[Modifications of the lipid metabolism induced by interferon beta in multiple sclerosis patients and its relationship with the disease activity]. / Modificaciones del metabolismo lipídico inducidas por interferón beta en los pacientes con esclerosis múltiple y su relación con la actividad de la enfermedad.

INTRODUCTION: It has been recently suggested that total cholesterol and low density lipoproteins (LDL) levels can behave as biological markers of activity in demyelinating diseases. Thus, our aim has been to describe the modifications of the plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride due to treatment with interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to determine their relationship with the disease activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Study of the follow-up of MS patients under treatment with interferon-beta. Clinical and analytical controls were performed before initiating treatment and than at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of its initiation. RESULTS: Fifty six patients have been studied, 41 of them women. Mean age was 37.4 years. Fifty were relapsing- remitting forms and the rest secondary progressive forms. The mean plasma levels of triglyceride increased and total cholesterol levels diminished during the 24 months of treatment with interferon, mainly in the first 3 months. No statistically significant relationship was found between disease activity and mean plasma levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol before the beginning of the treatment and during the period of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with interferon-beta in the MS patients originates changes in the plasma lipid profile, but neither these changes nor the plasma lipid levels before the treatment behave as biological markers of disease activity.

[Severe hematuria caused by radiation cystitis. Selective percutaneous embolization as an alternative therapy]. / Hematuria grave debida a cistitis rádica. Embolización percutánea selectiva como alternative terapéutica.

Post-radiotherapy cystitis is a high morbidity entity that involves difficult-to-treat haematurias and sometimes results in death. Percutaneous arterial embolization is an accepted approach for haemorrhages of pelvic origin. Selective, percutaneous embolization of both vesical arteries could be an alternative treatment to control severe haematurias caused by radiation. Presentation of our experience in two cases and proposal of this approach as a valid option in post-radiotherapy haemorrhagic cystitis.