Nocardiosis pulmonar como causa de reagudizaciones en un paciente EPOC / Pulmonary nocardiosis due to reagudizations in a COPD patient

La infección pulmonar por Nocardia sp. es una enfermedad poco frecuente que afecta fundamentalmente a pacientes inmunodeprimidos, aunque también puede hacerlo a pacientes inmunocompetentes. Su diagnóstico se basa en el aislamiento en esputo de Nocardia sp. siendo la clínica y la radiología inespecíficas. El tratamiento se realiza con trimetropin (TMP) sulfametoxazol (SMX), aunque ya se han encontrado casos de resistencia. La duración del tratamiento sigue siendo desconocida recomendándose durante 6 semanas-12 meses. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 81 años con antecedentes de EPOC en tratamiento con corticosteroides de forma crónica que ingresa en nuestro servicio por episodios febriles recidivantes en los tres meses previos al ingreso junto con pérdida de peso e infiltrados densos en Rx de tórax de nueva aparición con cultivo de esputo positivo para Nocardia sp. Y buena evolución tras el inicio de tratamiento con TMP-SMX con desaparición de la fiebre y de los infiltrados

Pulmonary infection due to Nocardia sp. is an infrequent disease that affects principally to immunodefficient patients although it can be also seen in patients with normal immunity. Diagnosis is based in isolation of micro-organism in respiratory samples while clinical presentation and radiology are non specific. Treatment is made with trimethropim-sulfametoxazole (TMP/SMX), though resistance has developed in some patients. The recommended length of treatment is 6 weeks to 12 months depending on the immunitaly status. We present the case of a male patient of 81 years old affected with COPD and treated with glucocorticoids in a chronic basis, who was admitted because relapsing fever episodes during 3 months before, weight loss and new hard pulmonary infiltrates with Nocardia sp. cultured sputum, and evolution to clinical, radiological and microbiologic resolution with TMP/SMX treatment

[Pulmonary nocardiosis due to reagudizations in a COPD patient]. / Nocardiosis pulmonar como causa de reagudizaciones en un paciente EPOC.

Pulmonary infection due to Nocardia sp. is an infrequent disease that affects principally to immunodefficient patients although it can be also seen in patients with normal immunity. Diagnosis is based in isolation of micro-organism in respiratory samples while clinical presentation and radiology are non specific. Treatment is made with trimethropim-sulfametoxazole (TMP/SMX), though resistance has developed in some patients. The recommended length of treatment is 6 weeks to 12 months depending on the immunitaly status. We present the case of a male patient of 81 years old affected with COPD and treated with glucocorticoids in a chronic basis, who was admitted because relapsing fever episodes during 3 months before, weight loss and new hard pulmonary infiltrates with Nocardia sp. cultured sputum, and evolution to clinical, radiological and microbiologic resolution with TMP/SMX treatment.

[Low-molecular-weight heparin for the treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Comparison with unfractionated intravenous heparin]. / Tratamiento del tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo con heparina de bajo peso molecular subcutánea. Comparación con heparina no fracionada intravenosa.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low-molecular-weight heparins have been demonstrated at least as useful as unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the treatment of venous thromboembolic disease. Our aim was to know the effectivity and security of subcutaneous enoxaparin in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. METHODS: We compared the effectivity and security of two doses daily, subcutaneous injected enoxaparin adjusted to body weight, and standard treatment with continuous intravenous UFH, determining the rate of major bleeding, in-hospital death and recurrent venous thromboembolic disease in long-term follow up. Massive pulmonary thromboembolism was defined as thrombotic material seen in main pulmonary arteries. RESULTS: Thirty eight patients were treated with UFH (Mean age 72 SD 9 years, male 58%, massive pulmonary thromboembolism 24%) and 65 patients were treated with subcutaneous enoxaparin (Mean age 71 SD 12 years, male 52%, massive pulmonary thromboembolism 49%). Major bleeding rate was 8% in UHF group and 3% in enoxaparin group (Difference 37%, 95% Confidence interval -0.16 to 0.06, p=0.21). In-hospital death rate was 8% in UHF group and 1.5% in enoxaparin group (Difference 25%, 95% Confidence interval -0.17 to 0.04, p=0.11). Recurrent thromboembolism rate was 44% in UFH group and 13% in enoxaparin group (Difference 30%, 95% Confidence interval -0.60 to -0.02, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism with low-molecular-heparin is effective and safe, even in massive pulmonary embolism.

