Tafamidis meglumina no tratamento da polineuropatia amiloidótica familiar relacionada à proteína transtirretina / Tafamidis meglumine in the treatment of familial amyloid polyneuropathy related to transthyretin protein

CONTEXTO: A polineuropatia amiloidótica familiar relacionada à transtirretina (PAF-TTR) é uma doença genética neurodegenerativa progressiva altamente incapacitante, irreversível e fatal. As manifestações clínicas são variadas, mas a principal disfunção é uma polineuropatia sensório-motora e autonômica progressiva e irreversível. O tratamento envolve medidas para aliviar sintomas e, em casos selecionados, o transplante hepático. No Brasil, estima-se que existam 4.800 pacientes com esta condição. TECNOLOGIA: Tafamidis meglumina (Vyndaqel®). INDICAÇÃO: Tratamento da amiloidose associada à transtirretina em pacientes adultos com polineuropatia sintomática em estágio inicial e não submetidos a transplante hepático. PERGUNTA: O uso de tafamidis é eficaz, seguro e custo-efetivo no tratamento da polineuropatia amiloidótica familiar relacionada à transtirretina em pacientes com estágio inicial da doença? EVIDÊNCIAS CIENTÍFICAS: O demandante apresentou sete artigos sobre o medicamento e uma busca complementar para este relatório identificou mais um. De todos os estudos selecionados, apenas um foi ensaio clínico randomizado, controlado por placebo, duplo-cego, sem limitações metodológicas importantes. Entretanto, houve perda de mais de 20% da amostra, com impactos no poder estatístico. Análise por intenção de tratar não demonstrou benefício em escalas de sintomas neurológicos e qualidade de vida. Análise por protocolo e de desfechos secundários, houve benefício com o uso do tafamidis (proporção de pacientes sem progressão neurológica definida pela NIS-LL de 60,0% para intervenção e 38,1% para placebo, p = 0,041; diferença de média no escore de qualidade de vida TQOL foi de 0,1 pontos no grupo intervenção e de 8,9 no grupo placebo, p = 0,045). Demais artigos não foram considerados. AVALIAÇÃO ECONÔMICA: Custo-utilidade cujo comparador foi ausência de tratamento. O uso de tafamidis resultou em ganhos em qualidade de vida (QALY de 6,48 para 9,01, incremento de 2,54) e em anos de vida (de 10,05 para 13,28, incremento de 3,24), com uma razão de custoutilidade incremental de R$ 974.617/QALY e de R$ 763.609/ano de vida salvo. Modelo apresentado possui crítica em sua validade interna, como ausência de descrição clara dos parâmetros utilizados para população em estudo e dos detalhes da análise de microssimulação; ausência de descrição sobre avaliação de incerteza estocástica (variabilidade); pressupostos utilizados para determinação de eficácia do medicamento e progressão da doença (afetando qualidade de vida e sobrevida) e falta de dados para determinar a incerteza paramétrica do modelo (validade externa limitada). AVALIAÇÃO DE IMPACTO ORÇAMENTÁRIO: Necessidade de R$ 18,9 milhões no primeiro ano após a incorporação e de R$ 397,5 milhões em cinco anos. Estimativa com validade questionada. MONITORAMENTO DO HORIZONTE TECNOLÓGICO: Foram identificados 4 medicamentos em desenvolvimento clínico para o tratamento da PAF-TTR (fase 2 ou 3): diflunial (Dolobid®), tolcapona (Tasmar®), Oligonucleotídeo fosfotiorato específico da transtirretina (Inotersen®; ISIS TTR Rx; ISIS-GSK1 Rx; IONIS-TTRRx) e Oligoleucleotídeo de siRNA de cadeia dupla sintético dirigido contra mRNA de transtirretina (Patisiran®; ALN-TTR02). CONSIDERAÇÕES: Baixa confiança na evidência do uso do tafamidis na PAF-TTR, baseada em análise secundária de um único ensaio clínico com desfecho que não é crítico para a tomada de decisão clínica. Eficácia comparativa com outras opções terapêuticas não foi avaliada. Análise econômica com validade questionável. Impacto orçamentário com custo significativo. RECOMENDAÇÃO PRELIMINAR: O Plenário, em sua 57ª reunião ordinária (05/07/2017), recomendou a incorporação no SUS do tafamidis meglumina para tratamento da amiloidose associada à transtirretina em pacientes adultos com polineuropatia sintomática em estágio inicial e não submetidos a transplante hepático. CONSULTA PÚBLICA: Foram recebidas 70 contribuições técnico-científicas e 764 sobre experiência ou opinião. Na 61ª reunião ordinária, após apreciação das contribuições, o plenário da CONITEC considerou contundente a necessidade de retomar a análise do tema incluindo as evidências apresentadas pela contribuição contrária. Na 62ª reunião ordinária, após apreciação das evidências trazidas pela contribuição contrária, o plenário entendeu que não houve nova informação, mantendo recomendação inicial. RECOMENDAÇÃO FINAL: Os membros da CONITEC presentes na 62ª reunião ordinária, no dia 07 de dezembro de 2017, deliberaram, por unanimidade, por recomendar a incorporação no SUS do tafamidis meglumina para tratamento da amiloidose associada à transtirretina em pacientes adultos com polineuropatia amiloidótica familiar sintomática em estágio inicial e não submetidos a transplante hepático, mediante negociação de preço e Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas do Ministério da Saúde. Foi assinado o Registro de Deliberação nº 320/2017. A recomendação será encaminhada para decisão do Secretário da SCTIE. DECISÃO: Incorporar o tafamidis meglumina para pacientes adultos com polineuropatia sintomática em estágio inicial e não submetidos a transplante hepático, mediante negociação de preço e Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas do Ministério da Saúde, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde ­ SUS. A decisão foi dada pela Portaria SCTIE-MS nº 02 publicada no Diário Oficial da União (DOU) nº 13, de 18 de janeiro de 2018, pág. 56.(AU)

