La violencia de pareja en las pacientes que consultan por dolor torácico en urgencias / Domestic violence against women patients seen with chest pain in the emergency department

OBJETIVOS: 1) Conocer la prevalencia de violencia de pareja (VP) en las pacientes que consultan a urgencias por dolor torácico. 2)Analizar la posible asociación entre VP y presencia/control de factores de riesgo vascular (FRV), manifestaciones psíquicas de estrés, demora en la solicitud de atención, manejo del episodio y pronóstico. MÉTODOS: Se incluyó a 125 mujeres. Se realizó entrevista dirigida, test del Partner Violence Screen (PVS), seguimiento telefónico a los 30 días y revisión del historial clínico al año. RESULTADOS: Veintisiete pacientes (21,6%) tenían historia de VP, que era vigente en 4 de ellas. Las mujeres que habían sufrido VP eran más jóvenes (53,7 ± 15,0 vs 64,0 ± 18,4; p = 0,020), presentaban más frecuentemente síndrome ansioso-depresivo (57,7% vs 13,5%; p < 0,001) y tardaron más en consultar (35,0 ± 65,2 días vs 7,9 ± 25,0días; p = 0,047). Entre las mujeres mayores (≥ 65 años) existía más dislipidemia (100% vs 60,4%; p = 0,039) y peor control de la presión arterial (buen control 20% vs 78,4%; p = 0,007) en las que tenían historia de VP. No hubo diferencias en los diagnósticos, pruebas, tiempo de estancia, ingresos o evolución entre las pacientes con historia de VP o sin ella, ni hubo diferencias según la vigencia de la VP. CONCLUSIONES: La existencia actual o previa de VP en las pacientes que consultan por dolor torácico en urgencias es elevada. La existencia de VP va asociada a un retraso en la consulta y a mayor ansiedad, y puede contribuir a un mal control de los FRV, pero no afecta la evolución a medio plazo

OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in patients seen in the emergency department with chest pain. 2) To analyse the possible association between IPV and presence/control of vascular risk factors (VRF), psychic manifestations of stress, delay in requesting care, care received, and prognosis. METHODS: The study was conducted on 125 women, and included a targeted interview, the Partner Violence Screen (PVS) test, a 30-day follow-up telephone interview, and a one-year follow-up clinical history review. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (21.6%) had a history of IPV, which was present in 4 of them. Women with a history of IPV were younger (53.7 ± 15.0 vs. 64.0 ± 18.4; P = .020), had more anxiety or a depressive syndrome (57.7% vs 13.5%; P < 0.001), and consulted later (35.0 ± 65.2days vs 7.9 ± 25.0days; P = .047). Among older women ( ≥ 65years), there was more dyslipidaemia (100% vs 60.4%; P = .039) and worse blood pressure control (good control 20% vs 78.4%; P = .007) in those with a history of IPV. There were no differences in the diagnoses, tests, length of stay, admissions or prognosis among patients with or without a history of IPV, and there were no differences according to chronology of IPV. CONCLUSIONS: The current or previous existence of IPV in patients who consult for chest pain in the emergency department is high. The existence of IPV is associated with a delay in consultation and greater anxiety, and may contribute to poor control of VRF, but does not affect the prognosis in the medium term

[Domestic violence against women patients seen with chest pain in the emergency department]. / La violencia de pareja en las pacientes que consultan por dolor torácico en urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in patients seen in the emergency department with chest pain. 2)To analyse the possible association between IPV and presence/control of vascular risk factors (VRF), psychic manifestations of stress, delay in requesting care, care received, and prognosis. METHODS: The study was conducted on 125 women, and included a targeted interview, the Partner Violence Screen (PVS) test, a 30-day follow-up telephone interview, and a one-year follow-up clinical history review. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (21.6%) had a history of IPV, which was present in 4 of them. Women with a history of IPV were younger (53.7±15.0 vs. 64.0±18.4; P=.020), had more anxiety or a depressive syndrome (57.7% vs 13.5%; P<0.001), and consulted later (35.0±65.2days vs 7.9±25.0days; P=.047). Among older women (≥65years), there was more dyslipidaemia (100% vs 60.4%; P=.039) and worse blood pressure control (good control 20% vs 78.4%; P=.007) in those with a history of IPV. There were no differences in the diagnoses, tests, length of stay, admissions or prognosis among patients with or without a history of IPV, and there were no differences according to chronology of IPV. CONCLUSIONS: The current or previous existence of IPV in patients who consult for chest pain in the emergency department is high. The existence of IPV is associated with a delay in consultation and greater anxiety, and may contribute to poor control of VRF, but does not affect the prognosis in the medium term.

