The establishment of public health policies and the burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Americas.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 20-25% of the general population and is associated with morbidity, increased mortality, and elevated health-care costs. Most NAFLD risk factors are modifiable and, therefore, potentially amenable to being reduced by public health policies. To date, there is no information about NAFLD-related public health policies in the Americas. In this study, we analysed data from 17 American countries and found that none have established national public health policies to decrease NAFLD-related burden. There is notable heterogeneity in the existence of public health policies to prevent NAFLD-related conditions. The most common public health policies were related to diabetes (15 [88%] countries), hypertension (14 [82%] countries), cardiovascular diseases (14 [82%] countries), obesity (nine [53%] countries), and dyslipidaemia (six [35%] of countries). Only seven (41%) countries had a registry of the burden of NAFLD, and efforts to raise awareness in the Americas were scarce. The implementation of public health policies are urgently needed in the Americas to decrease the burden of NAFLD.

Performance of pre-transplant criteria in prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma progression and waitlist dropout.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Liver transplantation (LT) selection models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been proposed to predict waitlist dropout because of tumour progression. The aim of this study was to compare the alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) model and other pre-LT models in their prediction of HCC dropout. METHODS: A multicentre cohort study was conducted in 20 Latin American transplant centres, including 994 listed patients for LT with HCC from 2012 to 2018. Longitudinal tumour characteristics, and patterns of progression were recorded at time of listing, after treatments and at last follow-up over the waitlist period. Competing risk regression models were performed, and model's discrimination was compared estimating Harrell's adapted c-statistics. RESULTS: HCC dropout rate was significantly higher in patients beyond (24% [95% CI 16-28]) compared to those within Milan criteria (8% [95% IC 5%-12%]; p < .0001), with a SHR of 3.01 [95% CI 2.03-4.47]), adjusted for waiting list time and bridging therapies (c-index 0.63 [95% CI 0.57; 0.69). HCC dropout rates were higher in patients with AFP scores >2 (adjusted SHR of 3.17 [CI 2.13-4.71]), c-index of 0.71 (95% CI 0.65-0.77; p = .09 vs Milan). Similar discrimination power for HCC dropout was observed between the AFP score and the Metroticket 2.0 model. In patients within Milan, an AFP score >2 points discriminated two populations with a higher risk of HCC dropout (SHR 1.68 [95% CI 1.08-2.61]). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-transplant selection models similarly predicted HCC dropout. However, the AFP model can discriminate a higher risk of dropout among patients within Milan criteria.

Comparison of different prognostic scores for patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Viral infections have been described to increase the risk of decompensation in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to determine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on outcome of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and to compare the performance of different prognostic models for predicting mortality. PATIENTS: We performed a prospective cohort study including 2211 hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from April 15, 2020 through October 1, 2020 in 38 Hospitals from 11 Latin American countries. We registered clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with and without cirrhosis. All patients were followed until discharge or death. We evaluated the prognostic performance of different scoring systems to predict mortality in patients with cirrhosis using ROC curves. RESULTS: Overall, 4.6% (CI 3.7-5.6) subjects had cirrhosis (n = 96). Baseline Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class was assessed: CTP-A (23%), CTP-B (45%) and CTP-C (32%); median MELD-Na score was 19 (IQR 14-25). Mortality was 47% in patients with cirrhosis and 16% in patients without cirrhosis (P < .0001). Cirrhosis was independently associated with death [OR 3.1 (CI 1.9-4.8); P < .0001], adjusted by age, gender, and body mass index >30. The areas under the ROC curves for performance evaluation in predicting 28-days mortality for Chronic Liver Failure Consortium (CLIF-C), North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease (NACSELD), CTP score and MELD-Na were 0.85, 0.75, 0.69, 0.67; respectively (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with elevated mortality in patients with cirrhosis. CLIF-C had better performance in predicting mortality than NACSELD, CTP and MELD-Na in patients with cirrhosis and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT04358380.

[Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management chronic infection of hepatitis viral C of the Peruvian Health Social Security (EsSalud)]. / Guía de práctica clínica para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección crónica por el virus de hepatitis C en el Seguro Social de Salud del Perú (EsSalud).

INTRODUCTION: This article summarizes the clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic infection of hepatitis viral C of the Peruvian Health Social Security (EsSalud). OBJECTIVE: To provide clinical recommendations based on evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic infection of hepatitis viral C in EsSalud. METHODS: A guideline development group (GDG) was established, including medical specialists and methodologists. The GDG formulated 4 clinical questions to be answered in this CPG. Systematic searches of systematic reviews and primary studies (when pertinent) were conducted in PubMed, and Central (Cochrane) during 2019. The evidence was selected to answer each of the clinical questions. The accuracy of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. In periodic work meetings, the GEG used the GRADE methodology to review the evidence and formulate the recommendations, the points of good clinical practice and the treatment flowchart. Finally, the CPG was approved with Resolution No. 151-IETSIESSALUD-2019. RESULTS: The present CPG addressed 4 clinical questions of four topics: screening, diagnosis, staging and treatment. Based on these questions, 13 recommendations (8 strong recommendations and 5 weak recommendations), 27 points of good clinical practice, and 1 flowchart were formulated. CONCLUSION: This paper summarizes the methodology and evidencebased conclusions from the CPG for for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic infection of hepatitis viral C of the EsSalud.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: impact of expansion criteria in a multicenter cohort study from a high waitlist mortality region.

This study aimed to compare liver transplantation (LT) outcomes and evaluate the potential rise in numbers of LT candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of different allocation policies in a high waitlist mortality region. Three policies were applied in two Latin American cohorts (1085 HCC transplanted patients and 917 listed patients for HCC): (i) Milan criteria with expansion according to UCSF downstaging (UCSF-DS), (ii) the AFP score, and (iii) restrictive policy or Double Eligibility Criteria (DEC; within Milan + AFP score ≤2). Increase in HCC patient numbers was evaluated in an Argentinian prospective validation set (INCUCAI; NCT03775863). Expansion criteria in policy A showed that UCSF-DS [28.4% (CI 12.8-56.2)] or "all-comers" [32.9% (CI 11.9-71.3)] had higher 5-year recurrence rates compared to Milan, with 10.9% increase in HCC patients for LT. The policy B showed lower recurrence rates for AFP scores ≤2 points, even expanding beyond Milan criteria, with a 3.3% increase. Patients within DEC had lower 5-year recurrence rates compared with those beyond DEC [13.3% (CI 10.1-17.3) vs 24.2% (CI 17.4-33.1; P = 0.0006], without significant HCC expansion. In conclusion, although the application of a stricter policy may optimize the selection process, this restrictive policy may lead to ethical concerns in organ allocation (NCT03775863).

Latin American Association for the study of the liver (ALEH) practice guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently represents an epidemic worldwide. NAFLD is the most frequently diagnosed chronic liver disease, affecting 20-30% of the general population. Furthermore, its prevalence is predicted to increase exponentially in the next decades, concomitantly with the global epidemic of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and sedentary lifestyle. NAFLD is a clinical syndrome that encompasses a wide spectrum of associated diseases and hepatic complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, this disease is believed to become the main indication for liver transplantation in the near future. Since NAFLD management represents a growing challenge for primary care physicians, the Asociación Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Hígado (ALEH) has decided to organize this Practice Guidance for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, written by Latin-American specialists in different clinical areas, and destined to general practitioners, internal medicine specialists, endocrinologists, diabetologists, gastroenterologists, and hepatologists. The main purpose of this document is to improve patient care and awareness of NAFLD. The information provided in this guidance may also be useful in assisting stakeholders in the decision-making process related to NAFLD. Since new evidence is constantly emerging on different aspects of the disease, updates to this guideline will be required in future.

Direct-Acting Antivirals and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: No Evidence of Higher Wait-List Progression or Posttransplant Recurrence.

