Tratamiento exitoso del pioderma grangrenoso con metotrexate en paciente con enfermedad de Crohn / Successful treatment of gangrenous pyoderma with methotrexate in a patient with Crohn's disease

El pioderma gangrenoso (PG), es una dermatosis neutrofílica, cutáneo-ulcerativa, no infecciosa, que ocurre hasta en un 2% de los pacientes con enfermedad de Crohn (EC). Su aparición suele ser independiente del curso clínico de la EC. Las terapias más utilizadas han sido los corticoides sistémicos, la ciclosporina y la terapia biológica, los cuales han mostrado buenos resultados. El Metotrexate (MTX) es un fármaco antimetabolito con actividad antiinflamatoriaque se caracteriza por una dosificación semanal, un inicio de acción más rápida, con buen perfil de seguridad relacionado con neoplasias malignas y sobretodo un menor costo. Posee eficacia en la inducción de la remisión en pacientes con EC, sin embargo su eficacia en el manejo de manifestaciones extraintestinales como el PG es incierta. Presentamos el caso de un varón joven que acude a urgencias por diarrea crónica, pérdida de peso, y fiebre acompañado de un nódulo doloroso, eritematoso, situado a nivel pretibial compatible con PG en el contexto de EC. Fue manejado inicialmente con corticoides sistémicos sin mejoría. De tal forma, se inició terapia concomitante con MTX con respuesta clínica y analítica favorable. En conclusión, la terapia concomitante de cortiocoides sistémicos y MTX en pacientes con EC con PG podría suponer un tratamiento alternativo al no contar con disponibilidad de ciclosporina o terapia biológica en nuestro medio.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic, cutaneous-ulcerative, non-infectious dermatosis that occurs in up to 2% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Its appearance is usually independent of the clinical course of CD. The most used therapies have been systemic corticosteroids, cyclosporine and biological therapy, which have shown good results. Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite drug with anti-inflammatory activity characterized by a weekly dosage, a faster onset of action, with a good safety profile related to malignant neoplasms and, above all, a lower cost. It is effective in the induction of remission in patients with CD, however its efficacy in the management of extraintestinal manifestations such as PG is uncertain. We present the case of a young man who comes to the emergency room with an history of chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and fever accompanied by a painful, erythematous nodule, located at the lower extremity compatible with PG in the context of CD. It was initially managed with systemic corticosteroids without improvement. Concomitant therapy with MTX was started with a favorable clinical outcome. In conclusion, the concomitant therapy of systemic corticosteroids and MTX in patients with CD with PG could be an alternative treatment in cases where cyclosporine or biological therapy is not available.

Early transconjunctival needling revision with 5-fluorouracil versus medical treatment in encapsulated blebs: a 12-month prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of transconjunctival needling revision with 5-fluorouracil versus medical treatment in glaucomatous eyes with uncontrolled intraocular pressure due to encapsulated bleb after trabeculectomy. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, interventional study. A total of 40 eyes in 39 patients with elevated intraocular pressure and encapsulated blebs diagnosed at a maximum five months after primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C were included. The eyes were randomized to either transconjunctival needling revision with 5- fluorouracil or medical treatment (hypotensive eyedrops). A maximum of two transconjunctival needling revisions per patient was allowed in the needling arm. All patients underwent follow-up for 12 months. Successful treatment was defined as an intraocular pressure ≤ 18 mmHg and a 20% reduction from baseline at the final follow-up. Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT01887223. RESULTS: Mean intraocular pressure at the final 12-month follow-up was lower in the transconjunctival needling revision group compared to the medical treatment group. Similar numbers of eyes reached the criteria for treatment success in both the transconjunctival needling revision group and the medical treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar success rates in eyes randomized to transconjunctival needling revision with 5-fluorouracil compared to eyes receiving medical treatment, there was a significantly lower mean intraocular pressure at 12 months after transconjunctival needling revision. .

Terapia cognitivo-comportamental no transtorno de pânico / Cognitive-behavioral therapy in panic disorder

OBJETIVO: O transtorno de pânico é uma condição crônica e recorrente que prejudica a qualidade de vida e o funcionamento psicossocial dos portadores. Embora os medicamentos sejam efetivos na redução dos ataques de pânico, muitos pacientes não respondem adequadamente a essas intervenções. A terapia cognitivo-comportamental fornece um método alternativo eficaz para tratar transtorno de pânico e evitação agorafóbica. O objetivo do estudo é o de descrever o uso de técnicas cognitivo-comportamentais no tratamento do transtorno de pânico. MÉTODO: Revisão narrativa a partir dos bancos de dados do Medline, SciELO e PsycInfo e de livros-texto especializados. RESULTADOS: Foram descritos os fundamentos da terapia cognitivo-comportamental no tratamento do transtorno pânico e revisadas as evidências de eficácia em curto e longo prazos. O uso de medicação concomitante a terapia cognitivo-comportamental foi também discutido. CONCLUSÕES: A terapia cognitivo-comportamental individual ou em grupo é eficaz para pacientes com transtorno de pânico, seja como tratamento de primeira linha ou como um próximo passo para pacientes com resposta parcial a outros tratamentos.

OBJECTIVE: Panic disorder is a chronic and recurrent condition that impairs an individual's psychosocial functioning and quality of life. Despite the efficacy of psychopharmacological treatment in reducing panic attacks, many patients fail to respond adequately to these interventions. Cognitive behavioral therapy provides an alternative and efficacious method for treating panic disorder and agoraphobic avoidance. The objective of the study is to describe the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder. METHOD: Narrative review of data collected from Medline, SciELO and PsycInfo and specialized textbooks. RESULTS: We describe the cognitive-behavioral model for the treatment of panic disorder, and review both short and long-term efficacy findings. We also discuss the role of combined treatment (cognitive behavioral therapy and psychopharmacology). CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive behavioral therapy, either individual or in group, can be used as first-line therapy for panic disorder. This treatment modality can also be indicated as a next step for patients failing to respond to other treatments.

Effect of allopurinol in chronic nonbacterial prostatitis: a double blind randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION: The exact mechanism of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis has not been yet elucidated and the outcome with the current management is dismal. In this trial, we studied the effect of allopurinol in the treatment of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized double blind controlled trial, a calculated sample size of 56 were grouped into "intervention group" who received allopurinol (100 mg tds for 3 months) with ofloxacin (200 mg tds) for 3 weeks (n = 29) and "control group" who received placebo tablets with ofloxacin (n = 27). PatientsÆ scores based on the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Score were recorded before therapy and then every month during the study. A four-glass study was performed before intervention and after 3 months. RESULTS: The 2 groups were similar regarding outcome variables. In the first month of study, a significant but similar improvement in symptom scores was observed in both groups. Microscopic examination of prostate massage and post-massage samples were also similar in both groups. No side effects due to allopurinol were observed in patients. CONCLUSION: We did not find any advantage for allopurinol in the management of chronic prostatitis versus placebo in patients receiving routine antibacterial treatment.