Coriorretinopatia de Birdshot: relato de caso e perspectivas sobre o tratamento / Birdshot chorioretinopathy: a case report and perspectives on its treatment

RESUMO A coriorretinopatia de Birdshot é uma uveíte posterior bilateral crônica rara que acomete, preferencialmente, mulheres de meia-idade. O quadro clínico é composto de pouco ou nenhum processo inflamatório de segmento anterior, associado a vitreíte e lesões coriorretinianas ovoides branco-amareladas de característica hiperfluorescente na angiofluoresceinografia e hipofluorescente na angiografia com indocianina verde. O tratamento se dá por meio de corticoides e outras drogas imunossupressoras. Todavia, em alguns casos, a doença é refratária a tal terapêutica, sendo necessário lançar mão de outras drogas, como os agentes biológicos. O presente artigo busca relatar um caso de coriorretinopatia de Birdshot em ajuste de terapia imunossupressora que evoluiu com má resposta às drogas iniciais e bom controle após uso de imunobiológico e discutir as opções terapêuticas disponíveis atualmente.

ABSTRACT Birdshot chorioretinopathy is a rare chronic bilateral posterior uveitis that preferentially affects middle-aged women. The clinical picture is composed of little or no anterior segment inflammatory process, associated with vitritis and yellowish-white ovoid chorioretinal lesions with hyperfluorescent characteristics on fluorescein angiography and hypofluorescent characteristics on green indocyanine green angiography. Treatment is with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs. However, in some cases, the disease is refractory to such therapy, making it necessary to resort to other drugs such as biological agents. The present article seeks to report a case of Birdshot chorioretinopathy in an adjustment of immunosuppressive therapy that evolved with poor response to the initial drugs and good control after the use of immunobiologicals and discuss the currently available therapeutic options.

Pancreatitis autoinmune en pediatría. Caso clínico / Autoimmune pancreatitis in children. Clinical case

La pancreatitis recurrente ocurre en el 15-35% en la edad pediátrica. Se define como 2 o más episodios distintos de pancreatitis aguda con normalización de enzimas pancreáticas entre cada episodio. Una de sus causas es la pancreatitis autoinmune. En los últimos 10 años se controlaron, en el Hospital Garrahan, 10 pacientes con diagnóstico de pancreatitis recurrente, de los cuales solo uno tuvo diagnóstico de pancreatitis autoinmune. Se describe el caso clínico de una paciente, que, inicialmente, tenía estudios normales de función y anatomía pancreática y, en la evolución, luego de un episodio de pancreatitis aguda, desarrolló estenosis del conducto de Wirsung sugestiva de pancreatitis autoinmune. Se considera importante describir esta patología infrecuente en pediatría, pero que se encuentra en auge.

Introduction. Recurrent pancreatitis occurs in children between 15 and 35% of the cases. It is defined as two or more separate episodes of acute pancreatitis with normalization of the pancreatic enzymes between episodes. One of the causes is autoimmune pancreatitis. Over the last 10 years, 10 patients with recurrent pancreatitis were sent at our center. Only one was considered to have autoimmune pancreatitis. We described a clinical case about a patient, who had, at the beginning, normal functional and anatomical studies, and then was finally diagnosed with autoimmune disease based on findings on the magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with a duct of Wirsung abnormality. We considered important to describe this uncommon disorder in childhood, in spite of having an increasing incidence.

Pure red cell aplasia and anti-erythropoietin antibodies in patients on hemodialysis: a report of two cases and a literature review / Aplasia pura de células vermelhas e anticorpo antieritropoietina em pacientes de hemodiálise: relato de dois casos e revisão da literatura

