Insuficiencia renal aguda secundaria a rabdomiolisis como manifestación de infección por SARS-CoV-2 / Acute kidney injury caused by rhabdomyolysis as a SARS-CoV-2 infection manifestation: report of one case

SARS-CoV-2 infection has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations secondary to the impairment of different organs, including kidney. Rhabdomyolysis is produced by disintegration of striated muscle and the liberation of its contents to the extracellular fluid and bloodstream. This may produce hydro electrolytic disorders and acute kidney injury. We report a 35-year-old female with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection who was hospitalized because of respiratory failure and developed renal failure. The etiologic study showed elevated total creatine kinase levels and a magnetic resonance imaging confirmed rhabdomyolysis. The patient required supportive treatment with vasoactive drugs, mechanic ventilation and kidney replacement therapy. She had a favorable evolution with resolution of respiratory failure and improvement of kidney function.

Estenosis mitral con calcificación severa del anillo mitral: reemplazo mitral con prótesis OnX Conform en posición supraanular / Mitral stenosis with severe annular calcification: mitral valve replacement with an OnX Conform prosthesis in a supra annular position

Abstract A 68-year-old man previously subjected to radiotherapy had a prior aortic valve replacement due de radiation induced calcification of the aortic valve. Presently the patient developed severe calcification of the mitral valve ring leading to critical mitral valve stenosis. A supra annular implantation of an On X Conform valve was successfully achieved. The clinical course was uneventful, and the echocardiographic evaluation demonstrated a normal function of the valve. Different alternatives for the surgical management of this complication are discussed.

Evaluación de la anticoagulación con rivaroxaban, en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular de reciente diagnóstico / Evaluation of oral anticoagulation with rivaroxaban, in patients with new onset non valvular atrial fibrillation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) generates a hypercoagulable state with an increased thrombin generation and raised levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes, which results in a high risk of stroke and thromboembolism. Aim: To evaluate the anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban by anti-Xa factor activity and its correlation with thrombin-antithrombin complexes, thrombin generation and prothrombin time in patients newly diagnosed with non-valvular AF. Patients and Methods: Prospective study in patients with indication of anticoagulation. Demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were recorded. Blood samples were taken at baseline, at 3 and 24 hours after the administration of the drug and at 30 days. Rivaroxaban levels, anti-Xa activity, prothrombin time, thrombin generation and plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes were determined. Results: We studied 20 patients aged 76.3 ± 8.0 years (60% female) with a CHA2DS2-VASc score > 2 points. The anti-Xa factor activity correlated with rivaroxaban plasma levels at 3 hours (r = 0.61, p < 0.01), at 24 hours (r = 0.85, p < 0.01) and at 30 days (r = 0.99, p < 0.01), with prothrombin time at 3 hours (r = -0.86, p = 0.019) and at 30 days (r = -0.63, p = 0.02) and with a sustained decrease in thrombin generation at 30 days of follow-up (r = -0.74, p < 0.01). There was no correlation with thrombin-antithrombin complexes (r = -0.02, p = 0.83). Conclusions: Rivaroxaban consistently inhibited the mild pro-coagulant state found in newly diagnosed non-valvular AF patients through the first 24 hours and this effect was maintained at 30 days. Plasma levels of the drug correlated with anti-Xa factor activity, thrombin generation and prothrombin time

Remodelado auricular derecho y niveles plasmáticos de galectina-3 se relacionan con la capacidad funcional de pacientes con hipertensión arterial pulmonar / Right atrial remodeling and plasma leves of galectin-3 are related to functional capacity in patiensts with pulmonary artery hypertension

Introducción: En pacientes con hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) Galectina- 3, biomarcador de fibrosis miocárdica, se ha asociado a marcadores ecocardiográficos de remodelado ventricular derecho. La relación entre Galectina- 3, remodelado auricular derecho (AD) y capacidad funcional (CF) en pacientes con HAP no ha sido explorado. El objetivo fue medir niveles de Galectina-3 y su relación con CF y remodelado AD en pacientes con HAP Metodos: Estudio prospectivo observacional en que se incluyeron 14 pacientes con HAP En todos los pacientes se midieron los niveles de Galectina-3, proBNP, se evaluó la CF mediante test de caminata 6 minutos (TC6M) y se evaluó remodelado AD. Se consideraron para el análisis dos grupos según la distancia caminada en TC6M (> 200 m vs. ≤ 200 m). Resultados: La edad promedio fue 43 ± 10 años, el 84% mujeres. Los niveles de Galectina-3 fueron 16,1 ± 7,4 ng/mL y el TC6M fue 371 ± 142 mts. Los pacientes con TC6M< 200 m presentaron mayores niveles de Galectina-3 (27,3 ± 4,6 vs 13,7 ± 3,8; p=0,006) y mayor volumen AD (151 ± 21 vs 94 ± 43; p=0,04). Además, se observó una correlación inversa entre el área AD y TC6M (-0,71; p=0,03). Conclusión: Niveles elevados de Galectina-3 y parámetros de remodelado adverso en AD se relacionan con una menor CF en pacientes con HAP. Estos hallazgos apuntan a una mejor caracterización de pacientes con HAP y eventualmente la búsqueda de nuevos objetivos terapéuticos.

