Estado actual del diagnóstico y presentaciones clínicas de enfermedad celíaca: Estudio multicéntrico / Diagnosis and clinical presentations of celiac disease: A multicenter study

Background: Ample use of serological markers of high sensitivity and specificity led to relevant changes in the epidemiology of celiac disease. The impact of these changes in our country is poorly known. Aim: To assess the diagnostic procedures, clinical presentations and follow up of celiac disease as conducted in current pediatric practice. Material and methods: A multicentric retrospective study of patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2005 in five pediatric hospitals in Santiago, Chile. Data was obtained from clinical records, recorded in electronic spreadsheets and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: Seventy four of 83 identified patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Mean time to reach the diagnosis was 2.1 years. Cases younger than 10 years presented digestive manifestations such as chronic diarrhea and abdominal distension. Twenty one percent of older patients had atypical presentations (mainly short stature, refractory anaemia). Ten percent of cases were screened because a first degree relative had celiac disease. All patients had significant duodenal/jejunal lesion. IgA-antiendomysial antibodies (n =65) and IgA-antigliadin antibodies (n =23) were the most commonly used screening tests used but often, they were not available for follow up. A second biopsy was planned in all patients but only 26 had it due to repeated dietary transgressions, often due to unnoticed consumption of gluten in poorly labeled products. Conclusions: Digestive manifestations were the main presentation form for celiac disease among patients under 10 years of age. Atypical symptoms become relevant in patients older than 10 years. Antiendomysial and antitransglutaminase antibody measurement should be incorporated for routine screening and follow up of celiac disease in public hospitals. To improve food labeling about their gluten content is needed.

Utilidad de la terapia trombolítica con estreptokinasa a dosis baja en infarto agudo del miocardio / Usefulness of thrombolytic therapy with low doses of streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction

Background: The optimal dose of Streptokinase in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction is not well established. Apparently, the thrombolytic efficacy would not increase with doses over 750.000 units. Aim: To compare the effectiveness and safety of treatment with low doses of Streptokinase, ranging from 500.000 to 750.000 units, in patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction. Patients and methods: From September 1993 to September 1998, the GEMI register of patients with acute myocardial infarction, was carried out in 37 hospitals, incorporating 4,938 patients. Of these, 1,631 patients received streptokinase. According to the administered dose of Streptokinase, patients were divided in two groups: 1,465 patients who received 1.5 millions U in 60 minutes (classical therapy group), and 166 patients with ischemic chest discomfort and either ST-segment elevation or left bundle-branch block on the electrocardiogram, who received 500.000 to 750.000 U streptokinase administered in no more than 30 minutes, with heparin, within 0 to 6 hours of symptom onset. Successful reperfusion, mortality, complications, and hospital outcome was evaluated in both groups. Results: The low dose group of patients had a better reperfusion criteria profile. No differences between groups were observed in patient evolution, mortality, maximum Killip classification, post myocardial infarction heart failure, ischemic complications, arrhythmias or mechanical complications. Conclusions: These results suggest that streptokinase in low doses is at least as effective as classical therapy, in the treatment of ST elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Cortisol y dehidroepiandrosterona nocturnos como marcadores pronósticos en pacientes críticos / Nocturnal cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone like prognostic markers in critical patients

