A pragmatic approach for mortality prediction after surgery in infective endocarditis: optimizing and refining EuroSCORE.

OBJECTIVE: To simplify and optimize the ability of EuroSCORE I and II to predict early mortality after surgery for infective endocarditis (IE). METHODS: Multicentre retrospective study (n = 775). Simplified scores, eliminating irrelevant variables, and new specific scores, adding specific IE variables, were created. The performance of the original, recalibrated and specific EuroSCOREs was assessed by Brier score, C-statistic and calibration plot in bootstrap samples. The Net Reclassification Index was quantified. RESULTS: Recalibrated scores including age, previous cardiac surgery, critical preoperative state, New York Heart Association >I, and emergent surgery (EuroSCORE I and II); renal failure and pulmonary hypertension (EuroSCORE I); and urgent surgery (EuroSCORE II) performed better than the original EuroSCOREs (Brier original and recalibrated: EuroSCORE I: 0.1770 and 0.1667; EuroSCORE II: 0.2307 and 0.1680). Performance improved with the addition of fistula, staphylococci and mitral location (EuroSCORE I and II) (Brier specific: EuroSCORE I 0.1587, EuroSCORE II 0.1592). Discrimination improved in specific models (C-statistic original, recalibrated and specific: EuroSCORE I: 0.7340, 0.7471 and 0.7728; EuroSCORE II: 0.7442, 0.7423 and 0.7700). Calibration improved in both EuroSCORE I models (intercept 0.295, slope 0.829 (original); intercept -0.094, slope 0.888 (recalibrated); intercept -0.059, slope 0.925 (specific)) but only in specific EuroSCORE II model (intercept 2.554, slope 1.114 (original); intercept -0.260, slope 0.703 (recalibrated); intercept -0.053, slope 0.930 (specific)). Net Reclassification Index was 5.1% and 20.3% for the specific EuroSCORE I and II. CONCLUSIONS: The use of simplified EuroSCORE I and EuroSCORE II models in IE with the addition of specific variables may lead to simpler and more accurate models.

Pancreatitis autoinmune. A propósito de un caso / Autoimmune pancreatitis. Related to a case

La pancreatitis autoinmune es una reciente entidad a tener en cuenta en el diagnóstico diferencial de pancreatits crónica-masa pancreática. La presencia de estenosis difusa e irregular del Wirsung, junto con niveles elevados de IgG4, presencia de determinados autoanticuerpos e infiltración linfoplasmocitaria de páncreas son la clave del diagnóstico. La sospecha diagnóstica precoz y la colaboración multidisciplinar es vital en estos casos, ya que puede evitar cirugía innecesaria, puesto que el diagnóstico diferencial se establece con entidades entre las que se encuentra cáncer de páncreas, pancreatitis crónica, cirrosis biliar primaria o colangitis esclerosante primaria. Además, la pancreatitis autoinmune tiene excelente respuesta a tratamiento esteroideo, con resolución completa de parámetros clínicos, analíticos y radiológicos, como ocurría en nuestro paciente. Debido al escaso número de casos descritos en la Literatura, sería necesario la elaboración de estudios con seguimiento largo plazo para conocer pronóstico y frecuencia de asociación a otras patologías

Autoimmune pancreatitis is an entity that has recently been included in the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis-pancreatic mass. The presence of diffuse, irregular Wirsung’s duct stenosis, together with high levels of IgG4, the existence of certain autoantibodies and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the pancreas are key factors in the diagnosis. An early diagnostic suspicion and multidisciplinary collaboration are vital in these cases to avoid unnecessary surgery as the differential diagnosis is established with such entities as pancreas cancer, chronic pancreatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis. Autoimmune pancreatitis has an excellent response to steroid therapy, with complete resolution of clinical, analytical and radiological parameters, as occurred in our patient. The very few cases reported sofar suggest the need for the elaboration of long-term follow-up studies to determine the prognosis and frequency of its association with other diseases

[Autoimmune pancreatitis. Related to a case]. / Pancreatitis autoinmune. A propósito de un caso.

Autoimmune pancreatitis is an entity that has recently been included in the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis-pancreatic mass. The presence of diffuse, irregular Wirsung's duct stenosis, together with high levels of IgG4, the existence of certain autoantibodies and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the pancreas are key factors in the diagnosis. An early diagnostic suspicion and multidisciplinary collaboration are vital in these cases to avoid unnecessary surgery as the differential diagnosis is established with such entities as pancreas cancer, chronic pancreatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis. Autoimmune pancreatitis has an excellent response to steroid therapy, with complete resolution of clinical, analytical and radiological parameters, as occurred in our patient. The very few cases reported so far suggest the need for the elaboration of long-term follow-up studies to determine the prognosis and frequency of its association with other diseases.

