Noninferiority of heart failure nurse titration versus heart failure cardiologist titration. ETIFIC multicenter randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), angiotensin-II-receptor-blockers (ARB), and mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists decrease mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations in HF patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. The effect is dose-dependent. Careful titration is recommended. However, suboptimal doses are common in clinical practice. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of dose titration of the aforementioned drugs by HF nurses vs HF cardiologists. METHODS: ETIFIC was a multicenter (n=20) noninferiority randomized controlled open label trial. A total of 320 hospitalized patients with new-onset HF, reduced ejection fraction and New York Heart Association II-III, without beta-blocker contraindications were randomized 1:1 in blocks of 4 patients each stratified by hospital: 164 to HF nurse titration vs 156 to HF cardiologist titration (144 vs 145 analyzed). The primary endpoint was the beta-blocker mean relative dose (% of target dose) achieved at 4 months. Secondary endpoints included ACE inhibitors, ARB, and mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists mean relative doses, associated variables, adverse events, and clinical outcomes at 6 months. RESULTS: The mean±standard deviation relative doses achieved by HF nurses vs HF cardiologists were as follows: beta-blockers 71.09%±31.49% vs 56.29%±31.32%, with a difference of 14.8% (95%CI, 7.5-22.1), P <.001; ACE inhibitors 72.61%±29.80% vs 56.13%±30.37%, P <.001; ARB 44.48%±33.47% vs 43.51%±33.69%, P=.93; and mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists 71%±32.12% vs 70.47%±29.78%, P=.86; mean±standard deviation visits were 6.41±2.82 vs 2.81±1.58, P <.001, while the number (%) of adverse events were 34 (23.6) vs 30 (20.7), P=.55; and at 6 months HF hospitalizations were 1 (0.69) vs 9 (5.51), P=.01. CONCLUSIONS: ETIFIC is the first multicenter randomized trial to demonstrate the noninferiority of HF specialist-nurse titration vs HF cardiologist titration. Moreover, HF nurses achieved higher beta-blocker/ACE inhibitors doses, with more outpatient visits and fewer HF hospitalizations. Trial registry number: NCT02546856.

Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología Pediátrica y Cardiopatías Congénitas en relación con el uso de medicamentos en el trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad en niños y adolescentes con cardiopatías conocidas y en la población pediátrica general, posicionamiento de la Asociación Española de Pediatría / Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease as regards the use of drugs in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents with a known heart disease, as well as in the general paediatric population: Position statement by the Spanish Paediatric Association

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los fármacos aprobados para el trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH) en España son: metilfenidato, lisdexanfetamina, atomoxetina y guanfacina. Debido a los efectos adversos cardiovasculares que pueden producir, principalmente aumento de la presión arterial y la frecuencia cardíaca, su uso en pacientes con cardiopatías conocidas o no diagnosticadas puede ser controvertido. OBJETIVO: Realización de un documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología Pediátrica y Cardiopatías Congénitas (SECPCC) y expertos de otras agencias y sociedades como instrumento para el cardiólogo infantil y los médicos que tratan niños y adolescentes con TDAH. METODOLOGÍA: Análisis de la bibliografía y las guías de práctica clínica, fichas técnicas aprobadas por la Agencia Española del Medicamento y Productos Sanitarios y Guía del Ministerio de Sanidad español. Formación de un grupo de trabajo con un coordinador, miembros de los grupos de trabajo de Cardiología Clínica y Arritmias de la SECPCC. Este grupo realizó un documento que fue revisado por un grupo de expertos externos y un grupo de expertos internos de la SECPCC, llegando a un consenso para la obtención del documento final. RESULTADOS: Se presentan las recomendaciones de la SECPCC y el grupo de expertos sobre la evaluación cardiovascular previa al tratamiento en niños y adolescentes sin enfermedad cardiovascular conocida y con enfermedad cardiovascular conocida. Se presentan las recomendaciones de la SECPCC y el grupo de expertos sobre el uso de medicamentos para el TDAH en niños y adolescentes con síntomas cardiológicos sin evidencia de cardiopatía, cardiopatías congénitas, miocardiopatías, síndrome de Marfan y otras aortopatías, hipertensión arterial y arritmias

