Relationship Between Brugada Syndrome and Ischemic Stroke: A Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Brugada syndrome is characterized by specific electrocardiographic changes predisposing individuals to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Cases of coexisting Brugada syndrome and ischemic stroke are seldom documented, and an underlying pathophysiological link is yet unknown. This article presents a case in which a patient exhibited both Brugada syndrome patterns and an ischemic stroke, prompting a comprehensive literature review to explore the potential association between Brugada syndrome and ischemic stroke. CASE REPORT A 49-year-old man, previously healthy, was admitted to the hospital after being discovered unconscious at his workplace. Physical exam showed low oxygen saturation, fever, and abnormal neurological findings. Head computed tomography revealed a significant posterior circulation ischemic stroke. An electrocardiogram revealed Brugada syndrome type II initially, progressing to type III pattern. Despite efforts, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to death within 24 hours. As far as we're aware, Brugada patterns following a posterior circulation ischemic stroke have only been documented in 1 other instance, in which the patient was also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS Both our literature review and the presented case indicate that Brugada patterns may coexist with and even be associated with ischemic stroke. More extensive research is required to shed light on this potential association. The question of whether Brugada syndrome is a precursor to or a result of ischemic stroke remains unanswered. We propose that patients with ischemic stroke should undergo an evaluation for electrocardiographic signs indicative of Brugada syndrome, particularly if no clear causes, like cardioembolism, are evident.

The MAPSTROKE project: A computational strategy to improve access to acute stroke care.

BACKGROUND: Global access to acute stroke treatment is variable worldwide, with notable gaps in low and middle-income countries (LMIC), especially in rural areas. Ensuring a standardized method for pinpointing the existing regional coverage and proposing potential sites for new stroke centers is essential to change this scenario. AIMS: To create and apply computational strategies (CSs) to determine optimal locations for new acute stroke centers (ASCs), with a pilot application in nine Latin American regions/countries. METHODS: Hospitals treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and meeting the minimum infrastructure requirements per structured protocols were categorized as ASCs. Hospitals with emergency departments, noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) scanners, and 24/7 laboratories were identified as potential acute stroke centers (PASCs). Hospital geolocation data were collected and mapped using the OpenStreetMap data set. A 45-min drive radius was considered the ideal coverage area for each hospital based on the drive speeds from the OpenRouteService database. Population data, including demographic density, were obtained from the Kontur Population data sets. The proposed CS assessed the population covered by ASCs and proposed new ASCs or artificial points (APs) settled in densely populated areas to achieve a target population coverage (TPC) of 95%. RESULTS: The observed coverage in the region presented significant disparities, ranging from 0% in the Bahamas to 73.92% in Trinidad and Tobago. No country/region reached the 95% TPC using only its current ASCs or PASCs, leading to the proposal of APs. For example, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, the introduction of 132 new centers was suggested. Furthermore, it was observed that most ASCs were in major urban hubs or university hospitals, leaving rural areas largely underserved. CONCLUSIONS: The MAPSTROKE project has the potential to provide a systematic approach to identify areas with limited access to stroke centers and propose solutions for increasing access to AIS treatment. DATA ACCESS STATEMENT: Data used for this publication are available from the authors upon reasonable request.

Barriers in Access to Idarucizumab in Ischemic Stroke in a Middle-Income Country.