ABSTRACT Introduction: Anemia is a frequent multifactorial complication of CKD seen in patients on dialysis derived mainly from impaired erythropoietin (EPO) production. A less common cause of anemia in individuals with CKD is pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) secondary to the production of anti-EPO antibodies. Objective: This paper aimed two describe two cases of PRCA secondary to the production of anti-EPO antibodies including choice of treatment, patient progression, and a literature review. Materials: This study included the cases of two patients with CKD on hemodialysis with severe anemia in need of specific investigation and management. Results: Patient 1 with CKD secondary to hypertension treated with EPO for 7 months showed persistent decreases in hemoglobin (Hb) levels despite the subcutaneous administration of increasing doses of EPO; the patient required recurring blood transfusions. Workup and imaging tests were negative for the main causes of anemia in individuals with CKD on dialysis. Patient 2 with CKD secondary to adult polycystic kidney disease had been taking EPO for 2 years. The patient developed severe abrupt anemia the month he was started on HD, and required recurring transfusions to treat the symptoms of anemia. Workup and imaging findings were inconclusive. Specific laboratory tests confirmed the patients had anti-EPO antibodies. After six months of immunosuppressant therapy (corticosteroids + cyclosporine) the patients were stable with Hb > 9.0 g/dl. Conclusion: PRCA is a rare condition among patients on dialysis treated with rhEPO and should be considered as a possible cause of refractory anemia. Treating patients with PRCA may be challenging, since the specific management and diagnostic procedures needed in this condition are not always readily available.

RESUMO Introdução: Anemia é complicação frequente da Doença Renal Crônica (DRC) em pacientes dialíticos. Apresenta caráter multifatorial principalmente pela insuficiente produção de eritropoietina (EPO). Situação rara causadora de anemia na DRC é Aplasia Pura de Células Vermelhas (APCV), em decorrência da produção de anticorpos anti-EPO. Objetivo: Descrever 2 casos de APCV com formação de anticorpos anti-EPO, sua abordagem clínica, evolução e revisão de literatura. Métodos: Dois pacientes em hemodiálise que desenvolveram anemia grave, necessitando investigação e manejo específico. Resultados: Paciente nº 1: feminina, 75 anos, DRC secundária à hipertensão arterial. Após 7 meses com EPO desenvolveu queda persistente em valores de hemoglobina (Hb) mesmo com incremento em doses EPO SC, necessitando transfusões de sangue recorrentes. Extensa investigação laboratorial e de imagem resultou negativa para principais causas de anemia. Paciente nº 2: masculino, 66 anos, DRC secundária à DRPA, há 2 anos em uso de EPO. No mês de entrada em HD desenvolveu anemia severa, também exigindo transfusões recorrentes para tratamento da anemia sintomática. Extensa investigação laboratorial e por imagem, sem chegar a uma conclusão definitiva. Em ambos os casos a presença de anticorpos anti-EPO foi confirmada por exames laboratoriais específicos. Terapia imunossupressora resultou em estabilização do quadro e Hb > 9,0 g/dl em ambos os pacientes, 6 meses após início do tratamento. Conclusão: APCV é condição rara entre pacientes dialíticos que recebem EPOHuR e deve ser lembrada como causa de anemia refratária. Seu manejo específico e diagnóstico laboratorial nem sempre acessível, tornando desafiadora a condução dos casos para o nefrologista.

Decreased health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis / Redução na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em crianças e adolescentes com hepatite autoimune