The association between direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) wait-list progression or its recurrence following liver transplantation (LT) remains uncertain. We evaluated the impact of DAAs on HCC wait-list progression and post-LT recurrence. This Latin American multicenter retrospective cohort study included HCC patients listed for LT between 2012 and 2018. Patients were grouped according to etiology of liver disease: hepatitis C virus (HCV) negative, HCV+ never treated with DAAs, and HCV+ treated with DAAs either before or after transplantation. Multivariate competing risks models were conducted for both HCC wait-list progression adjusted by a propensity score matching (pre-LT DAA effect) and for post-LT HCC recurrence (pre- or post-LT DAA effect). From 994 included patients, 50.6% were HCV-, 32.9% were HCV+ never treated with DAAs, and 16.5% were HCV+ treated with DAAs either before (n = 66) or after LT (n = 98). Patients treated with DAAs before LT presented similar cumulative incidence of wait-list tumor progression when compared with those patients who were HCV+ without DAAs (26.2% versus 26.9%; P = 0.47) and a similar HCC-related dropout rate (12.1% [95% CI, 0.4%-8.1%] versus 12.9% [95% CI, 3.8%-27.2%]), adjusted for baseline tumor burden, alpha-fetoprotein values, HCC diagnosis after listing, bridging therapies, and by the probability of having received or not received DAAs through propensity score matching (subhazard ratio [SHR], 0.9; 95% CI, 0.6-1.6; P = 0.95). A lower incidence of posttransplant HCC recurrence among HCV+ patients who were treated with pre- or post-LT DAAs was observed (SHR, 0.7%; 95% CI, 0.2%-4.0%). However, this effect was confounded by the time to DAA initiation after LT. In conclusion, in this multicenter cohort, HCV treatment with DAAs did not appear to be associated with an increased wait-list tumor progression and HCC recurrence after LT.

Partial traumatic amputation of an upper limb with excellent functional recovery: A 13-year follow-up clinical case.

Introducción: Se han publicados pocos informes sobre el seguimiento a largo plazo de la reparación quirúrgica de una amputación parcial. Algunos estudios de largo plazo han registrado tasas similares de discapacidad entre los pacientes con amputaciones y los sometidos a operación reconstructiva. Objetivo: Informar un caso clínico de una amputación traumática parcial de una extremidad superior con recuperación funcional después de 13 años de seguimiento. Caso clínico: Paciente masculino de ocho años con traumatismo grave en la extremidad superior izquierda, desprendimiento de los músculos bíceps y tríceps y una fractura diafisaria oblicua del húmero distal. La fractura se fijó de manera transitoria con alambres de Kirschner de 2.0 mm, seguido de inmovilización con aparato de Sarmiento y al final se realizó reducción abierta y fijación interna con placa de compresión dinámica de 3.5 mm. La integridad muscular y neurovascular permitió la reparación microquirúrgica del nervio radial y la rehabilitación neuromuscular. Conclusiones: Este informe clínico representa un caso de una recuperación funcional excelente atestiguada a través de un periodo de seguimiento de 13 años.

Introduction: There are just a few reports that deal with long-term outcomes of a partial amputation surgical repair. Long-term studies have reported similar rates of disability among patients with amputations and those that have been undergoing reconstructive surgery. Objective: The purpose of this report is describing a clinical case of a patient with partial traumatic amputation of an upper limb with an excellent functional recovery after 13 years of follow-up. Clinical case: The case of an 8 year old male patient with severe trauma to the upper left limb is described. The lesions included an oblique diaphyseal open fracture of the distal region of the humerus, along with detachment of the biceps and triceps muscles. The fracture was fixed transiently with 2.0 mm Kirschner's wire followed by immobilization with Sarmiento's brace, and finally, open reduction and internal fixation with a 3.5 mm dynamic compression plate were performed. The muscular and neurovascular integrity allowed microsurgical repair of the radial nerve and neuromuscular rehabilitation. Conclusion: This clinical report represents a case with an excellent functional recovery witnessed through a 13-year follow-up period.

