Brazilian recommendations on the safety and effectiveness of the yellow fever vaccination in patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Abstract Background: In Brazil, we are facing an alarming epidemic scenario of Yellow fever (YF), which is reaching the most populous areas of the country in unvaccinated people. Vaccination is the only effective tool to prevent YF. In special situations, such as patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (CIMID), undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, as a higher risk of severe adverse events may occur, assessment of the risk-benefit ratio of the yellow fever vaccine (YFV) should be performed on an individual level. Main body of the abstract: Faced with the scarcity of specific orientation on YFV for this special group of patients, the Brazilian Rheumatology Society (BRS) endorsed a project aiming the development of individualized YFV recommendations for patients with CIMID, guided by questions addressed by both medical professionals and patients, followed an internationally validated methodology (GIN-McMaster Guideline Development). Firstly, a systematic review was carried out and an expert panel formed to take part of the decision process, comprising BRS clinical practitioners, as well as individuals from the Brazilian Dermatology Society (BDS), Brazilian Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Study Group (GEDIIB), and specialists on infectious diseases and vaccination (from Tropical Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Immunizations National Societies); in addition, two representatives of patient groups were included as members of the panel. When the quality of the evidence was low or there was a lack of evidence to determine the recommendations, the decisions were based on the expert opinion panel and a Delphi approach was performed. A recommendation was accepted upon achieving ≥80% agreement among the panel, including the patient representatives. As a result, eight recommendations were developed regarding the safety of YFV in patients with CIMID, considering the immunosuppression degree conferred by the treatment used. It was not possible to establish recommendations on the effectiveness of YFV in these patients as there is no consistent evidence to support these recommendations. Conclusion: This paper approaches a real need, assessed by clinicians and patient care groups, to address specific questions on the management of YFV in patients with CIMID living or traveling to YF endemic areas, involving specialists from many areas together with patients, and might have global applicability, contributing to and supporting vaccination practices. We recommended a shared decision-making approach on taking or not the YFV.

Giant cell arteritis: a multicenter observational study in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic features, disease manifestations and therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis from referral centers in Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 45 giant cell arteritis patients from three university hospitals in Brazil. Diagnoses were based on the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for giant cell arteritis or temporal artery biopsy findings. RESULTS: Most patients were Caucasian, and females were slightly more predominant. The frequencies of disease manifestations were as follows: temporal headache in 82.2%, neuro-ophthalmologic manifestations in 68.9%, jaw claudication in 48.9%, systemic symptoms in 44.4%, polymyalgia rheumatica in 35.6% and extra-cranial vessel involvement in 17.8% of cases. Aortic aneurysms were observed in 6.6% of patients. A comparison between patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis and those without temporal artery biopsies did not yield significant differences in disease manifestations. All patients were treated with oral prednisone, and intravenous methylprednisolone was administered to nearly half of the patients. Methotrexate was the most commonly used immunosuppressive agent, and low-dose aspirin was prescribed to the majority of patients. Relapses occurred in 28.9% of patients, and aspirin had a protective effect against relapses. Females had higher prevalences of polymyalgia rheumatica, systemic manifestations and jaw claudication, while permanent visual loss was more prevalent in men. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the clinical features of Brazilian giant cell arteritis patients were similar to those found in other studies, except for the high prevalence of neuro-ophthalmic manifestations and permanent blindness in the Brazilian patients. Aspirin had a protective effect on relapses.

Acurácia dos escores GRACE e TIMI na predição da gravidade angiográfica da síndrome coronariana aguda / Accuracy of the GRACE and TIMI scores in predicting the angiographic severity of acute coronary syndrome