El cortisol plasmático guarda correlación con la severidad y duración del estado crítico, y el papel de la Dehidroepiandrosterona sulfato (DHEA-S) no ha sido identificado claramente. El paciente crítico muestra una activación máxima inicial del eje suprarrenal, si la situación crítica se prolonga, se puede producir una insuficiencia suprarrenal relativa. Midiendo cortisol y DHEA-S durante la noche de las 24 primeras horas críticas se podría hacer más evidente esta insuficiencia resultando una mejor correlación entre estas hormonas, APACHE II y mortalidad. Diseño: Estudio observacional en pacientes críticos de la UTI del Hospital de Urgencia Asistencia Pública. Cuarenta y ocho (48) pacientes (30 hombres y 18 mujeres) sin antecedentes de: insuficiencia suprarrenal, uso de fenitoína, anticonvulsivantes, rifampicina, ketoconazol, corticosteroides, síndrome de Cushing, patología pituitaria, daño hepático crónico, insuficiencia renal crónica, alcoholismo activo crónico o readmisiones. EL APACHE II fue evaluado al ingreso. Cortisol y DHEA-S fueron medidos a las 00.00 de las primeras 24 h de su ingreso a UTI. Resultados: EL APACHE II (25,1±6,7 contra 16,3±7, p=0,001) y edad (59,5±15,8 contra 44,4±18,1, p 0,011) fueron significativamente más elevados en los fallecidos. En los fallecidos el cortisol mostró una tendencia a niveles más elevados. El DHEA-S mostró niveles considerablemente más altos en los sobrevivientes (5450,9±3824,0 contra 2980,3±2159,3 p= 0,03) junto como el índice DHEA-S/cortisol (12,66±14,19 contra 3,91±4,06, p= 0,004). Conclusiones: La tendencia a niveles más altos de cortisol nocturno observado en las 24 primeras horas induce para pensar que la insuficiencia suprarrenal relativa no desempeñaría un papel en las 24 primeras horas del estado crítico. Los niveles de DHEA-S y el índice DHEA-S/Cortisol son marcadores de sobrevida en nuestra población estudiada.

Cambios en el manejo intrahospitalario del infarto del miocardio en hospitales chilenos / Changes in the in-hospital treatment of the acute myocardial infarction in chilean hospitals

Antecedentes: En comunicaciones anteriores se han descrito los cambios en el tratamiento y la evolución del infarto del miocardio (IAM) intrahospitalario durante 2 período de registro en Chile. Objetivo: Evaluar los cambios en el tratamiento farmacológico y las terapias de reperfusión en pacientes con IAM que ingresaron durante 2001 en la red GEMI. Métodos: El registro 2001 (R3) se efectuó entr marzo y diciembre en 23 hospitales de Santiago y regiones. Fue comparado con los registros 93-95 (R1) y 97-98 (R2). Se recolectó información sobre características demográficas, el tratamiento y la evolución intrahospitalaria de los pacientes que ingresaron con el diagnostico de IAM. Resultados: En R3 se incluyeron 1.091 pacientes, cuya edad promedio fue 63 ± 13 años. El 70,4 por ciento fueron hombres. La frecuencia de uso de los medicamentos en R1, R2 y R3 fue respectivamente: aspirina 93 por ciento, 96,1 por ciento y 94,7 por ciento (p=ns); I-ECA 32 por ciento, 53 por ciento y 60 por ciento (p=ns); bloqueadores 37 por ciento, 55,2 por ciento y 60,9 por ciento (p=ns); heparina 59 por ciento, 55 por ciento y 43,5 por ciento (p=ns): nitratos iv 59 por ciento, 67,6 por ciento y 63,7 por ciento (p=ns); antagonista del calcio 23 por ciento, 12,4 por ciento y 6,2 por ciento (p <0,01); trombolíticos 33 por ciento, 33,7 por ciento y 32, por ciento. La angioplastía primaria no se efectuó en R1, pero R2 y R3 fue utilizada en el 9,5 por ciento y el 7,5 por ciento de los pacientes respectivamente. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue de 11,6 por ciento durante 2001, comparada con el 10,8 por ciento y el 13,4 por ciento obtenida en los registros 97-98 y 93-95. Conclusión: Se aprecia un aumento de la utilización de los I-ECA y (bloqueadores, fármacos de demostrada eficacia para reducir mortalidad en el IAM. Es racional la reducción del uso del calcio antagonista y probablemente la de antiarrítmicos. No se modifica el empleo de trombolíticos y la angioplastía primaria no aumenta debido a que está limitada a algunos hospitales. Se debe continuar estimulando el uso de terapias que mejoren el pronóstico de los pacientes con IAM, especialmente las orientadas a la reperfusión.

