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Toxidermia Liquenóide Associada ao Esomeprazol
No full textIntroduction: Lichenoid drug eruption (LDE) is an uncommon cutaneous drug reaction (CDR) that has classically been associated with anti-hypertensive drugs, gold, and penicillamine. Case presentation: We present the case of a 63-year-old woman who developed a pruriginous disseminated dermatosis composed of violaceous polygonal flat-topped papules affecting the flexural aspects of the upper and lower limbs, abdominal flanks, and the lumbar and sacral regions. The lesions started 2 weeks after initiating esomeprazole intake. A histopathological exam of one of the lesions was compatible with LDE. The patient discontinued esomeprazole and was treated with medium potency topical corticosteroids and emollient with full resolution of
symptoms. Conclusion: Even though CDRs associated with proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) are relatively common, there are only three reported cases of LDE. We report this case to highlight the importance of considering PPIs as the culprit drug in similar clinical situations.Introdução: A toxidermia liquenóide (TL) é uma entidade rara associada, classicamente, ao uso de anti-hipertensores, ouro e penicilamina. Apresentação do caso: Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher de 63 anos que desenvolveu uma dermatose disseminada pruriginosa composta por pápulas violáceas poligonais de superfície plana, que afectavam as superfícies flexoras dos membros, flancos e região lombo-sagrada. As lesões surgiram duas semanas após iniciar a toma de esomeprazol.
O exame histopatológico de uma lesão foi compatível com o diagnóstico de TL. A doente descontinuou a toma de esomeprazol e foi medicada com um corticóide tópico de média potência e emoliente, com resolução completa dos sintomas.
Conclusão: Apesar dos efeitos adversos cutâneos serem comuns com a toma de inibidores da bomba de protões (IBP), só existem três casos publicados de TL associada a estes fármacos. Reportamos este caso para destacar a importância de considerar os IBP como agentes causais em situações clínicas semelhantes à descrita.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Application of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for Microvascular Changes in Patients Treated with Hydroxychloroquine: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textBackground: Retinal toxicity with long-term hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment is a major concern. This systematic review aims to assess the application of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to detect microvascular alterations in patients under HCQ.
Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched until January 14, 2023. Studies using OCTA as a primary diagnostic method to evaluate the macular microvasculature of HCQ users were included. Primary outcomes were macular vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) at the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexus. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model.
Results: Of 211 screened abstracts, 13 were found eligible, enrolling 989 eyes from 778 patients. High-risk patients due to longer duration of treatment presented lower VD in the retinal microvasculature than those with low-risk in SCP (P = 0.02 in fovea; P = 0.004 in parafovea) and in DCP (P = 0.007 in fovea; P = 0.01 in parafovea). When compared with healthy controls, HCQ users had lower VD in both plexus-no quantitative synthesis was presented.
Conclusions: Microvascular changes were found in autoimmune patients under HCQ treatment without any documented retinopathy. However, the evidence produced so far does not allow to draw conclusion concerning the effect of drug as studies were not controlled for disease duration.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
A Rare Case of En Bloc Endometrium Shedding
No full textThe human endometrium is a unique tissue capable of repeated degradation, loss and self-repair in
response to fluctuating levels of sex steroids, in a tightly regulated process. It takes place hundreds of
times in a woman’s lifetime, manifesting as vaginal expulsion of blood mixed with cellular debris for a
period of several days. The aim of this work is to present a case of en bloc endometrial desquamation in a
teenage patient using combined oral contraception. Several mechanisms are proposed, although further
studies are needed to better understand this extremely rare phenomenon.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Basilar Artery Occlusion Management: Specialist Perspectives From an International Survey
No full textBackground and purpose: Two early basilar artery occlusion (BAO) randomized controlled trials did not establish the superiority of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) over medical management. While many providers continue to recommend EVT for acute BAO, perceptions of equipoise in randomizing patients with BAO to EVT versus medical management may differ between clinician specialties.
Methods: We conducted an international survey (January 18, 2022 to March 31, 2022) regarding management strategies in acute BAO prior to the announcement of two trials indicating the superiority of EVT, and compared responses between interventionalists (INTs) and non-interventionalists (nINTs). Selection practices for routine EVT and perceptions of equipoise regarding randomizing to medical management based on neuroimaging and clinical features were compared between the two groups using descriptive statistics.