Background and Purpose: Current stroke guidelines contraindicate the use of thrombolytics if oral anticoagulants are taken within 48 hours of symptom onset. Idarucizumab is an alternative for patients on dabigatran who experience an acute stroke, so that alteplase may be used. However, this treatment may not be readily available in low/middle-income countries. Our objective is to describe barriers to access to the administration of idarucizumab. Methods: We applied a structured survey for health personnel, consulted databases of drug providers, and analyzed reports from the National Pharmacologic Surveillance Data to describe idarucizumab use and the related knowledge among prescribers and the drug distribution in health institutions in Colombia between January 2018 and January 2022. Results: In total, 23.6% of the 337 interviewed physicians' hospitals had access to idarucizumab, and 34.9% of the physicians were unaware of the use of this medication for ischemic stroke. Only 11 private institutions had access to this medication in Colombia. Four male patients with atrial fibrillation received thrombolytics for acute stroke, and two required subsequent mechanical thrombectomy. No fatal complications during hospitalization were observed. Complications included hematuria, hemorrhagic transformation and groin hematoma. None required transfusion or further intervention. All had favorable mRS scores at the 90-day follow-up. Conclusions: There are multiple barriers to access idarucizumab in Colombia. The main factors identified are the low medication availability in provincial hospitals and the low medical knowledge. However clinical results in this limited group are satisfactory. Stronger public policies are needed to guarantee optimal stroke treatment in patients on DOACs in Colombia.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Associated with Tacrolimus in Cardiac Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Neurological complications occur between 50 and 70% of patients with heart transplantation, including cerebrovascular events, infections, seizures, encephalopathy, and neurotoxicity due to pharmacological immunosuppression. Mortality associated with cerebrovascular complications is 7.5% in the first 30 days and up to 5.3% after the first month and up to the first year after transplantation. Case Reports. Three heart-transplanted patients (2 men and 1 woman) treated with tacrolimus were identified. They presented with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome on days 5, 6, and 58 posttransplantation, respectively. In these reported cases, no sequelae were observed at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome as a neurological complication in patients with HT occurred early after the procedure. Early diagnosis and treatment might reduce the risk of serious complications and mortality.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange as a Treatment for Autoimmune Neurological Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is commonly used as treatment of certain autoimmune neurological diseases (ANDs), and its main objective is the removal of pathogenic autoantibodies. Our aim was to describe the clinical profile and the experience with the usage of TPE in patients with ANDs at our institution. METHODS: This is an observational retrospective study, including medical records of patients with diagnosis of ANDs who received TPE, between 2011 and 2018. Characteristics of TPE, such as number of cycles, type of replacement solution, and adverse effects, were evaluated. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was applied to measure the clinical response after the therapy. RESULTS: 187 patients were included with the following diagnoses: myasthenia gravis (MG), n = 70 (37%); Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), n = 53 (28.3%), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), n = 35 (18.7%); chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), n = 23 (12.2%); and autoimmune encephalitis (AE), n = 6 (3.2%). The most used types of replacement solution were albumin (n = 131, 70%) and succinylated gelatin (n = 45, 24%). All patients received a median of five cycles (IQR 5-5). Hypotension and hydroelectrolytic disorders were the main complications. After TPE, 99 patients (52.9%) showed improvement in the mRS scores and a statistical significance (p < 0.05) was seen between the admission score and after TPE for every diagnosis except for CIDP. CONCLUSION: TPE has an adequate safety profile, and improvement in functionality in treated patients reflects its effectiveness.

Mielopatía compresiva por pannus en articulación atlanto-axoidea como primera manifestación de artritis reumatoide. Reporte de caso / Compressive myelopathy due to pannus in the atlanto-axoid joint as the first manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. Case report

RESUMEN La artritis reumatoide es la enfermedad autoinmune sistémica más prevalente del mundo. Suele manifestarse como una inflamación poliarticular crónica simétrica que afecta las articulaciones de pequeño y mediano tamaño, siendo las metacarpofalángicas, interfalángicas proximales y el carpo, las más afectadas. Usualmente afecta la articulación atlanto-axoidea de forma tardía en el trascurso de la enfermedad. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 80 años que comienza con mielopatía compresiva cervical por la presencia de pannus en la articulación atlanto-axoidea.

A B S T R A C T Rheumatoid arthritis is the most prevalent systemic autoimmune disease in the world. It usually manifests as a symmetrical chronic polyarticular inflammation that affects the small and medium size, with the metacarpophalangeal joint, proximal interphalangeal, and the carpus being the most affected. There is atlanto-axoid joint involvement late in the course of the disease. The case is presented of an 80 year-old patient that debuted with cervical compression myelopathy due to the presence of pannus in the atlanto-axoid joint.

Myositis Induced by Isotretinoin: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Retinoid-induced myositis is a rare condition encountered in clinical practice. Its occurrence implies a diagnostic challenge due to the multiple causes associated with myopathic syndromes. The most common clinical presentation is generalized affection. Focal myositis is even less frequent and easily misdiagnosed as muscular disease of other etiology. CASE REPORT We describe a case of 45-year-old male with a history of nephrolithiasis and rosacea diagnosed by dermatology, who was management with isotretinoin 1 mg/kg per day in 2 doses with clinical improvement. Later, he presents muscle pain in the upper limbs with marked functional limitation associated by choluria, without muscular pains in other location; he had no history of using another medication. At his physical examination, vital signs were normal, with edema and pain in the bilateral bicipital region associated with limitation for flexion-extension of shoulders and elbows and high levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK). He was transferred to the intensive care unit where he received fluid therapy because of the high risk of deterioration of renal function, very high CPK levels, and a history of obstructive uropathy. One year after this hospitalization, the cutaneous symptoms worsened and the patient voluntarily restarted isotretinoin and 5 months later he presented again with the same symptoms of the first episode. CONCLUSIONS Drug-induced myositis should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of myopathic syndromes. Retinoids have the potential to cause varying degrees of myositis and their rapid identification could prevent major complications.

