Cutaneous adverse events to systemic antineoplastic therapies: a retrospective study in a public oncologic hospital

Abstract Background: Mucocutaneous adverse events are common during anticancer treatment, with variable consequences for the patient and their therapeutic regimen. Objective: To evaluate the most common adverse events, as well as the drugs associated with their appearance and the consequences for cancer treatment. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out through the analysis of patients treated at the Clinical Dermatology Unit of a public oncologic hospital. Results: A total of 138 patients with 200 adverse events were evaluated. The most commonly identified adverse events were nail and periungual changes (20%), papulopustular eruptions (13%), acneiform eruptions (12%), hand-foot syndrome (6.5%), hand-foot skin reaction (6%), and xerosis (6%). The most frequently associated antineoplastic treatment groups were classical chemotherapy (46.2%), target therapy (32.3%), and other non-antineoplastic drugs used in neoplasia protocols (16.5%). Of the total number of patients, 17.4% had their treatment suspended or changed due to a dermatological adverse event. Study limitations: Retrospective study and analysis of patients who were referred for specialized dermatological examination only, not allowing the assessment of the actual incidence of adverse events. Conclusion: A wide variety of dermatological manifestations are secondary to antineoplastic treatment with several different drugs resulting, not rarely, in the interruption or modification of therapeutic regimens.

Positive serology for viral hepatitis and donor self-exclusion in Southern Brazil

Introduction Despite the great advances in serological testing for transfusion-transmitted infections, the selection of blood donors by blood bank operators remains the only way to avoid transmission within the testing window period. Part of this selection is the self-exclusion form, on which the donors can exclude their blood from donation without any explanation. This study assessed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics related to positivity for viral hepatitis and to the use of the confidential self-exclusion (CSE) form. Methods This transversal study analyzed the data collected from blood donors' files in a hospital in Southern Brazil. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the clinical and epidemiological variables related to positive serologies of viral hepatitis and to whether the donor was self-excluded. Results Of the 3,180 donors included in this study, 0.1% tested positive for HBsAg, 2.1% for anti-HBc, and 0.9% for anti-HCV. When the 93 donors with positive serologies for viral hepatitis were compared with those who were negative, a greater proportion of the positive serology group was found to have had a history of blood transfusions (OR=4.908; 95%CI=1.628 - 14.799; p<0.01), had repeatedly donated (OR=2.147; 95%CI=1.236 - 3.729; p<0.01), and used the CSE form for self-exclusion (OR=7.139; 95%CI=2.045 - 24.923; p<0.01). No variables were independently associated with self-exclusion. Conclusions A history of blood transfusion, repeated donations, and self-exclusion are factors that should be considered during viral hepatitis screenings in blood banks. .

Dificuldades para a identificação da causa do óbito fetal: como resolver? / Difficulties for identification of cause of fetal death: how to solve?

OBJETIVO: Identificar as causas dos óbitos fetais (OF) e avaliar as causas deste desfecho. Propor o emprego do sistema Relevant Condition of Death (ReCoDe) na elucidação das causas de OF para minimizar o número de causas desconhecidas. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal relacionado às mortes fetais atendidas em um hospital universitário especializado do Sul do Brasil, de Janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2009. Os dados foram coletados das Declarações de Óbito, dos prontuários maternos e dos laudos de estudo dos fetos e anexos, sendo os achados comparados. A análise dos dados foi realizada pelo programa SPSS versão 17.0. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos neste estudo 111 fetos e suas respectivas mães. A comparação entre o diagnóstico das causas encontradas nos laudos do exame dos fetos e anexos e o diagnóstico clínico foi de 74 (66,7%) e 73 (65,8%), respectivamente. Em 48,7% dos casos, ambas encontraram uma potencial causa e 16,2% permaneceram desconhecidas. Utilizando-se a classificação ReCoDe, somente 9,9% dos OFs ficaram como "não classificados". CONCLUSÕES: Os laudos da autópsia fetal e exame anatomopatológico e as avaliações clínicas não apresentaram diferenças significativas na identificação da causa do OF. Ao se comparar os resultados do ReCoDe com as causas de óbito da clínica/patologia, verificou-se que ela é uma ferramenta importante no esclarecimento da causa mortis, reduzindo a quantidade daqueles OFs que permaneceram sem uma possível etiologia.

PURPOSE: To identify the causes of fetal death in the studied population and to measure their contribution in identifying the cause of this outcome. To propose the use of the system Relevant Condition of Death (ReCoDe) in elucidating the causes of fetal death to minimize the number of unknown causes. METHODS: Cross-sectional study related to fetal deaths seen at a specialized academic hospital in the South of Brazil, from January 2000 to December 2009. The data were collected in the death certificates, maternal medical records and the reports of study of fetuses and attachments, and the findings were compared. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.0. RESULTS: Were included 111 fetuses and their respective mothers in this study. The comparison between the diagnostic causes in the pathology and clinical evaluation showed 74 (66.7%) and 73 (65.8%), respectively. Together, they found a potential cause in 48.7% of cases, while 16.2% remained unknown. When analyzing both together with the ReCoDe system, only 9.9% of stillbirths remained as "unclassified." CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of diagnoses in the cause of death among the pathological and clinical evaluation showed no significant difference. When comparing the results of the cause of death suggested by the clinic/pathology with the use of the ReCoDe system, it appears that this tool has helped to clarify the cause by reducing the amount of those that remained without a possible etiology.