Reducción de la mortalidad por infarto del miocardio en hospitales chilenos / Reduction of acute myocardial infarction mortality in Chilean hospitals

Background: The characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) admitted to 37 Chilean hospitals (GEMI Registry Group), have been analyzed in the periods 1993-1995 and 1997-1998. Aim: To report the changes in hospital mortality between these 2 periods, with a particular emphasis on the impact of treatment. Patients and methods: Between 1993-1995 we collected information from 2,957 patients and between 1997-1998 we registered 1,981 patients with MI. Analysis of the changes in mortality between periods was adjusted by demographic variables, coronary risk factors, MI location, Killip class on admission and the different therapeutic strategies utilized. The effects of different treatments on hospital mortality were adjusted by the previously determined mortality risk variables. Results: Hospital mortality decreased from 13.3 percent to 10.8 percent between both periods (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.78, confidence intervals (95 percent) (CI) 0.65-0.93). A significant reduction in mortality was observed among patients below 60 years of age, in men, in diabetics and in subjects with an infarction classified as Killip class over II. The use of beta blockers (OR 0.65, CI 0.42-0.99) and intravenous nitrates (OR 0.78, CI 0.61-0.99) and the lower use of calcium channel blockers (OR 0.72, CI 0.60-0.87) were significantly associated with a lower mortality. The administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with a 29.3 percent mortality reduction (OR 0.69, CI 0.47-1.02). Conclusions: There has been a significant reduction in the mortality rate for MI in Chilean hospitals during the 2 registry periods analyzed, which was significant among some high risk patients and was related to treatment changes, according to evidence based guidelines

Cambios en los patrones de prescripción de medicamentos en el infarto agudo del miocardio: comparación de dos períodos / Changes in pharmacotherapy for acute myocardial infarction: comparison of 2 periods

Background: Pharmacotherapy of Chilean patients with acute myocardial infarction has been recorded in 37 hospitals since 1993. Aim: to compare pharmacotherapy for acute myocardial infarction in the period 1993 to 1995 with the period 1997-1998. Patients and methods: Drug prescription during hospital stay was recorded in 2957 patients admitted to Chilean hospitals with an acute myocardial infarction in the period 1993-1995 and compared with that of 1981 subjects admitted in the period 1997-1998. Results: When compared with the former period, in the lapse 1997-1998 there was an increase in the frequency of prescription of aspirin (93 and 96.1 percent respectively) ß blockers (37 and 55.2 percent respectively) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (32 and 53 percent). The prescription of thrombolytic therapy did not change (33 and 33.7 percent respectively). There was a reduction in the prescription of calcium antagonists and antiarrhythmic drugs. Conclusions: During the period 1997-1998, the prescription of drugs with a potential to reduce the mortality of acute myocardial infarction, increased. The diffusion of guidelines for the management of this disease may have influenced this change

Infarto agudo del miocardio en hospitales chilenos: resultados finales del estudio GEMI / Acute myocardial infarction in chilean hospitals: results of the GEMI study

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in Chile. Aim: To report the main features, hospital evolution, complications and pharmacological treatment of patients admitted to Chilean hospitals with the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Patients and methods: Between 1993 and 1995, the GEMI group registered 2,957 patients admitted to 37 hospitals with the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Results: Mean age of patients was 62 ñ 2 years old and 74 percent were male. Forty six percent had a history of hypertension and 40 percent were smokers. During the first five days of admission, 93 percent of patients received aspirin, 59 percent received intravenous nitrates, 59 percent intravenous heparin, 56 percent oral nitrates, 37 percent beta blockers, 32 percent angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 33 percent thrombolytic agents, 29 percent antiarrhythmics and 23 percent calcium antagonists. Coronary angiograms were performed in 28 percent of patients, angioplasty in 9 percent and 8 percent were subjected to a coronary bypass. Global hospital mortality was 13.4 percent (19.5 percent in women and 11.1 percent in men, p <0.001). Conclusions: This work gives a picture of myocardial infarction in Chilean hospitals. Pharmacological treatment is similar to that used abroad, but certainly it can be optimized