Trombectomía mecánica en pacientes con ataque cerebrovascular isquémico: serie de casos en un centro de referencia colombiano / Mechanical Thrombectomy in patients with isquemic stroke: Case series in a Colombian reference center

RESUMEN OBJETIVO: Este artículo describe las características clínicas, indicaciones y desenlaces de mortalidad, eventos adversos e independencia funcional en pacientes con ataque cerebrovascular isquémico, ACVi, sometidos a trombectomía mecánica con stent Solitaire, TMSS. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de corte trasversal llevado a cabo entre abril de 2013 y abril de 2016. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo de tiempo evaluado, se sometieron un total de 10 pacientes a TMSS. La edad media de los pacientes fue 62 años. Todos los pacientes tenían una buena clase funcional previa al ACVi, definida como una escala modificada de Rankin de 0 a 2. Al momento de la consulta, la escala de Rankin modificada fue 4. Los pacientes se sometieron a estrategia reperfusión combinada que consta de trombolisis intravenosa más trombectomía mecánica. Sin embargo, un 40 % de los pacientes tenía contraindicación para trombolisis. La mortalidad fue de 20 %, al igual que el sangrado cerebral que se presentó en 20 % de los pacientes y el Rankin modificado mejoró a lo largo del seguimiento en el 70 % de los pacientes, con un total de 50 % de pacientes que lograron independencia funcional significativa. CONCLUSIÓN: Parece haber impacto importante en la independencia funcional de pacientes sometidos a estrategia combinada de reperfusión cerebral con el uso de stents recuperadores, sin diferencia en la seguridad y mortalidad comparado con la estrategia estándar.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the clinical features, treatment indications, mortality and severity of global disability in the follow up outcomes in isquemic cerebrovascular stroke patients submitted to mechanical thrombectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted from April 2013 to April 2016. RESULTS: During the study period, ten patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Mean age was 62, median modified Rankin Scale Score at acceptance was 4. Initially, all patients had a combined reperfusion approach, unless there were contraindications. Intravenous thrombolysis was contraindicated in 40% of patients. Mortality Trombectomía mecánica en pacientes con ataque cerebrovascular isquémico: serie de casos en un centro de referencia colombiano rate was 20% as well as intraparenchimal hemorrhage. Modified Rankin Scale improved during follow up in 70% of patients. Of these, functional independence was achieved by 50% of patients. CONCLUSION: it seems to be a functional independence impact on patients submitted to mechanical thrombectomy. There is not difference in safety and mortality outcomes.

Manifestaciones cardiovasculares en pacientes con dengue durante dos brotes epidémicos en Colombia / Cardiovascular manifestations in dengue fever patients during two epidemic breakouts in Colombia

la afección cardiovascular es una presentación atípica del dengue, que abarca desde bradicardia sinusal asintomática hasta miocarditis grave, aunque no hay datos locales de esta presentación. Objetivo: describir las características clínicas de una serie de pacientes con dengue y evidencia de afección cardiovascular. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, de corte trasversal, de pacientes admitidos con dengue a un centro de referencia cardiovascular en Medellín, Colombia, durante dos epidemias del virus entre junio de 2010 y diciembre de 2016. Se evaluaron variables clínicas y paraclínicas. Resultados: se registraron un total de 60 pacientes, de los cuales el 30% (18/60) tuvieron compromiso cardiovascular y fueron incluidos en este estudio. La edad media de estos pacientes fue de 63 años y el 56% (10/18) eran hombres. La comorbilidad más frecuente fue la hipertensión arterial esencial (61%, 11/18). La alteración del ritmo cardíaco afectó al 72% (13/18) de los pacientes, con presencia de bloqueo auriculoventricular de primer grado (46%), bradicardia sinusal (38%), fibrilación/aleteo/taquicardia atriales (23%) y ritmo de la unión (8%). La miocarditis y la pericarditis se presentaron en el 17% (3/18) y 11% (2/18) de los pacientes, respectivamente. Otros hallazgos menos comunes fueron la disfunción ventricular izquierda y la angina de pecho (11%, 2/18). No hubo muertes durante la realización del estudio. Conclusiones: las alteraciones asintomáticas del ritmo cardiaco fueron las manifestaciones cardiovasculares más frecuentes del dengue y las afecciones cardiovasculares graves fueron infrecuentes. Se recomienda atención a los síntomas leves de disfunción cardiovascular en los pacientes con dengue

cardiovascular involvement is an atypical presentation of dengue infection. There range from asymptomatic sinus bradycardia to severe life-threatening myocarditis. Data are lacking regarding epidemiology on this topic. Objective: To describe clinical characteristics of patient's series with dengue and evidence of cardiovascular involvement. Materials and methods: It was performed a cross-section, observational study of patients admitted with dengue fever in a cardiovascular reference center in Medellín, Colombia during two epidemic viral outbreaks from June 2010 to December 2016. Results: A total of 60 patients were registred, 30% of them with evidence of cardiovascular involvement. Mean age of patients was 63 years old and 55% were male. Most common comorbidity was hypertension (61%, 11/18). Rhythm disturbances affected 72% (13/18) of patients: first grade AV block (46%), sinus bradycardia (38%), atrial fibrillation/flutter/tachycardia (23%) and junctional rhythm (8%). Myocarditis and pericarditis were present in 17% (3/18) and 11% (2/18) of patients, respectively. Other less common findings were left ventricular dysfunction and angor pectoris (11%, 2/18). There were no deaths during the study period. Conclusions: Asymptomatic rhythm disturbances were the most common cardiovascular manifestations of dengue fever and severe forms of cardiovascular dengue were rare. It is recommended to be attentive to the mild symptoms of cardiovascular dysfunction in patients with dengue