Docencia en medicina de urgencias y emergencias / Teaching in emergency medicine

de urgencias y emergencias puede llegar a ser losuficientemente complejo como para requerir una sólidaformación que debiera estar sustentada en una especialidadmédica, como ocurre en la mayoría de paísesde nuestro entorno.En la actualidad, en España no existe una formaciónreglada y homogénea en medicina de urgencias y emergencias(MUE) ni durante el período de formación de pregrado(en forma de asignatura obligatoria de forma universalen las facultades de medicina) ni durante el períodode posgrado (en forma de especialidad médica). En estesentido, actualmente se está pendiente de la aprobacióndefinitiva de esta especialidad en MUE en el marco de unareforma del programa de residencia que evolucionará haciaun programa formativo troncal de especialidades. A laespera de ello, la realidad es que en España los profesionalesque desarrollan su labor en este ámbito asistencialposeen una formación heterogénea. Fruto de todo estevacío y de las necesidades formativas de estos profesionales,se ha desarrollado con los años un amplio abanicode propuestas formativas específicas para optimizar lashabilidades y destrezas de los profesionales que prestanla primera asistencia urgente a los pacientes.Una nueva generación de cursos se ha puesto enmarcha utilizando las nuevas metodologías didácticasde formación, en las que se incorporan herramientasdidácticas de e-learning y simulación robótica(AU)

The appropriate care of patients in emergency servicescan reach a level of complexity as to make a soundtraining necessary, which should be based on a medicalspeciality, as happens in the majority of the countriesin our context.In Spain at present there is no regulated and homogeneoustraining in urgency and emergency medicine(UEM), either during the period of undergraduate training(in the form of a universally compulsory subjectin the faculties of medicine) or during the postgraduateperiod (in the form of a medical speciality). In this respect,the definitive approval of the speciality in UEM iscurrently pending within the framework of a reform ofthe residence program that will evolve towards a coretraining program of specialities. Until thus occurs, thereality in Spain is that professionals who work in thiscare setting possess a heterogeneous training. As a resultof this vacuum and the training needs of these professionals,a wide range of specific training proposalshas been developed over the years in order to optimisethe skills and abilities of the professionals who provideinitial emergency care to the patient.A new generation of courses has been set underwayusing the new didactic methodologies of training,into which didactic tools of e-learning and roboticsimulation have been incorporated(AU)

Predisposición de los estudiantes de medicina catalanesa especializarse en Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias / Medical students' predisposition to specialize in emergency medicine

Introducción: La Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias (MUE) se encuentra actualmente en trámites de ser reconocida como especialidad primaria en España. Sin embargo, se desconoce la predisposición de los futuros médicos a especializarse en ella, ya que nunca se les ha preguntado su opinión. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio fue conocer su posicionamiento respecto a esta especialidad. Método: Encuestas anónimas a estudiantes de primer y segundo ciclo de las facultades de medicina de Cataluña. Se recogieron variables demográficas, se preguntó por el contacto previo con la MUE (teórico y/o práctico), la intención de tenerlo, la intención de escoger en el MIR la especialidad de MUE si la hubiere y el orden de preferencia de la MUE entre otras especialidades afines. Se analizó si existía algún factor demográfico asociado con estas dos últimas variables, que fueron las consideradas dependientes en el estudio. Resultados: Participaron 171 estudiantes de las universidades de Barcelona, Autónoma de Barcelona, Lleida y Rovira i Virgili. El 2,4% escogerían MUE como primera opción en el MIR y el 52,1% sitúa a la MUE entre sus preferencias para la residencia. Un 43,3% coloca a la MUE entre las 3 primeras posiciones al compararla junto con medicina interna, medicina familiar y comunitaria, medicina intensiva, cirugía ortopédica y traumatología, cardiología y cirugía general y digestiva. Un 82,2% había cursado una asignatura de urgencias o tenía intención de realizarla y un 94,7% había cursado prácticas en servicios de urgencias o tenía intención de hacerlo. Sólo el hecho de tener un familiar médico se asoció con una menor preferencia por la MUE. Conclusión: Más de la mitad de los estudiantes de medicina de Cataluña sitúan la futura especialidad de MUE entre sus preferencias. Estas preferencias son esencialmente independientes de las características demográficas de los estudiantes o de la universidad de procedencia (AU)

