Tormenta de citoquinas: reacción adversa inhabitual por rituximab. caso clínico / Shock as an adverse reaction to rituximab: case report

Rituximab is a plausible alternative first-line treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis. Adverse effects related to its infusion are common and usually have a benign course. However, there have been reports of refractory cardiogenic shock simulating septic shock. We report an 81-year-old male with the diagnosis of ANCA associated vasculitis. Rituximab 500 mg was administered intravenously for a relapse. The infusion proceeded without incident. However, 24 hours after its administration the patient began with fever, chills, coughing and strong malaise. The patient was transferred to the critical patient unit where a septic shock was suspected and resuscitative measures were started. However, the fast response to moderate doses of vasoactive drugs and complementary tests did not support an infectious etiology for the shock. Antimicrobials were discontinued and systemic corticosteroids were maintained, achieving remission of the symptoms. Shock as an unusual adverse reaction to Rituximab was suspected.

Colangitis bacteriémica en adultos en un hospital general en Chile / Bacteremic colangitis in adults in a general hospital in Chile

Background: Some aspects of bacteremic cholangitis are unknown in Chile. Aim: To gather more information on clinical, microbiological aspects as well as risk factors for ICU admission, recurrence and antimicrobial resistance. Material and Methods: A retrospective research was performed using medical records of adult patients in a general hospital. Results: Between 2006-2012, 22 patients with 29 bacteremic events were identified. Previous cholangitis events were reported by 27.3%, 45.5% had recent admissions and, 50% had used antimicrobial compounds. Coledocholithiasis was the most common cause of obstruction (45.5%) followed by cancer (36.4%). One third developed shock (31%), the only factor associated with ICU admission (OR 30, p < 0.05). In 24 of the 29 bacteremic events, the biliary tract was intervened (82.8%) and in 80.8% during the first 72 hours. Gram negative bacilli were predominant (> 80%) and some infrequent agents such as Staphylococcus warneri, Shewanella spp. and, Aeromonas spp. were observed. Among enteric gram negative bacilli, 29.2% presented fluoroquinolone resistance and, 26.1% resistance to third generation cephalosporins, both associated with previous endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (OR 35 and 16.5, respectively p < 0.05). A favorable response was observed in 93.1% of bacte-remic events but in 31.8% of patients cholangitis recurred with or without bacteremia. Recurrence was associated to recent admission (OR 16.5, p = 0.01) and in all cases occurred before 81 days. In-hospital mortality was 9.1% (n = 2), but in only one case associated to sepsis. Average length of stay (LOS) was 17.8 days. Conclusions: Early intervention of the biliary tract allows a favorable response in patients affected by bacteremic cholangitis, but this condition use intensive care resources, had a prolonged LOS, a recurrent pattern, and is associated with several bacterial species, some of them resistant.

Introducción: La información sobre los cuadros de colangitis aguda bacteriémica es fragmentaria en Chile. Objetivo: Analizar las características clínicas, evolución, microbiología y factores de riesgo asociados a ingreso a UCI, recurrencia y resistencia antimicrobiana. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo con adultos atendidos entre el 2006 y el 2012 en un hospital general. Resultados: Se identificaron 22 pacientes con 29 episodios de bacteriemia. Un 27,3% tenía historia previa de colangitis aguda, 45,5% de hospitalizaciones en los últimos tres meses y 50% recibió previamente antimicrobianos. La coledocolitiasis fue la causa más frecuente de obstrucción (45,5%) y las neoplasias ocuparon el segundo lugar (36,4%). El 31% desarrolló shock hemodinámico y fue el factor determinante para ingresar a la UCI (OR 30, p < 0,01) En 24 de los 29 eventos de colangitis bacteriémica se efectuaron intervenciones sobre la vía biliar (VB) o complicaciones asociadas (82,8%), las que se realizaron predominantemente en las primeras 72 h de hospitalización (80,8%). Las especies bacterianas mayoritarias fueron bacilos gramnegativos entéricos o no fermentadores (> 80% del total) y se observaron agentes inusuales como Staphylococcus warneri, Shewanella spp y Aeromonas spp. Entre los bacilos gramnegativos entéricos, 29,2% presentó resistencia a fluoroquinolonas y 26,1 % a cefalosporinas de tercera generación, fenómenos asociados al antecedente de colangiografía endoscópica retrógrada (OR 35 y 16,5 respectivamente, p < 0,05). El 93,1% de los eventos de bacteriemia tuvo una respuesta favorable pero 31,8% de los pacientes presentó recu-rrencia de colangitis, con o sin bacteriemia, un hecho asociado a hospitalización reciente (OR 16,5, p = 0,01) y que se dio en todos los casos antes de 81 días. Dos pacientes con cáncer fallecieron en la misma hospitalización (9,1%), aunque uno solo de ellos en forma atribuible a la infección. La estadía hospitalaria promedio fue de 17,8 días. Conclusiones: Con la intervención precoz sobre la VB, los cuadros de colangitis bacteriémica han logrado una baja letalidad pero usan recursos intensivos, tienen una estadía prolongada, un patrón recurrente, pueden estar asociados a cáncer y a una diversidad de agentes bacterianos, algunos de ellos resistentes.