Candida haemulonii: causa infrecuente de peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal / Candida haemulonii: an infrequent cause of dialysis related peritonitis

La peritonitis fúngica es la responsable del 3 a 6% de los casos de peritonitis asociada a diálisis. Es causa importante de morbimortalidad y de falla de la técnica. El microorganismo aislado con mayor frecuencia es la Candida albicans. Sin embargo, en los últimos años la incidencia de nuevos casos asociados a Candida no albicans y otros hongos, ha aumentado. De estas especies patógenas, Candida haemulonii es causal de infecciones humanas, siendo inusual en pacientes en diálisis, encontrándose un caso reportado en la literatura de peritonitis asociado a diálisis. C. haemulonii supone ciertos retos diagnósticos ya que es un complejo de tres especies que requieren métodos moleculares de laboratorio para su diferenciación. Adicionalmente, tiene un perfil de multirresistencia a los antimicóticos que constituye para el clínico, un reto en el oportuno tratamiento de estos pacientes. A continuación, se describe un caso de peritonitis asociado a diálisis peritoneal por C. haemulonii.

Fungal peritonitis represents 3 to 6% of peritonitis in dialysis patients. It is an important cause of morbidity, mortality and technique failure. The most frequently isolated microorganism is Candida albicans; however, in recent years there are an increasing number of cases of non Candida albicans and other fungal peritonitis. Candida haemulonii causes human infections, but it is unusual in dialysis patients. There is one reported case of peritonitis in a dialysis patient. C. haemulonii generates certain diagnostic and therapeutic challenges because it is a complex of three species that can only be differentiated by specialized molecular methods and additionally, has a multidrug resistance profile. We describe the case of a dialysis patient with C. haemulonii peritonitis.

Therapeutic plasma exchange in rheumatic diseases: a university hospital experience / Troca plasmática terapêutica em doenças reumáticas: a experiência de um hospital universitário

Abstract Introduction: Each day, evidence accumulates related to the use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in patients with rheumatic diseases. San Ignacio University Hospital has recorded all of the TPE sessions performed by the institution's apheresis group. Objective: To describe the TPE experience of patients with rheumatologic diseases in a hospital setting. Methods: Descriptive, observational, retrospective analysis. This study included analyses of the TPE sessions that were performed in patients with rheumatic diseases from November 2009 to November 2013. Results: The apheresis group performed 136 sessions in 27 patients. The mean patient age was 43 years (SD 18.5), and 59.3% of the patients were female. Regarding the diagnosis, the most frequents ones where: ANCA-associated vasculitis followed by systemic lupus erythematosus and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. The average number of sessions per patient was 5 (SD 1.8), and the average plasma exchange per patient was 1.3 plasma volume replacement units. The most used replacement solution was frozen fresh plasma (FFP; 63.2% of the sessions). Of all the sessions, 4.4% presented complications, and the majority of the complications were related to vascular access. Fifteen patients required renal replacement therapy (RRT) secondary to the same cause that created the need for TPE, 3 patients required RRT due to causes other than the TPE diagnostic intervention and 1 patient had undergone chronic dialysis. Conclusions: TPE is a therapeutic alternative that is needed for the management of patients with rheumatic diseases with renal involvement and those who are refractory to conventional management. Our clinical results were in agreement with the global literature.

Resumo Introdução: Diariamente acumulam-se evidências relacionadas com o uso da troca plasmática terapêutica (TPT) em pacientes com doenças reumáticas. O Hospital Universitário San Ignacio registrou todas as sessões de TPT feitas pelo grupo de aférese dessa instituição. Objetivo: Descrever a experiência do Hospital Universitário San Ignacio na TPT em pacientes com doenças reumatológicas. Métodos: Análise observacional, retrospectiva, descritiva. Incluiu análises das sessões de TPT feitas em pacientes com doenças reumáticas de novembro de 2009 a novembro de 2013. Resultados: O grupo de aférese fez 136 sessões em 27 pacientes. A idade média foi de 43 anos (DP 18,5) e 59,3% eram do sexo feminino. Quanto ao diagnóstico, os mais frequentes foram: vasculite associada ao anticorpo anticitoplasma de neutrófilos (ANCA) seguida de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico e síndrome antifosfolipídica catastrófica. A quantidade média de sessões por paciente foi de cinco (DP 1,8) e a média de troca plasmática por paciente foi de 1,3 unidade de substituição do volume de plasma. A solução de substituição mais usada foi o plasma fresco congelado (PFC, 63,2% das sessões). De todas as sessões, 4,4% apresentaram complicações, a maioria delas relacionadas com o acesso vascular. Quinze pacientes necessitaram de terapia de substituição renal (TSR) secundária à mesma causa que levou à necessidade de TPT; três pacientes necessitaram de TSR em decorrência de outras causas além da intervenção diagnóstica de TPT e um paciente tinha sido submetido à diálise crônica. Conclusões: A TPT é uma opção terapêutica necessária para o manejo de pacientes com doenças reumáticas com envolvimento renal e daqueles que são refratários ao tratamento convencional. Os resultados clínicos do presente estudo estão de acordo com o que é encontrado na literatura global.