Background and objective: Emergency medicine is in the process of becoming recognized as a specialty for primary residency training in Spain. However, the predisposition of future doctors to specialize in this area is unknown since students have never been asked to express their opinions. Therefore, we sought to discover medical students' attitudes toward specialization in emergency medicine. Methods: Anonymous survey of students engaged in first- and second-cycle university study of medicine in Catalonia. We recorded demographic data and asked students to indicate their prior theoretical or practical contact with emergency medicine, their intention to enter into such contact, and their intention to choose residency training in emergency medicine if that specialty were available among the range of possibilities. The relations between demographic factors and students' intentions, as the dependent variables, were then analyzed. Results: A total of 171 students at the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of Lleida, and the Rovira i Virgili University responded. Residency training in emergency medicine was the first choice for 2.4% of the students; 52.1% included emergency medicine among their possible choices for residency training. Emergency medicine was among the top 3 choices for 43.3% when students were asked to rank residencies in internal medicine, family practice, intensive care medicine, orthopedic and trauma surgery, cardiology, and general and digestive tract surgery. A course in emergency medicine had been taken or would be taken by 82.2%, and 94.7% had practical experience in emergency medicine or planned to obtain such practice. The only variable associated with expressing an interest in emergency medicine was having a doctor in the family (AU)

La enseñanza de la Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias en las facultades de medicina españolas: situación actual / Instruction in emergency medicine at university schools of medicine: the current situation in Spain

Objetivo: Analizar la enseñanza de las urgencias y emergencias en las distintas facultades de medicina de las universidades españolas. Métodos: Se consultaron los planes de estudio de las facultades de medicina de España para averiguar la existencia o no de una asignatura específica de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias (MUE), y en caso afirmativo, analizar distintos ítems relacionados con la misma. La consulta se realizó a través de la página web de cada centro, y los datos dudosos o que faltaban se confirmaron por correo electrónico o teléfono con los responsables de las asignaturas. Resultados: Veintidós de las 28 facultades españolas de medicina tienen en su plan de estudios al menos una asignatura destinada únicamente a la enseñanza de la MUE, que en la mayoría de casos es una asignatura optativa cuatrimestral. El número de créditos ofrecidos es similar al de otras asignaturas de la misma duración, pero tanto el número de créditos como la extensión y contenidos del programa y el sistema de evaluación son muy variables y, en general, no se adaptan a las recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES). Conclusiones: La enseñanza de la MUE es frecuente en las universidades españolas, aunque en la mayoría de los casos no es obligatoria. Existe una gran heterogeneidad en el sistema de enseñanza de la asignatura entre las distintas facultades. Los programas de grado existentes en general no siguen las recomendaciones de la SEMES (AU)

Objective: To analyze instruction given in emergency medicine in the medical school programs at Spanish universities. Methods: The curricula published by Spanish medical schools were consulted to determine whether or not they offered a course on emergency medicine. If one was listed, the content of the syllabus was analyzed. The search was conducted on each university's website. Unclear or missing data were checked by e-mailing or telephoning the instructors. Results: Twenty-two of the 28 medical school programs studied have at least 1 course specifically focusing on emergency medicine, although in most cases the subject is an elective and only lasts 4 months. The number of credits offered is similar to that of other courses lasting the same amount of time. The number of credits and the scope and content of the syllabi vary considerably, as do the methods of assessing student performance. In general, the courses do not follow the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES). Conclusions: Instruction in emergency medicine is commonly offered in Spanish universities, although the courses are usually listed as electives. The approach to instruction varies greatly from university to university. The syllabi of these undergraduate courses generally do not follow SEMES recommendations (AU)

