Shorter versus longer duration of antimicrobial therapy for early Lyme disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic therapy for patients with early Lyme disease is necessary to prevent later-stage Lyme disease complications. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares shorter versus longer antibiotic regimens in treating early Lyme disease. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted up to November 2023. We examined treatment failure, complete response, and photosensitivity. Short vs. long therapy was defined as ≤10 days vs. >10 days. Subgroup analyses included antibiotic type and varying treatment durations. Analysis utilized RStudio 4.1.2. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023423876. RESULTS: Seven studies, encompassing 1,462 patients, were analyzed. No significant differences in treatment failure, 12-month complete response, final visit complete response were found between short and long durations of antibiotic therapy. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses corroborated these findings. CONCLUSION: Shorter and longer antibiotic regimens for early Lyme disease show similar efficacy, highlighting the potential of ≤10-day courses, as effective treatment options.

Hiperferritinemia: Experiencia de un Centro Universitario en Chile / Hyperferritinemia in a Chilean Academic Healthcare Network: A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: The distribution of causes of hyperferritinemia in international series is heterogeneous. Also, the association between ferritin and prognosis is controversial. This study aims to describe the diagnosis associated with hyperferritinemia in a retrospective cohort at an academic healthcare network in Chile. METHODS: A retrospective review of adult patients admitted to our academic medical center from June 2014 to February 2017 with ferritin ≥3,000 ng/mL. All patients were classified into nine diagnostic categories. Then, the association between ferritin level and disease category, as well as mortality, was evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were identified. The mean age was 50.8 ± 19.9 years, 54.5% were men. The most frequent categories were "inflammatory and autoimmune diseases" (21.2%) and "hematological malignancies" (19.2%). The average ferritin was 10,539 ± 13,016.9 ng/mL, while the higher mean was 16,707 ng/mL in the "inflammatory and autoimmune diseases" category. There was a statistically significant association between the ferritin value and age but not between ferritin and diagnostic categories. In the group over 50, hematologic neoplasms (19%) and infections (19%) were more frequent. In those under 50, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases were more frequent (26.8%). There was no association between the ferritin level and mortality at 1, 3, and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent categories were "inflammatory and autoimmune diseases" and "hematological malignancies", but ferritin level was similar in both. Further research could validate a prognostic role.

[Hyperferritinemia in a Chilean Academic Healthcare Network: A Retrospective Study]. / Hiperferritinemia: Experiencia de un Centro Universitario en Chile.

INTRODUCTION: The distribution of causes of hyperferritinemia in international series is heterogeneous. Also, the association between ferritin and prognosis is controversial. This study aims to describe the diagnosis associated with hyperferritinemia in a retrospective cohort at an academic healthcare network in Chile. METHODS: A retrospective review of adult patients admitted to our academic medical center from June 2014 to February 2017 with ferritin ≥3,000 ng/mL. All patients were classified into nine diagnostic categories. Then, the association between ferritin level and disease category, as well as mortality, was evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were identified. The mean age was 50.8 ± 19.9 years, 54.5% were men. The most frequent categories were "inflammatory and autoimmune diseases" (21.2%) and "hematological malignancies" (19.2%). The average ferritin was 10,539 ± 13,016.9 ng/mL, while the higher mean was 16,707 ng/mL in the "inflammatory and autoimmune diseases" category. There was a statistically significant association between the ferritin value and age but not between ferritin and diagnostic categories. In the group over 50, hematologic neoplasms (19%) and infections (19%) were more frequent. In those under 50, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases were more frequent (26.8%). There was no association between the ferritin level and mortality at 1, 3, and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent categories were "inflammatory and autoimmune diseases" and "hematological malignancies", but ferritin level was similar in both. Further research could validate a prognostic role.