Efectos del entrenamiento físico de pacientes con fibrilación auricular en régimen de rehabilitación cardiovascular / Effects of physical training of patients with atrial fibrillation in cardiovascular rehabilitation regimen

Introducción: Aun son escasos los estudios que recomiendan los pacientes con fibrilación auricular en los programas de rehabilitación cardiaca. Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos del entrenamiento físico en pacientes con fibrilación auricular en régimen de rehabilitación cardiovascular. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio pre-experimental, prospectivo, tipo pretest- postest con 18 pacientes con fibrilación auricular que asistieron durante 12 semanas a las sesiones de rehabilitación cardiaca. Se evaluó el paciente al inicio y finaldel programa con ergometría con gases espirados, análisis de sangre y ecocardiograma transtorácico. Resultados: Predominaron el sexo masculino (72.2 %), el diagnóstico de miocardiopatías (33.3 %), la hipertensión arterial (100 %) y la fibrilación auricular persistente de larga duración (55.6 %). Se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa para cada variable morfofuncional: índice de masa corporal (28.0±5.0 vs. 26.9±4.4, p< 0.0001), consumo de oxígeno pico (13.6±3.0 vs. 15.3±2.9, p<0.0001), consumo de oxígeno en el umbral anaerobio (9.9±2.2 vs. 10.7±2.0; p=0.007), equivalente ventilatorio para dióxido de carbono (27.7±4.7 vs. 26.6±4.7; p<0.0001), equivalente ventilatorio para el oxígeno (24.2±5.0 vs. 23.8±4.9 p=0.001), pulso de oxígeno (10.2±2.5 vs. 12.1±2.1; p< 0,0001), unidades metabólicas (3.8±0.9 vs. 4.3±0.9; p<0.0001) y fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda (55,7±8,7 vs. 58,2±7,5, p=0,003). Las variables metabólicas disminuyeron significativamente (p<0.0001). La clase funcional de Weber mejoró en 5 pacientes (27.8 %). Conclusiones: El entrenamiento físico de pacientes con fibrilación auricular durante 12 semanas de rehabilitación cardiovascular mejoró la capacidad funcional, con incrementos evolutivos de la fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda y disminución de las variables metabólicas, sin generar riesgos ni complicaciones.

Effects of physical training of patients with atrial fibrillation in cardiovascular rehabilitation regimen Introduction: There are still few studies that recommend patients with atrial fibrillation in cardiovascular rehabilitation programs. Objective: To evaluate the effects of physical training in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiovascular rehabilitation. Method: A pre-experimental, prospective, pretest-posttest study was carried out with 18 patients with atrial fibrillation who attended cardiac rehabilitation sessions for 12 weeks. The patient was evaluated at the beginning and end of the program with stress test with expired gases, blood test and transthoracic echocardiogram. Results: The male sex (72.2%), the diagnosis of cardiomyopathies (33.3%), arterial hypertension (100%) and longterm persistent atrial fibrillation (55.6%) predominated. A statistically significant difference was found for each morphofunctional variable: body mass index (28.0±5.0 vs. 26.9±4.4, p<0.0001), peak oxygen consumption (13.6±3.0 vs. 15.3±2.9, p<0.0001), oxygen at the anaerobic threshold (9.9±2.2 vs. 10.7±2.0; p=0.007), ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (27.7±4.7 vs. 26.6±4.7; p<0.0001), ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (24.2± 5.0 vs. 23.8±4.9 p=0.001), oxygen pulse (10.2±2.5 vs. 12.1±2.1; p<0.0001), metabolic units (3.8±0.9 vs. 4.3±0.9; p<0.0001) and fraction of left ventricular ejection (55.7±8.7 vs. 58.2±7.5, p=0.003). The metabolic variables decreased significantly (p<0.0001). Weber's functional class improved in 5 patients (27.8%). Conclusions: Physical training of patients with atrial fibrillation during 12 weeks of cardiovascular rehabilitation improved functional capacity, with progressive increases in left ventricular ejection fraction and decrease in metabolic variables, without generating risks or complications.

Comparison of two different strategies of treatment with zoledronate in HIV-infected patients with low bone mineral density: single dose versus two doses in 2 years.

OBJECTIVES: Given the need for easily managed treatment of osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients, we evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of two doses of zoledronate, by comparing three groups of patients: those with annual administration, those with biennial administration (one dose in 2 years) and a control group with no administration of zoledronate. METHODS: We randomized (2:1) 31 patients on antiretroviral therapy with low bone mineral density (BMD) to zoledronate (5 mg administered intravenously; 21 patients) plus diet counselling and to a control group (diet counselling; 10 patients). At week 48, patients treated with zoledronate were randomized again to receive a second dose (two-dose group; n = 12) or to continue with diet counselling only (single-dose group; n = 9). Changes in lumbar spine and hip BMD and bone turnover markers were compared. RESULTS: The median percentage change from baseline to week 96 in L1-L4 BMD was -1.74% [interquartile range (IQR) -2.56, 3.60%], 7.90% (IQR 4.20, 16.57%) and 5.22% (IQR 2.02, 7.28%) in the control, two-dose and single-dose groups, respectively (P < 0.01, control vs. two doses; P = 0.02, control vs. single dose; P = 0.18, two doses vs. single dose). Hip BMD changed by a median of 2.12% (IQR -0.12, 3.08%), 5.16% (IQR 3.06, 6.74%) and 4.47% (IQR 1, 5.58%), respectively (P = 0.04, control vs. two doses; P = 0.34, two doses vs. single dose). No differences between the two-dose and single-dose groups were detected in bone markers at week 96. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits for BMD of a single dose of zoledronate in 2 years may be comparable to those obtained with two doses of the drug after 96 weeks, although this study is insufficiently powered to exclude a real difference. Future studies should explore whether biennial administration of zoledronate is a useful alternative in the treatment of osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients.