INTRODUCTION: Approved drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Spain are methylphenidate, lisdexamphetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine. Due to adverse cardiovascular effects, mainly increased blood pressure and heart rate, its use in patients with known or undiagnosed heart disease may be controversial. OBJECTIVE: To obtain a consensus document from the Spanish Society of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Diseases (SECPCC) and experts from other Agencies and Societies as a guide for the paediatric cardiologist and physicians who treat children and adolescents with ADHD. METHODOLOGY: An analysis was performed on the bibliography and Clinical Practice Guidelines, technical data sheets approved by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Devices, and the Spanish Ministry of Health Guidelines. A Working Group was formed, with a Coordinator, as well as members of the Clinical Cardiology Working Group and Arrhythmia Group of the SECPCC. This Group produced a preliminary document that was reviewed by a group of external experts and a group of internal experts of the SECPCC with a consensus being reached on the final document. RESULTS: The recommendations of the SECPCC and the group of experts are presented on cardiovascular evaluation prior to treatment in children and adolescents with no known cardiovascular disease and with known cardiovascular disease. The recommendations of the SECPCC and the group of experts are also presented on the use of medications for ADHD in children and adolescents with cardiological symptoms with no evidence of heart disease, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, Marfan syndrome and other aortic diseases, hypertension, and arrhythmias

[Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease as regards the use of drugs in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents with a known heart disease, as well as in the general paediatric population: Position statement by the Spanish Paediatric Association]. / Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología Pediátrica y Cardiopatías Congénitas en relación con el uso de medicamentos en el trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad en niños y adolescentes con cardiopatías conocidas y en la población pediátrica general, posicionamiento de la Asociación Española de Pediatría.

INTRODUCTION: Approved drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Spain are methylphenidate, lisdexamphetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine. Due to adverse cardiovascular effects, mainly increased blood pressure and heart rate, its use in patients with known or undiagnosed heart disease may be controversial. OBJECTIVE: To obtain a consensus document from the Spanish Society of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Diseases (SECPCC) and experts from other Agencies and Societies as a guide for the paediatric cardiologist and physicians who treat children and adolescents with ADHD. METHODOLOGY: An analysis was performed on the bibliography and Clinical Practice Guidelines, technical data sheets approved by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Devices, and the Spanish Ministry of Health Guidelines. A Working Group was formed, with a Coordinator, as well as members of the Clinical Cardiology Working Group and Arrhythmia Group of the SECPCC. This Group produced a preliminary document that was reviewed by a group of external experts and a group of internal experts of the SECPCC with a consensus being reached on the final document. RESULTS: The recommendations of the SECPCC and the group of experts are presented on cardiovascular evaluation prior to treatment in children and adolescents with no known cardiovascular disease and with known cardiovascular disease. The recommendations of the SECPCC and the group of experts are also presented on the use of medications for ADHD in children and adolescents with cardiological symptoms with no evidence of heart disease, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, Marfan syndrome and other aortic diseases, hypertension, and arrhythmias.

Clinical and pathological features of "small" GIST (≤2 cm). What is their prognostic value?

INTRODUCTION: Small GIST (<2 cm) are tumors whose biological behavior is benign and frequently involutes. Despite their increasing incidence, few studies have addressed the characteristics of these GIST. The aim of this work is to clarify the management of this entity. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The characteristics of ≤2 cm GIST were initially described, and then compared with those >2 cm. This series comprises 104 patients and they were divided according to tumor size in 4 groups: tumors which are ≤2 cm (group 1, G1), >2 and ≤ 5 cm (G2), >5 and ≤ 10 cm (G3) and >10 cm (G4). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Most of small GIST were asymptomatic and incidental, and were located in the stomach. There is an association between patients with associated tumors and asymptomatic GIST. A high overall mortality rate of up to 40% is observed being disease-specific mortality 4.5%. The disease-specific mortality increases proportionally with size. The overall survival (OS) at 5 years are lower for both <2 cm (61%) and >10 cm (53%) than the rest (85-91%). When analyzing the impact of tumor association on <2 cm GIST, we observed that the OS of patients with non-associated tumors was much higher than in the associated ones (90% vs 32% at 5 years, respectively), while no differences were observed in the disease specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: Small GIST are tumors that are very often incidentally discovered in the course of complementary examinations. Its prognosis is very good, but it depends on the associated tumor.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in the presence of coronary aneurysms.

This is the case of a patient with coronary aneurysms, who underwent CABG for surgical exclusion of these aneurysms, followed by implant of the bypass grafts to the arteries affected, with satisfactory short-term and long-term results.

Revascularização cirúrgica miocárdica (RCM) na presença de aneurismas coronarianos / Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in the presence of coronary aneurysms / Revascularización quirúrgica miocárdica (RQM) en la presencia de aneurismas coronarios

É descrito caso de paciente portador de volumosos aneurismas coronários, submetidos à RCM, na qual foi adotada a exclusão cirúrgica destes aneurismas, seguido do implante de pontes de safena para as artérias comprometidas, com resultado a curto e longo prazos satisfatório.

This is the case of a patient with coronary aneurysms, who underwent CABG for surgical exclusion of these aneurysms, followed by implant of the bypass grafts to the arteries affected, with satisfactory short-term and long-term results.

