Osseous cystic echinococcosis: A case series study at a referral unit in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is present in all continents, except for the Antarctica. Characteristically, CE lesions are found in the liver and the lungs, but virtually any part of the body may be affected (the spleen, kidneys, heart, central nervous system, bones, among others). It is estimated that the incidence of bone involvement in CE is 0.5% to 4%. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study was performed of patients with osseous CE treated at the National Reference Unit of Tropical Diseases of the Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain, between 1989 and December 2017. Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic data of patients with long-term follow-up were collected. MAIN FINDINGS: During the study period, of the 104 patients with CE, 27 exhibited bone involvement (26%). The bones most frequently affected were the spine, followed by the ribs, pelvis, femur, tibia and the scapula. The most common symptom was pain followed by medullar syndrome and pathologic fracture. In total, 81.5% of patients underwent surgery for osseous CE at least once. As many as 96% received albendazol either in (mostly long-term) monotherapy or in combination with praziquantel. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis and management of osseous CE is challenging. In many cases osseous CE should be considered a chronic disease and should be managed on a case-by-case basis. Lifelong follow-up should be performed for potential recurrence and sequels.

Alfavirus tropicales artritogénicos / Tropical arthritogenic alphaviruses

Los alfavirus tropicales tienen especial tropismo por el tejido osteoarticular. Los pacientes desarrollan cuadros crónicos reumatológicos similares a la artritis reumatoide y la espondilitis anquilosante. El prototipo es el virus Chikungunya, aunque otros virus menos conocidos en nuestro medio como Sindbis, Ross River, Mayaro, O’nyong nyong y Barmah Forest tienen un potencial para propagarse a través de vectores y causar cuadros reumatológicos crónicos. Los movimientos poblacionales internacionales han aumentado el número de pacientes diagnosticados por estos virus tropicales en zonas no endémicas. Dado que pueden dejar secuelas y afectar la calidad de vida, es importante conocerlos. Los cambios en los ecosistemas han favorecido la expansión de mosquitos competentes, haciendo realidad el temor de transmisión local en el sur de Europa. El objetivo de esta revisión es dar una aproximación clínica de los distintos alfavirus tropicales artritogénicos, especialmente de aquellos en los que la patología reumática crónica es más frecuente (AU)

Tropical alphaviruses have special tropism for bone and joint tissue. Patients can develop chronic rheumatic disorders similar to rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The prototype is Chikungunya virus, although other lesser known viruses in our environment such as Sindbis, Ross River, Mayaro, O’nyong nyong and Barmah Forest viruses have the potential to be sped through vectors and cause chronic rheumatic disease. International population movements have increased the numbers of patients diagnosed with these tropical viruses in areas in which they are not endemic. Since they can leave persistent symptoms and affect the quality of life of the patients, it is important that we be aware of them. Changes in ecosystems have favored the expansion of competent mosquitoes, making fears of local transmission in southern Europe a reality. The objective of this review is to provide a clinical approach to the different arthritogenic tropical alphaviruses, especially those in which chronic rheumatic disease is more frequent (AU)

Tropical arthritogenic alphaviruses. / Alfavirus tropicales artritogénicos.

Tropical alphaviruses have special tropism for bone and joint tissue. Patients can develop chronic rheumatic disorders similar to rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The prototype is Chikungunya virus, although other lesser known viruses in our environment such as Sindbis, Ross River, Mayaro, O'nyong nyong and Barmah Forest viruses have the potential to be sped through vectors and cause chronic rheumatic disease. International population movements have increased the numbers of patients diagnosed with these tropical viruses in areas in which they are not endemic. Since they can leave persistent symptoms and affect the quality of life of the patients, it is important that we be aware of them. Changes in ecosystems have favored the expansion of competent mosquitoes, making fears of local transmission in southern Europe a reality. The objective of this review is to provide a clinical approach to the different arthritogenic tropical alphaviruses, especially those in which chronic rheumatic disease is more frequent.