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis. Methods: A cross-sectional assessment with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) was completed for 80 patients with autoimmune hepatitis and 45 healthy controls. Demographic data, prednisone dose, disease remission state, disease severity, and abdominal pain were also evaluated. Results: Based on the child self-reports, physical, emotional, school, and total scores were significantly lower in autoimmune hepatitis patients when compared with controls (p < 0.05). Based on the parental reports, only the physical and total scores were significantly lower in autoimmune hepatitis patients versus controls (p < 0.05). Further analysis in autoimmune hepatitis patients with abdominal pain in the last month revealed significantly lower physical, social, and total median scores (p < 0.05). No differences were observed based on disease remission state or disease severity (p > 0.05). Autoimmune hepatitis patients who received a prednisone dose below 0.16 mg/kg/day at the time of the interview showed significantly higher physical scores than those who received a dose similar to or above 0.16 mg/kg/day (87.5 [50-100] vs. 75 [15.63-100], p = 0.006). Conclusions: Reduced scores in the physical, emotional, and school domains were observed in pediatric autoimmune hepatitis patients compared to control patients. Abdominal pain and corticosteroid dose negatively influenced the health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em crianças e adolescentes com hepatite autoimune (HAI). Métodos: Foi concluída uma avaliação transversal com o Inventário Pediátrico de Qualidade de Vida 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) para 80 pacientes com hepatite autoimune e 45 controles saudáveis. Os dados demográficos, a dose de prednisona, o estado de remissão da doença, a gravidade da doença e dor abdominal também foram avaliados. Resultados: Com base nos autorrelatos das crianças, os escores físico, emocional, escolar e total foram significativamente menores em pacientes com hepatite autoimune em comparação com os controles (p < 0,05). Com base nos relatos dos pais, apenas os escores físico e total foram significativamente menores em pacientes com hepatite autoimune em comparação com os controles (p < 0,05). Uma análise adicional em pacientes com hepatite autoimune com dor abdominal no mês passado revelou escores médios físico, social e total significativamente menores (p < 0,05). Nenhuma diferença foi observada com base no estado de remissão da doença ou na gravidade da doença (p > 0,05). Os pacientes com hepatite autoimune que receberam uma dose de prednisona abaixo de 0,16 mg/kg/dia no momento da entrevista mostraram escores físicos significativamente maiores que os que receberam uma dose semelhante ou acima de 0,16 mg/kg/dia [87,5 (50-100) em comparação com 75 (15,63-100), p = 0,006]. Conclusões: Escores reduzidos nos domínios físico, emocional e escolar foram observados em pacientes pediátricos com hepatite autoimune em comparação com pacientes do grupo de controle. Dor abdominal e dose de corticosteroide influenciaram negativamente a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em crianças e adolescentes com hepatite autoimune.

Therapy of tacrolimus combined with corticosteroids in idiopathic membranous nephropathy

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) combined with corticosteroids in treating patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). One hundred seventy-seven biopsy-proven IMN patients were recruited in this retrospective clinical study. Sixty patients received TAC (target blood concentration of 4–8 ng/mL) and 117 patients received daily cyclophosphamide (CYC, 100 mg) combined with prednisone. Remission rates at the end of the first, second and third month in the TAC group were significantly higher than that in the CYC group (1st: 35.0 vs 19.7%, P<0.05; 2nd: 56.7 vs 38.5%, P<0.05; 3rd: 76.7 vs 59.0%, P<0.05). In the first 3 months, daily urinary protein and serum albumin in the TAC group obtained a better improvement than that in the CYC group (P<0.05). At the end of the sixth and the twelfth month, the remission rates, daily urinary protein and serum albumin were all comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). No significant difference of relapse rate between the groups was found (16.3 vs 12.0%, P>0.05). Patients were more likely to develop glucose intolerance in the TAC group. The TAC regimen obtained more benefits in treating IMN patients, especially in the first 3 months, than the CYC regimen.

Policondrite recidivante: uma rara manifestação de bloqueioatrioventricular / Relapsing polychondritis: a rare manifestation of atrioventricular block

A policondrite recidivante é uma doença rara, multissistêmica, de etiologia desconhecida, provavelmenteautoimune, que acomete estruturas cartilaginosas e tecidos ricos em proteoglicanos. Orelha, nariz, articulações e árvore traqueobrônquica são os locais mais afetados durante os surtos inflamatórios, ocasionando destruição tecidual, deformidades permanentes e complicações respiratórias. Menos comumente, afeta olhos, coração e vasos sanguíneos.O diagnóstico é essencialmente clínico e o tratamento envolve o uso de corticoides e imunossupressores. Relatamos um caso de policondrite recidivante, em que a manifestação do segundo surto da doença ocorreu por meio de bloqueio atrioventricular com recuperação da condução cardíaca após tratamento com corticoide...