Results: Among the 1245 respondents (nINTs = 702), INTs more commonly believed that EVT was superior to medical management in acute BAO (98.5% vs. 95.1%, p .05), although nINTs more commonly preferred perfusion imaging (24.2% vs. 19.7%, p = .04). Among respondents who indicated they would randomize to medical management, INTs were more likely to randomize when the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was ≥10 (15.9% vs. 6.9%, p < .01).
Conclusions: Following the publication of two neutral clinical trials in BAO EVT, most stroke providers believed EVT to be superior to medical management in carefully selected patients, with most indicating they would not randomize a BAO patient to medical treatment. There were small differences in preference for advanced neuroimaging for patient selection, although these preferences were unsupported by clinical trial data at the time of the survey.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Transmural Remission Improves Clinical Outcomes Up to 5 years in Crohn's Disease
No full textIntroduction: Evidence supporting transmural remission (TR) as a long-term treatment target in Crohn's disease (CD) is still unavailable. Less stringent but more reachable targets such as isolated endoscopic (IER) or radiologic remission (IRR) may also be acceptable options in the long-term.
Methods: Multicenter retrospective study including 404 CD patients evaluated by magnetic resonance enterography and colonoscopy. Five-year rates of hospitalization, surgery, use of steroids, and treatment escalation were compared between patients with TR, IER, IRR, and no remission (NR).
Results: 20.8% of CD patients presented TR, 23.3% IER, 13.6% IRR and 42.3% NR. TR was associated with lower risk of hospitalization (odds-ratio [OR] 0.244 [0.111-0.538], p < 0.001), surgery (OR 0.132 [0.030-0.585], p = 0.008), steroid use (OR 0.283 [0.159-0.505], p < 0.001), and treatment escalation (OR 0.088 [0.044-0.176], p < 0.001) compared to no NR. IRR resulted in lower risk of hospitalization (OR 0.333 [0.143-0.777], p = 0.011) and treatment escalation (OR 0.260 [0.125-0.540], p < 0.001), while IER reduced the risk of steroid use (OR 0.442 [0.262-0.745], p = 0.002) and treatment escalation (OR 0.490 [0.259-0.925], p = 0.028) compared to NR.
Conclusions: TR improved clinical outcomes over 5 years of follow-up in CD patients. Distinct but significant benefits were seen with IER and IRR. This suggests that both endoscopic and radiologic remission should be part of the treatment targets of CD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score: Has the Time Come for an Update?
No full textThe Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was developed more than 25 years ago to provide a simple method of assessing and monitoring organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. Changes in clinical practice over the last few decades, with new interventions and a greater focus on non-invasive monitoring systems, mean it is time to update the SOFA score. As a first step in this process, we propose some possible new variables that could be included in a SOFA 2.0. By so doing, we hope to stimulate debate and discussion to move toward a new, properly validated score that will be fit for modern practice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Ocrelizumab for the Treatment of Relapsing and Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in Portugal
No full textObjectives: Ocrelizumab demonstrated significant clinical benefit for the treatment of relapsing (RMS) and primary progressive (PPMS) multiple sclerosis (MS), an incurable disease characterized by disability progression. This study evaluated the clinical and economic impact of ocrelizumab relative to current clinical practice, including other disease-modifying therapies (DMT), available in Portugal.
Methods: Markov models for MS were adapted to estimate the impact of ocrelizumab across three patient populations: treatment-naïve RMS, previously treated RMS, and PPMS. Health states were defined according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale. For RMS, the model further captured the occurrence of relapses and progression to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). A lifetime time-horizon and Portuguese societal perspective were adopted.
Results: For RMS patients, ocrelizumab was estimated to maximize the expected time (years) without progression to SPMS (10.50) relative to natalizumab (10.10), dimethyl fumarate (8.64), teriflunomide (8.39), fingolimod (8.38), interferon β-1a (8.33) and glatiramer acetate (8.18). As the most effective option, with quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains between 0.3 and 1.2, ocrelizumab was found to be cost-saving relative to natalizumab and fingolimod, and presented incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) below €16,720/QALY relative to the remaining DMT. For PPMS patients, the ICER of ocrelizumab versus best supportive care was estimated at €78,858/QALY.