FUNDAMENTO: A acurácia dos escores GRACE e TIMI em predizer a extensão da doença coronariana em pacientes com síndromes coronarianas agudas sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (SCA) não está estabelecida. OBJETIVO: Testar a hipótese de que os escores de risco GRACE e TIMI predizem satisfatoriamente a extensão da doença coronariana, em pacientes com SCA submetidos a coronariografia. MÉTODOS: Indivíduos admitidos com critérios objetivos de SCA e que realizaram coronariografia durante o internamento foram consecutivamente analisados. A doença coronariana angiográfica foi descrita de três formas: quantificação da extensão da doença coronariana pelo escore de Gensini; presença de qualquer obstrução coronariana (> 70% ou > 50% quando tronco de coronária esquerda); presença de doença severa (triarterial ou tronco de coronária esquerda). RESULTADOS: Em 112 pacientes avaliados, observou-se correlação positiva do escore de Gensini com os escores GRACE (p = 0,017) e TIMI (p = 0,02), porém essa associação foi de fraca magnitude (r = 0,23 e r = 0,27; respectivamente). O escore GRACE não foi capaz de predizer doença coronariana obstrutiva (área abaixo da curva ROC = 0,57; 95%IC = 0,46 - 0,69), nem doença coronariana severa (ROC = 0,59; 95%IC = 0,48 -0,70). O Escore TIMI se mostrou modesto preditor em relação à presença de doença coronariana (ROC = 0,65; 95%IC = 0,55 - 0,76) e presença de doença severa (ROC = 0,66; 95%IC = 0,56 - 0,76). CONCLUSÃO: (1) Existe associação positiva entre o valor dos escores TIMI ou GRACE e a extensão da doença coronária em pacientes com SCA; (2) No entanto, o grau dessa associação não é suficiente para que esses escores sejam preditores acurados dos resultados da coronariografia.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of the GRACE and TIMI scores in predicting coronary disease extension in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has not been established. OBJECTIVE: To assess the hypothesis that the GRACE and TIMI risk scores satisfactorily predict coronary disease extension in patients withnon-ST-elevation ACS undergoing coronary angiography. METHODS: Individuals meeting the objective criteria for ACS and undergoing coronary angiography during hospitalization were consecutively assessed. Angiographic coronary disease was described as follows: quantification of coronary disease extension by using Gensini score; presence of any coronary artery obstruction (> 70% or > 50% when affecting left main coronary artery); and presence of severe disease (three-vessel disease or affecting the left main coronary artery). RESULTS: Of 112 patients assessed, a positive correlation of the Gensini score was observed with the GRACE (p = 0.017) and TIMI (p = 0.02) scores, but that association was weak (r = 0.23 and r = 0.27; respectively). The GRACE score could predict neither obstructive coronary disease (area under the ROC curve = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.46 - 0.69), nor severe coronary disease (ROC = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.48 - 0.70). The TIMI score proved to be a modest predictor of coronary disease (ROC = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.55 - 0.76) and of severe coronary disease (ROC = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.56 - 0.76). CONCLUSION: (1) There is a positive association between the values of the TIMI or GRACE scores and the extension of coronary artery disease in patients with ACS; (2) however, the degree of that association is not sufficient to make those scores accurate predictors of coronary angiography results.

Valor prognóstico do Escore de Risco GRACE versus Escore de Risco TIMI em síndromes coronarianas agudas / Prognostic Value of GRACE Scores versus TIMI Score in acute coronary syndromes

FUNDAMENTO: Embora o Escore de Risco TIMI seja o mais utilizado em síndromes coronarianas agudas sem supradesnível do segmento ST (SCA), o Escore GRACE tem potencial superioridade prognóstica, pois foi criado a partir de um registro observacional, parte das variáveis são tratadas de forma semiquantitativa e a função renal é computada em seu cálculo. OBJETIVO: Testar a hipótese de que o Escore de Risco GRACE tem superior valor prognóstico hospitalar, comparado ao Escore TIMI em pacientes admitidos com SCA. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos indivíduos com angina instável ou infarto do miocárdio sem supradesnível do segmento ST, consecutivamente internados em unidade coronariana entre agosto de 2007 e janeiro de 2009. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 154 pacientes, idade 71 ± 13 anos, 56 por cento do gênero feminino, mediana do GRACE de 117 e mediana do TIMI de 3. Durante o período de internamento, a incidência de eventos foi 8,4 por cento (12 óbitos e 1 infarto não fatal). O teste de Hosmer-Lemeshow aplicado ao Escore GRACE apresentou χ2 de 5,3 (P = 0,72), enquanto Escore TIMI apresentou χ2 de 1,85 (P = 0,60). Desta forma, ambos os escores apresentaram boa calibração. Quanto à análise de discriminação, o Escore GRACE apresentou estatística-C de 0,91 (95 por cento IC = 0,86 - 0,97), significativamente superior à estatística-C de 0,69 do Escore TIMI (95 por cento IC = 0,55 - 0,84) - P = 0,02 para diferença entre os escores. CONCLUSÃO: Em relação à predição de eventos hospitalares em pacientes com SCA, o Escore GRACE tem superior capacidade prognóstica quando comparado ao Escore TIMI.

BACKGROUND: Although the TIMI score is the one most frequently used in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without ST-segment elevation, the GRACE score has potential prognostic superiority, as it was created based on an observational registry, part of the variables is treated in a semi-quantitative form and renal function is taken into account in its calculation. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the GRACE risk score has superior in-hospital prognostic value, when compared to the TIMI score in patients admitted with ACS. METHODS: Individuals with unstable angina or myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation, consecutively admitted at the Coronary Unit between August 2007 and January 2009, were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 154 patients aged 71 ± 13 years, of which 56 percent were females, with a GRACE median of 117 and a TIMI median of 3 were studied. During the hospitalization period, the incidence of events was 8.4 percent (12 deaths and 1 non-fatal infarction). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test applied to the GRACE score presented an χ2 of 5.3 (P = 0.72), whereas the TIMI score presented an χ2 of 1.85 (P = 0.60). Therefore, both scores presented good calibration. As for the analysis of discrimination, the GRACE score presented a C-statistics of 0.91 (95 percentCI= 0.86 - 0.97), significantly superior to the C-statistics of 0.69 of the TIMI score (95 percentCI = 0.55 - 0.84) - P = 0.02 for the difference between the scores. CONCLUSION: Regarding the prediction of hospital events in patients with ACS, the GRACE score has superior prognostic capacity when compared to the TIMI score.

Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes internados na Unidade de Queimaduras do Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo / Epidemiological profile of patients admitted at Unidade de Queimaduras do Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo

Introdução: As queimaduras estão entre as principais causas de trauma em todas as faixas etárias, trazendo sequelas e necessitando de tratamentos, internações e reabilitação prolongados. Traçar o perfil epidemiológico das queimaduras no HSPE-SP. Método: Foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, 472 pacientes internados na unidade de queimaduras do HSPE-SP entre maio de 2005 e julho de 2008, quanto a etiologia, superfície corporal queimada (SCQ), comparando-se com sexo e a faixa etária. Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes internados foi composta por homens adultos (47,4%). Quanto à faixa etária, 20,7% dos pacientes tinham menos do que 7 anos, 11,7% entre as idades de 7 e 14 anos e 67,6% acima de 14 anos. Em relação ao sexo, notou-se maior proporção de casos do sexo masculino (68,6%) contra 31,4% do sexo feminino. A SCQ média foi de 16,1%. Entre os maiores de 14 anos, o álcool foi a principal causa de internação por queimadura. Ao avaliarmos a etiologia dos casos internados acometendo os menores de 14 anos de idade, observou-se que 41,72% dos casos foram causados por escaldo de água fervente, 29,13% por álcool, 10,5% por incêndio, 3,31% por gasolina, 3,97% por trauma elétrico, 2,6% por óleo fervente e 8,77% por outras diversas causas. Conclusão: O perfil de queimaduras em nossa unidade segue o descrito na literatura, em que os pacientes internados são principalmente do sexo masculino, representando o álcool a principal etiologia na faixa etária superior aos 14 anos e a água fervente no grupo dos menores de 14 anos. Tais dados são importantes para desenvolver programas de prevenção e educação, a fim de reduzir a quantidade de acidentes envolvendo queimaduras.

Background: Burn injuries are a common cause of mortality and hospitalization among all ages with different causes, leading from successful clinical outcomes to permanent sequels. Methods: A retrospective clinical study was performed from May 2005 to July 2008. Trough this period all patients admitted were evaluated for etiology, age, gender and burn surface. Results: Most of the patients were composed by male adults (47.4%). Analyzing age, 20.7% were less then 7 years, 11.7% between 7 and 14 years, 67.6% above 14 years. In general, 68.6% were male and 31.4% female. The mean burn surface was 16.1%. The alcohol was the main cause in patients above 14 years while in patients with less than 14 years, 41.72% were caused by scald burns, 29.13% by alcohol, 10.5% fire, 3.31% gasoline, 3.97% electrical burn, 2.6% boiling oil and 8.77% other causes. Conclusions: The burn injury features in our unit follows the same profile described in others burn centers where male above 14 years have the alcohol as the main cause of burn. That data are important to develop prevention and educational programs and improve patients outcomes as their quality of life.

Tratamento da Arterite de Takayasu / Takayasu's arteritis treatment

A arterite de Takayasu (AT) é uma vasculite granulomatosa crônica que envolve a aorta e seu principais ramos.A monitoração da atividade da doença e o melhor esquema terapêutico ainda têm sido um desafio para todos os que tratam estes pacientes. Costicorteróides e imunossupressores vêm sendo utilizados na prática clínica diária com resultados nem sempre animadores. Apesar de não haver estudos controlados que abordem o tratamento da AT, diferentes estudos observacionais descrevem a resposta de pacientes com AT ao uso de corticosteróides, metotrexato (MTX), azatioprina e ciclofosfamida. Após a introdução da terapia biológica, novas perspectivas têm surgido para os pacientes com AT refratários aos esquemas terapêuticos tradicionais.

Pneumonia eosinofílica crônica: relato de um caso / Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a case report

Os autores relatam um caso de pneumonia eosinofílica crônica em um paciente de 59 anos de idade, do sexo masculino, com febre e tosse seca há 15 dias. Na história pregressa havia tabagismo e asma de início há 12 anos. A radiografia do tórax mostrou opacidades homogêneas periféricas nos terços superiores. A tomografia computadorizada do tórax demonstrava consolidaçöes periféricas com broncogramas aéreos na periferia dos lobos superiores dos pulmöes. O paciente foi submetido a biópsia "a céu aberto", com diagnóstico histológico de processo intersticial difuso com predomínio de eosinófilos. O paciente foi tratado com corticosteróides, observando-se normalizaçäo dos exames radiológicos após 20 dias