The frequency of high/moderate lipoprotein risk factor for coronary artery disease is significant in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

To determine the prevalence of dyslipoproteinemia on a large juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) cohort, we selected 40 patients after rigorous exclusion criteria. Lipoprotein levels were determinated after 12 hours fast and risk levels for CAD were defined by standards of the Brazilian Guidelines for dyslipoproteinemia according to US-NCEP. All individuals were under steroid therapy and chloroquine and 43% had active disease. Thirty patients (75%) had high-risk levels for CAD (23 isolated low HDL, while in seven subjects low HDL was associated to high TG in four, high LDL in one, high TG/LDL in one and high TC/LDL in one). Remarkably, overall analysis revealed that 85% patients were included in high/medium risk levels group (29% for TC, 29% for LDL, 88% for HDL, and 18% for TG) and these disturbances occured mainly in the first four years of disease. Unexpectedly, one-third of the patients presented two or more high/medium lipoprotein risk factors. Independently, active jSLE was associated to TG (OR = 3.2; P < 0.001) and had a tendency towards reduction on HDL (OR = 8.5; P = 0.056). Considering improvements on jSLE outcome, the increased frequency of high/medium lipoprotein risk levels for CAD reinforces the need of prevention measures in order to minimize deleterious effects of this disturbance.

Cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio minimamente invasiva com utilização da videotoracoscopia / Minimally Invasive Myocardial Bypass Surgery Using Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy

PURPOSE: In order to associate the major benefits of the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with a less aggressive procedure minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft (MICABG) has been utilized. The aim of the work is to report our initial experience with this technical approach, using video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to facilitate the operation. METHODS: Twenty-six patients, 19 males with ages from 44 to 83 years old, and having isolated lesion of the anterior descending artery were operated upon. Left anterior minithoracotomy of 8-10 cm was performed at the fourth intercostal space. Through this incision the optical device for VATS as well as the surgical instruments were placed in order to provide the complete left internal mammary artery (LIMA) dissection. Bypass circulation was not used and cardiac rate was decreased with the use of intravenous betablockers. For LIMA--anterior descending artery anastomosis, proximal and distal tourniquets were used and 1.5 mg/kg of heparin was intravenously administered. RESULTS: All patients presented satisfactory postoperative evolution, being discharged from the hospital at 72 h after surgery in the majority of the cases. There were delay in two patients healing of incisions and 25 patients have remained asymptomatic, with a mean in postoperative follow-up of four months. One patient died in the second postoperative month due to stroke. CONCLUSION: MICABG makes the surgery possible with better esthetic effect, lower cost and enables faster recovery than the conventional one. The use of VATS through the thoracotomy itself, allows the LIMA dissection without other incisions. It also permitted more ample dissection of the LIMA when compared to minithoracotomy without VATS.