Periungual tegumentary leishmaniasis: a diagnostic challenge

Abstract: Periungual and paronychia-like skin lesions can mimic various diseases, setting up a diagnostic challenge that invariably requires correlation with complementary tests. We report a case of an ulcerated tumor of the nailfold diagnosed as leishmaniasis. Although paronychia-like cutaneous leishmaniasis is a rare variant, its epidemiological relevance in Brazil should prompt dermatologists to include it as a plausible diagnosis thus leading to correct work up and treatment.

Recent advances in the imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma

The role of imaging is crucial for the surveillance, diagnosis, staging and treatment monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Over the past few years, considerable technical advances were made in imaging of HCCs. New imaging technology, however, has introduced new challenges in our clinical practice. In this article, the current status of clinical imaging techniques for HCC is addressed. The diagnostic performance of imaging techniques in the context of recent clinical guidelines is also presented.

The MR imaging diagnosis of liver diseases using gadoxetic acid: Emphasis on hepatobiliary phase

Hepatocyte specific contrast agents including gadoxetic acid and gadobenate dimeglumine are very useful to diagnose various benign and malignant focal hepatic lesions and even helpful to estimate hepatic functional reservoir. The far delayed phase image referred to as the hepatobiliary phase makes the sensitivity of detection for malignant focal hepatic lesions increased, but specificity of malignant diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma, metastasis and cholangiocarcinoma, characterization remained to be undetermined.

Immunotherapy with imiquimod increases the efficacy of glucantime therapy of leishmania major infection

Leishmaniasis is a complex disease which presents as visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms. The current treatment options for this infection are very limited and the immunological state of the host appears to play an important role in the efficacy of the treatment. Immunostimulation through immune response activating agents such as Imiquimod is another rational approach for this purpose. We assessed the efficacy of immunotherapy with Imiquimod alone or combined with Glucantime for treatment of Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice. Treatment efficacy was monitored by determination of thickness and parasite load of infected foot-pad of mice. The footpad thickness revealed that treatment with Imiquimod plus Glucantime has the highest efficacy. The results were confirmed by parasite load of infected footpad. Our data shows that treatment of Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice by the combined Imiquimod and Glucantime is more efficient than each drug alone. The combination of Imiquimod with chemotherapy may offer a way for more efficient treatment of leishmaniasis

Gadoxetic Acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-Enhanced MRI versus Gadobenate Dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)-Enhanced MRI for Preoperatively Detecting Hepatocellular Carcinoma: an Initial Experience

