Sympathetic Dysautonomia in Heart Failure by 123I-MIBG: comparison between Chagasic, non-Chagasic and heart transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a severe public health problem because of its high morbidity and mortality and elevated costs, thus requiring better understanding of its course. In its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis, sympathetic hyperactivity plays a relevant role. Considering that sympathetic dysfunction is already present in the initial phases of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and frequently associated with a worse prognosis, we assumed it could be more severe in CCC than in cardiomyopathies of other etiologies (non-CCC). OBJECTIVES: To assess the cardiac sympathetic dysfunction 123I-MIBG) of HF, comparing individuals with CCC to those with non-CCC, using heart transplant (HT) patients as denervated heart parameters. METHODS: We assessed 76 patients with functional class II-VI HF, being 25 CCC (17 men), 25 non-CCC (14 men) and 26 HT (20 men), by use of cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine 123I-MIBG) scintigraphy, estimating the early and late heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) of 123I-MIBG uptake and cardiac washout (WO%). The 5% significance level was adopted in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The early and late HMR values were 1.73 ± 0.24 and 1.58 ± 0.27, respectively, in CCC, and 1.62 ± 0.21 and 1.44 ± 0.16 in non-CCC (p = NS), being, however, higher in HT patients (p < 0.001). The WO% values were 41.65 ± 21.4 (CCC), 47.37 ± 14.19% (non-CCC) and 43.29 ± 23.02 (HT), p = 0.057. The late HMR values showed a positive weak correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in CCC and non-CCC (r = 0.42 and p = 0.045; and r = 0.49 and p = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: Sympathetic hyperactivity 123I-MIBG) was evidenced in patients with class II-IV HF, LVEF < 45%, independently of the HF etiology, as compared to HT patients.

Sympathetic Dysautonomia in Heart Failure by 123I-MIBG: comparison between Chagasic, non-Chagasic and heart transplant patients / Disautonomia Simpática na Insuficiência Cardíaca pela 123I-MIBG: Comparação entre Pacientes Chagásicos, não-Chagásicos e Transplantados Cardíacos

Abstract Background: Heart failure (HF) is a severe public health problem because of its high morbidity and mortality and elevated costs, thus requiring better understanding of its course. In its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis, sympathetic hyperactivity plays a relevant role. Considering that sympathetic dysfunction is already present in the initial phases of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and frequently associated with a worse prognosis, we assumed it could be more severe in CCC than in cardiomyopathies of other etiologies (non-CCC). Objectives: To assess the cardiac sympathetic dysfunction 123I-MIBG) of HF, comparing individuals with CCC to those with non-CCC, using heart transplant (HT) patients as denervated heart parameters. Methods: We assessed 76 patients with functional class II-VI HF, being 25 CCC (17 men), 25 non-CCC (14 men) and 26 HT (20 men), by use of cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine 123I-MIBG) scintigraphy, estimating the early and late heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) of 123I-MIBG uptake and cardiac washout (WO%). The 5% significance level was adopted in the statistical analysis. Results: The early and late HMR values were 1.73 ± 0.24 and 1.58 ± 0.27, respectively, in CCC, and 1.62 ± 0.21 and 1.44 ± 0.16 in non-CCC (p = NS), being, however, higher in HT patients (p < 0.001). The WO% values were 41.65 ± 21.4 (CCC), 47.37 ± 14.19% (non-CCC) and 43.29 ± 23.02 (HT), p = 0.057. The late HMR values showed a positive weak correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in CCC and non-CCC (r = 0.42 and p = 0.045; and r = 0.49 and p = 0.015, respectively). Conclusion: Sympathetic hyperactivity 123I-MIBG) was evidenced in patients with class II-IV HF, LVEF < 45%, independently of the HF etiology, as compared to HT patients.

