Detección de secuencias del gen BCR-ABL mediante RT-PCR en pacientes con leucemia en la IX Región Chile / Detection of BCR-ABL gene sequences using polymerase chain reaction reverse transcriptase in patients with leukemia from the IX Región of Chile

Background: The BCR-ABL fusion gene is the molecular expression of the Philadelphia chromosome. This cytogenetic aberration is the most frequent alteration found in leukemias, which is produced by the translocation t(9;22). Two different fusion proteins are produced depending on the break point (210 kD and 190 kD). The detection of this gene has both diagnostic and prognostic importance, associated with poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Aim: To detect BCR-ABL gene sequences in patients with leukemia from the IX Region of Chile. Material and methods: We studied 58 patients: 5 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 35 ALL, 15 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 3 biphenotypic leukemia. The gene sequences were detected using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: BRC-ABL gene sequences were positive in all patients with CML, 2 of 35 ALL (one child and one adult). The remaining patients were negative. We found p210 and p190 co-expression in 2 CML and 1 ALL. Conclusions: Our results are in agreement with other reports. The detection of these and other genetic alterations will allow us to have invaluable diagnostic and prognostic information from our patients with leukemia

Artritis reumatoídea en población mapuche: una experiencia de 16 años en la IX región de Chile / Rheumatoid arthritis among mapuche aborigines: a 16 years experience

Background: Mapuche, Chilean natives, represent approximately 9.8 pecent of Chilean population and in the IX region of the country, they account for 18.4 percent of population over 15 years old. They preserve some socio-cultural characteristics that make them different to the rest of the population. Aim: To describe the epidemiological characteristics rheumatoid arthritis among Mapuche natives. Subjects and methods: Retrospective review of patients of Mapuche origin with rheumatoid arthritis, seen at Temuco Hospital between 1980 and 1996. Results : Among 308 cases gathered, only 106 (93 women, aged 55 ñ 10 years old) complied with 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. The disease began between 29 and 52 years old in 73 percent of patients and the mean delay in diagnosis was 4.4 years. At diagnosis, 99 percent had symmetric poliarthritis, 28.3 percent had either fatigue, fever or weight loss, and 46.9 percent were in class III or in class IV of ACR-1991. Fifty three percent of patients developed Sicca syndrome, 36 percent developed nodules, 23 percent developed Raynaud phenomenon, 11 percent developed pulmonary involvement, 7 percent developed vasculitis, 5 percent developed neurological manifestations and 19 percent developed ophthalmologic involvement. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 78 percent and 73 percent had erosions. HLA DR4 was (+) in 60 percent of 30 patients. Thirty percent required 3 or more disease modifying drugs and prednisone over 10 mg/day. There was no correlation between functional capacity and several other features of the disease. Conclusions: Mapuche rheumatoid arthritis patients are detected late and have a poor functional capacity at the time of diagnosis. They also have a higher proportion of extraarticular manifestations, more erosions and require more aggressive treatments

Prevalencia de anemia por deficiencia de hierro en lactantes de la comuna de Temuco: Chile / Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in unweaned infants of Temuco: Chile

La deficiencia de hierro es la causa más común de anemia en la población mundial. Entre los grupos de mayor riesgo de presentar anemia por deficiencia de hierro están los lactantes, especilamente aquellos que no recibieron tratamiento profiláctico. El propósito del presente trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia de anemia por deficiencia de hierro en lactantes de ambos sexos entre 6 y 24 meses de edad, que acuden a los Consultorios de Temuco. Se estudiaron 162 lactantes de bajo nivel socioeconómico, a cada uno se le realizó un hemograma completo y una encuesta para determinar un lugar de residencia, edad gestacional, peso de nacimiento y clasificación social. Los resultados mostraron una prevalencia de anemia por deficiencia de hierro de un 35.8 porciento (58/162). El grupo rural presentó un mayor porcentaje de anemia al compararlo con el grpo urbano (p<0.05). La prevalencia de anemia en la población estudiada es similar a la reportada en otros estudio nacionales