados se resolvió el cuadro, salvo en un caso que precisó instauración de nutrición parenteral y finalmente resección colónica con ileostomía. Conclusiones: en nuestra serie, hemos encontrado asociación entre enfermedad de Hirschsprung y colitis eosinofílica. En todos los casos se ha encontrado relación temporal entre ambas patologías, siendo siempre el diagnóstico de colitis eosinofílica posterior a la intervención quirúrgica por enfermedad de Hirschsprung. La exclusión de las proteínas de la leche de vaca y el empleo de antiinflamatorios han sido efectivos en la mayoría de los casos (AU)

Introduction: eosinophilic colitis tends to appear with signs of enterocolitis, although cases have been described after episodes of subacute intestinal obstruction. We present our experience in children diagnosed with eosinophilic colitis who had been previously operated for Hirschsprung disease. Results: 7 out of44 patients who underwent Hirschsprung disease were diagnosed with eosinophilic colitis. Median age of surgery for Hirschsprung disease was 3 months and the median age of diagnosis of eosinophilic colitis 21 months. Six cases debuted with diarrhea with blood. Six of seven children had enteritis prior to diagnosis of eosinophilic colitis and one of seven rectal bleeding. The infectious screening was negative in all cases.The diagnosis was performed by biopsy in all cases, compatible with eosinophilic colitis. Treatment: one patient did not require treatment, three children needed elemental formula and two patients systemic steroids (one of them finally required surgery). In all treated children the clinical picture was resolved, except in one case in which, given the persistence and impact of symptoms, required parenteral nutrition and finally colonic resection with ileostomy. Conclusions: In our series, we found some association between Hirschsprung disease and eosinophilic colitis. In all cases it was found a certain temporal relationship between the two diseases, always eosinophilic colitis after surgery for Hirschsprung disease. The exclusion of cow's milk proteins and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs have been effective in most cases (AU)

Enfermedad de Crohn metastásica en pediatría / Metastatic Crohn’s disease in pediatrics

Introducción: la enfermedad de Crohn metastásica (ECM) constituye una manifestación extraintestinal de la enfermedad de Crohn, siendo fundamental la biopsia para su diagnóstico. Existen referencias escasas a ECM en la edad pediátrica, y en adultos se estima una incidencia del 0,5-1%. No hay consenso sobre su abordaje terapéutico. Nuestro objetivo es describir nuestra experiencia diagnóstica y terapéutica en ECM. Caso clínico: se describen 4 casos de ECM en seguimiento en una Unidad de Gastroenterología Infantil en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel. Edades al diagnóstico entre 7 y 13 años. Las lesiones aparecieron antes del diagnóstico de enfermedad de Crohn (EC) en tres de ellos y durante la evolución de la enfermedad en otro. Localización genital en tres pacientes y en región pretibial bilateral en el otro. Todos demostraron granulomas no caseificantes en la biopsia. Dos pacientes precisaron únicamente nutrición enteral exclusiva, observándose resolución completa, mientras que otros dos recibieron terapias combinadas (corticoides, azatioprina, tacrolimus, infliximab y adalimumab) por recurrencia. Solo un caso requirió cirugía por mal control clínico. Discusión: la ECM es una entidad rara aunque siempre debemos incluirla en el diagnóstico diferencial de las lesiones cutáneas en enfermedad de Crohn, teniendo en cuenta que puede ser el debut de la enfermedad. Nos basaremos en la biopsia en cualquier caso para el diagnóstico definitivo. En esta serie se verifica la región genital como la más habitual en niños. El abordaje terapéutico no difiere del manejo de la afectación intestinal (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Metastatic Crohn’s disease (MCD) is an extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn’s disease, with biopsy as fundamental diagnostic tool. There are few references to MCD in children, with a 0.5-1% estimated incidence in adults. There is no consensus about its therapeutic approach. We describe our diagnostic and therapeutic experience in MCD. Results: Four cases of MCD are described in our Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit in a tertiary care hospital. The age at diagnosis was between 7 and 13 years. Lesions appeared before the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease in three of them, and during the course of the disease in another one, with genital location in three patients and bilateral pretibial region in the other. All four cases demonstrated non-caseificant granulomas on biopsy. Only two patients used exclusive enteral nutrition therapy with complete resolution, while other two cases received a combination of therapies (corticosteroids, azathioprine, tacrolimus, infliximab and adalimumab) because of recurrence. Only one case required surgery after poor clinical control. Conclusion: The MCD is infrequent but must always be included in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions in Crohn’s disease, considering it could be the debut of the disease. We will rely on biopsy anyway for definitive diagnosis. In this series the genital region is verified as the most commonly affected in children. The therapeutic approach does not differ from the management of intestinal involvement (AU)