The relapsing polychondritis is a rare, multisystem disease, whose etiology is unknown. It is probably autoimmune and affects cartilaginous structures and proteoglycan-rich tissues. The ear, nose, joints and tracheobronchial tree are the most affected sites during inflammatory outbreaks causing tissue destruction,permanent deformities and respiratory complications. Less commonly, it affects the eyes, heart and blood vessels. The diagnosis is essentially clinical and treatment involves the use of steroids and immunosuppressive agents.We report a case of relapsing polychondritis where the second outbreak of the disease was manifested by na atrioventricular block with recovery of cardiac conduction after treatment with steroids...

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp successfully treated with oral prednisone and topical tacrolimus / Dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo tratada com sucesso com prednisona oral e tacrolimus topico

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp is a rare inflammatory disorder of the scalp, affecting elderly patients after local trauma and leading to scarring or cicatricial alopecia. Case Report: An elderly female patient complained of painful pustules on the parietal region bilaterally with progressive enlargement and ulceration. A biopsy suggested erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp and the patient was treated with prednisone 40 mg/day and 0.1% topical tacrolimus. After 10 weeks complete closure of the eroded areas was observed and a stable scarring alopecia developed.

A dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo é uma doença inflamatória rara do couro cabeludo, de ocorrência preferencial em pacientes idosos após trauma local e com evolução para alopecia cicatricial. O caso relatado é de uma paciente idosa feminina que iniciou com pústulas dolorosas em região parietal bilateral com aumento das lesões e exulceração local. Após o diagnóstico histológico de dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo, foi iniciada prednisona 40 mg/dia e tacrolimus 0,1% tópico. Após 10 semanas evoluiu com cicatrização completa das áreas erosadas e alopecia cicatricial.

Comparación entre CHOP-like y R-CHOP en pacientes con linfoma no Hodgkin difuso de grandes células B y folicular: 10 años de experiencia del Hospital de Clínicas de Montevideo, Uruguay / Comparison between CHOP-like and R-CHOP in diffuse large B cell and follicular lymphoma

Background: The most common types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are diffuse large B cell (DLBCL) and follicular (FL). Aim: To analyze the benefit ofRituxi-mab in overall survival (OS) of patients with NHL. Material and Methods: Review of medical record of 230 adult patients with afirst episode of NHL admitted between 2002 and 2011. We included 67 patients with DLBCL and 36 patients with FL. Results: The overall response (OR) was 64% with 39% complete remissions (CR) in DLBCL treated with CHOP-like and 100% with 89% CR with R-CHOP. The median OS with CHOP-like was 21 months versus not attained R-CHOP (p = 0.016). There was a statistically significant difference in median event-free survival (EvFS) in favor of R-CHOP: not attained versus 8.3 months for CHOP-like (log rank (p = 0.002)). In FL, the OR in patients treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like was 85%) with 54% CR. With CHOP-like the OR was 59%> with 18% CR. The OS at 24 and 36 months in patients treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like was 83 and 65%. The figures for patients treated with CHOP-like were 80 and 66%> respectively. The progression free survival (PFS) was 21 months with CHOP-like versus not attained with R-QT (p = 0,043). Conclusions: When Rituximab was added to CHOP, there was a higher CR, EvFS and OS in DLBCL and higher CR and PFS in FL.

Pure neural leprosy: steroids prevent neuropathy progression

Multidrug therapy (MDT), with rifampicin, dapsone, and clofazimine, treats leprosy infection but is insufficient in arresting or preventing the nerve damage that causes impairments and disabilities. This case-series study evaluates the benefits of the combined use of steroids and MDT in preventing nerve damage in patients with pure neural leprosy (PNL). In addition to MDT, 24 patients (88 percent male aged 20-79 years, median=41) received a daily morning dose of 60 mg prednisone (PDN) that was gradually reduced by 10 mg during each of the following 5 months. PNL was clinically diagnosed and confirmed by nerve histopathology or PCR. A low prevalence (8.3 percent) of reaction was observed after release from treatment. However, most of the clinical parameters showed significant improvement; and a reduction of nerve conduction block was observed in 42 percent of the patients. The administration of full-dose PDN improved the clinical and electrophysiological condition of the PNL patients, contributing to the prevention of further neurological damage.