Analysis of patient flow in the emergency department and the effect of an extensive reorganisation.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the different internal factors influencing patient flow, effectiveness, and overcrowding in the emergency department (ED), as well as the effects of ED reorganisation on these indicators. METHODS: The study compared measurements at regular intervals of three hours of patient arrivals and patient flow between two comparable periods (from 10 February to 2 March) of 1999 and 2000. In between, a structural and staff reorganisation of ED was undertaken. The main reason for each patient remaining in ED was recorded and allocated to one of four groups: (1) factors related to ED itself; (2) factors related to ED-hospital interrelation; (3) factors related to hospital itself; and (4) factors related to neither ED nor hospital. The study measured the number of patients waiting to be seen and the waiting time to be seen as effectiveness markers, as well as the percentage of time that ED was overcrowded, as judged by numerical and functional criteria. RESULTS: Effectiveness of ED was closely related with some ED related and hospital related factors. After the reorganisation, patients who remained in ED because of hospital related or non-ED-non-hospital related factors decreased. ED reorganisation reduced the number of patients waiting to be seen from 5.8 to 2.5 (p<0.001) and waiting time from 87 to 24 minutes (p<0.001). Before the reorganisation, 31% and 48% of the time was considered to be overcrowded in numerical and functional terms respectively. After the reorganisation, these figures were reduced to 8% and 15% respectively (p<0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: ED effectiveness and overcrowding are not only determined by external pressure, but also by internal factors. Measurement of patient flow across ED has proved useful in detecting these factors and in being used to plan an ED reorganisation.

[Impact in the quality of health care and cost-effectiveness analysis of the reform of an emergency medicine service]. / Evaluación del impacto en la calidad asistencial y análisis coste-efectividad de la reforma de un servicio de urgencias de medicina.

BACKGROUND: To determine the effects that the reform of an emergency department (ED) have on efficacy, health care quality and efficiency. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Reforms consisted of 50% and 34% increases in structural and human resources, respectively. Roles of each ED member were redetermined, new assistance pathways were implemented, and the relationship between ED and the remaining hospital departments was reassessed. As efficacy markers, we determined the number of patients waiting to be attended (Pesp), the waiting time of patients to receive medical assistance (T(esp)),and the total waiting time of patients staying in the ED (T(total)). As health-care quality markers, we determined the percentage of patients leaving ED without having been visited by a physician(IPNV), the percentage of patients who were visited again (IPR),and the percentage of mortality (IPF). We also quantified the number of visits to the ED. All these data were obtained daily over 3 weeks, before (February 1999) and after (February 2000)the reforms. Effectiveness was estimated from the ratio P(total)/T(esp)(E1) and P(total)/P(esp) (E2). Costs were recorded for both periods and a cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to study the efficiency. RESULTS: In 2000, the number of visits increased by +12% (CI 95%: 2% to 22%). Despite this increase, we observed an improvement of most efficacy and health-care quality markers after the ED reforms. E1 increased by 996% (CI 95%: 335% to 1,658%) and E2 increased by 186% (CI 95%: -23%to 395%). Cost-effectiveness analysis showed 70% (CI 95%: 33%to 107%) and 56% (CI 95%: 18% to 94%) increases regarding E1 and E2, respectively, after the reforms. CONCLUSIONS: Providing ED with the necessary resources leads to an objective improvement of its efficacy and health-care quality and, consequently, the service and quality perceived by users improve. Despite the total cost increase after the ED reforms, efficiency also improves.

[Liquid ecstasy poisoning: study of 22 cases]. / Intoxicación por éxtasis líquido: estudio de 22 casos.

BACKGROUND: To describe characteristics of acute poisoning with liquid ecstasy (gammahydroxybutyrate, GHB). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Epidemiological and clinical data of patients with acute GHB poisoning seen at emergency department (ED) along one year were collected. RESULTS: 22 patients were included. Typical profile corresponds to a young male, who consults on weekend, at night, complaining of a marked decreased level of consciousness. Patients refer coingestion of other drugs and typically regain consciousness spontaneously in a short time. CONCLUSION: The frequency of GHB poisoning has increased notably in our environment. GHB poisoning must be considered on the differential diagnostic of coma of unknown origin in young patients attended in ED.