Impedanciometría esofágica multicanal y pHmetría en el estudio del episodio de riesgo vital aparente del lactante / Esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH-testing in the study of apparent life threatening episode incidents in infants

Introducción: la pHmetría convencional de 24 horas constituye el patrón de oro para el diagnóstico de episodios de riesgo vital aparente (ALTE). La impedanciometría intraluminal multicanal (IIM) puede aportar ventajas en el lactante. Objetivos: comparación de los resultados de IIM y pHmetría en los pacientes sometidos a IIM-pHmetría en el periodo de estudio por causa de estudio de ALTE. Material y métodos: estudio retrospectivo de IIM-pHmetrías realizadas en nuestro servicio a lactantes < 12 meses de edad ingresados por ALTE durante tres años. Resultados: 39 pacientes estudiados. La pHmetría registró 2.692 reflujos, con medianas de 24 (IQ: 15-44) reflujos/paciente, índice de reflujo de 1,30 (IQ: 0,80-2,60) reflujos/hora, 1 (IQ: 0-4) episodio de reflujo > 5 min por paciente y aclaramiento de 1,20 (IQ: 0,70-2,20) min/reflujo. Por pHmetría 14 niños (35,9 %) fueron diagnosticados de RGE. Mediante IIM se registraron 8.895 eventos; 3.219 fueron reflujos, con mediana de 75 (IQ: 54-111) reflujos/ paciente, 1,30 (IQ: 1,3-2,6) reflujos/hora. Mediante IIM-pHmetría, la media de reflujos ácidos por paciente fue de 21,60 (DE 15,21), débilmente ácidos 67,33 (DE 32,09) y no ácidos 3,34 (DE 7,23), pudiéndose diagnosticar finalmente a 33 pacientes de RGE. Conclusiones: la asociación de IMM y pHmetría proporciona información adicional que mejora el rendimiento diagnóstico, sin suponer ningún riesgo adicional para el paciente. Los reflujos no ácidos/débilmente ácidos, los cuales no son detectados mediante pHmetría, suponen un porcentaje elevado, sobre todo en lactantes; esto tiene gran importancia diagnóstica en el estudio del ALTE. Aún son necesarios estudios para valorar la normalidad en IIM en pacientes pediátricos (AU)

Introduction: The conventional 24-hour pH monitoring is the gold standard for the diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), a possible cause of Apparent Life Threatening Episodes (ALTE). However, multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) may provide advantages. Objectives: Comparison of the results of MII and pH monitoring in patients undergoing MII-pH monitoring in the 3-year study period because of having suffered from ALTE. Material and methods: Prospective study of MII-pH monitoring performed in our unit to infants < 12 months of age admitted for ALTE for a 3-year period. Results: Thirty nine patients studied. 2,692 pH monitoring episodes, with median of 24 (IQ: 15-44) episodes/patient, 1.30 (IQ: 0.80-2.60) reflux/hour, 1 (IQ: 0-4) reflux episode > 5 min per patient and clearance of 1.20 (IQ: 0.70-2.20) min/reflux. With pH monitoring analysis, 14 children (35.9 %) could have been diagnosed as GER (8 mild, 4 moderate and 2 severe) based on the classical criteria. MII identified a total of 8,895 events; only 3,219 among them were refluxes, with a median of 75 (IQ: 54-111) per patient, 1.30 (IQ: 1.3-2.6) episodes/hour). With MII-pH monitoring combination there were 21.60 (SD 15.21) acid reflux episodes, 67.33 weekly acid (SD 32.09) and 3.34 (SD 7.23) non-acid, being finally diagnosed 33 patients as GER. Conclusions: The association of pH monitoring and MII provides additional information that improves GER diagnostic performance without posing any additional risk to the infant patient. The non-acid/weekly acid refluxes, not detected by pH monitoring, account for a high percentage of episodes, this may have diagnostic and therapeutic significance, especially in infants. Further studies are needed to assess the normality of MMI in pediatric patients (AU)

There have been changes in the incidence and epidemiology of pelvic ring fractures in recent decades? / Houve mudanças na incidência e na epidemiologia das fraturas do anel pélvico nas últimas décadas?