A poliquimioterapia (PQT), com rifampicina, dapsona, e clofazimina, trata a infecção na hanseníase, mas é insuficiente para interromper ou prevenir o comprometimento neurológico que causa as incapacidades e desabilidades, nesta enfermidade. Este estudo de série de casos avalia o benefício do uso combinado de prednisona e PQT na prevenção do dano neurológico em pacientes com a forma neural pura da hanseníase (FNP). Além do PQT, 24 pacientes (88 por cento homens, com idade variando entre 20-79, mediana=41) receberam uma dose diária de 60 mg prednisona que foi reduzida gradualmente na dose de 10 mg durante cada um dos 5 meses subseqüentes. FNP foi diagnosticada clinicamente e confirmada através do estudo histopatológico ou PCR. Baixa prevalência de reação (8,3 por cento) foi observada apenas após o final do tratamento. A maioria dos parâmetros clínicos mostrou melhora significativa e redução do bloqueio de condução foi observada em 42 por cento dos pacientes. A administração de doses altas de prednisona melhora a evolução clínica e eletrofisiológica de pacientes com a FNP de hanseníase, contribuindo na prevenção de novos comprometimentos neurológicos.

Linfoma de Hodkin en Chile: Experiencia de 15 años del Programa Nacional de Cáncer del Adulto / Hodgkin lymphoma in Chile: Experience of the national adult cancer program

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly curable disease. Aim: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and the treatment results of Hodgkin lymphoma patients of the National Cancer Program in Chile. Patients and methods: Prospective assessment of 682 patients treated in 18 adult cancer centers. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. Median follow up was 127, 95, 87, 72 and 50 months for C-MOPP, radiotherapy (RT), C-MOPP/ABV, NOVP and ABVD, respectively. Results: Median age was 37 years (15-84). Nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity were equally expressed. Advanced stages (III & IV) were present at diagnosis in 61 percent of cases. Age over 40 was an adverse prognostic factor (p <0.001). The rate of PFS at 5 and 10 years for early stages was 73 percent and 66 percent with RT, 80 percent and 74 percent with C-MOPP+RT, 73 percent and 71 percent with C-MOPP/ABV, 59 percent and 59 percent with NOVP+RT, and 81 percent with ABVD+RT, at 5 years, being significantly lower for NOVP (p =0.02). The rate of OS at 5 and 10 years for advanced stages was 82 percent and 70 percent with RT, 82 percent and 76 percent with C-MOPP+RT, 82 percent and 80 percent with C-MOPP/ABV, 68 percent and 60 percent with NOVP, and 85 percent with ABVD at 5 years, also significantly lower for NOVP (p =0.04). For advanced stages, the rate of PFS at 5 and 10 years was 49 percent and 43 percent with C-MOPP, 69 percent and 62 percent with C-MOPP/ABVD or C-MOPP/ABV, and 71 percent at 5 years with ABVD, significantly lower for C-MOPP (p =0.01). The rate of OS at 5 and 10 years was 52 percent and 46 percent with C-MOPP, 70 percent and 63 percent with C-MOPP/ABVD or C-MOPP/ABV and 76 percent with ABVD at 5 years, significantly lower for C-MOPP (p =0.0002). Conclusions: Age over 40 years was an adverse prognostic factor. C-MOPP/ABVD, C-MOPP/ABV and ABVD had comparable results and reached a high tumor control and overall survival in both early...