Se describe el caso de un paciente con aneurismas coronarios voluminosos, que fueron sometidos a RQM, en la que se adoptó la exclusión quirúrgica de estos aneurismas, seguida de la implantación de puentes de safena para las arterias en peligro, con resultado a corto y largo plazos satisfactorio.

Cryptococcal meningitis in a patient treated with infliximab.

Infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor, is increasingly used for the therapy of different inflammatory conditions. We report the first case of cryptococcal meningitis in a patient treated with infliximab and other immunosuppressive agents, and review a further 5 reported cryptococcal infections. All of them involved fungal pneumonia. Outcome was favorable in all cases.

Prospective study of postoperative complications after total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiters by surgeons with experience in endocrine surgery.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To show that total thyroidectomy (TT) can be performed in multinodular goiter (MG) by surgeons with experience in endocrine surgery with a definitive complication rate of 1% or less; and (2) to analyze the risk factors for complications in these patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: There is current controversy over the role of TT in the treatment of MG; although there are potential benefits, high rates of complications are not acceptable in surgery for a benign pathology. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective study was conducted on 301 MGs meeting the following criteria: (1) bilateral MG; (2) no prior cervical surgery; (3) operation by surgeons with experience in endocrine surgery; (4) no associated parathyroid pathology; (5) no initial thoracic approach; and (6) minimum follow-up of 1 year. Age, sex, time of evolution, symptoms, cervical goiter grade, intrathoracic component, thyroid weight, and presence of associated carcinoma were analyzed as risk factors for complications. The chi test and a logistic regression analysis were applied. RESULTS: Complications were presented by 62 patients (21%), corresponding to 29 hypoparathyroidisms, 26 recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries, 4 lesions of the superior laryngeal nerve, 3 cervical hematomas, and 1 infection of the cervicotomy. The variables associated with the presence of these complications were hyperthyroidism (P = 0.0033), compressive symptoms (P = 0.0455), intrathoracic component (P = 0.0366), goiter grade (P = 0.0195), and weight of excised specimen (P = 0.0302); hyperthyroidism (relative risk [RR] 2.5) and intrathoracic component (RR 1.5) persisted as independent risk factors. Definitive complications appeared in 3 patients (1%), corresponding to 2 hypoparathyroidisms and 1 recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Two cases corresponded to a toxic goiter, and the third to an intrathoracic goiter with compressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: In endocrine surgery units, TT can be performed for MG with a definitive complication rate of around 1%; the main independent risk factors for the development of complications are hyperthyroidism and goiter size.

Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico en 247 pacientes con bocio multinodular con componente intratorácico / Results o surgical treatment in 247 patients with multinodular goiter with intrathoracic development

Objetivos. a) Determinar el perfil clínico de los bocios multinodulares intratorácicos; b) valorar los resultados de la cirugía, y c) analizar la incidencia de malignidad y su evolución. Pacientes y método. Se revisan 247 bocios multinodulares intratorácicos, según la definifición de Eschapase ( 3 cm por debajo del manubrio esternal), operados. Se analiza la morbilidad y la evolución postoperatoria. Se realiza un estudio comparativo con un grupo de 425 bocios multinodulares no intratorácicos. Se aplican los tests de la 2, de la t de Student y de regresión logística. Resultados. El bocio multinodular intratorácico se presenta en pacientes con más de 60 años de edad y con un bocio de larga evolución (> 12 años); más del 60 por ciento presenta manifestaciones clínicas. Hubo dificultades en la intubación orotraqueal en el 10 por ciento (n = 24) de los casos, y en 7 de ellos fue preciso utilizar el fibrobroncoscopio. En 8 casos (3 por ciento) hubo que realizar un abordaje torácico. La morbilidad fue del 24 por ciento (n = 59) y destacan 29 lesiones recurrenciales (12 por ciento), 2 definitivas (0,8 por ciento) y 31 hipoparatiroidismos (13 por ciento), 1 de ellos definitivo (0,4 por ciento). No se han obtenido diferencias significativas en la morbilidad posquirúrgica entre los bocios multinodulares intratorácicos y los no intratorácicos. Los resultados en cuanto a la remisión de la sintomatología fueron excelentes. En 14 casos (5,7 por ciento) se asociaba un carcinoma tiroideo, la mayoría microcarcinomas papilares. En diez de las 49 cirugías parciales (20 por ciento), el bocio recidivó. Conclusiones. El bocio multinodular intratorácico suele ser sintomático y se presenta en bocios de larga evolución. La cirugía es una buena opción terapéutica, ya que el bocio se puede extirpar por vía cervical con una baja morbilidad, con lo que remite la sintomatología, se descarta su posible malignidad y, si se realiza una tiroidectomía total, se evitan las recurrencias (AU)