Effectiveness of the Godelieve Denys-Struyf (GDS) method in people with low back pain: cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The Godelieve Denys-Struyf method (GDS) is a motor learning intervention that may be applied in group or individualized sessions. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to compare the effectiveness of routine physical therapy, group GDS (GDS-G) sessions, and group and individualized GDS (GDS-I) sessions. DESIGN: This was a cluster randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The study took place in 21 primary care physical therapy units ("clusters") of the Spanish National Health Service (SNHS). PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 461 people with subacute and chronic low back pain (LBP). INTERVENTION: Clusters were randomized into 3 groups. All participants received medical treatment and a 15-minute group education session on active management. Additional interventions were as follows: control (fifteen 40-minute sessions of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, microwave treatment, and standardized exercises), GDS-G (eleven 50-minute group GDS sessions), and GDS-I (the same 11 sessions plus four 50-minute individualized GDS sessions). MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 months later were LBP and pain referred down the leg (separate pain intensity numeric rating scales) and disability (Roland-Morris Questionnaire [RMQ]). Secondary outcomes were use of medication and self-reported health (mental and physical component summaries of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12]). Separate linear mixed models for LBP, pain referred down the leg, and disability were developed to adjust for potential confounders. Randomization, outcome assessment, and data analyses were masked. RESULTS: At 12 months, disability improved 0.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.4, 1.8) RMQ point in the control group, 1.5 (95% CI=0.4, 2.7) RMQ points in the GDS-I group, and 2.2 (95% CI=1.2, 3.2) RMQ points in the GDS-G group. There were no differences in pain. LIMITATIONS: The amount of exercise was smaller in the control group, and GDS-I sessions were provided by junior physical therapists. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in disability was slightly higher with group GDS sessions than with the program routinely used in clusters within the SNHS. Adding individualized GDS sessions eliminated this advantage. Further studies should compare the GDS with other types of exercise.

Homicidal/violent thoughts, suicidal ideation and violent behavior in adolescents with social phobia in Metropolitan Lima, Perú.

INTRODUCTION: Social phobia and violent behavior are both important mental health problems among adolescent populations in different parts of the world. This study attempts to evaluate possible connections between social phobia, homicidal/violent thoughts, suicidal ideation, and subsequent violent behavior among adolescents living in the metropolitan area of Lima, Perú. METHODS: A sample of 991 adolescents, part of the 2002 Epidemiological Study in Metropolitan Lima, conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health "Honorio Delgado-Hideyo Noguchi" (INSM "HD-HN") was studied. Social phobia was diagnosed on the basis of clinical assessment and the use of MINI, and suicidal ideation, homicidal/violent thoughts, and violent behavior were identified through the Mental Health Questionnaire. Odds ratio (OR) statistical analyses adjusted by logistic regression controlling for age and gender were performed. RESULTS: Variables associated with social phobia were homicidal thoughts in the last month (OR: 5.19, confidence interval [CI] at 95% 4.95-5.40), an impulse to hit known (OR: 1.56; 95% CI, 1.53-1.59) and unknown (OR: 3.98, 95% CI,3.89-4.07) persons, the wish to take revenge for a past offense (OR: 2.60, 95% CI 2.54-2.64), getting involved in fights with different kinds of weapons (OR: 1,78, 95% CI 1.70-1.87), suicidal ideation throughout lifetime (OR: 4.74, 95% CI 4.65-4.83), and life prevalence of suicidal attempt (OR: 5.39, 95% CI 5.23-5.55). DISCUSSION: Social phobia in adolescents of this Peruvian sample seems to be closely associated with both homicidal/violent thoughts, violent behavior, and suicidal ideation.