Tratamiento del tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo con heparina de bajo peso molecular subcutánea. Comparación con heparina no fracionada intravenosa / Low-molecular-weight heparin for the treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Comparison with unfractionated intravenous heparin

Fundamento y objetivos: Desde la introducción en la terapéutica de las heparinas de bajo peso molecular, éstas se han venido utilizando con una eficacia similar o superior a la heparina no fraccionada para el tratamiento de la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa. Nuestro propósito fue conocer la eficacia de enoxaparina en el tratamiento del tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo. Métodos: Comparamos la eficacia de enoxaparina subcutánea dos veces al día a dosis de 1 mg/kg de peso con la de heparina no fraccionada por vía endovenosa de forma continua en pacientes diagnosticados de tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo determinando la tasa de hemorragia mayor, muerte en el episodio índice y tasa de reicidiva. Como tromboembolismo pulmonar masivo se consideró la visualización de trombos en las arterias pulmonares principales. Resultados: Treinta y ocho pacientes fueron tratados con heparina no fraccionada intravenosa de forma continua (edad 72 ± 9 años, varón 58%, tromboembolismo pulmonar masivo 24%) y 65 pacientes fueron tratados con enoxaparina (edad 71 ± 12 años, varón 52%, tromboembolismo pulmonar masivo 49%). La tasa de hemorragia mayor durante la hospitalización índice fue de8% en el grupo de heparina no fraccionada y de 3% en el grupo de enoxaparina (riesgo relativo 5,2; diferencia de riesgos 0,63; reducción de episodios de 37% CI 95% -0,16 a 0,06%, p=0,21), la tasa de muerte intrahospitalaria fue de 8% en el grupo de heparina no fraccionada y de1,5% en el grupo enoxaparina (riesgo relativo 1,52; diferencia de riesgos 1,54; reducción de muerte de 25%, CI 95% -0,17 a 0,04%, p = 0,11). La tasa de recidiva fue de 44% en el grupo de tratados con heparina no fraccionada y de 13% en el grupo de enoxaparina (riesgo relativo 1,80; riesgo atribuible 6,48; reducción de riesgo de 30%, CI 95% -0,60 a 0,02, p =0,01). Conclusión: El tratamiento del tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo con heparina de bajo peso molecular (enoxaparina) es más eficaz que el tratamiento con heparina no fraccionada de forma continua, produciéndose menos hemorragias, menos muertes intrahospitalarias y menor tasa de recidivas, aun cuando el tromboembolismo pulmonar sea masivo

Background and objectives: Low-molecular-weight heparins have been demonstrated at least as useful as unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the treatment of venous thromboembolic disease. Our aim was to know the effectivity and security of subcutaneous enoxaparin in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. Methods: We compared the effectivity and security of two doses daily, subcutaneous injected enoxaparin adjusted to body weight, and standard treatment with continuous intravenous UFH, determining the rate of major bleeding, in-hospital death and recurrent venous thromboembolic disease in long-term follow up. Massive pulmonary thromboembolism was defined as thrombotic material seen in main pulmonary arteries. Results: Thirty eight patients were treated with UFH (Mean age 72SD 9 years, male 58%, massive pulmonary thromboembolism 24%) and 65 patients were treated with subcutaneous enoxaparin (Mean age 71SD 12 years, male 52%, massive pulmonary thromboembolism 49%). Major bleeding rate was 8% in UHF group and 3% in enoxaparin group (Difference 37%, 95% Confidence interval -0.16 to 0.06, p=0.21). In-hospital death rate was 8% in UHF group and 1.5% in enoxaparin group (Difference 25%, 95% Confidence interval -0.17 to 0.04, p=0.11). Recurrent thromboembolism rate was 44% in UFH group and 13% inenoxaparin group (Difference 30%, 95% Confidence interval -0.60 to -0.02, p=0.01). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism with low-molecular-heparin is effective and safe, even in massive pulmonary embolism