Background: Galectin-3 is a biomarker of myo-cardial fibrosis and has been associated with echocar-diographic markers of right ventricular remodeling in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). The association among Galectin-3 level, right atrial (RA) remodeling and functional capacity (FC) has not been explored. The objective was to measure plasma Galectin-3 concentrations and its relation with RA remodeling and FC in PAH patients. Methods: This is a prospective observational study and 14 PAH patients were included. Galectin-3 and proBNP levels were measured in all patients. FC was estimated by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and used to define 2 groups of subjects (≤200m or >200m). RA area and volume were measured by echocardiography from a 4 chamber view. Results: The average age was 43±10 years, 84% of patients were female. Galectin-3 levels were 16.1±7.4 ng / mL and 6MWT was 371±142 m. We observed an inverse correlation between RA area and 6MWT (-0.71;p=0.03). Conclusions: Higher Galectin-3 concentrations and RA adverse remodeling are related to a decreased FC in PAH patients. These findings may lead to a better characterization of PAH patients and eventually new therapeutic targets.

Influencia del sistema de salud de procedencia y otros factores en el resultado del reemplazo valvular mitral / Influence of the referring health care systems and other factors on the results of mitral valve replacement

Background: There is no consensus regarding which risk factors influence the outcome of mitral valve replacement. Aim: To study the effects ofthe referring health care system and other factors on the results of mitral replacement. Patients and Methods: We included 632 patients operated between 1990 and 2010 receiving the St Jude prosthesis. Patients were divided into three groups, group 1 composed by 180 patients coming from the Public System, group 2 composed by 182 patients coming from the University System and group 3 composed by 270 patients coming from the Private System. Results: Overall operative mortality was 4.3%. There was no difference between groups in mortality. Factors responsible for operative mortality were: emergency operation (Odds Patio (OR): 5.6 P < 0.01) and left ventricular function (according to ejection fraction) grade III to IV (OR: 2.5 p = 0.048). Actuarial survival rates at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years were 95%, 87%, 76%, 61% and 41%, respectively. Risk factors for long-term mortality were diabetes (OR: 3.3 p < 0.01), left ventricular function grades III-IV (OR: 2.6 p < 0.01), New York Heart Association functional class III to PV (OR: 2.1 p < 0.005) and male sex (OR: 1.5 p < 0.032). Conclusions: Referring health care system and type of surgery do not constitute a risk factor for mitral replacement. Risk factors were: emergency surgery, ventricular function grades III-IV, diabetes, functional capacity class III-IV and male sex. Integration of public and private health care systems in a university hospital setting achieves excellent outcomes for complex pathology.

Unidad de dolor torácico: primera experiencia en Chile / Chest pain unit: first experience in Chile

Background: In large series, nearly 60 percent of admissions for suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) had a non-coronary etiology of the pain. However, short term mortality of non recognized ACS patients, mistakenly discharged from the emergency room is at least twice greater than the expected if they would had been admitted. The concept of a chest pain unit (CPU) is a methodological approach developed to address these issues. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a CPU in the emergency room of a general hospital for evaluation of acute chest pain. Material and Methods: Prospective study of patients with chest pain admitted in the CPU. After a clinical, electrocardiographic and laboratory evaluation with cardiac injury serum markers, patients were stratified in three risk groups, based on the likelihood of ACS of the American Heart Association. High probability patients were admitted to the Coronary Unit (CU) for treatment. Moderate probability patients remained in the CPU for further evaluation and low probability patients were discharged with telephonic follow-up. Results: Of 407 patients, 35, 30 and 35 percent were stratified as high, intermediate and low probability ACS, respectively. Among patients admitted with high probability, 73 percent had a confirmed ACS diagnosis. Among intermediate probability patients, 86 percent were discharged after an evaluation in the CPU without adverse events in the follow-up. Conclusion: Structured risk evaluation approach in a CPU improves the management of acute chest pain, identifying high probability patients for fast admission and start of treatment in a CU and allowing safe discharge of low probability ones.