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the diagnostic performance of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI for preoperatively detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients (17 men and one woman, age range: 31-73 years) with 22 HCCs underwent examinations with gadoxetic acid enhanced MRI and gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI on a 3.0-Tesla unit. The diagnosis of HCC was established after surgical resection and pathological conformation. Three observers independently reviewed each MR image in a random order on a tumor-by-tumor basis. The diagnostic accuracy of these techniques for the detection of HCC was assessed by performing an alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The sensitivity and positive predictive values were evaluated. RESULTS: The average value of the area under the ROC curve (Az) for gadoxetic acid enhanced MRI (0.887) was not significantly different from the Az (0.899) for gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI (p > 0.05). The overall sensitivities of gadoxetic acid enhanced MRI and gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI were 80% and 83%, respectively, with no significant difference (p > 0.05). The differences of the positive predictive values for the two contrast agents for each observer were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI for preoperatively detecting HCC is quite similar.

O uso da associação azitromicina e N-metil glucamina no tratamento da leishmaniose cutânea causada por Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis em camundongos C57BL6 / The use of azythromycin and N-methyl glucamine for the treatment of cutaneous Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in C57BL6 mice

FUNDAMENTOS: O tratamento de primeira escolha da leishmaniose tegumentar americana é a N-metil-glucamina que tem alta toxicidade, exige administração parenteral e nem sempre cura. A azitromicina mostrou ação in vitro e resultado contraditório na doença humana. OBJETIVO: Verificar se a associação N-metil-glucamina+azitromicina é mais eficaz do que N-metil-glucamina no tratamento da leishmaniose experimental. MÉTODOS: 25 camundongos inoculados com a cepa C57BL/6 de L. (L.) amazonensis foram divididos em dois grupos. Um foi tratado com 400mgSbV/kg/dia de N-metil-glucamina associado a 200mg/kg/dia de azitromicina durante 20 dias, e o outro com N-metil-glucamina, na mesma dose, durante o mesmo tempo. Foi feita avaliação clínica e parasitológica com análise estatística. RESULTADO: Na avaliação clínica, pesquisa de amastigotas e das culturas, não houve diferença estatística. Verificou-se, entretanto, diferença significante no resultado das culturas realizadas através de diluição limitante, que desfavoreceu a associação NMG+ azitromicina. CONCLUSÃO: A associação N-metil-glucamina e azitromicina não demonstrou mais eficácia do que o N-metil-glucamina em uso isolado.

BACKGROUND: The first choice treatment for cutaneous Leishmaniasis is N-methyl glucamine: it has high toxicity, requires parenteral administration and cure is not always reached. Azythromycin showed in vitro action and controversial results in humans with the disease. OBJECTIVE: To verify if the association of N-methyl-glucamine - azythromycin is more effective than N-methyl-glucamine alone for the treatment of experimental Leishmaniasis. METHODS: Twenty-five C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with L. (L.) amazonensis strain and divided into two groups. One group was treated with 400mgSbV/kg/day of N-methyl glucamine and 200mg/kg/day of azythromycin for 20 days and the other group received the same dose of N-methyl glucamine alone during the same period of time. Clinical and parasitological evaluations were submitted to statistical analyses. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in clinical analysis, in amastigotes investigation and in cultures. There were significant differences in cultures using limiting dilution, which showed lower efficacy of the association N-methyl glucamine -azythromycin. CONCLUSION: N-methyl glucamine-azythromycin association was not more effective than N-methyl glucamine alone.

Hypointense Hepatic Lesions Depicted on Gadobenate Dimeglumine-Enhanced Three-Hour Delayed Hepatobiliary-Phase MR Imaging: Differentiation between Benignancy and Malignancy

Gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging simultaneously provides both morphological and functional information by the acquisition of dynamic and hepatobiliary-phase imaging. Focal lesions with no functioning hepatocytes, where hepatobiliary metabolism is blocked or inhibited, are generally unable to uptake and excrete gadobenate dimeglumine into the bile. Such lesions are typically malignant and usually appear hypointense as compared to the normal liver parenchyma as seen on hepatobiliary-phase imaging. However, various benign hepatic lesions may also be hypointense due to (a) the presence of no functioning hepatocytes, (b) damage to the functioning hepatocytes or (c) impairment of biliary function as depicted on hepatobiliary-phase imaging. All of these imaging features may result in recognition of the benign hepatic lesions as hepatic malignancies. As depicted on three-hour delayed hepatobiliary-phase imaging, peripheral iso/hyperintensity due to fibrotic tissue compared to the hypointense center with a fuzzy margin may be a clue for the presence of a benign hepatic lesion. In contrast, peripheral hypointensity due to rich tumoral cellularity compared to the center with a clear margin may favor an indication of the presence of a malignant hepatic lesion.

