André L.S. Hayata

Registro brasileiro de biológicos: processo de implementação e resultados preliminares do BiobadaBrasil

OBJETIVOS: O presente estudo teve por objetivo descrever o processo de implementacao de um registro nacional em um pais em desenvolvimento (Brasil) e relatar os principais resultados preliminares do registro BiobadaBrasil. MATERAL E METODOS: Atraves de um acordo com a PANLAR, o protocolo Biobadaser foi utilizado como modelo para a implementacao de um novo registro no nosso pais. Durante os dois primeiros anos desse esforco, o protocolo original foi adaptado, traduzido e apresentado a todos os reumatologistas brasileiros. Durante dez meses, dados de 1.037 pacientes (750 tratados com biologicos e 287 controles) de 15 centros foram coletados. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes tinha artrite reumatoide (AR) (n = 723). Infliximabe foi o agente anti-TNF mais usado, e a exposicao total a biologicos foi 2.101 pacientes-ano. A razao mais comum para suspensao da droga foi ineficiencia ou perda de efetividade (50%), e 30% dos pacientes interromperam o tratamento devido a eventos adversos. Tres casos de tuberculose foram observados no grupo biologico, representando maior incidencia do que aquela da populacao brasileira geral. Infeccoes foram observadas em 23% dos pacientes do grupo biologico, sendo o trato respiratorio superior o local mais comumente afetado. Apenas um caso de hanseniase tuberculoide foi observado. Nenhuma morte nem malignidade atribuivel ao efeito dos medicamentos foi observada ate fevereiro de 2010. CONCLUSOES: A implementacao do registro foi bem sucedida. Embora recente, o registro BiobadaBrasil ja forneceu importantes dados.

VATS for complete dissection of LIMA in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND The aim of this work is to report our initial experience with minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting, using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to facilitate the operation and provide complete dissection of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). METHODS Of 44 scheduled patients, 43 patients, 30 (69.8%) male, ranging in age from 31 to 83 years (60.8 +/- 12.0 years), with a severe lesion in the anterior descending artery, were operated upon. An 8-cm left anterior minithoracotomy was performed at the fourth intercostal space. Through this incision the optical device for video-assisted thoracic surgery as well as the surgical instruments were placed to provide complete LIMA dissection. This permits dissection until the subclavian region, allowing for anastomosis without tension or distortion. Bypass circulation was not used, and the cardiac rate was decreased with the use of intravenous beta-blockers. For LIMA-to-anterior descending artery anastomosis, proximal and distal tourniquets were used and 1.5 mg/kg of heparin was administered intravenously. RESULTS Video-assisted thoracic surgery provided a complete dissection of LIMA. The 43 patients presented satisfactory postoperative progress, being released from the hospital between 2 and 12 days after their operation, with a mean of 4 days. The patients have remained asymptomatic during a period that ranged from 1 to 13 months (6.3 +/- 3.5 months). During the follow-up, there was one death as a result of stroke and pneumonia 2 months after the release from the hospital. CONCLUSIONS The use of video-assisted thoracic surgery through thoracotomy allows the LIMA dissection without the necessity of other incisions. The procedure also permitted more ample dissection of LIMA when compared with minithoracotomy without video-assisted thoracic surgery.

The frequency of high/moderate lipoprotein risk factor for coronary artery disease is significant in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

To determine the prevalence of dyslipoproteinemia on a large juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) cohort, we selected 40 patients after rigorous exclusion criteria. Lipoprotein levels were determinated after 12 hours fast and risk levels for CAD were defined by standards of the Brazilian Guidelines for dyslipoproteinemia according to US-NCEP. All individuals were under steroid therapy and chloroquine and 43% had active disease. Thirty patients (75%) had high-risk levels for CAD (23 isolated low HDL, while in seven subjects low HDL was associated to high TG in four, high LDL in one, high TG/LDL in one and high TC/LDL in one). Remarkably, overall analysis revealed that 85% patients were included in high/medium risk levels group (29% for TC, 29% for LDL, 88% for HDL, and 18% for TG) and these disturbances occured mainly in the first four years of disease. Unexpectedly, one-third of the patients presented two or more high/medium lipoprotein risk factors. Independently, active jSLE was associated to TG (OR = 3.2; P < 0.001) and had a tendency towards reduction on HDL (OR = 8.5; P = 0.056). Considering improvements on jSLE outcome, the increased frequency of high/medium lipoprotein risk levels for CAD reinforces the need of prevention measures in order to minimize deleterious effects of this disturbance.

Decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of dyslipoproteinemia in a homogeneous cohort of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients. METHODS: Based on the National Cholesterol Education Program, fasting lipoprotein levels and risk levels for coronary artery disease were determined in 28 patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The exclusion criteria included diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, smoking, proteinuria, lipid-lowering drugs, and hormone/diuretic therapy. Disease activity, disease duration, and therapy with corticosteroids and/or chloroquine were defined at the time of lipid measurements. RESULTS: Dyslipoproteinemia was identified in 20 of the 28 (71%) patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The primary lipoprotein risk factor was decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (57%), followed by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (18%), triglycerides (14%), and total cholesterol (7%). The male patients had decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the female patients (p<0.05). The incidence of decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not seem to be affected by disease activity or therapy because the incidence was similar in patients with active or inactive disease, with or without corticosteroid use and with or without chloroquine use. In addition, the frequency of decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels was similar in patients with short (≤5 years) vs. long (>5 years) disease duration. CONCLUSIONS: Dyslipoproteinemia is highly prevalent in patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and is primarily related to decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; therefore, early intervention is essential.

Incidence of tuberculosis among patients with rheumatoid arthritis using TNF blockers in Brazil: data from the Brazilian Registry of Biological Therapies in Rheumatic Diseases (Registro Brasileiro de Monitoração de Terapias Biológicas – BiobadaBrasil)

OBJECTIVES To assess the incidence of tuberculosis and to screen for latent tuberculosis infection among Brazilians with rheumatoid arthritis using biologics in clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS This cohort study used data from the Brazilian Registry of Biological Therapies in Rheumatic Diseases (Registro Brasileiro de Monitoração de Terapias Biológicas - BiobadaBrasil), from 01/2009 to 05/2013, encompassing 1552 treatments, including 415 with only synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, 942 synthetic DMARDs combined with anti-tumor necrosis factor (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) and 195 synthetic DMARDs combined with other biologics (abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab). The occurrence of tuberculosis and the drug exposure time were assessed, and screening for tuberculosis was performed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Unpaired t-test and Fishers two-tailed test; p<0.05. RESULTS The exposure times were 981 patient-years in the controls, 1744 patient-years in the anti-TNF group (adalimumab=676, infliximab=547 and etanercept=521 patient-years) and 336 patient-years in the other biologics group. The incidence rates of tuberculosis were 1.01/1000 patient-years in the controls and 2.87 patient-years among anti-TNF users (adalimumab=4.43/1000 patient-years; etanercept=1.92/1000 patient-years and infliximab=1.82/1000 patient-years). No cases of tuberculosis occurred in the other biologics group. The mean drug exposure time until the occurrence of tuberculosis was 27(11) months for the anti-TNF group. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of tuberculosis was higher among users of synthetic DMARDs and anti-TNF than among users of synthetic DMARDs and synthetic DMARDs and non-anti-TNF biologics and also occurred later, suggesting infection during treatment and no screening failure.

Hepatitis C virus antibodies in high risk juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in high risk juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). STUDY DESIGN Forty low income JSLE patients (6M:34F; mean age 19±4.4 yrs; mean disease duration 6±3.2 yrs) were studied. Twenty healthy children and adolescents matched for social economical level were included as controls. Anti-HCV tests were performed using a third generation microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Inclusion criterion was low social economical level. RESULTS The frequencies of anti-HCV antibody were low and comparable between JSLE and control group (2.5% vs. 0, p=1.0). JSLE patients had significantly more risk factors for HCV infection compared to the control group, including immunosuppressive treatment (90% vs. 0, p<0.0001), hospitalization (50% vs. 12.5%, p=0.0006) and invasive procedures (47.5% vs. 12.5%, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS The observed low frequency of anti-HCV antibodies in high risk JSLE suggests that this virus does not seem to have a relevant role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio minimamente invasiva com uso de enxerto composto: relato de caso

This paper reports our experience with the use of compound grafts in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft (MICABG). An alternative for MICABG is the use of compound grafts in cases where several coronary branches are to be revascularized, when internal mammary artery is demonstrated to be short, or branches off early. One female patient, 54 years old, with a lesion of 90% in the third proximal part of the left descending artery (LAD), was operated upon, submitted to MICABG by left rainithoracotomy. The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was amply dissected by the use of a long electrocautery, with the help of a videothoracoscope, and a clip for ligation of the intercostal branches. Following the sectioning of the LIMA, there was absence of blood flow and technical problems at the distal third. This compromised segment was disposed off and the LIMA was lengthened using the interpositioning of a saphenous vein segment, making possible the anastomosis with the LAD. Surgery was three hours long and the patient extubated fours hours postoperatively; the left pleural drainage tube was removed on the third day. Patient follow-up was satisfactory, without clinical problems; patient left the hospital in the fifth postoperative day. Postoperative cineangiocoronariography showed anastomosis patency; echodopplercardiogram performed on the fourth postoperative month showed patency and high resistence flow. In conclusion, the use of compound grafts for MICABG showed to be an efficient alternative to amplify the extension of the LIMA, enabling anastomosis when this artery is short or presents flow problems, or even if there is intention of treating more than one coronary artery.