Intercambio plasmático terapéutico en enfermedades neurológicas mediadas inmunológicamente: experiencia de cuatro años del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia / Therapeutic plasma exchange in immune-mediated neurological diseases: four-year experience at the University Hospital San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia

Introducción. El intercambio plasmático (IP) se ha convertido en una alternativa terapéutica para múltiples enfermedades. Cada día hay más evidencia científica que apoya el uso de esta terapia en varias enfermedades neurológicas. Es importante registrar la experiencia local en IP para conocer la respuesta de nuestra población a la terapia. Objetivo. Describir la experiencia del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio en IP realizado a pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas durante un período de cuatro años. Materiales y métodos. Estudio observacional retrospectivo en el que se describe a los pacientes, la técnica de la terapia, las complicaciones y la respuesta clínica de los pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas tratados con IP. Resultados. Se realizaron 106 sesiones de IP en 16 pacientes. El promedio de edad de los pacientes fue de 43 años, el 81% de los pacientes eran de sexo femenino. El 83% de las sesiones fueron indicadas por miastenia gravis, el resto por síndrome de Guillain-Barré, neuromielítis óptica, neuropatía motora multifocal y encefalitis autoinmune. Todas las sesiones fueron realizadas por técnica de filtración transmembrana. El promedio de recambios plasmáticos realizado fue 1.3. Se registraron 26 complicaciones en 20 sesiones de IP. La respuesta neurológica de los pacientes a la terapia fue la esperada y similar a la reportada en la literatura médica. Conclusión. Según la experiencia de la institución, el IP es una terapia segura y eficaz en pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas.

Introduction. Plasma exchange (PE) has become a therapeutic treatment for many neurological diseases. Each day more scientific papers are being published with evidence that approves PE for patients with immunological mediated neurological disorders. It is important to register our local experience with PE in order to understand the clinical answer to the therapy in our population. Objective. To describe the experience of the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in treating patients with neurological disorders with PE, during a 4 year period. Materials and methods. Observational retrospective study, which describes the patients, PE technique, complications of therapy and clinical answer of patients with neurological conditions treated with PE. Results. 106 sessions of PE in 16 patients, corresponding to 23 procedures. The average age was 43 years, 81% of patients were female. 83% of sessions were done for Myasthenia gravis, the rest were done for treatment of Guillain-Barré, Optical Neuromyelitis, multifocal motor neuropathy and autoimmune encephalitis. All sessions were done by membrane filtration technique. The average plasma volume exchange was 1.3, and 20 sessions presented at least one complication. The neurological response of the patients was the expected and was similar to those reported in the literature. Conclusions. Based on the experience of our medical center, PE is a safe and effective therapy for patients with some immunological mediated neurological disorders.

Plasmaféresis terapéutica / Therapeutic plasmapheresis

Resumen Introducción: cada día hay más evidencia acerca de la utilidad de la plasmaféresis en diferentes entidades clínicas. Existen múltiples registros internacionales de plasmaféresis; sin embargo, la información en Colombia e incluso en Latinoamérica es limitada. Objetivo: realizar análisis descriptivo de la experiencia en plasmaféresis de una institución académica en Bogotá, Colombia. Analizar las características de la técnica, indicaciones, complicaciones y características demográficas de los pacientes. Material y métodos: se realiza un análisis descriptivo de las sesiones de plasmaféresis realizadas en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, en pacientes mayores de 18 años durante el periodo comprendido entre agosto de 2008 hasta agosto de 2011. Todas las sesiones se realizaron mediante la técnica de filtración transmembrana y no se usó anticoagulante en ninguna de ellas. Resultados: se analizaron 278 sesiones de plasmaféresis en 33 pacientes adultos durante un período de tres años. 69.7% de los pacientes eran mujeres, el promedio de edad era 42 años. 57% de las sesiones se realizaron en pacientes con diagnóstico de miastenia gravis y hemorragia alveolar. El volumen promedio de intercambios plasmáticos fue 1.28. El 9.3% de las sesiones presentaron al menosuna complicación. Se documentó frecuentemente hipotensión arterial en las sesiones realizadas con albúmina al 3.5%. 12% de los registros de electrolitos tenían hipocalcemia y 47% hipermagnesemia. No hubo muertes relacionadas con la terapia y pese al no uso de anticoagulante, no se presentó coagulación del circuito en ninguna de las sesiones. Conclusiones: dada nuestra experiencia consideramos que la plasmaféresis es una terapia segura. Es necesario evaluar la necesidad de la administración de anticoagulante al circuito de plasmaféresis, dado que no se documentó coagulación de éste en ninguna sesión y su uso podría estar asociado a eventos adversos. El monitoreo continuo de los electrolitos es fundamental y la reposición de los mismos debe ser individualizada. (Acta Med Colomb 2014; 39: 29-34).

Abstract Introduction: there is growing evidence for the usefulness of plasmapheresis in different clinical entities. There are many international records of plasmapheresis, but the information in Colombia and even in Latin America, is limited. Objective: to perform a descriptive analysis of the experience in plasmapheresis of an academic institution in Bogotá, Colombia. To analyze the characteristics of the technique, indications, complications and demographic characteristics of patients. Material and methods: descriptive analysis of plasmapheresis sessions performed in the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in patients older than 18 years during the period from August 2008 to August 2011. All sessions were conducted by the technique of transmembrane filtration. No anticoagulation was used in any of them. Results: 278 sessions of plasmapheresis were analyzed in 33 adult patients over a period of three years. 69.7% of patients were female, with mean age of 42 years. 57% of the sessions were conducted in patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and alveolar hemorrhage. The average volume of plasma exchange was 1.28. 9.3% of the sessions presented at least one complication. Hypotension was frequently documented in the sessions performed with 3.5% albumin. 12% of electrolytes records had hypocalcemia and 47% hypermagnesemia. There were no therapy-related deaths and despite the non-use of anticoagulant, no clotting of the circuit in any of the sessions was presented. Conclusions: Given our experience, we believe that plasmapheresis is a safe therapy. It is necessary to assess the need for administration of anticoagulant to the plasmapheresis circuit since no clotting in it in any session was documented and its use could be associated with adverse events. Continuous monitoring of electrolytes is essential and its replacement should be individualized. (Acta Med Colomb 2014; 39: 29-34).