[Quality assessment in Emergency Department: behavior respect to attendance demand]. / Indicadores de calidad en urgencias: comportamiento en relación con la presión asistencial.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate whether the quality markers used to assess the outcomes of emergency care are modified by emergency department (ED) overcrowding. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The study was performed during 4 consecutive years (208 weeks) at the Internal Medicine Unit (IMU) of ED of a third level urban hospital. To quantify attendance requirement we used the number of weekly visits to the IMU as marker. The markers used to quantify quality of care were the weekly percentage of the following: a) patients who leave ED the department without being seen by a physician (LWBS); b) those who leave ED against medical advice (AMA); c) return visits to the department before 72 hours of previous discharge (revisited, R), and d) those who died in the IMU (dead, D). We quantified also the percentage of registered complaints (C). We considered the use of the IMU to be adequate when less than 700 patients/week, to be excessive if was between 701 and 800, and to have the overcrowded IMU if was more than 800. RESULTS: We registered a mean of 723 (60) weekly visits. LWBS, AMA, R, D and C indexes were 0.90% (CI: 0.76-1.03%), 0.19% (CI: 0.15-0.22%), 1.77% (CI: 1.69-1.86%), 0-87% (CI: 0.80-0.91%) and 0.24% (CI: 0.21-0.27%), respectively. In 38% of weeks the use of the IMU was adequate, in 51% was excessive, and in 11% was overcrowded. When we compared quality markers in relation to the level of occupation, we found a significant increase in LWBS, R and D indexes during the weeks of excessive occupation or overcrowding in relation to the weeks of adequate occupation (p < 0.0001; p < 0.0001, and p < 0.05, respectively). We also found a significant positive correlation between the number of weekly visits to IMU and LWBS, AMA R and D values (p < 0.0001; p = 0.002; p = 0.0001, and p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: ED overcrowding is associated to a decrease in the majority of quality markers.

[Relative effects of external and internal factors on emergency department efficiency]. / Estimación del efecto relativo que ejercen los determinantes externos e internos sobre la eficacia de un servicio de urgencias de medicina.

BACKGROUND: To know the relative effect of external and internal factors on emergency department (ED) efficiency. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Along 3 consecutive weeks we compute at 3 hours-interval the number or patient waiting for visit and the mean waiting time for visit (efficiency markers), the number of patients arriving to ED (external pressure marker) and the number of patients remaining in ED after beginning the visit (internal pressure marker), which was divided in ED-related factors, hospital-related factors, ED-hospital interelation-related factors, or not caused by ED nor hospital-related factors. RESULTS: Only the increase of internal pressure was associated with a decline in ED efficiency (p < 0.001). ED-related and hospital-related factors were those significantly associated with such a decline (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Internal pressure generated by the own ED exerts a prominent role in its dysfunction; therefore, policies addressed to reduce such internal pressure should be encouraged.

Cell adhesion molecules in the development of inflammatory infiltrates in giant cell arteritis: inflammation-induced angiogenesis as the preferential site of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression pattern of adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on frozen temporal artery sections from 32 patients with biopsy-proven GCA and from 12 control patients with other diseases. Adhesion molecules identified were intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), ICAM-2, ICAM-3, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin, L-selectin, lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), very late activation antigen 4 (VLA-4), Mac-1 (CD18/CD11b), and gp 150,95 (CD18/CD11c). Clinical and biochemical parameters of inflammation in the patients, as well as the duration of previous corticosteroid treatment, were prospectively recorded. RESULTS: Constitutive (PECAM-1, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and P-selectin) and inducible (E-selectin and VCAM-1) endothelial adhesion molecules for leukocytes were mainly expressed by adventitial microvessels and neovessels within inflammatory infiltrates. Concurrent analysis of leukocyte receptors indicated a preferential use of VLA-4/VCAM-1 and LFA-1/ICAM-1 at the adventitia and Mac-1/ICAM-1 at the intima-media junction. The intensity of inducible endothelial adhesion molecule expression (E-selectin and VCAM-1) correlated with the intensity of the systemic inflammatory response. Previous corticosteroid treatment reduced, but did not completely abrogate, the expression of the inducible endothelial adhesion molecules E-selectin and VCAM-1. CONCLUSION: Inflammation-induced angiogenesis is the main site of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions leading to the development of inflammatory infiltrates in GCA. The distribution of leukocyte-endothelial cell ligand pairs suggests a heterogeneity in leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions used by different functional cell subsets at distinct areas of the temporal artery.