Índice de calidad de vida: Validación en una muestra peruana / Quality of Life Index: Validation in a sample Peruvian

La publicación describe la metodología del cálculo del Índice de Calidad de Vida (ICV) versión española de Mezzich y colaboradores, estimar su confiabilidad y validez, obtención de normas para la población de Lima y análisis de variación de las puntuaciones según las variables demográficas

Índice de calidad de vida: Validación en una muestra peruana / Quality of Life Index: Validation in a sample Peruvian

La presente publicación describe la metodología del cálculo del Índice de Calidad de Vida (ICV) versión española de Mezzich y colaboradores, estimar su confiabilidad y validez, obtención de normas para la población de Lima y análisis de variación de las puntuaciones según las variables demográficas(AU)

Liver transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis in Peru: outcomes and recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is the only therapy for end-stage liver disease. Cirrhosis secondary to autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an indication in 4-6% of adult transplants. AIMS: To describe the outcomes and recurrence of AIH in liver transplant patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The female/male ratio was 3:1, the median age was 36.7 years (range, 16 to 39 years), and the median MELD score was 18.5. According to serological analysis, 19 patients were AIH type 1 and one patient was AIH type 2. AIH was associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR13+ and DR4+. The overall 5-year patient and graft survival rates were 94 and 85%, respectively. Three (15.7%) cases of recurrent AIH were diagnosed based on histological evidence. Clinical and histological features of acute and chronic rejection were present in four (20%) and three (16.6%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: AIH frequently affected young women, was the most frequent indication for liver transplantation. Rejection and recurrence were commonly associated with AIH, but did not affect patient survival. No significant relationship between HLA-DR type and recurrence was found. Rapid progression to cirrhosis should be considered in severe recurrences.

Trasplante simultáneo de páncreas y riñón: reporte del primer caso realizado en el Perú / Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant: report of the first case performed in Peru

El trasplante simultáneo de páncreas y riñón es la opción terapéutica ideal para pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 con insuficiencia renal crónica. Permite recuperar la insulino-independencia y evita la necesidad de diálisis, mejorando notablemente la calidad de vida. Así mismo, la restitución de la euglicemia logra que las complicaciones tardías de la diabetes no progresen e incluso regresionen, prolongando la supervivencia global de estos pacientes. Estos beneficios superan a los riesgos de la cirugía y de la inmunosupresión inherentes al trasplante. A nivel mundial, desde 1966, en que se llevó a cabo el primer trasplante de páncreas en Minnesota (Estados Unidos), se han registrado más de 20 000 trasplantes de páncreas, con resultados cada vez mejores gracias al refinamiento en las técnicas quirúrgicas y a los nuevos esquemas de inmunosupresión. En el presente caso clínico, se reporta y describe la realización del primer trasplante simultáneo de páncreas y riñón en el Perú.

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation is the ideal treatment option for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus with chronic renal failure. Restoring insulin independence and avoiding the need for dialysis dramatically improves the quality of life. Also, the return of euglycemia accomplishes progression and even regression of late diabetes complications, extending overall survival in these patients. These benefits outweigh surgery and immune suppression risks inherent to transplantation. Globally, since 1966 when the first pancreas transplant in Minnesota (United States) was conducted there have been more than 20 000 pancreas transplants with increasing success thanks to the refinement in surgical techniques and new immune suppression schemes. In the present clinical case we report and describe the completion of the first simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant in Peru.

