Hydroxychloroquine in obstetrics: New outlooks for therapy / La hidroxicloroquina en obstetricia. Nuevas perspectivas terapeuticas

Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug that is used to treat autoimmune diseases. It is safe in pregnancy and compatible with breastfeeding. Hydroxychloroquine is the drug of choice in pregnant women in need of treatment. Recently, it has proven useful for the treatment of refractory antiphospholipid syndrome and prevention of recurrence of congenital heart block in anti Ro/La-positive pregnant women. Two large prospective studies that will confirm the usefulness of this drug currently under way

La hidroxicloroquina es una droga antimalárica utilizada en enfermedades autoinmunes, segura en la gestación y en la lactancia, siendo la terapia de elección de mujeres gestantes que precisen tratamiento. Recientemente se ha visto su utilidad en el tratamiento del síndrome antifosfolipido refractario y en la prevención de la recurrencia del bloqueo cardiaco congénito en gestantes con anticuerpos antiRo/antiLa positivos. Están en marcha dos estudios prospectivos que confirmarán esta alternativa terapéutica

Macrocytic anemia and thrombocytopenia induced by orlistat.

INTRODUCTION: The overall incidence of obesity and its prevalence is increasing continuously. The obesity is a cardiovascular risk factor whose importance is increasing too. It is associated with many chronic conditions such as type II diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases. The obesity is also implicated as a risk factor for several kinds of cancer such as esophagus, pancreas, colon, rectum, breast cancer in menopausal women. The treatment of the obesity may reduce the incidence of these diseases. The mainstray of the treatment of obesity is changing the lifestyles, but obesity´s treatment may need drug therapy or even though surgical treatment. Orlistat is a specific inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases, which stops fat absortion. It is used along with a hypocaloric diet, for obesity´s treatment. The beneficial effects of orlistat include weight loss, the improvement of blood pressure´s control, it may delay the development of diabetes mellitus, and it may reduce HbA1c. CASE REPORT: Besides the interaction with other drugs (mainly warfarin and amiodarone). Orlistat´s mainly side effects are gastrointestinal disorders such as the existence of oily spotting from the rectum, abdominal pain or discomfort, fecal urgency. There are also side effects at other levels, like flu symptoms, hypoglycemia, heathache or upper respiratory infections. There are other side effects with very low incidence but clinically relevant like pancreatitis, subacute liver failure, severe liver disease, myopathy, or tubular necrosis secondary to oxalate nephropathy induced by Orlistat. DISCUSSION: IN THIS CASE REPORT APPEARS A NEW ADVERSE EFFECT OF ORLISTAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DESCRIBED ABOVE: thrombopenia and macrocytic anemia.