Manejo de la Osteoartritis

De todas las enfermedades del sistema musculoesquelético, la osteoartritis (OA) es la más frecuente de las artritis, lo que conlleva a enormes gastos para la sociedad y una gran morbilidad para las personas que la padecen.  Se caracteriza por afectar toda la articulación, incluyendo la degradación del cartílago, el remodelamiento óseo, la formación de osteofitos y la inflamación de la membrana sinovial. En consecuencia, se produce dolor, rigidez, hinchazón y pérdida de la función articular con marcada limitación funcional. El manejo de esta entidad implica una terapia no farmacológica, el uso de drogas para el alivio del dolor y cirugía cuando las medidas anteriores han fallado. Dentro de las medidas no farmacológicas destacan la educación, los ejercicios para el fortalecimiento muscular, la terapia física, la disminución de peso y las ortesis o dispositivos para asistir en la deambulación. En cuanto a las drogas recomendadas podemos mencionar a los antiinflamatorios no esteroideos tanto tópicos como orales y los glucocorticoides intraarticulares. Finalmente, la meniscectomía parcial por artroscopía solo se ha recomendado cuando existe bloqueo en la rodilla. En aquellos individuos que sufran de un dolor insoportable o una limitación funcional severa por una enfermedad avanzada debe considerarse el reemplazo total de la articulación. (provisto por Infomedic International)

Of all the diseases of the musculoskeletal system, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common arthritis, leading to enormous costs to society and great morbidity for sufferers.  It is characterized by involvement of the entire joint, including cartilage degradation, bone remodeling, osteophyte formation and inflammation of the synovial membrane. This results in pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of joint function with marked functional limitation. Management of this entity involves non-pharmacological therapy, the use of drugs for pain relief and surgery when previous measures have failed. Non-pharmacological measures include education, muscle strengthening exercises, physical therapy, weight reduction and orthoses or devices to assist ambulation. As for recommended drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, both topical and oral, and intra-articular glucocorticoids are recommended. Finally, partial meniscectomy by arthroscopy has only been recommended when there is knee locking. In individuals suffering from excruciating pain or severe functional limitation due to advanced disease, total joint replacement should be considered. (provided by Infomedic International)

Levels of satisfaction with rheumatoid arthritis treatment and associated alignment between physicians and patients across Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: Discordance (misalignment) regarding treatment satisfaction may exist in real-life clinical practice between patients and their physicians. We aimed to assess physician and patient treatment satisfaction levels and associated degree of misalignment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: A point-in-time, multinational survey of patients and physicians was conducted in Latin America from December 2014 to October 2015. Physician- and patient-reported satisfaction levels with current RA treatment, alignment levels in satisfaction perception, and factors associated with satisfaction misalignment were assessed through bivariate and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Participating physicians (N = 114) completed 555 patient record forms (PRFs); 372 patients completed self-complete questionnaires (PSC). A total of 346 physician-patient pairs were analyzed. Physicians reported satisfaction with current disease control in 270/346 (78.0%) PRFs; patients reported such satisfaction in 286/346 (82.7%) PSCs. Physician-patient alignment was observed in 78.6% of pairs. Compared with aligned patients, misaligned patients were younger, more likely to have moderate or severe disease (physician subjectively defined), deteriorating or unstable disease (physician subjectively defined), been exposed to a greater number of advanced therapy lines (biologic or Janus kinase inhibitor), greater current pain, a current acute episode, poorer health, and greater disability and impairment. Misaligned patients were less likely to be in remission. Logistic regression analysis revealed that misaligned patients were more likely to experience greater activity impairment. CONCLUSIONS: High treatment satisfaction and alignment were observed among RA patients and their physicians in Latin America. Misaligned patients were more likely to report more severe disease and were less likely to be in remission. Addressing misalignment may lead to improved RA disease control.Key Points• High treatment satisfaction was observed among RA patients and their treating physicians in Latin America.• One-fifth of physician-patient pairs were misaligned in treatment satisfaction.• Patients misaligned with their physicians reported higher disease activity, lower quality of life, and greater disability than those who were aligned with their physicians.• Understanding and addressing misalignment in treatment satisfaction may improve outcomes in this patient population.