Evaluation of miltefosine against Leishmania major [MRHO/IR/75/ER]: In vitro and vivo studies

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 different countries. There are an estimated 1.5 million new cases each year, with over 90% occurring in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria [Old World] and in Brazil and Peru [New World]. Miltefosine is effective in vitro and in vivo against Leishmania species and it was demonstrated efficacy in animals via the oral route. This study is the first one for evaluating the effect of miltefosine on cutaneous leishmaniasis of L. major [MRHO/IR/75/ER] by in vivo and in vitro studies in the BALB/c mouse model. As it was shown, miltefosine has a better effect on reduction of size of lesion compared to Glucantime[R], also it was not significant by statistical analysis. The results of this study show that miltefosine has a good activity against the proliferation of amastigotes of L. major. The results suggest that oral miltefosine might be a promising approach for developing new anti-Leishmanial drugs. [c] 2008 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Gadobenate Dimeglumine as an Intrabiliary Contrast Agent: Comparison with Mangafodipir Trisodium with Respect to Non-dilated Biliary Tree Depiction

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of Mangafodipir trisodium (Mn-DPDP) -enhanced MR cholangiogrphy (MRC) and Gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) -enhanced MRC in visualizing a non-dilated biliary system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight healthy liver donor candidates underwent contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRC. Mn-DPDP and Gd-BOPTA was used in 36 and 52 patients, respectively. Two radiologists reviewed the MR images and rated the visualization of the common duct, the right and left hepatic ducts, and the second-order branches using a 4-point scale. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the common duct to the liver in the two groups was also compared. RESULTS: Mn-DPDP MRC and Gd-BOPTA MRC both showed similar visualization grades in the common duct (p = .380, Mann-Whitney U test). In the case of the proximal bile ducts, the median visualization grade was significantly higher with Gd-BOPTA MRC than with Mn-DPDP MRC (right hepatic duct: p = 0.016, left hepatic duct: p = 0.014, right secondary order branches: p = 0.006, left secondary order branches, p = 0.003). The common duct-to-liver CNR of the Gd-BOPTA MRC group was significantly higher (38.90+/-24.50) than that of the Mn-DPDP MRC group (24.14+/-17.98) (p = .003, Student's t test). CONCLUSION: Gd-BOPTA, as a biliary contrast agent, is a potential substitute for Mn-DPDP.

Detection of Malignant Primary Hepatic Neoplasms with Gadobenate Dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) Enhanced T1-Weighted Hepatocyte Phase MR Imaging: Results of Off-site Blinded Review in a Phase-II Multicenter Trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) enhanced MR imaging for the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with histologically proven primary malignancy of the liver were evaluated before and after administration of Gd-BOPTA at dose 0.05 or 0.10 mmol/kg. T1-weighted spin echo (T1W-SE) and gradient echo (T1W-GRE) images were evaluated for lesion number, location, size and confidence by three off-site independent reviewers and the findings were compared to reference standard imaging (intraoperative ultrasound, computed tomography during arterial portography or lipiodol computed tomography). Results were analyzed for significance using a two-sided McNemar's test. RESULTS: More lesions were identified on Gd-BOPTA enhanced images than on unenhanced images and there was no significant difference in lesion detection between either concentration. The largest benefit was in detection of lesions under 1 cm in size (7 to 21, 9 to 15, 16 to 18 for reviewers A, B, C respectively). In 68% of the patients with more than one lesion, Gd-BOPTA increased the number of lesions detected. CONCLUSION: Liver MR imaging after Gd-BOPTA increases the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasm.

Experiencia con Gadolinio DTPA en RNM / Experience with Gadolinium DTPA in RNM

Se analizan las indicaciones y efectividad del Gadolinio en 30 pacientes con estudios del SNC y columna vertebral