Low-dose beta-lactam plus amikacin in febrile neutropenia: cefepime vs. piperacillin/tazobactam, a randomized trial.

Patients with fever and granulocytopenia are at risk of developing severe infection. We performed a prospective, randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose cefepime plus amikacin (C-A) compared to low-dose piperacillin/tazobactam plus amikacin (PT-A). Patients received cefepime (2 g/12 h) plus amikacin (15 mg/kg/day) or piperacillin/tazobactam (4 g/500 mg/8 h) plus amikacin. A total of 317 episodes of febrile granulocytopenia in 190 patients were studied (152 in the C-A group, 165 in the PT-A group). A microbiologically documented infection was present in 53 (35%) episodes in the C-A group and 41 (25%) episodes in the PT-A group (p = ns); a clinically documented infection was observed in 39 (26%) and 47 (28%) episodes, respectively. Toxicity was observed in 6 (4%) episodes in the C-A group and in 5 (3%) episodes in the PT-A group. The antibiotic success rate (no change or addition of antibiotics) was recorded in 89 (59%) and 105 (64%) cases, respectively (p = ns). Mortality related to infection was similar in each arm (3.9% vs. 3.6%). Combination therapy of low-dose beta-lactam with an aminoglycoside achieves very good response rates and low rates of toxicity. It might be an attractive option in an environment of increasing resistance among gram-negative bacteria.

Intensive chemotherapy (high-dose CHOP/ESHAP regimen) followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation in previously untreated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

AIM: To analyze toxicity, response and outcome of a phase II trial with intensive chemotherapy plus autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) for young patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients [30 males and 11 females, median age 47 years] consecutively diagnosed with PTCL received three courses of high-dose cyclophosphamide 2000 mg/m(2)/day, adriamycin 90 mg/m(2)/day, vincristine and prednisone alternating with three courses of etoposide, cisplatin, cytarabine and prednisone. Responders were submitted to ASCT. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of patients received the planned treatment. After chemotherapy, 20 patients reached complete response (CR), 4 partial response and 17 failed. ASCT was carried out in 17 of 24 candidates due to lack of mobilization (three cases), toxicity (two), early relapse and patient decision (one each). CR rate after treatment was 51%. With a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 5 of 21 CR patients relapsed and 2 died in CR due to secondary neoplasms. Four-year progression-free survival was 30%. Twenty-two patients have died, with a 4-year overall survival of 39%. International Prognostic Index was the main variable predicting survival. No differences were seen among the 24 candidates according to whether or not they underwent ASCT. CONCLUSION: This intensive regimen resulted in moderate CR rate, with manageable toxicity in PTCL. The contribution of ASCT in preventing relapse is debatable. Novel strategies to increase CR warrant investigation.

Prognostic indexes in follicular lymphoma: a comparison of different prognostic systems.

BACKGROUND: The International Prognostic Index (IPI), initially designed for aggressive lymphomas, is also used in follicular lymphoma (FL) and other indolent lymphomas. Two new prognostic indexes have recently been proposed for FL [the Italian Lymphoma Intergroup (ILI) Index and the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI)]. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three indexes, IPI [age >60 years, extranodal involvement two or more sites, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status > or =2, stage > or =3], ILI (age >60 years, extranodal involvement two or more sites, elevated LDH, male sex, B symptoms, erythrocyte sedimentation rate > or =30 mm first hour) and FLIPI (age >60 years, stage > or =3, elevated LDH, nodal involvement five or more, haemoglobin level < or =12 g/dl) were calculated in 411 patients with FL. RESULTS: Overall concordance between the three indexes was 54%. A total of 126 (31%) patients were included in the high-risk group according to IPI, 131 (32%) according to ILI and 157 (38%) after FLIPI application. Ten-year overall survival rates after applying the prognostic indexes (IPI, ILI and FLIPI) were, respectively: 72%, 71% and 72%, in the low-risk group; 51%, 60% and 49% in the intermediate-risk group; and 24%, 16% and 31% in the high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, all three indexes, IPI, ILI and FLIPI, were useful to classify FL patients into differentiated risk groups, although the FLIPI identified a larger proportion of high-risk patients than the IPI and ILI.

Mediastinal extramedullary erythropoiesis in hereditary spherocytosis.

Evidence of thoracic extramedullary erythropoiesis has been noted before but it is considered rare in the course of chronic haemolytic anaemia. We report an adult who was admitted for splenectomy because of hereditary spherocytosis (HS). The evidence of a large mediastinal mass before surgery led us, after isotopic scanning using 111Indium transferrin, to suspect extramedullary erythropoiesis; this was confirmed by cytology during surgery. The utility of 111Indium transferrin as a bone marrow tracer is also noted.