Circulating soluble adhesion molecules in patients with giant cell arteritis. Correlation between soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) concentrations and disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether changes in concentrations of circulating adhesion molecules are related to disease activity in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: A sandwich ELISA was used to measure soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), sICAM-3, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), E-selectin (sE-selectin), and L-selectin (sL-selectin) in serum and plasma samples from patients with GCA. A cross sectional study was performed on 64 GCA patients at different activity stages and on 35 age and sex matched healthy donors. Thirteen of these patients were evaluated at the time of diagnosis and serially during follow up. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, sICAM-1 concentrations were significantly higher in active GCA patients than in controls (mean (SD) 360.55 (129.78) ng/ml versus 243.25 (47.43) ng/ml, p < 0.001). In contrast, sICAM-3, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, and sL-selectin values did not differ from those obtained in normal donors. With corticosteroid administration, a decrease in sICAM-1 concentrations was observed, reaching normal values when clinical remission was achieved (263.18 (92.7) ng/ml globally, 293.59 (108.39) ng/ml in the group of patients in recent remission, and 236.83 (70.02) ng/ml in those in long term remission). In the 13 patients followed up longitudinally, sICAM-1 values also normalised with clinical remission (225.87 (64.25) ng/ml in patients in recent remission, and 256.29 (75.15) ng/ml in those in long term remission). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating sICAM-1 concentrations clearly correlate with clinically apparent disease activity in GCA patients. Differences with results previously found in patients with other vasculitides may indicate that different pathogenic mechanisms contribute to vascular inflammation in different disorders.

Interferon-alpha may exacerbate cryoblobulinemia-related ischemic manifestations: an adverse effect potentially related to its anti-angiogenic activity.

The discovery of the strong association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the development of mixed cryoglobulinemia has motivated active testing of antiviral-directed alternative therapies. Several trials have demonstrated that classic cryoglobulinemia-associated manifestations improve with interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) treatment. Herein we report on 3 HCV-infected patients with severe cryoglobulinemia-related ischemic manifestations who were closely followed up during IFNalpha therapy. Clinical evaluations with special attention to ischemic lesions, liver function tests, and cryocrit determinations were serially performed. In addition to prednisone and immunosuppressive agents, the patients received IFNalpha at 3 x 10(6) units, 3 times per week for 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months, respectively. In all 3 patients, systemic features improved, liver function results returned to normal, and cryocrit values decreased. However, ischemic lesions became less vascularized and ischemia progressed, leading to transmetatarsal and subcondylar amputation, respectively, in 2 of the patients and fingertip necrosis and ulcer enlargement in the third. Skin biopsies performed before IFNalpha therapy and after 2 months of IFNalpha therapy in the third patient showed a significant decrease in subepidermal microvessels. When IFNalpha was discontinued, the lesions finally healed. Cryoglobulinemia-related ischemic lesions may worsen during IFNalpha treatment, presumably through a decrease in inflammation-induced angiogenesis. The anti-angiogenic activity of IFNalpha may delay the appropriate healing of ischemic lesions.

[Pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae.Study in a series of 58 patients] / Neumonía por Haemophilus influenzae.Estudio de una serie de 58 pacientes.