Conclusions: Ocrelizumab provides important health benefits for RMS and PPMS patients, comparing favourably with other widely used therapies. In RMS, ocrelizumab was revealed to be either cost-saving or have costs-per-QALY likely below commonly accepted cost-effectiveness thresholds. In PPMS, ocrelizumab fills a clear clinical gap in the current clinical practice. Overall, ocrelizumab is expected to provide good value for money in addressing the need of MS patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Single Puncture Approach Guided by Transesophageal Echocardiography for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in a Patient with Prior Percutaneous Septal Closure: Case Report
No full textBackground: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is associated with a risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) higher than in the general population, even after percutaneous or surgical septal closure. Catheter ablation is an effective treatment strategy for preventing recurrences and reducing the AF burden. However, electrophysiologists are faced with technical difficulties and the risk of complications with the left atrium access in patients with prior ASD percutaneous closure.
Case summary: We report a case of a patient with highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF, with an ASD, closed percutaneously many years before, who underwent a successful catheter AF ablation, using a single transeptal (TSP) approach guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).
Discussion: In patients with ASD and an occluder device implanted, there is a potential risk for septal tear during the TSP passage, device dislodgement, or thrombus formation on the device. Atrial fibrillation ablation in this subset of patients has often been protracted and scarcely reported. TEE and intra-cardiac echocardiography have been increasingly used for interventional procedure guidance during AF ablation. As described here, AF ablation using a simplified single TSP guided by TEE is feasible, safe, and effective after device ASD closure.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The sFlt1/PlGF Ratio Predicts Faster Fetal Deterioration in Early Fetal Growth Restriction: a Historical Cohort Study
No full textIntroduction: The velocity of fetal deterioration in fetal growth restriction is extremely variable, which makes monitoring and counseling very challenging. The soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase to placental growth factor (sFlt1/PlGF) ratio provides a readout of the vasoactive environment that correlates with preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction and that could be useful to predict fetal deterioration. Previous studies showed a correlation between higher sFlt1/PlGF ratios and lower gestational ages at birth, although it is unclear whether this is due to the increased incidence of preeclampsia. Our goal was to evaluate whether the sFlt1/PlGF ratio predicts faster fetal deterioration in early fetal growth restriction.
Material and methods: This was a historical cohort study in a tertiary maternity hospital. Data from singleton pregnancies with early fetal growth restriction (diagnosed before 32 gestational weeks) confirmed after birth monitored between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrieved from clinical files. Cases of chromosomal/fetal abnormalities, infection and medical terminations of pregnancy were excluded. The sFlt1/PlGF ratio was acquired at diagnosis of early fetal growth restriction in our unit. The correlation of log10 sFlt1/PlGF with latency to delivery/fetal demise was assessed with linear, logistic (positive sFlt1/PlGF if >85) and Cox regression excluding deliveries for maternal conditions and controlling for preeclampsia, gestational age at time of ratio test, maternal age and smoking during pregnancy. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis tested the performance of sFlt1/PlGF ratio in predicting delivery for fetal reasons in the following week.
Results: 125 patients were included. Mean sFlt1/PlGF ratio was 91.2 (SD 148.7) and 28% of patients had a positive ratio. A higher log10 sFlt1/PlGF ratio predicted shorter latency for delivery/fetal demise in linear regression after controlling for confounders, β = -3.001, (-3.713 to -2.288). Logistic regression with ratio positivity confirmed these findings (latency for delivery 5.7 ± 3.32 weeks for ratios ≤85 vs 1.9 ± 1.52 weeks for ratios >85); β = -0.698 (-1.064 to -0.332). Adjusted Cox regression showed that a positive ratio confers a significantly positive hazard ratio (HR) for earlier delivery/fetal demise, HR 9.869 (5.061-19.243). ROC analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.847 (SE ± 0.06).
Conclusions: sFlt1/PlGF ratio is correlated with faster fetal deterioration in early fetal growth restriction, independently of preeclampsia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio