Miguel Angel Arrabal-Polo

Atheroma plaque, metabolic syndrome and inflammation in patients with psoriasis

BACKGROUND Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular risk factors. Although the prevalence of comorbidities and cardiovascular events has been described in patients with psoriasis, few studies have examined subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of atheroma plaques in patients with severe psoriasis compared with control subjects and to analyze the association with metabolic syndrome, homocysteine levels and inflammatory parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS This case-control study included 133 patients, 72 with psoriasis and 61 controls consecutively admitted to the outpatient clinic in Dermatology Departments (Granada, Spain.) RESULTS Carotid atheroma plaques were observed in 34.7% of the psoriatic patients versus 8.2% of the controls (p=0.001) and metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 40.3% of the psoriatic patients versus 13.1% of the controls (p<0.001). Significantly higher mean values of insulin, aldosterone, homocysteine and acute phase parameters (fibrinogen, D-dimer, C reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) were found in psoriatic patients. Binary logistic regression showed a strong association between psoriasis and atheroma plaque and metabolic syndrome after controlling for confounding variables. LIMITATIONS The absence of longitudinal quantification of metabolic syndrome parameters and intima-media thickness in psoriatic patients. CONCLUSION The chronic inflammation and hyperhomocysteinemia found in psoriatic patients may explain the association with atheroma plaque and metabolic syndrome. Cardiovascular screening by metabolic syndrome criteria assessment and carotid ultrasound in psoriasis may be useful to detect individuals at risk and start preventive treatment against the development of cardiovascular disease.

Mineral density and bone remodelling markers in patients with calcium lithiasis.

Study Type – Aetiology (case control)

Androgenetic alopecia as an early marker of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and benign prostatic hyperplasia are both androgen-dependent entities that respond to the blocking of 5-alpha-reductase. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to determine whether prostatic volumes and urinary flow changes were higher in patients with early-onset AGA than in healthy control subjects. METHODS This was an observational case-control study of 87 men: 45 with early-onset AGA diagnosed in the dermatology department and 42 control subjects. End-point variables were prostatic volume, measured by transrectal ultrasound, and urinary flow, measured by urinary flowmetry. A hormone study was performed on all participants, and the International Prostate Symptom Score and International Index of Erectile Function score were determined. RESULTS The groups did not significantly differ in mean age (cases, 52.7 years vs control subjects, 49.8 years; P = .12). Patients with AGA had significantly higher mean prostate volume (29.65 vs 20.24 mL, P < .0001), International Prostate Symptom Score (4.93 vs 1.23, P < .0001), and prostate-specific antigen value (1.53 vs 0.94 ng/mL, P < .0001) and significantly lower maximum urinary flow (14.5 vs 22.45 mL/s, P < .0001) versus control subjects. Binary logistic regression analysis showed a strong association between the presence of AGA and benign prostatic hyperplasia after adjusting for age, urinary volume, urination time, International Prostate Symptom Score, abdominal obesity, glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, insulin levels, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein (odds ratio = 5.14, 95% confidence interval 1.23-47.36, P = .041). LIMITATIONS The study of larger sample sizes would facilitate stratified analyses according to the Ebling type of androgenetic alopecia. CONCLUSION There is a relationship between the presence of AGA and prostate growth-associated urinary symptoms, likely attributable to their pathophysiological similarity. This study suggests that early-onset AGA may be an early marker of urinary/prostatic symptomatology. Future studies may clarify whether treatment of patients with AGA may benefit the concomitant benign prostatic hypertrophy, which would be present at an earlier stage in its natural evolution.

Osteopenia/osteoporosis in patients with calcium nephrolithiasis

The objective of this study is to analyze the alterations in bone mineral density and bone and calcium–phosphorus metabolism in patients with calcium nephrolithiasis. We designed a study with 182 patients who were distributed among three groups: group O, 56 patients without nephrolithiasis; group A, 67 patients with calcium nephrolithiasis and mild lithogenic activity; and group B, 59 patients with calcium nephrolithiasis and severe lithogenic activity. Metabolic parameters of blood and urine that were related to calcium–phosphorous and bone metabolism and bone densitometry were assessed in all patients. A comparative study was performed on the variables of bone and calcium–phosphorus metabolism and bone densitometry as well as the presence or absence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. The patients in group B had a greater loss of bone mineral density, measured by the T-score, than the patients in groups O and A. Moreover, the proportion of patients in group B with osteopenia/osteoporosis was statistically significantly higher than the proportion of patients in groups O and A. We observed higher values of calciuria, fasting calcium/creatinine ratio, and 24-h calcium/creatinine among the patients in group B compared to the other two groups. Calciuria, citraturia, and fasting calcium/creatinine were independent factors that showed a relationship with severe lithogenic activity compared to the control group, and β-crosslaps is an independent factor that has a relationship with severe lithogenic activity as compared to mild lithogenic activity. Patients with calcium lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity have a greater loss in bone mineral density and therefore a greater risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis.

Importance of citrate and the calcium : citrate ratio in patients with calcium renal lithiasis and severe lithogenesis

Different studies have shown the importance of citrate in the formation of calcium stones. It has further been shown that the states of metabolic acidosis result in an increase in bone resorption and lower urinary citrate levels. Increasing the intake of citrate in these patients can reduce the lithogenic risk and improve bone mineral density (BMD), contributing to control of both diseases. The study shows the importance of citrate in patients with calcium stones and BMD loss. The deficit in citrate excretion is associated with a decrease in bone mineralization and increased β‐crosslaps. A calcium : citrate ratio >0.25 in patients with calcium stones and loss of mineral density may predict severe lithogenic activity.

Cutaneous metastases in renal cell carcinoma: a case report

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of malignant renal tumour and is extremely lethal. About 25% of the patients develop metastasis at the time of diagnosis, and in many cases during the course of the disease, affecting the lung, lymphatic ganglions, liver, and bone, with skin metastases being quite rare.A 73-year-old patient, who had undergone surgery for adenocarcinoma in the left kidney 10 years previously, visited the dermatological service due to the appearance of recent, rapidly-developing lesion at the back of his neck. It was decided to remove it surgically. The histological study confirmed clear cell carcinoma that was probably of renal origin. A computed tomography scan was performed on the thorax and abdomen, and lesions were observed that were compatible with metastasis in the right kidney and left lung. Treatment with a multikinase angiogenesis inhibitor (sunitib) was started.Due to the late development of the skin metastases and those in other regions that worsen the prognosis, these patients must be subjected to long-term clinical observation. Urologist should pay attention to cutaneous lesion appearing in these patients as in many times they look like benign lesion.

Treatment of ureteric lithiasis with retrograde ureteroscopy and holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy vs extracorporeal lithotripsy

To analyse the efficiency of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) vs retrograde ureteroscopy and holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy, as ESWL is successful in 67–90% of cases but endoscopic lithotripsy with pneumatic lithotrites or lasers is successful in 90–96% of distal ureteric calculi, and holmium:YAG lithotripsy is effective in proximal ureteric calculi.

Metabolic Syndrome, Hormone Levels, and Inflammation in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction

Background. The end point of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MS in patients with ED in comparison with control subjects and to analyse the association with acute phase reactants (CRP, ESR) and hormone levels. Methods. This case-control study included 65 patients, 37 with erectile dysfunction, according to the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) from the Urology Department of San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada (Spain) and 28 healthy controls. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was calculated according to ATP-III criteria. Hormone levels and acute phase parameters were studied in samples drawn. Results. The ATP-III criteria for MS were met by 64.9% of the patients with ED and only 9.5% of the controls (P < 0.0001, OR = 17.53, 95% CI: 3.52–87.37). Binary logistic regression analysis showed a strong association between patients with ED and MS, even after additional adjustment for confounding factors (OR = 20.05, 95% CI: 1.24–32.82, P < 0.034). Patients with hypogonadism presented a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that systolic BP and CRP predicted 0.46 (model R 2) of IIEF changes. Conclusion. Chronic inflammation found in patients with ED might explain the association between ED and metabolic syndrome.

Percutaneous drainage of prostatic abscess: case report and literature review.

The incidence of prostatic abscess is 0.5% in relation to all prostate pathologies and usually occurs in patients with diabetes or with some degree of immunosuppression. The case of a male patient, 84 years old, with a history of arterial hypertension and mild renal failure, presenting high fever, prostate syndrome, genital edema and constipation is reported. He was diagnosed with prostate abscess via transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Treatment was started with empirical meropenem and a puncture of the abscess was performed transperineally under TRUS guidance placing an 8-Fr nephrostomy tube for 36 h. The patient was discharged 48 h after the puncture with a good prognosis. TRUS-guided transperineal drainage is a safe, adequate and effective treatment for prostate abscess, and allows the placement of drainage for several hours thereby avoiding the communication between the abscessed cavity and the urethra or rectum. Therefore, after having reviewed the literature, we consider this approach suitable for drainage.

Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis: a case-control study.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome (MeS) criteria. The main objective of this study was to analyse the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) serum levels with MeS (National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel-III criteria) in 46 Spanish patients with psoriasis, but without arthritis and systemic treatment, and 46 control subjects, matched by sex and age. The patients with psoriasis showed significantly lower level of 25-OHD than controls (30.5 vs. 38.3 ng/ml; p = 0.0001). Patients with MeS had significantly lower serum levels of 25-OHD than those without MeS (24.1 ± 7.5 vs. 32.8 ± 8.9, p = 0.007), and a negative correlation was found between 25-OHD and waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglyceridaemia. In the control group no significant correlation between 25-OHD and MeS was found. Al-though the sample was small, our results suggest a potential protective role for 25-OHD in the metabolic profile of patients with psoriasis without arthritis.