Clinical Factors Related to the Response of IV Ferric Carboxymaltose Treatment in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Significant benefit of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) for restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been demonstrated. However, clinical indicators to expect treatment response of RLS are not clarified. The aim of this study is to find out determinant factors to predict treatment outcome of FCM. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive 108 patients with RLS who visited sleep clinic and received FCM from April 2016 to November 2017. Obtained data were detailed history including international restless legs scale (IRLS) and questionnaires, comorbid diseases, medication. Complete blood cell count, serum iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity were sampled before and after treatment. Treatment response was assessed about four weeks after FCM administration. Patients with more than 40% decrease on IRLS were classified into the responders. RESULTS: 99 patients (mean 54.5 y and 79 females) were included. 58 patients (58.6%) were classified to be responders. There were substantial differences in post-treatment IRLS and symptom reduction rate between responders (7.4±6.4, 77.5±18.6%) and non-responders (29.7±8.7, 7.4±10.3%). No significant differences were found in demographics, baseline IRLS, sleep, and mood status between two groups. Serum ferritin and transferrin saturation was significantly lower in responders (37.6 ng/mL, 25.0%) than non-responders (55.1 ng/mL, p=0.014 and 36.5%, p=0.001). Patients with a history of gastrectomy (n=8) showed an excellent response to FCM (83.8% of symptom reduction). Comorbid lumbosacral radiculopathy had lower response rate (29.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral iron compromised state and gastrectomy history may indicate good response to intravenous FCM in patients with RLS. Patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy tend to be poor responders to intravenous FCM.

Espondilodiscitis: análisis de 19 casos internados en un hospital de tercer nivel / Spondylodiscitis: analiysis of 19 inpatients at a referral hospital in Rosario, Argentina

Introducción: la espondilitis representa un desafío diagnóstico, ya que el dolor lumbar, su principal manifestación clínica, constituyeun motivo de consulta muy frecuente en la práctica cotidiana y carece de especificidad. Por lo tanto, resulta indispensablemantener una elevada sospecha clínica. Objetivo: Analizar las características clínicas, analíticas, microbiológicas e imagenológicas,el tratamiento, la evolución y los factores pronósticos de pacientes internados por espondilodiscitis en el Hospital Provincial delCentenario, desde enero de 2011 a marzo de 2015, excluyéndose los casos postquirúrquicos. Resultados: Se analizaron 19 pacientescon una edad media 48±11 años, 63% varones. Se identificaron como comorbilidades: diabetes (37%), obesidad (16%), etilismo(21%), insuficiencia renal crónica en hemodiálisis (16%), HIV (11%), adicción EV (11%). Los gérmenes más frecuentes fueron losestafilococos (52%). Al ingreso el 94% presentó dolor, 73% fiebre y 36% foco neurológico. La media de tiempo de evolución desíntomas hasta ingreso fue 62±80 días (rango 4-360 días). La velocidad de eritrosedimentación fue elevada en todos los pacientes,y sólo 37% presentaban leucocitosis. La vancomicina fue el antibiótico más utilizado. El 37% de los pacientes presentaba infeccióndiseminada. La mortalidad fue del 26%. Los pacientes que tuvieron un tiempo de evolución al ingreso mayor a 25 días presentaronpeor evolución (colecciones, foco neurológico o muerte) (p<0,05). Conclusiones: en esta serie, la asociación de la consulta tardíacon la mala evolución destaca la importancia de considerar las pautas de alarma en centros de atención primaria para posibilitar undiagnóstico más temprano.

Introduction: Spondylodiscitis represents a diagnostic challenge since the main clinical manifestation, low back pain, is very frequent andnonspecific, and often impedes a timely diagnosis. Clinical suspicion is essential. Objective: to analyze the clinical, analytical, microbiological,and radiological features, as well as outcome and prognostics factors, in patients with spondylodiscitis admitted to the Hospital Provincialdel Centenario (Rosario, Argentina), from January 2011 to March 2015. Postsurgical cases were excluded. Results: Nineteen patients wereincluded. Mean age was 48±11 years, 63% were males. We identified the following comorbid diseases: diabetes (37%), obesity (16%),alcoholism (21%), hemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (16%), HIV (11%), intravenous drug abuse (11%). The most frequentcausative organism was Staphylococcus sp. (52%). Upon admission 94% of patients presented pain, 73% fever, and 36% neurologicalinvolvement. The average time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 62±80 days (range 4-360). The erythrocyte sedimentation ratewas raised in all the patients, and only 37% had leukocytosis. Vancomycin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic. Disseminatedinfection was present in 37% of patients. The mortality rate was 26%. Patients with a time lag to diagnosis higher than 25 days had worseoutcome (suppurative collections, neurological involvement, or death) compared to those with earlier diagnosis (p <0.05). Conclusions:The association of late consultation with poor outcome in this study emphasizes the importance of educating the general population toencourage attendance to medical centers. Physicians in primary care settings must be trained to identify pain pattern, and incorporateclinical perspectives capable of recognizing a defined syndrome at first contact, in other to achieve a better outcome.Key words: Spondylodiscitis, comorbid conditions, diagnostic delay, outcome.

Artroplastía de hombro en el medio privado: Análisis de las variables demográficas y de comorbilidad en una muestra de 120 pacientes / Shoulder arthroplasty in the private practice: Analysis of demographics and comorbid conditions in a sample of 120 patients

Objetivo: Describir las variables demográficas de una serie de casos de artroplastía de hombro operadas en un solo hospital y por un solo equipo quirúrgico. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron 120 artroplastías de hombro de Enero de 2006 a Noviembre del 2014 obteniéndose las variables de edad, género, diagnóstico de base, tipo de prótesis utilizada, comorbilidades, lado afectado, ocupación, tiempo de evolución y cirugías previas. Resultados: 66% de los casos fueron mujeres y 34% hombres, el promedio de edad fue de 66 años y el diagnóstico más frecuente fue la artropatía por desgarro del manguito rotador (30%). La prótesis total de anatomía reversa se realizó en 51% de los casos, seguida por la hemiprótesis en 38%. 70% de la población fue originario del D.F. La hipertensión arterial se presentó en 23% los casos. 36% de los casos tenía antecedentes de cirugías previas. En 40% de los casos la ocupación fue trabajo en el hogar. Conclusión: La artroplastía de hombro es un procedimiento que se realiza con un alto volumen en este centro hospitalario. Nuestra serie reporta un número significativo de casos en donde las variables demográficas obtenidas pueden representar un panorama inicial en la artroplastía de hombro en pacientes mexicanos, y presentar el perfil del paciente candidato a este procedimiento al no contar con registros previos.

Objective: To describe the demographics in a series of shoulder arthroplasty cases operated in a single hospital and by the same surgical team. Material and methods: 120 shoulder arthroplasties performed between January 2006 and November 2014 were included. The following variables were analyzed: age, gender, baseline diagnosis, type of prosthesis used, comorbid conditions, involved side, occupation, follow-up time, and surgical history. Results: Females accounted for 66% and males 34%; mean age was 66 years and the most frequent diagnosis was arthropathy resulting from rotator cuff tear (30%). The reverse total shoulder prosthesis was used in 51% of cases, followed by the hemiprosthesis in 38%. Seventy per cent of patients were from the Federal District. Arterial hypertension occurred in 23% of cases; 36% of cases had undergone prior surgery; 40% of cases worked at home. Conclusion: Shoulder arthroplasty is a procedure frequently performed at this hospital. Our case series reports a significant number of cases in which the demographics may give us an overview of shoulder arthroplasty in Mexican patients and describe the characteristics of patients eligible for this procedure, as there are no other registries available.