Estudio de la eficacia del condroitín 4 y 6 sulfato en los síntomas de la artrosis de rodilla / Study of the effectiveness of condroitín 4 and 6 sulphate in the symptoms of the artrosis of knee

We developed a prospective, open study to evaluate the efficacy of chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of kneeosteoarthritis. Methodology: We studied 61 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. They were given 800mg/day chondroitin 4-and 6- sulfate (Condrosulf, IBSA, Switzerland) for a period of three months. Patients were controlled every 30 days using the Lequesne index and the visual analogue pain scale. Medication was suspended after 90 days and patients were reevaluated 90 days later. Only Paracetamol was allowed as analgesic. Results: After 90 days a significant improvement of45 percent was observed in the Lequesne index, and 59 percent for knee pain. Once medication is suspended, the effect tends to slowly revert, with final study results significantly better than basal levels. Residual effect is better in patients under age 65 and in those with less basal radiological damage. Subjective opinion of both patient and doctor concurs with results. Conclusions: Chondroitin 4-and 6- sulfate is effective for the symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Its effect lasts several months after drug suspension.

Artritis por Cryptococcus neoformans en un adulto mayor: Presentación de un caso y revisión / Cryptococcus neoformans arthritis in elderly adult: Case report and review

Cryptococcal infection is not frequent in immunocompetent patients. The most commonly involved sites are the lungs and the central nervous system. Cryptococcal osteomyelitis occurs in 5-10 percent of patients with disseminated cryptococcosis with few reports of cryptococcal arthritis in elderly adults. We describe the case of a 92-year-old woman with a Cryptococcus neoformans knee joint infection associated to osteomyelitis.

La infección por Cryptococcus neoformans es infrecuente, los sitios más comunes de presentación son pulmón y SNC. La osteomielitis criptococóccica ocurre en 5 a 10 por ciento de los pacientes con criptococcosis diseminada. La mayoría de casos ocurre entre 21 y 59 años de edad, hay pocos reportes de artritis criptococóccica en adultos mayores.

Polidermatomiositis y embarazo / Polidermatomyositis and pregnancy

Presentamos dos casos de esta rara miopatía durante el embarazo, enfatizando su condición de alto riesgo obstétrico perinatal, resaltamos el muy mal pronóstico gestacional dejadas evolucionar espontaneamente y la probable relación de este mal pronóstico con la concomitancia de anticuerpos anticardiolipinas

Enfermedad de Lyme en Chile: estudio de prevalencia en grupos seleccionados / Lyme's disease in Chile: prevalence study in selected groups

The prevalence of Lyme disease in Chile is unknown. To study the existence and epidemiology of Lyme Disease in Chile. One hundred eighteen patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease were studied. Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were measured using ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence screening tests. Positive cases were confirmed with ELISA using a purified antigen and Western Blot analysis. Human biological samples and ticks were cultured in BSK-H medium. Five patients, 3 with dermatological manifestations and two with facial palsy and other neurological symptoms, had antibodies against Borrelia, measured by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence. However, the presence of IgM antibodies by ELISA using purified antigen, was confirmed in only one case. All sera and cerebrospinal fluids were negative on Western Blot analysis. No plasma, skin, CFS or thick culture yielded Borrelia. We could not confirm the existence of Lyme disease in Chile. Positive screening with negative confirmatory test suggests false positive non-specific reactivity or that local Borrelia are antigenically different compared to North American strains

Abdomen agudo por vasculitis mesentérica como forma de presentación de lupus eritematoso diseminado / Acute abdomen due to mesenteric vasculitis as a presentation form of systemic lupus erythematosus

We report a previously healthy 24 years old woman, that presented with an acute abdomen due to a mesenteric vasculitis. The diagnostic study demonstrated the presence of a systemic lupus erythematosus with a type IV nephropathy. Posterior to intestinal resection and immunosuppresive therapy, the patient had a satisfactory evolution

Pérdida recurrente del embarazo en pacientes con anticuerpos anticardiolipinas; AACL / Recurrent pregnancy lost in patients with anticardiolipin antibodies

Se presenta la experiencia en 7 pacientes con antecedentes de pérdida recurrente del embarazo (x=3,7 rango 2-6) con AACL(+) en las cuales se descartó otra etiología; éstas pacientes totalizaban 26 gestaciones no tratadas concluidas en 24 pérdidas fetales (constando en 9 la muerte fetal in útero) y 2 RN vivos. La duración promedio de esas gestaciones fue 17,4 semanas (rango 8-37). Fueron tratadas con prednisona 20 mg/día y ASA 100 mg/día obteniéndose 7 RN vivos y 1 mortinato. En todas las pacientes se obtuvo descenso de los AACL. La duración promedio de las gestaciones tratadas fue de 31,7 semanas (rango 26-28). Se concluye que la presencia de AACL se correlaciona con alta mortalidad y bajo peso fetal y que con el tratamiento se obtiene gestaciones significativamente más largas que en las no tratadas y mayor relación de niños vivos respecto al número de embarazos