Physician-patient alignment in satisfaction with psoriatic arthritis treatment in Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: Physician-patient misalignment may exist in real-life clinical practice. We aimed to assess physician and patient treatment satisfaction levels and associated degree of misalignment in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHOD: Data from a cross-sectional survey of patients and their physicians conducted in Latin America were analyzed. Physician-reported and patient-reported satisfaction levels with current PsA treatment, alignment in satisfaction levels, and factors associated with satisfaction misalignment were assessed through bivariable and multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 179 physician-patient pairs were analyzed. Physicians reported satisfaction with current disease control in 87.7% (n = 157) of cases; patients reported satisfaction in 91.1% (n = 163 of cases). A total of 82.1% of physician-patient pairs were aligned. Compared with aligned patients, misaligned patients were older and more likely to have moderate or severe disease, deteriorating or unstable disease, a past hospital procedure, current or past psoriasis symptoms, greater current pain, a current acute episode, poorer health and quality of life, greater impairment, poorer medication compliance, to consider PsA a major daily burden, and to believe that PsA treatments were ineffective. Misaligned patients were less likely to be in remission. Logistic regression analysis revealed that misaligned patients were older, and more likely to consider PsA a major daily burden and PsA treatments as ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of treatment satisfaction and alignment were observed among PsA patients and their physicians in Latin America. Patients in this study nevertheless experienced a considerable clinical and quality-of-life burden, especially the misaligned patients. Addressing misalignment may lead to improved PsA disease control.Key points• High treatment satisfaction was observed among PsA patients and their treating physicians in Latin America.• Patients experienced a considerable clinical and quality-of-life burden, especially the misaligned patients.• One-fifth of physician-patient pairs were misaligned regarding satisfaction.• Understanding and addressing misalignment may improve outcomes in this patient population.

Glucosamina: Cual es la evidencia? / Glucosamine: which is the evidence?

La osteoartritis es una enfermedad que afecta a la gran mayoria de los individuos mayores de 60 años. A pesar de los recientes avances en la etiopatogenesis y en el manejo de dicha entidad aun no contamos con tratamientos efectivos que al mismo tiempo mejoren los sintomas y detengan la evolucion de la enfermedad. Desde hace algunos años se ha venido promulgando el uso de suplementos nutricionales como parte del tratamiento, en especial del uso de la glucosamina. Las ventajas in vitro han sido demostradas tambien en varios estudios clinicos pero estos trabajos han dejado algunas dudas sobre la magnitud del efecto benefico. Esta revision que incluye los trabajos mas recientes a Octubre de 2000 sobre el uso de la glucosamina en la osteoartrosis y ofrece una vision objetiva sobre dicha opcion terapeutica. La decision final del uso de la glucosamina debe ser ajustada en forma individual no siendo posible extrapolar los resultados actuales a toda la poblacion con osteoartritis

Histoplasmosis diseminada: casos confirmados en el Complejo Hospitalario metropolitano de la Caja de Seguro Social / Disseminated histoplasmosis: cases confirmed in the Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano de la Caja de Seguro Social

Se estudia la historia clínica de los pacientes que habían sido hospitalizados desde 1962 a 1986, en el Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano de la Caja de Seguro Social (CHMCSS), en los cuales se hizo el diagnóstico de histoplasmosis diseminada. Se estudió la sintomatología del compromiso sistémico y los antecedentes personales patológicos relacionados con otra enfermedad, o el estado de inmunosupresión; la demonstración del hongo en los tejidos y en el cultivo o en el frotis de la sangre periférica y de la médula ósea; y se revisaron las láminas de las biopsias de piel, hígado, pulmón, médula ósea, y de las autopsias practicadas en cada caso