Primer informe clínico de Balamuthia mandrillaris en el distrito de Camaná, Arequipa, Perú / First case report of the Balamuthia mandrillaris in the Camaná district of Arequipa, Peru

Resumen Las infecciones por amebas de vida libre causan compromiso cutáneo y neurológico. Estas afecciones presentan una baja frecuencia pero una alta letalidad, mayor al 98%. Gene ralmente el cuadro clínico es inespecífico y los exámenes de laboratorio no son de gran ayuda, por lo que representa un reto diagnóstico y terapéutico. En este informe presentamos el caso de un paciente de 21 años que fue hospitalizado por un síndrome convulsivo con tumoraciones cerebrales, además de una lesión cutánea en el muslo derecho. El análisis histopatológico, PCR y el cuadro clínico permitieron el diagnóstico de encefalitis amebiana granulomatosa. A pesar del tratamiento, el paciente tuvo un desenlace fatal.

Abstract Infections by free-living amoebas cause cutaneous and neurological compromise. These conditions have a low frequency, but a high lethality more than 98%. Generally, the clinical picture is nonspecific; the laboratory tests dont help, so it represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In this report, we present the case of a 21-year-old patient, who was hospitalized for a convulsive syndrome with brain tumors, in addition to a cutaneous lesion on the right thigh. Histopathological analysis, PCR and the clinical picture allowed the diagnosis of granulomatous amebic encephalitis. Despite the treatment, the patient had a fatal outcome.

[First case report of the Balamuthia mandrillaris in the Camaná district of Arequipa, Peru]. / Primer informe clínico de Balamuthia mandrillaris en el distrito de Camaná, Arequipa, Perú.

Infections by free-living amoebas cause cutaneous and neurological compromise. These conditions have a low frequency, but a high lethality more than 98%. Generally, the clinical picture is nonspecific; the laboratory tests dont help, so it represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In this report, we present the case of a 21-year-old patient, who was hospitalized for a convulsive syndrome with brain tumors, in addition to a cutaneous lesion on the right thigh. Histopathological analysis, PCR and the clinical picture allowed the diagnosis of granulomatous amebic encephalitis. Despite the treatment, the patient had a fatal outcome.

Clinical evaluation of infantile hemangiomas treated with atenolol.

Currently, propranolol, is the first line treatment for problematic infantile hemangioma (IH) management. However, serious side effects have been reported. For that reason, atenolol, a hydrophilic selective beta-1 blocker with the potential for fewer side effects, has been explored. A descriptive, observational case series study of 30 patients between the ages one to 5 months with superficial, deep, or mixed IH was conducted between January 2016 and December 2017. Oral atenolol was administered using a single once daily dose of 1mg/kg, which was adjusted for weight gain each month. The IH was assessed using the Hemangioma Activity Score (HAS) at initiation of treatment, four months, and 9 months of age and improvement percentage was calculated at four and nine months of age. A total of 25 patients completed three evaluations. The baseline, four-month, and 9-month HAS were 4.6, 2.39, and 0.65, respectively. Mean improvement percentage at four months of age was 46.76% and at 9 months of age was 85.65%. No side effects were reported. This study suggests atenolol as an effective treatment for IH in almost all cases, especially in patients who initiated treatment before three months of age. It was well tolerated in all our cases.