Haemophilus influenzae tends to form part of the usual respiratory flora in adults, especially if they have a chronic underlying disease or are smokers. Pneumonia due to H. influenzae is frequently involved in respiratory infections and its level of resistance to ampicillin has remained stable over the last five years. Most of the literature on the subject was published more than 10 years ago. In this study, we describe the clinical features and evolution of 58 adult patients admitted to hospital for pneumonia due to H. influenzae over a 2-year period, with this group accounting for 6.5% of all the patients admitted with pneumonia during this time period. The etiological diagnosis was made using a good quality sputum sample. Forty patients (69%) were male. The mean age (+/- SD) of the group was 67 (+/-16.8) years and all the patients had at least one underlying disease. The mean duration of the symptoms was 6.7 days. All patients presented an increase in the quantity or purulence of the sputum. On admittance, respiratory failure was present in 52 patients (90%). Gram-negative coccus-bacilli were observed in the direct sputum test and H. influenzae grew in the culture. In two cases, H. influenzae was recovered from the blood culture and in one from bronchial aspiration obtained through bronchoscopy. Another pathogen was identified in 28 patients (48%). In 21 it was another pyogenic bacteria (15 S. pneumoniae, 4 M. catharralis, 1 K. pneumoniae, 1 E. coli), an atypical microorganism in 5 (3 C. pneumoniae, 2 C. burnetii) and a respiratory virus in 2 (syncytial and influenza A). Atypical bacteria and respiratory virus were detected using serological techniques. The radiographic infiltrate was unilobar in 54 of the 58 patients and all showed an alveolar pattern. The empirical treatment included the administration of a third generation cephalosporin (or a fluoroquinolone in patients allergic to penicillin). The evolution was favorable in all the cases in which H. influenzae was the only pathogen or was accompanied by an atypical microorganism or a respiratory virus. Four patients with mixed bacterial pneumonia died (2 S. pneumoniae, 1 E. coli and 1 M. catharralis). The study indicates that pneumoniae due to H. influenzae affects a population with an underlying disease, preferably pulmonary, that it has a longer clinical period than that for pneumococcal pneumonia, that it is slightly bacteremic and, that, usually, it evolves benignly with a low mortality.

[Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Study in a series of 58 patients]. / Neumonía por Haemophilus influenzae.Estudio de una serie de 58 pacientes.

Haemophilus influenzae tends to form part of the usual respiratory flora in adults, especially if they have a chronic underlying disease or are smokers. Pneumonia due to H. influenzae is frequently involved in respiratory infections and its level of resistance to ampicillin has remained stable over the last five years. Most of the literature on the subject was published more than 10 years ago. In this study, we describe the clinical features and evolution of 58 adult patients admitted to hospital for pneumonia due to H. influenzae over a 2-year period, with this group accounting for 6.5% of all the patients admitted with pneumonia during this time period. The etiological diagnosis was made using a good quality sputum sample. Forty patients (69%) were male. The mean age (+/- SD) of the group was 67 (+/-16.8) years and all the patients had at least one underlying disease. The mean duration of the symptoms was 6.7 days. All patients presented an increase in the quantity or purulence of the sputum. On admittance, respiratory failure was present in 52 patients (90%). Gram-negative coccus-bacilli were observed in the direct sputum test and H. influenzae grew in the culture. In two cases, H. influenzae was recovered from the blood culture and in one from bronchial aspiration obtained through bronchoscopy. Another pathogen was identified in 28 patients (48%). In 21 it was another pyogenic bacteria (15 S. pneumoniae, 4 M. catharralis, 1 K. pneumoniae, 1 E. coli), an atypical microorganism in 5 (3 C. pneumoniae, 2 C. burnetii) and a respiratory virus in 2 (syncytial and influenza A). Atypical bacteria and respiratory virus were detected using serological techniques. The radiographic infiltrate was unilobar in 54 of the 58 patients and all showed an alveolar pattern. The empirical treatment included the administration of a third generation cephalosporin (or a fluoroquinolone in patients allergic to penicillin). The evolution was favorable in all the cases in which H. influenzae was the only pathogen or was accompanied by an atypical microorganism or a respiratory virus. Four patients with mixed bacterial pneumonia died (2 S. pneumoniae, 1 E. coli and 1 M. catharralis). The study indicates that pneumoniae due to H. influenzae affects a population with an underlying disease, preferably pulmonary, that it has a longer clinical period than that for pneumococcal pneumonia, that it is slightly bacteremic and, that, usually, it evolves benignly with a low mortality.

