Anestesia em paciente com saturnismo: relato de caso / Anesthesia in patient with lead poisoning: case report / Anestesia en paciente con saturnismo: relato de caso

JUSTICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O saturnismo decorre da intoxicação crônica pelo chumbo, comum após exposição ocupacional. Projéteis retidos no corpo podem resultar em elevados níveis plasmáticos de chumbo com inúmeras repercussões clínicas, principalmente neurológicas. Apresentamos um caso de paciente sintomático, sem diagnóstico, que foi detectado durante visita pré-anestésica. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente apresentado para retirada de projétil alojado em joelho esquerdo há 14 anos, com polineuropatia sem investigação. Durante visita pré-anestésica foi levantada a hipótese de saturnismo, confirmada pelos altos níveis plasmáticos de chumbo (129 µg.dL-1). A cirurgia foi realizada sob anestesia geral antes do início da quelação do chumbo. Durante indução anestésica, o paciente evoluiu com apneia, sem rigidez torácica após 50 µg de fentanil. CONCLUSÃO: A intoxicação por chumbo interfere com a função de diversos órgãos e sistemas, altera o metabolismo oxidativo e os mecanismos intracelulares de sinalização. O acometimento neurológico, com redução da condução neural merece especial atenção do anestesiologista.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lead poisoning, also Saturnism, results from chronic lead poisoning, common after occupational exposure. Projectiles retained in the body may result in increased levels of plasma lead with numerous clinical implications, particularly neurological. We report a case of a symptomatic patient, undiagnosed, whose diagnosis was made during the preanesthesia evaluation. CASE REPORT: The patient was attended at our hospital to remove a bullet lodged in his left knee 14 years ago, presenting with polyneuropathy without investigation. During the preanesthetic visit, saturnism was hypothesized and confirmed by high plasma lead levels (129 µg.dL-1). Surgery was performed under general anesthesia before starting lead chelation. During anesthesia, the patient developed apnea, without chest-wall rigidity after administration of fentanyl (50 mg). CONCLUSION: Lead poisoning interferes with the function of various organs and systems, alters oxidative metabolism and intracellular signaling mechanisms. Neurological involvement, with reduced neural conduction, deserves special attention from anesthesiologists.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El saturnismo proviene de la intoxicación crónica por el plomo común después de la exposición ocupacional. Los proyectiles que el cuerpo retiene pueden traer como resultado elevados niveles plasmáticos de plomo con innumerables repercusiones clínicas, principalmente neurológicas. Presentamos aquí un caso de paciente sintomático, sin diagnóstico, y que fue detectado durante la visita preanestésica. RELATO DEL CASO: Paciente que se presentó para la retirada de una bala que se había alojado en la rodilla izquierda hacía 14 años, con polineuropatía sin investigación. Durante la visita preanestésica se pensó en saturnismo, lo que fue confirmado por los altos niveles plasmáticos de plomo (129 µg.dL-1). La cirugía fue realizada bajo anestesia general antes del inicio de la quelación del plomo. Durante la inducción anestésica, el paciente evolucionó con apnea sin rigidez torácica después de 50 µg de fentanilo. CONCLUSIONES: La intoxicación por plomo interfiere con la función de diversos órganos y sistemas, altera el metabolismo oxidativo y los mecanismos intracelulares de señalización. El compromiso neurológico, con la reducción de la conducción neural, merece una especial atención por parte del anestesiólogo.

Short-term treatment with metformin improves the cardiovascular risk profile in first-degree relatives of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have a metabolic syndrome and normal glucose tolerance without changes in C-reactive protein or fibrinogen

OBJECTIVE: To study if metformin, when administered to first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects who have metabolic syndrome and normal glucose tolerance, could improve the cardiovascular risk profile and reduce the levels of both C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is associated with higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Metformin has vasculo-protective effects even in normoglycemic subjects, and C-reactive protein and fibrinogen are considered markers of endothelial injury and inflammation. METHODS: Thirty-one non-diabetic first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects with metabolic syndrome were randomized (1:1) and double-blinded for placement in the placebo and metformin groups (850mg bid/±90days); 16 subjects were administered metformin (mean age 40.0 [33.5-50] years; 13 females) and 15 subjects were in the placebo group (mean age 37.0 [32-42] years; 9 females). Blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of treatment for biochemical analyses, including an assessment of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels. RESULTS: Metformin improved the lipid profile and decreased fasting plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, weight and body mass index without changing body composition. For those in the placebo we identified no changes in fibrinogen (282.2 [220.4-323.7] mg/L vs. 286.7 [249.6-295.1] mg/L; NS) or in C-reactive protein levels (0.68 [0.3-1.2] vs. 0.64 [0.3-1.0] mg/L; NS). The same was also observed for the levels of fibrinogen (303.9 [217.6-347.6] mg/L vs. 290.9 [251.5-301.9] mg/L; NS) and C-reactive proteins (0.78 [0.3-1.1] vs. 0.80 [0.4-0.9] mg/L; NS) in the metformin group. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin treatment in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus sufferers who have metabolic syndrome and normal glucose tolerance improved the cardiovascular risk profile without changing the levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.