The pelvic ring fractures comprise 2 -8% of all skeletal injuries. As the incidence rises to 25% in polytrauma and represents a negative prognostic factor with regard to morbidity and mortality of patients, we sought with this work to establish the profile of these, compared to an alteration in the profile of patients with pelvic ring fractures in recent decades. To this end, we evaluated the epidemiological profile, mechanism of injury and types of fractures. By reviewing the literature indexed in the databases related to the theme, 20 papers were selected that contained the requirements for the study. For the period between January 1987 and December 1999 (first decade), and another period in January 2000 and December 2010 (second decade), data were analyzed by Mann -Whitney test. The ratings Tile, Young and Burgess AO were adequate to permit their categorization. The research in each decade was homogeneous. At first the lesions were more prevalent in men with 62.5% with a tendency to reverse this pattern given the increase of women in the second decade (p = 0.286). The average age in the first decade was 39.3 years, an increase in the second (p = 0.068). The most prevalent mechanisms of trauma were related to traffic in both periods as well as fractures classified as type A (p = 0.203 and p = 0.457, respectively), having mortality rates decreased (p = 0.396). We conclude that there was a tendency to increase in the average age of patients (p = 0.068); however the increasing involvement of women (p = 0.286) and decreased mortality (p = 0.396) were not significant.

As fraturas do anel pélvico compõem de 2% a 8% de todas as lesões do esqueleto, incidência que sobe para 25% nos politraumatizados e representa fator prognóstico negativo no que diz respeito à morbidade e à mortalidade. Buscou-se com este trabalho estabelecer se houve mudança do perfil desses pacientes nas últimas décadas e por que ela ocorreu. Para tanto, avaliaram-se epidemiologia, mecanismo de trauma e tipos de fratura, por revisão bibliográfica nas bases de dados indexadas relacionadas ao tema, selecionados 20 trabalhos que continham os requisitos para o estudo. O período entre janeiro de 1987 e dezembro de 1999 (primeira década) e outro de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2010 (segunda década) foram analisados e comparados estatisticamente pelo Teste de Mann-Whitney. As classificações de Tile, Young Burgess e AO foram adequadas para permitir sua categorização. As pesquisas em cada uma das décadas foram homogêneas. Na primeira, as lesões foram mais prevalentes em homens, com 62,5%, com tendência a inversão desse padrão, dado o aumento de mulheres acometidas na segunda década (p = 0,286). A média de idade na primeira década era de 39,3 anos e revelou um aumento na segunda (p = 0,068). Os mecanismos de trauma mais prevalentes foram aqueles relacionados ao tráfego nos períodos, assim como as fraturas classificadas como do tipo A (p = 0,203ep= 0,457, respectivamente). Os índices de mortalidade diminuíram (p = 0,396). Conclui-se que houve tendência ao aumento na média de idade dos pacientes (p = 0,068). Já o crescente acometimento das mulheres (p = 0,286) e a diminuição da mortalidade (p = 0,396) não foram significantes. .

Sistema Glutation-S-Transferase como fator prognóstico no carcinoma papilífero da tireoide / GST genes expression as prognostic factor in papillary thyroid cancer

OBJETIVO: Analisar se existe relação entre os fatores moleculares dos genes GTS e a mortalidade dos pacientes com câncer de tireoide dado pelo índice AMES de prognóstico clínico. MÉTODOS: Foram coletadas amostras da tireoide de 66 pacientes com carcinoma papilífero (53 mulheres e 13 homens), de modo a permitir extração do material genético das enzimas. Foram constituídos dois grupos, segundo os fatores prognósticos clínicos de alto e baixo risco, de acordo a classificação AMES. Cada grupo foi avaliado pela presença ou não do genótipo nulo para as enzimas estudadas, correlacionando-os com os fatores prognósticos clínicos (AMES). RESULTADOS: Foram analisados os resultados de 17 doentes com alto risco (grupo A) e 49 com baixo (grupo B). Todas combinações de genótipos do GSTT1 e GSTM1 foram encontrados. O genótipo nulo dos dois genes do grupo de alto risco foi encontrado em 5,8 por cento e no de baixo risco em 6,1 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: A presença ou deleção dos genes GST (GSTT1 e GSTM1) não são bom fatores prognósticos no câncer papilífero da tireoide.

PURPOSES: Analyze the relationship between the AMES classification and molecular factors from Glutation-S-Transferase System, specifically the GSTT1 and GSTM1 in patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer. METHODS: Samples of thyroid tissue of 66 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were obtained (53 women and 13 men). Patients were divided in two groups (high and low risk) according to the AMES classification. In each group, presence of the null genotype of both GST enzymes system was studied. These results were compared with the AMES classification. Samples were obtained in the operating room immediately after thyroidectomy, placed in cryotubes, immersed in liquid nitrogen and stored in a freezer at -80ºC. DNA of this enzymes was extracted by the fenol-cloroformium method. RESULTS: There were 17 high risk patients and 49 low risk patients. The null genotype of the high risk group was 5.8 percent and in the other group was 6.1 percent. CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between absence of genes GSTT1 and GSTM1 and prognosis of the papillary thyroid carcinoma when compared to the AMES classifications.