Ramipril vs espironolactona en el remodelamiento ventricular izquierdo post-infarto: estudio randomizado y doble ciego / Ramipril vs spironolactone in the left ventricular remodeling after infarction: randomized and double blind study

Patients and methods: Patients hospitalized for a first episode of acute myocardial infartion were blindly and randomly assigned to receive ramipril (2.5 mg bid), spironolactone (25 mg bid) or placebo. Ejection fraction, left ventricular en diastolic and end systolic volumes were measured by multigated radionuclide angiography, at baseline and after six months of treatment. Results: Twenty four patients were assigned to placebo, 31 to ramipril and 23 to spironolactone. Age, gender; Killip class, treatment with thrombolytics, revascularization procedures and use of additional medications were similar in the three groups. After six months of treatment, efection fraction increased from 34,5 ñ 2,3 to 4,2 ñ 2,4 percent in patients on ramipril, from 32,6 ñ 2,9 to 36,6 ñ 2,7 percent in patients on spironolactone, and decreased from 37 ñ 3 to 31 ñ 3 in patients on placebo (ANOVA between gropus p < 0.05). Basal end systolic volumen was similar in all three gropus, increased from 43,4 ñ 3,4 to 61,4 ñ 6,0 ml/m2 in patients on placebo and did not change in patients on spironolactone or ramipril (ANOVA p < 0.05). End diastolic volume was also similar in the three groups, increased from 70,6 ñ 4,3 to 92,8 ñ 6,4 ml/m2 in patients on placebo and did no change with the other treatments. Conclusions: Ramipril and spironolactone had similar effects on ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infaction, suggesting that aldosterone contributes to this phenomenon and that inhibition of its receptor may be as effective as ACE inhibition in its prevention

Valor pronóstico de los índices no invasivos de reperfusión coronaria en pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio tratados con trombólisis / Prognostic value of non invasive indexes of coronary reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with trombolysis

In 807 consecutive patients from the Chilean National Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction we analyzed the resolution of chest pain and ST segment elevation over 50 percent within the first 90 min, abrupt CK rise within 8 h and T wave inversion in infarct related EKG leads within the first 24 h after thrombolysis. Global in-hospital mortality was 12.1 percent. Mortality of patients with the presence of 3 or 4 markers of coronary artery patency was 5.1 percent, in those with resolution of ST elevation and abrupt CK rise was 6.25 percent and in those with T wave inversion it was 3.9 percent (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis, adjusted by age, gender, risk factors, Killip class and infarct location showed that early T wave inversion was the better predictor of a low in-hospital mortality and its combination with other markers of coronary artery patency did not increase its prognostic power. Early CK rise and the presence of 3 out of 4 reperfusion criteria were also independent predictors of a low mortality. Non invasive markers of coronary artery patency are associated with a lower in-hospital mortality and may serve as surrogate end points in clinical trials

Infarto agudo del miocardio en Chile: diferencias entre hombres y mujeres en su evolución y pronóstico / Myocardial acute infarction in Chile: diferences between male and female in its evolution and prognostic

Gender may be prognostic factor for the evolution of acute myocardial infarction and women may have higher mortality and complication rates. To study if there are differences in the evolution of acute myocardial infarction between men and women, we have recorded information on risk factors, clinical evolution, treatment and complications of 2052 patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction in 36 chilean hospitals. The odds ratio for female sex and mortality was calculated using a logistic regression analysis adjusted for risk factors, treatment, invasive procedures and complications. Twenty six percent of analyzed patients were female. Mortality rates among females and males were 11,8 and 20,2 percent respectively (p<0.01). Women had higher frequency of smoking, diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Blood lipid levels were similar in both sexes. Compared to men, a lesser proportion of women were treated with thrombolytic agents (25 and 35 percent respectively) intravenous heparin (54 and 61 percent respectively), beta blockers (31 and 42 percent respectively) and intravenous nitrates (53 and 61 percent respectively). Also, women were subjected to less invasive procedures. The odds ratio for mortality and sex was 1.72 (confidence interval from 1.13 to 2.62). Female sex is an independent risk factor for acute myocardial infarction mortality