Lack of effect of glutamine administration to boost the innate immune system response in trauma patients in the intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION: The use of glutamine as a dietary supplement is associated with a reduced risk of infection. We hypothesized that the underlying mechanism could be an increase in the expression and/or functionality of Toll-like receptors (TLR), key receptors sensing infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether glutamine supplementation alters the expression and functionality of TLR2 and TLR4 in circulating monocytes of trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We designed a prospective, randomized and single-blind study. Twenty-three patients received parenteral nutrition (TPN) with a daily glutamine supplement of 0.35 g/kg. The control group (20 patients) received an isocaloric-isonitrogenated TPN. Blood samples were extracted before treatment, at 6 and 14 days. Expression of TLR2 and TLR4 was determined by flow cytometry. Monocytes were stimulated with TLR specific agonists and cytokines were measured in cell culture supernatants. Phagocytic ability of monocytes was also determined. RESULTS: Basal characteristics were similar in both groups. Monocytes from patients treated with glutamine expressed the same TLR2 levels as controls before treatment (4.9 ± 3.5 rmfi vs. 4.3 ± 1.9 rmfi, respectively; P = 0.9), at Day 6 (3.8 ± 2.3 rmfi vs. 4.0 ± 1.7 rmfi, respectively; P = 0.7) and at Day 14 (4.1 ± 2.1 rfim vs. 4.6 ± 1.9 rmfi, respectively; P = 0.08). TLR4 levels were not significantly different between the groups before treatment: (1.1 ± 1 rmfi vs 0.9 ± 0.1 rmfi respectively; P = 0.9), at Day 6 (1.1 ± 1 rmfi vs. 0.7 ± 0.4 rmfi respectively; P = 0.1) and at Day 14 (1.4 ± 1.9 rmfi vs. 1.0 ± 0.6 rmfi respectively; P = 0.8). No differences in cell responses to TLR agonists were found between groups. TLR functionality studied by phagocytosis did not vary between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In trauma patients in the intensive care unit, TPN supplemented with glutamine does not improve the expression or the functionality of TLRs in peripheral blood monocytes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01250080.

Enfermedad de Fabry en España: primer análisis de la respuesta al tratamiento de sustitución enzimática / Fabry disease in Spain: first analysis of the response to enzyme replacement therapy

Fundamento y objetivo: La enfermedad de Fabry es un trastorno lisosómico con herencia ligada al cromosoma X debido a una deficiencia de alfagalactosidasa A, lo que produce una acumulación progresiva de globotriaosilceramida (Gb3), que ocasiona disfunción multiorgánica y muerte temprana. Desde hace pocos años disponemos de tratamiento de sustitución enzimática (TSE) y la base de datos Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS) de España brinda la oportunidad de estudiar su efectividad. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir la seguridad del TSE con agalsidasa alfa y su eficacia en el riñón, el corazón y en el dolor. Pacientes y método: Se analizan los efectos a 1, 2, 3 y 4 años del TSE con agalsidasa alfa sobre la función renal (evaluada mediante la estimación de la filtración glomerular), proteinuria, tamaño cardíaco (evaluado mediante ecocardiografía), arritmias, anomalías valvulares cardíacas y dolor (evaluado mediante la necesidad de tratamiento antiálgico concomitante) en 33 pacientes que recibieron TSE. Asimismo se evalúa la seguridad del TSE. Resultados: El tratamiento con agalsidasa alfa estabilizó la función renal, aunque el resultado depende de la situación al inicio del TSE. Existe una tendencia a la estabilización de la función renal en los pacientes con deterioro leve de ésta, una tendencia a la mejoría en aquellos con deterioro moderado y al empeoramiento en aquellos con deterioro grave. La proteinuria y el grosor del ventrículo izquierdo también se estabilizan con TSE y mejora el dolor. Se objetiva una incidencia del 0,7% de reacciones adversas relacionadas con la infusión del tratamiento. Conclusiones: El TSE con agalsidasa alfa es seguro y estabiliza la alteración orgánica objetivada en los pacientes con enfermedad de Fabry

Background and objective: Fabry disease is a X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by a deficient activity of the enzyme alfa-galactosidase A. Lack of enzyme activity results in progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) leading to multiorgan dysfunction and early death. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has recently become available and the database Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS) of Spain gives us the opportunity to asses the efficacy of this therapy. Our objective is to describe the safety and the effects on renal, cardiac and neurological (pain) aspects of ERT with agalsidase alfa. Patients and method: The effects of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years of ERT with agalsidase alfa on renal function (assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate), proteinuria, heart size (assessed by echocardiography), arrhythmias, cardiac valvular anomalies and pain (assessed by the need of concomitant pain therapy) were analyzed in 33 patients under treatment. Safety of ERT was assessed by the reported infusion-related reactions in FOS. Results: Overall, treatment with agalsidase alfa stabilized renal function, but the final result depends on the onset of ERT: there is a tendency to stabilization of renal function in those patients with mild deterioration of renal function, a tendency to improve in those patients with moderate deterioration and to worse in those with severe deterioration of renal function. Proteinuria and left ventricular heart size also estabilized under ERT, and pain improved. TSE infusion-related reactions occurred with an incidence of 0.7%. Conclusions: ERT with agalsidase alfa is safe and stabilized the abnormal clinical parameters observed in patients with Fabry disease