Resultados a largo plazo del tratamiento con quimioterapia y radioterapia en linfoma no Hodgking localizado, de grados intermedio y alto / Long term results for intermediate and high grade localized non Hodgkin lymphoma, treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Background: Treatment of intermediate and high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) includes chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy, depending on the clinical stage. The standard treatment for advanced NHL is 8 cycles of combined chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide, adriamicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP). Patients presenting with localized disease are treated with fewer chemotherapy cycles and involved field radiotherapy, with good results. Aim: To evaluate the treatment results including overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) in localized aggressive NHL patients treated at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Clinical Hospital. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients with Ann Arbor stages I and II referred to the hematology and radiotherapy clinic between 1998 and 2003. OS and EFS analysis was made according to the Kaplan and Meier method. Log-rank and Cox methods were used for univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy toxicities were scored according to World Health Organization (WHO) and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scales, respectively. Results: 39 patients (20 men), aged between 20 to 85 years, were the source for this study. The average follow-up was 51 months (range 6-115). The 5 years OS and EFS were 72,4 percent and 63,3 percent, respectively. On univariate analysis, age over 60 was the only variable that affected negatively OS and EFS. Acute toxicity caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy was uncommon. Conclusions: Age over 60 was the only independent variable associated with poor prognosis. The number of chemotherapy cycles and the drug combination did not influence the results. These results support the usefullness of a shortened chemotherapy regimen plus involved field radiotherapy.

Recaídas de artritis crónica juvenil luego de la suspensión de atenercept / Flares in juvenile chronic artritis after withdrawal of etanercept

Introducción. El etanercept es un medicamento bloqueante del factor de necrosis tumoral de probada eficacia y seguridad en el tratamiento de la artritis crónica juvenil de curso poliarticular refractariaal tratamiento con otros fármacos, comometotrexato. Sin embargo, se desconoce qué ocurrecon la actividad de la enfermedad luego de la suspensión de etanercept en pacientes que responden al tratamiento. Objetivo. Describir la evolución de la artritis crónica juvenil de curso poliarticular en pacientes que mejoraron con etanercept y que posteriormente suspendieron el tratamiento. Población, material y métodos. Se evaluaron pacientes con artritis crónica juvenil de curso poliarticular refractaria al metotrexato que recibieron etanercepty mejoraron. Se incluyeron los pacientes que debieron suspender el tratamiento con etanercept porcausas no médicas.Se evaluaron en sucesivas visitas diferentes indicadores clínicos de actividad y la eritrosedimentación; se definieron, además, mejoría y recaída. Se compararon los valores de esos indicadores en lasvisitas inmediatamente anteriores y posteriores a lasuspensión de etanercept...

Introduction. Etanercept is a drug that blocks tumor necrosis factor-alpha, of proven efficacy and safety in the treatment of polyarticular juvenile chronic arthritis refractory to other treatments, such as methotrexate. However, disease activity after discontinuation in patients who respond to etanercept is unknown. Objective. To describe the clinical course of polyarticular course juvenile chronic arthritis in patients who responded to etanercept and subsequently discontinued the treatment. Population, materials and methods. Patients with polyarticular juvenile chronic arthritis refractory to methotrexate who received etanercept and experienced an improvement. Patients who had to discontinue treatment with etanercept for nonmedical reasons were included. Several clinical measures of activity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were assessed in consecutive visits; definitions of improvement and relapse were provided. Comparisons of the values of these measures were done between visits recorded before and after etanercept withdrawal. Results. Of 20 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (17 with systemic onset, 2 with polyarticular onset, and 1 with oligoarticular onset) who reached improvement with etanercept treatment, 7 (all with systemic arthritis) had to discontinue this treatment 5.5 months after its initiation. In all cases, interruption of treatment was due to social security termination of drug supply. These 7 patients showed relapse within one month after etanercept withdrawal. In all cases, the relapse was especially characterized by an increase in the number of swollen joints, the number of joints with limitation in range of motion, and in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Reappearance of fever and cutaneous rash was observed in one patient. Of the 13 patients who did not suspend treatment with etanercept, 6 showed relapses (all had systemic onset arthritis). Conclusions. Withdrawal of etanercept treatment in patients with...