Neuro-protective effects of carbamazepine on sleep patterns and head and body shakes in kainic acid-treated rats.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of carbamazepine (CBZ) on sleep patterns and on "head and body shakes" and to determine the role of serotonin (5-HT) in a model of kainic-induced seizures. Thirty male Wistar rats (280-300 g) were used for polygraphic sleep recording. After a basal recording, the rats were allocated into three groups: kainic acid-treated animals (KA; 10 mg/kg; n=10), carbamazepine-treated animals (CBZ; 30 mg/kg; n=10) and animals injected with KA 30 min after pretreatment with CBZ (CBZ+KA; n=10). Polygraphic recordings were performed for 10 h for 3 days, with the exception of the CBZ group, which were observed for 1 day. In order to measure the head and body shakes that occurred over that time, a behavioral assessment was performed in two additional groups of KA (n=10) and CBZ+KA (n=10) animals. After 10 h of behavioral assessment, the rats were sacrificed, and the levels of 5-HT and 5-hydroxy-indol-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were analyzed. We compared these findings with the results from a group of rats without pharmacological intervention (n=10). All of the recordings were performed from 08:00 to 18:00 h. DATA ANALYSIS: the electrographic parameters, head and body shake counting and monoamine concentrations were analyzed by an ANOVA test. Differences of *p < or = 0.01 and **p < or = 0.001 were considered statistically significant. Our results showed that CBZ exerted a protective effect on sleep pattern alterations induced by KA, which when administered alone caused a complete inhibition of sleep for the first 10 h after administration. Although there was a reduction in the amount of sleep after the administration of KA in CBZ-pretreated animals, sleep inhibition was incomplete. In addition, CBZ decreased the frequency of head and body shakes by 60% as compared to KA. The 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels in the pons were increased in the KA and KA+CBZ groups. Our conclusion is that in addition to decreasing seizure intensity, CBZ facilitates the partial recovery of sleep. These results suggest that CBZ provides neuro-protective effects on sleep and against seizures.

Effects of glycine on electrical and histological properties of a rat peripheral nerve injury model.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of peripheral nerve injuries focuses on lesion type, from expectant to interfascicular repair. Many experiments have been undertaken using different factors to facilitate better or faster nerve stump growth: nerve growth factor (NGF), plaque growth factor (PGF), hyaluronic acid, leukemic inhibiting factor, and GABA, etc. Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain stem and spinal cord, and it also plays a critical role as a modulator of NMDA receptors. We studied the potential regenerative effect of glycine administered for different periods of time and compared results with a control group. METHODS: The sciatic nerve of Wistar rats was exposed and the electrophysiology procedure was performed: the nerve was cut transversally and stitched back in place with four isolated cardinal 9/0 nylon stitches on each end. Study group rats were administered glycine 40 mM/kg daily for 15, 30, and 60 days, while control group rats were medicated with isotonic saline solution 0.9% for the same time periods. At the end of each study time period, the electrophysiological study was repeated. Animals were sacrificed on the 15th, 30th and 60th postoperative day and the sciatic nerve was exposed and prepared for histological studies. RESULTS: According to our results, glycine was effective in the morphologic regeneration and functional recovery of the sciatic nerve post-injury in Wistar rats with one month administration. CONCLUSION: We observed that nerve histology with glycine administration was more similar to that of normal nerves.

Enfermedad de Menière: tratamiento con corticoide intratimpánico: evolución clínica / Intratympanic steroid perfusion in Menière's disease: clinical progression

Objetivo: describir la experiencia con el uso de corticoide intratimpánico para el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Menière, en el Hospital de San José. Estudio: observacional descriptivo tipo serie de casos. Métodos: pacientes con enfermedad de Menière de acuerdo con los criterios establecidos por la Academia Americana de Otorrinolaringología (AA OHNS) en 1995, a quienes se estudiaron los cambios audiométricos y mejoría de sintomatología posterior a la aplicación de CIT. Resultados: dos pacientes mejoraron la audiometría, uno de ellos de hipoacusia profunda recuperó a moderada y otro mejoró según los criterios de la AA OHNS. Conclusión: la terapia intratimpánica con dexametasona puede ser útil en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Menière para controlar la sintomatología y el deterioro auditivo. En nuestro estudio no se hallaron complicaciones relacionadas con el procedimiento.

Objective: to describe the experience at the San José Hospital with the use of intratympanic steroid perfusion (ITSP) to treat Meniére's disease. Type of Study: case series observational descriptive study. Met' evaluation of audiometric changes and symptom relief in patients who underwent ITSP and met the diagnostic criteria established by the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AA OHNS) in 1995 for Meniere's disease. Results: audiogram results improved in two patients. Hearing impairment down-regulated from profound to moderate in one patient and the other improved according to the AA OHNS criteria. Conclusion: intra-tympanic perfusion with dexametasone to treat Meniére's disease may be useful for symptom and hearing impairment control. No procedure-related complications were found in our study.