Rodrigo Tagle

Relación colesterol total a HDL y colesterol no HDL: los mejores indicadores lipídicos de aumento de grosor de la íntima media carotidea

BACKGROUND LDL, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, are the most commonly used lipid cardiovascular risk predictor indicators. However population based studies have shown that non-HDL cholesterol and total/HDL cholesterol ratio are better predictors, are easy to measure and do not require fasting. AIM To determine which lipid indicators are better determinants of subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by intima media thickness (IMT) among subjects without demonstrated atherosclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Lipid profile, height, weight, blood pressure and bilateral IMT, measured by ultrasound with automatic border recognition software, were assessed in 770 men and 854 women aged 45 ± 11 years, in Santiago de Chile. RESULTS Mean total cholesterol was 202, HDL 50, LDL 121, triglycerides 157 and non-HDL cholesterol 152 mg/dl. Total/HDL cholesterol ratio was 4.3. Mean IMT was 0.62 mm. All lipid markers were significantly correlated with IMT. This correlation was higher for non-HDL cholesterol (r = 0.24, p < 0.0001) and total/HDL cholesterol ratio(r = 0.23, p < 0.0001). In both men and women, total/HDL cholesterol ratio was the best predictor of having an IMT over the 75th percentile (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence intervals 1.09-1.35, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Total/HDL cholesterol ratio was the best determinant of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Hipertensión arterial: el factor de riesgo más importante para grosor íntima-media carotídeo elevado y placa carotídea en adultos de Santiago

BACKGROUND Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of cardiovascular damage that can be modified by traditional risk factors. AIM To determine attributable risk factors for a high CIMT among healthy adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS A sample of 1270 individuals (636 males and 634 females) aged 44 ± 11 years, was studied. Blood pressure, weight, height, lipid profile and blood glucose were measured in all. CIMT and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques were determined by carotid ultrasound. Standard criteria were used to define hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes. RESULTS Mean CIMT in the sample studied was 0.62 ± 0.01 mm and percentile 75 was 0.67. The most important risk factor for a CIMT over percentile 75 and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was hypertension with attributable risks of 54 and 57%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this sample, the main risk factor for a high CIMT was hypertension.

Perfil de riesgo cardiovascular en adultos jóvenes asintomáticos con grosor íntima media carotídeo elevado

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular risk factor (RF) assessment is essential to prevent and predict cardiovascular disease. The presence of RF at early ages, are determinant for the presence of atherosclerosis later in life. AIM To determine the RF profile of young subjects with high carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). MATERIAL AND METHODS We studied 689 subjects (50% women, mean age 36±6 years) from Santiago, Chile. We determined body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting serum lipids, blood glucose and C-reactive protein. CIMT was assessed by ultrasound using an automatic border recognition software. RESULTS Body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure and serum lipids were significantly higher among subjects located in the higher CIMT quartile. Also, subjects in the higher quartile of CIMT had a higher prevalence of three or more RF compared with the lower quartile (p = 0.01). Finally, individuals with three or more RF showed three times more risk of being in the higher CIMT quartile, than subjects with no RF (odds ratio = 3.1, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS There is a negative influence of cardiovascular RF on CIMT among young subjects.

Hipokalemia, hipovolemia y repercusión electrocardiográfica secundarias a ingesta prolongada de furosemida: Caso clínico

<3.5 mEq/l) is a potentially seriousadverse effect of diuretic ingestion. We report a 27 year-old woman admitted with muscleweakness, a serum potassium of 2.0 mEq/1, metabolic alkalosis and EKG abnormalitiessimulating cardiac ischemia, that reverted with potassium chloride administration. Sheadmitted high dose furosemide self-medication for edema. Glomerular filtration rate, tubularsodium reabsortion, potassium secretion, the renin-aldosterone system, total body waterdistribution and capillary permeability, were studied sequentially until 90 days after heradmission. There was hyperactivity of the renin-aldosterone axis, reduction in extracellularand intracellular volumes, normal capillary permeability and high sodium tubularreabsorption, probably explained by a “rebound” salt retention associated with her decreasedextracellular volume (Rev Med Chile 2007; 135: 1456-62).(

Hipotensión ortostática: una manifestación sugerente de feocromocitoma

Pheochromocytoma, though an uncommon cause of hipertension, can be a lethal condition. Because of this it is mandatory to diagnose it or rule it out in presence of suggestive symptoms. Typical symptoms are palpitations, sweating, severe headaches and hypertension. However, there are other suggestive symptoms of this dangerous endocrine entity, one of which is the orthostatic hypotension. We report the case of a 65 years old female patient with long standing hypertension in whom the pheochromocytoma was suspected after episodes of orthostatic hypotension. Although this manifestation was described almost fifty years ago, its frequency and pathophysiology has not yet been well established and fully elucidated. Moreover, it has meaningful implications in relation to preoperatory management and the timing of surgery (Rev Med Chile 2003; 131: 1429-33)