Treatment of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus: experience with 71 patients over a 20 year period

Forty one cases of pemphigus vulgaris and thirty cases of pemphigus foliaceus were investigated at Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho from 1978 to 1999. They were divided into two treatment groups: one group received up to 100 mg of oral prednisone daily and the other group received >120 mg daily. The dose up to 100 mg provided good initial control of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus and did not increase the mortality rate associated to disease. The dose >120 mg induced higher morbidity. These data allowed us to establish a regimen of oral prednisone (1-2 mg/kg/daily) with maximum of 120 mg daily in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus

Efeito protetor do benznidazol contra a reativaçäo parasitária em pacientes cronicamente infectados pelo Trypanosoma cruzi e tratados com corticóide em virtude de afecçöes associadas / Benznidazol as a prophylactic drug to prevent reactivation in chronic chagasic patients treated with corticoid for associated diseases

Pacientes na fase crônica da doença de Chagas foram tratados com corticóide em virtude de afecçöes associadas e, a fim de tentar coibir reativaçäo da infecçäo pelo Trypanosoma cruzi, houve administraçäo o benznidazol, iniciada concomitantemente em um grupo de 12 pacientes, ou 15 dias após o começo do uso aquele medicamento em outro grupo de 6. Levando em conta o verificado em pesquisa anterior, quando corticóide de fato promoveu aumento da parasitemia, como ainda valorirando os resultados de xenodiagnóstico, pôde ser notado que o benznidazol mostrou-se apto a evitar a citada acentuaçäo parasitária, podendo tal constataçäo ser útil em procedimentos assistenciais, quando estiverem presentes doença de Chagas e imunodepressäo

Influência de corticóide, na Doença de Chagas crônica, administrado em virtude de afecçöes associadas / Corticosteroid influence on chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infected patients, administered by virtue of associated diseases

Individuos acometidos de doença de Chagas em fase crônica foram tratados com corticóide, em virtude de afecçöes concomitantes. A fim de avaliar repercussöes sobre a infecçäo devida ao Trypanosoma cruzi, houve adoçäo de procedimentos de várias ordens, representados por métodos referentes à parasitose, exames inespecíficos e subsídios clínico, eletrocardiográfico e radiológico, tendo também sido mantido, para comparaçäo, grupo controle. Através do xenodiagnóstico ficou constatada a acentuaçäo da parasitemia, diretamente relacionada com a dose de corticóide, sem influência na evoluçäo da enfermidade parasitária, pelo menos durante o período no qual ocorreu a investigaçäo

Tratamiento de niños con hepatitis B crónica con interferón alfa 2b: comunicación preliminar / Interferon alfa-2B in the treatment of children with chronic hepatitis B: preliminary comunication

Se estudiaron 9 pacientes con hepatitis crónica B, con una edad media de 7 años 9 meses, los cuales presentaban AgeHB y ADN-HVB positivos. Se incluyeron en un protocolo mediante randomización en bloque, diferenciándose en grupos. El grupo A recibió previamente prednisona y el grupo B interferón (IFN) solo. Ambos grupos recibieron IFN alfa-2b a 3 millones de unidades por metro cuadrado de superficie corporal (MU/m²SC), 3 veces por semana durante 4 meses. Al final del tratamiento se negativizarón el AgeHB y ADN-HVB en 4/5 en el grupo A. En el grupo B todos positivos en el control realizado a los 4 meses. Estos datos sugieren que el tratamiento combinado de esteroides-IFN aumenta la eficiencia del IFN en el tratamiento de niños con hepatitis B crónica

Aspectos obstétricos y perinatales en trasplantadas renales / Obstetrical and perinatal aspects in renal transplanted women

En este estudio se analizan 14 mujeres embarazadas trasplantadas renales, con control y resolución de su embarazo en nuestro Servicio. Cinco de ellas con más de un embarazo. El promedio de latencia al inicio de la gestación es de 39,3 meses. En relación a la PA, el 73 por ciento presentaba cifras en rango aceptable previo al embarazo y el 28 por ciento evoluciona en el puerperio con PA sobre 140/90. En los casos en que el embarazo se prolonga pasado el primer trimestre, se produjo un 93 por ciento de éxito, hubo 41 por ciento prematuros, 38 por ciento RCIU y 10 por ciento abortos. La resolución del embarazo fue por cesárea en un 83 por ciento