The cause of urinary symptoms among Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HLTV-I) infected patients: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: HTLV-I infected patients often complain of urinary symptomatology. Epidemiological studies have suggested that these individuals have a higher prevalence and incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) than seronegative controls. However, the diagnosis of UTI in these studies relied only on patient information and did not require confirmation by urine culture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of urinary tract infection (UTI) as the cause of urinary symptoms in HTLV-I infected patients. METHODS: In this cross sectional study we interviewed, and cultured urine from, 157 HTLV-I seropositive individuals followed regularly at a specialized clinic. All patients were evaluated by a neurologist and classified according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Urodynamic studies were performed at the discretion of the treating physician. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients complained of at least one active urinary symptom but UTI was confirmed by a positive urine culture in only 12 of these patients (19%); the majority of symptomatic patients (81%) had negative urine cultures. To investigate the mechanism behind the urinary complaints in symptomatic individuals with negative urine cultures, we reviewed the results of urodynamic studies performed in 21 of these patients. Most of them (90.5%) had abnormal findings. The predominant abnormalities were detrusor sphincter hyperreflexia and dyssynergia, findings consistent with HTLV-I-induced neurogenic bladder. On a multivariate logistic regression, an abnormal EDSS score was the strongest predictor of urinary symptomatology (OR 9.87, 95% CI 3.465 to 28.116, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Urinary symptomatology suggestive of UTI is highly prevalent among HTLV-I seropositive individuals but true UTI is responsible for the minority of cases. We posit that the main cause of urinary symptoms in this population is neurogenic bladder. Our data imply that HLTV-I infected patients with urinary symptomatology should not be empirically treated for UTI but rather undergo urine culture; if a UTI is excluded, further investigation with urodynamic studies should be considered.

Avaliação do Programa de Triagem Neonatal na Bahia no ano de 2003 / Assessment of Bahia Neonatal Screening Program in 2003

OBJETIVOS: descrever e avaliar o perfil do Programa de Triagem Neonatal baiano em 2003. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo baseado no banco de dados do Serviço de Referência de Triagem Neonatal baiano com todos os recém-nascidos que realizaram a triagem na rede de coleta do Estado em 2003. RESULTADOS: observou-se implantação do programa em 94,5 por cento dos municípios. A média mensal de testados foi de 13.991 (72,51 por cento dos recém-nascidos registrados). Na coleta, 63,9 por cento das crianças estavam com idade entre oito dias e um mês, 14,5 por cento com até sete dias e 21,6 por cento com mais de um mês. A incidência observada foi de 1:22.000 para fenilcetonúria, 1:4.000 para o hipotireoidismo congênito e 1:650 para as hemoglobinopatias. CONCLUSÕES: o Programa de Triagem Neonatal baiano mostrou, em 2003, dificuldades quanto a cobertura preconizada em 100 por cento; a faixa etária ideal para realização da coleta; ao tempo entre a coleta e a chegada das amostras ao Serviço de Referência em Triagem Neonatal; ao tempo de entrega dos resultados à família; e ao tempo de reconvocação dos casos positivos. Assim, são necessárias algumas melhorias para agilizar esses processos.