Endoftalmitis bacteriana endógena: a propósito de un caso y breve revisión / Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis: a case report and brief review

La endoftalmitis bacteriana endógena es una patología poco frecuente con un pobre pronóstico visual, que requiere un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz. Presentamos el caso de una paciente diabética que presentó una bacteriemia por Escherichia coli de origen urinario, con endoftalmitis endógena, meningitis y espondilitis secundaria. Fue tratada con antibioterapia intravenosa y tópica, consiguiendo un cese en la progresión y conservando la capacidad para percepción luminosa en el ojo afecto (AU)

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The bacterial endogenous endophthalmitis is a slightly frequent pathology with a poor visual prognosis that needs a precocious diagnosis and treatment. We present the case of a diabetic patient who presented a Escherichia colibacteremia of urinary origin, with endogenous endophthalmitis, meningitis and spondylitis. She was treated with intravenous and topic antibiotics, obtaining a cessation in the progression of the disease and preserving the capacity for luminous perception in the eye (AU)

Anticoagulación con bemiparina tras hemorragia intracerebral como complicación de endocarditis bacteriana sobre válvula protésica metálica / Anticoagulation with bemiparina after intracerebral hemorrhage as complication of bacterial endocarditis on metallic prosthetic valve

Presentamos el caso de un paciente con una hemorragia intracerebral como complicación de una endocarditis infecciosa (EI) producida por Neisseria sicca sobre una válvula mitral metálica. El paciente estaba previamente anticoagulado con Acenocumarol como profilaxis de trombosis de la válvula protésica. Fue diagnosticado de EI y posteriormente presentó síntomas neurológicos como consecuencia de varios focos hemorrágicos intracerebrales. Se decidió continuar la anticoagulación con heparina sódica inicialmente y posteriormente con Bemiparina, no observándose nuevas complicaciones hemorrágicas ni trombosis de la válvula a los tres meses del evento. No hemos encontrado en la literatura ningún caso donde la heparina de bajo peso molecular (HBPM) haya sido utilizada como método de anticoagulación en estos casos más allá de dos semanas (AU)

[Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis: a case report and brief review]. / Endoftalmitis bacteriana endógena: a propósito de un caso y breve revisión.

The bacterial endogenous endophthalmitis is a slightly frequent pathology with a poor visual prognosis that needs a precocious diagnosis and treatment. We present the case of a diabetic patient who presented a Escherichia coli bacteremia of urinary origin, with endogenous endophthalmitis, meningitis and spondylitis. She was treated with intravenous and topic antibiotics, obtaining a cessation in the progression of the disease and preserving the capacity for luminous perception in the eye.

[The clinical and evolutional characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis in patients with HIV infection]. / Características clínicas y evolutivas de la leishmaniasis visceral en pacientes con infección por VIH.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features, yield of the diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic response of HIV-associated visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and compare the initial episodes to the relapses. METHODS: Forty-one episodes of leishmaniasis visceral, diagnosed in 31 HIV-positive patients between 1st February 1992 and 31st January 1996 were reviewed. RESULTS: The prevalence of VL in HIV-positive patients in our center was 4.2%. Fifty-eight percent of the patients had AIDS prior to the diagnosis of VL. Fever was more frequent in the initial episodes than in the relapses (90.3% versus 60%; p < 0.05; OR: 6.2; IC 95%: 0.8-51.5), splenomegaly was more frequent in the relapses (100% versus 71%; p = 0.05). The diagnostic delay was longer in the initial episodes (27.2 +/- 22.7 versus 5 +/- 4.8 days; p < 0.05). The diagnostic yield of bone marrow biopsy was 82.1%, of liver biopsy 72.7% and of splenic fine-needle aspiration 87.5%. The indirect immunofluorescence test for Leishmania antibodies was positive in 5.9% of cases. Therapeutic failure occurred in 47.6% of patients treated with antimonials and 3.3% of patients treated with amphotericin B. Those patients who received secondary prophylaxis had less relapses than those who did not (17.6% versus 66.7%; p < 0.05; OR: 0.11; IC 95%: 0.01-1.28). Of the 31 patients, twenty-six (83.8%) died, and in none of them was the cause of the death directly related to LV. CONCLUSION: HIV-associated VL manifests clinically in a similar fashion to the immunocompetent's disease. It appears in advanced immunosuppression phases, behaving like other AIDS-defining illnesses. In spite of a good therapeutic response the relapse rate is high.

[Socioeconomic effects of human brucellosis]. / Repercusión socioeconómica de la brucelosis humana.

The socio-economic cost of human brucellosis is analyzed. One hundred and seven patients are included in this study, 75 males (70.09%) and 32 females (29.91), diagnosed of brucellosis in the Internal Medicine Department of the Regional Hospital "Carlos Haya" in Málaga from the 1st of October 1984 to the 31st of December 1986. Thirty seven patients (34.57%) presented some kind of complication. Seventy eight cases (72.89%) were admitted to the hospital resulting in a total of 1.005 hospital admissions with a mean hospital stay of 12.88 days. The total economic cost was 30.724.962 pesetas with a mean patient cost of 287.149 pesetas. The total number of work absence days was 5.291 with a mean 101.7 days per patient and with an accumulated cost in this respect of 49.053.151 pesetas. The total money loss was 84.307.488 pesetas with a mean of 787.920 pesetas per patient. This high cost, together with the high incidence of the disease throughout most of our national territory, clearly justify the need for aggressive preventive measures.

Comparative trial of doxycycline plus streptomycin versus doxycycline plus rifampin for the therapy of human brucellosis.

Effectiveness and therapeutic value of the doxycycline plus streptomycin and doxycycline plus rifampin schedules of treatment of human brucellosis have been assessed by carrying out a prospective study on 111 patients randomly distributed into two groups. Patients in group A were treated with doxycycline plus streptomycin sulphate and those in group B with doxycycline plus rifampin. The temperature of all patients reverted to normal, and 54 patients from group A (91.6%) and 45 from group B (86.5%) achieved total recovery with a single therapeutic cycle. Two therapeutic failures and 3 relapses in group A (8.4%) and 7 relapses in group B (13.46%) were observed. The tolerance to both regimens was good. Although the combination doxycycline plus rifampin offers a more convenient oral administration, in the light of these results, until more extensive research is carried out, it should be considered as an alternative rather than a first choice in the treatment of human brucellosis.