Hipertensión arterial en la mujer adulta

The present review examines the types of hypertension that women may suffer throughout life, their physiopathological characteristics and management. In early life, the currently used low-dose oral contraceptives seldom cause hypertension. Pregnancy provokes preeclampsia, its main medical complication, secondary to inadequate transformation of the spiral arteries and the subsequent multisystem endothelial damage caused by deportation of placental factors and microparticles. Hypertension in preeclampsia is an epiphenomenon which needs to be controlled at levels that reduce maternal risk without impairing placental perfusion. The hemodynamic changes of pregnancy may unmask a hypertensive phenotype, may exacerbate a chronic hypertension, or may complicate hypertension secondary to lupus, renovascular lesions, and pheochromocytoma. On the other hand a primary aldosteronism may benefit from the effect of progesterone and present as a postpartum hypertension. A hypertensive pregnancy, especially preeclampsia, represents a risk for cardiac, vascular and renal disease in later life. Menopause may mimic a pheochromocytoma, and is associated to endothelial dysfunction and salt-sensitivity. Among women, non-pharmacological treatment should be forcefully advocated, except for sodium restriction during pregnancy. The blockade of the renin-angiotensin system should be avoided in women at risk of pregnancy; betablockers could be used with precautions during pregnancy; diuretics, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists should not be used during breast feeding. Collateral effects of antihypertensives, such as hyponatremia, cough and edema are more common in women. Thus, hypertension in women should be managed according to the different life stages.

Feocromocitoma :presentación como síndrome coronario agudo: Reporte de un caso

The typical symptoms of pheochromocytoma are palpitations, sweating, headaches and hypertension. We report a 70-year-old female admitted to the hospital due to a sudden onset of precordial pain with electrocardiographic changes. After admission the patient evolved with recurrent chest pain accompanied by hypertensive paroxysms and a pheochromocytoma was suspected. Measurement of catecholamines and metanephrines confirmed the diagnosis and an abdominal magnetic resonance localized the tumor. The patient underwent surgery with successful removal of the pheochromocytoma and was discharged in good conditions.

Sirven los marcadores de riesgo no tradicionales en la diferenciación del riesgo cardiovascular en adultos jóvenes con exceso de peso

BACKGROUND Recognizing cardiovascular risk in overweight adults is challenging, as they usually have a low Framingham risk score (FRAM). In these subjects, non-traditional biomarkers could improve risk stratification. AIM To assess carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (usCRP) among overweight and obese subjects without metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). SUBJECTS AND METHODS In 1558 asymptomatic participants (816 women, 45 ± 11 years) we measured body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose, FRAM, usCRP and CIMT. For analytical purposes, we divided the subjects in three groups according to BMI and number of ATPIII-MetSyn risk factors (RF): 1) BMI < 25 and < 3RF, 2) BMI ≥ 25 and < 3RF and 3) BMI ≥ 25 and ≥ 3RF. RESULTS Participants of group 2 (BMI ≥ 25 and < 3RF) had a low FRAM (8%). Compared with participants of group 1, they had a higher CIMT (0.61 ± 0.1 and 0.57 ± 0.09 mm, respectively, p < 0.01) and usCRP (2.1 ± 2.1 and 1.5 ± 1.9 mg/L respectively, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study shows that although subjects with overweight/obesity without MetSyn have low cardiovascular risk based on FRAM, they have higher CIMT and usCRP than their normal weight counterparts.

Microalbuminuria y excreción urinaria de albúmina en la práctica clínica

Background: Microalbuminuria is a new tool in the management of patients with diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Microalbuminuria is an easily measured biomarker in a urine sample. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in first morning urine sample correlates with 24 hours urinary albumin excretion, but it is easier to obtain, and can identify hypertensive or diabetic patients with high risk for cardiovascular events. Therapeutic interventions such as renin angiotensin system blockade have demonstrated their usefulness in reducing urinary albumin excretion in clinical studies. It would be advisable to incorporate urinary albumin to creatinine ratio to the routine clinical monitoring of patients with cardiovascular risk, such as those with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.Microalbuminuria is a new tool in the management of patients with diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Microalbuminuria is an easily measured biomarker in a urine sample. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in first morning urine sample correlates with 24 hours urinary albumin excretion, but it is easier to obtain, and can identify hypertensive or diabetic patients with high risk for cardiovascular events. Therapeutic interventions such as renin angiotensin system blockade have demonstrated their usefulness in reducing urinary albumin excretion in clinical studies. It would be advisable to incorporate urinary albumin to creatinine ratio to the routine clinical monitoring of patients with cardiovascular risk, such as those with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Síndrome de lisis de glóbulos blancos después de un trasplante autólogo de células troncales hematopoyéticas en el tratamiento de la amiloidosis AL renal: Caso clínico

The treatment of AL amyloidosis was not successful until the advent of myeloablative chemotherapy consisting of high-dose intravenous melphalan followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. This new treatment has achieved better survival rates and, remarkably, it has obtained complete remission. Among patients with renal involvement, achievement of a complete hematological response was associated with a 50% reduction in proteinuria and stable creatinine clearance in more than 2/3 of patients. Despite of these excellent results, this new therapy is associated with significant toxicity, including the development of acute renal failure due to white blood cell lysis syndrome. We report a 59 year-old female with a nephrotic syndrome due to primary amyloidosis successfully treated autologous stem cell transplantation who developed acute renal failure caused by white blood cell lysis syndrome. The patient required treatment with granulocytic colony stimulating factor and intermittent hemofiltration and was discharged 23 days after melphalan administration with a satisfactory renal function and white blood cell count. After one year of follow up, she maintains a good glomerular filtration rate, a proteinuria of less than, 1 g/day and normal hematological values.