Resumo Fundamentos: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) representa um grave problema de saúde pública pela alta morbimortalidade e custos envolvidos, exigindo uma melhor compreensão de sua evolução. Em sua patogênese, complexa e multifatorial, a hiperatividade simpática ocupa relevante papel. Considerando que a disfunção simpática está presente já nas fases iniciais da cardiopatia chagásica crônica (CCC), frequentemente associando-se a um pior prognóstico, supomos que pudesse ser mais grave na CCC que nas demais etiologias (não-CCC). Objetivos: Avaliar a disfunção simpática cardíaca (123I-MIBG) da IC, comparando-se os portadores de CCC aos não-CCC, utilizando os pacientes transplantados cardíacos (TC) como parâmetro de coração desnervado. Métodos: Estudamos 76 pacientes com IC classe funcional II-VI, sendo 25 CCC (17 homens), 25 não-CCC (14 homens) e 26 TC (20 homens), pela cintilografia cardíaca (123I-MIBG), estimando-se a captação (HMR) precoce e tardia e o washout cardíaco (Wc%). Nas análises estatísticas, o nível de significância foi de 5%. Resultados: Os valores da HMR precoce e da tardia foram 1,73 ± 0,24 e 1,58 ± 0,27, respectivamente, na CCC, e 1,62 ± 0,21 e 1,44 ± 0,16 na não-CCC (p = NS), sendo, porém, mais elevados nos TC (p < 0,001). Os valores de Wc% foram 41,65 ± 21,4 (CCC), 47,37 ± 14,19% (não-CCC) e 43,29 ± 23,02 (TC), p = 0,057. Os valores de HMR tardia apresentaram correlação positiva fraca com a fração de ejeção de ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) na CCC e na não-CCC (r = 0,42 e p = 0,045; e r = 0,49 e p = 0,015, respectivamente). Conclusão: Evidenciou-se a presença de hiperatividade simpática (123I-MIBG) em pacientes com IC classe II-IV, FEVE < 45%, independentemente da etiologia da IC, quando comparados aos pacientes TC.

Asma de difícil controle em pediatria: desafio presente e futuro / Hard-to-control asthma and pediatrics: current and future challenges

Objetivos: fazer revisão dos aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos, propedêuticos e do manejo terapêutico da asma de difícil controle. Fonte dos dados: pesquisa não sistemática nas bases de dados Medline e LILACS. Síntese dos dados: a asma de difícil controle (ADC) constitui-se em síndrome definida na ausência de controle da asma com doses de budesonida, ou equivalente, iguais ou superiores a 800 ?g por dia. Apesar da simplicidade dessa definição clínica, o manejo propedêutico e terapêutico envolve multiplicidade de fatores e os pacientes devem ser acompanhados por pneumopediatra e equipe multidisciplinar em centros de referência. É necessário confirmar o diagnóstico de asma, avaliar diagnósticos alternativos e/ou fatores agravantes, verificar a adesão, a presença de causas psicossociais e estabelecer o fenótipo da asma a partir de marcadores inflamatórios (invasivos e não invasivos). As pesquisas revelam que os diferentes fenótipos requerem tratamentos específicos, entretanto, a aplicação na prática clínica desse conhecimento fenotípico ainda requer mais estudos. Conclusões: a asma de difícil controle em criança ou adolescente pode estar relacionada a múltiplas causas e à existência de diferentes subgrupos de ADC e com diferentes fisiopatologias de base.

Objectives: To review the epidemiological, clinical, propaedeutic aspects as well as the treatment of hard-to-control asthma. Source of data : Non-systematic research on Medline and LILACS databases. Data summary: Hard-to-control asthma (HCA) is a syndrome defined as the lack of asthma control despite daily doses of budesonide or equivalent that are equal to or higher than 800 ?g. This clinical definition may sound simple, but preliminary handling and treatment involve multiple factors and patients should be followed up by a pediatric pulmonologist and a multidisciplinary team at specialist care centers. It is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, to assess alternative diagnoses and/or aggravating factors, assess compliance and existence of psychosocial causes, and to define the asthma phenotype based on inflammatory markers (both invasive and non-invasive). Studies show that different phenotypes demand different treatments; however, further studies are needed to investigate the actual application of this knowledge in the clinical practice. Conclusions: Hard-to-control asthma in children or adolescents can be related to multiple causes and the existence of different HCA subgroups with different pathophysiological grounds

Tratamento conservador do trauma esplênico contuso: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Nonoperative management of blunt spleen injuries: case report and review of the literature

Relata-se o trauma contuso de baço em jovem atendida no Hospital UniversitárioRisoleta Tolentino Neves, em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Essa lesão é encontrada,frequentemente, em traumas contusos do abdômen. O intuito é discutir a terapêuticadessa lesão, sua abordagem não cirúrgica como primeira escolha na maioria dos casos.Justifica-se a escolha do manejo não operatório, em paciente com lesão esplênicagrau IV, segundo critérios da American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

We report a case of blunt splenic trauma in a young patient served by the urgency of the University Hospital Risoleta Tolentino Neves Belo Horizonte-MG. This kind of injury is often found in blunt abdominal trauma. The aim is to discuss the approach of the blunt splenic injuries and address the non-surgical treatment as first choice in most cases. Justi-fied this approach by reporting non-surgical therapy, even in a patient with splenic injury grade IV, according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.