Artery of Percheron in the Differential Diagnosis of Acute Altered Mental Status.

Bilateral thalamic infarction is a rare entity (it occurs in 0.6% of ischemic strokes) and can be confused with other vascular etiologies such as basilar syndrome and deep cerebral venous thrombosis, as well as neoplasms, infections, or toxins. It is typically characterized by the triad of altered mental status, vertical gaze paralysis, and memory impairment, although their symptoms can be highly variable. We describe the case of a young man who came to the emergency department presenting diplopia, speech alteration, and decreased level of consciousness with frequent fluctuations. Baseline computerized tomography was normal, and because of the clinical findings, thrombolysis was performed. Subsequently made magnetic resonance showed a bilateral acute thalamic infarction caused by an obstruction of the Percheron artery. Although Percheron syndrome has been previously described in medical journals, our case is an unusual case in which we could perform an acute intravenous thrombolytic treatment. Besides, it is important for emergency physicians to enclose the Percheron syndrome in the differential diagnosis of coma in young people so that emergent treatments such as thrombolysis can be employed.

[Predictors of mean blood glucose control and its variability in diabetic hospitalized patients]. / Factores predictores del control glucémico promedio yde su variabilidad en pacientes diabéticos ingresadosen el hospital.

INTRODUCTION: This study was intended to assess the effectiveness and predictors factors of inpatient blood glucose control in diabetic patients admitted to medical departments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, analytical cohort study was conducted on patients discharged from internal medicine with a diagnosis related to diabetes. Variables collected included demographic characteristics, clinical data and laboratory parameters related to blood glucose control (HbA1c, basal plasma glucose, point-of-care capillary glucose). The cumulative probability of receiving scheduled insulin regimens was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate regression models were used to select predictors of mean inpatient glucose (MHG) and glucose variability (standard deviation [GV]). RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 228 patients (mean age 78.4 (SD 10.1) years, 51% women). Of these, 96 patients (42.1%) were treated with sliding-scale regular insulin only. Median time to start of scheduled insulin therapy was 4 (95% CI, 2-6) days. Blood glucose control measures were: MIG 181.4 (SD 41.7) mg/dL, GV 56.3 (SD 22.6). The best model to predict MIG (R(2): .376; P<.0001) included HbA1c (b=4.96; P=.011), baseline plasma glucose (b=.056; P=.084), mean capillary blood glucose in the first 24hours (b=.154; P<.0001), home treatment (versus oral agents) with basal insulin only (b=13.1; P=.016) or more complex (pre-mixed insulin or basal-bolus) regimens (b=19.1; P=.004), corticoid therapy (b=14.9; P=.002), and fasting on admission (b=10.4; P=.098). CONCLUSION: Predictors of inpatient blood glucose control which should be considered in the design of DM management protocols include home treatment, HbA1c, basal plasma glucose, mean blood glucose in the first 24hours, fasting, and corticoid therapy.

Alternativas terapéuticas para la insuficiencia cardíaca en los ancianos: [revisión] / Therapeutic alternatives for treating heart failure in elderly patients: [review]

La insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) es una importante causa de mortalidad en todo el mundo y el principal motivo de hospitalización de origen no quirúrgico en muchos países. Existe un gran número de variables predictivas acerca del pronóstico de pacientes con IC, una de ellas es la edad. Además, la comorbilidad por causa no cardíaca dificulta el tratamiento en un importante grupo de pacientes ancianos con IC y casi la mitad de los pacientes con síntomas de IC presenta una fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo conservada. Sin embargo, los ensayos clínicos en IC no se han centrado ni en el grupo de pacientes ancianos ni en aquellos con fracción de eyección conservada. Por esta razón no se han establecido recomendaciones específicas para este grupo. Este artículo revisará los estudios más importantes sobre IC realizados en los últimos años y analizará los resultados en pacientes de edad igual o superior a 65 años. Esta revisión incluye los betabloqueantes, inhibidores de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina, antagonistas del receptor de la angiotensina, antagonistas de los receptores de la aldosterona, nitratos más hidralazina, digoxina, estatinas, el desfibrilador automático implantable y la resincronización cardíaca.