Dynamic pattern of endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in muscle and perineural vessels from patients with classic polyarteritis nodosa.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in vessels from patients with classic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). METHODS: Frozen sections of 21 muscle and 16 nerve samples from 30 patients with biopsy-proven PAN and 12 histologically normal muscle and 2 histologically normal nerve samples from 12 controls were studied immunohistochemically, using specific monoclonal antibodies (MAb) that recognize adhesion molecules. Adhesion molecules identified were intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), ICAM-2, ICAM-3, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin, L-selectin, lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), and very late activation antigen 4 (VLA-4). Neutrophils were identified with a MAb recognizing neutrophil elastase. Endothelial cells were identified with the lectin ulex europaeus. RESULTS: In early lesions, expression of PECAM-1, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and P-selectin was similar to that in control samples, and VCAM-1 and E-selectin were induced in vascular endothelium. In advanced lesions, immunostaining for adhesion molecules diminished or disappeared in luminal endothelium, whereas these molecules were clearly expressed in microvessels within and surrounding inflamed vessels. Staining in endothelia from vessels in a healing stage tended to be negative. A high proportion of infiltrating leukocytes expressed LFA-1 and VLA-4, and only a minority expressed L-selectin. No relationship between the expression pattern of adhesion molecules and clinical features, disease duration, or previous corticosteroid treatment was observed. CONCLUSION: Endothelial adhesion molecule expression in PAN is a dynamic process that varies according to the histopathologic stage of the vascular lesions. The preferential expression of constitutive and inducible adhesion molecules in microvessels suggests that angiogenesis contributes to the persistence of inflammatory infiltration in PAN.

Large vessel vasculitides.

During the past few years remarkable progress has been achieved in the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms leading to vascular inflammation and injury in giant cell (temporal) arteritis. T lymphocytes are activated by specific recognition of a putative antigen residing in the arterial wall and, subsequently, activate macrophages that undergo a functional differentiation and contribute to vessel damage through various pathways. Vascular response to inflammation amplifies the inflammatory response through neovascularization and adhesion molecule expression. We are beginning to appreciate that products released by infiltrating inflammatory cells may play an important role in vessel occlusion and resulting ischemic complications. Concomitantly, synovitis underlying polymyalgia rheumatica musculoskeletal symptoms has been immunopathologically characterized and the nature of its relationship to giant cell arteritis is discussed. Although some components of the disease are highly corticosteroid responsive, other underlying pathogenic mechanisms may remain active. Long-term outcome is heterogeneous in patients with giant cell arteritis. Much less is known about the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis. Recent work supports its association with HLA class I antigens, which may differ in different geographic areas or ethnic groups. Because Takayasu's disease expression may vary in different ethnic settings, this possibility has led to the proposal of new diagnostic criteria. Finally, the role of new imaging techniques in diagnosis and assessment of disease activity is discussed.

Association between strong inflammatory response and low risk of developing visual loss and other cranial ischemic complications in giant cell (temporal) arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and biochemical parameters that have good predictive value for identifying giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) patients who are at high or low risk of developing cranial ischemic events. METHODS: In this multicenter study, records of patients at 3 university hospitals in Barcelona were reviewed retrospectively. Two hundred consecutive patients with biopsy-proven GCA were studied. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients developed irreversible cranial ischemic complications. The duration of clinical symptoms before diagnosis was similar in patients with and those without ischemic events. Patients with ischemic complications less frequently had fever (18.8% versus 56.9%) and weight loss (21.9% versus 62%) and more frequently had amaurosis fugax (32.3% versus 6%) and transient diplopia (15.6% versus 3.6%). Patients with ischemic events had lower erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) (82.7 mm/hour versus 104.4 mm/hour) and higher concentrations of hemoglobin (12.2 gm/dl versus 10.9 gm/dl) and albumin (37.4 gm/liter versus 32.7 gm/liter). Clinical inflammatory status and biologic inflammatory status were defined empirically (clinical: fever and weight loss; biologic: ESR > or =85 mm/hour and hemoglobin < 11.0 gm/dl). Patients not showing a clinical and biologic inflammatory response were at high risk of developing ischemic events (odds ratio [OR] 5, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.05-12.2). The risk was greatly reduced among patients with either a clinical (OR 0.177, 95% CI 0.052-0.605) or a biologic (OR 0.226, 95% CI 0.076-0.675) inflammatory reaction. No patient with both a clinical and a biologic response developed ischemic events. CONCLUSION: The presence of a strong acute-phase response defines a subgroup of patients at very low risk of developing cranial ischemic complications. Our findings provide a rationale for testing less aggressive treatment schedules in these individuals. Conversely, a low inflammatory response and the presence of transient cranial ischemic events provide a high risk of developing irreversible ischemic complications and require a prompt therapeutic intervention.