Risk Factors for Latex Sensitization in Children with Spina Bifida

Background: Children with spina bifida represent the major risk group for latex sensitization. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of latex sensitization in these children and to identify risk factors. Material and methods: We studied 57 patients with spina bifida. The mean age was 5.6 years and the male/female ratio was 0.8/1. In all patients a questionnaire, skin prick test (SPT) with latex (UCBStallergènes, Lofarma and ALK-Abelló), common aeroallergens and fruits (UCB-Stallergènes) and serum determination of total IgE (AlaSTAT) were performed. Results: The prevalence of latex sensitization was 30 %; only two sensitized children (12 %) had symptoms after exposure. Risk factors for latex sensitization were age 5 years (p = 0.008; OR = 6.0; 95% CI = 1.7-22.1), having at least four previous surgical interventions (p < 0.0001; OR = 18.5; 95% CI = 3.6-94.8), having undergone surgery in the first 3 months of life (p = 0.008; OR = 5.4; 95% CI = 0.7-29.2) and total serum IgE 44 IU/ml (p = 0.03; OR = 3.8; 95 %CI = 1.1-13.1). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only a history of four or more surgical interventions (p < 0.0001; OR = 26.3; 95 %CI = 2.9-234.2) and total serum IgE 44 IU/ml (p = 0.02; OR = 8.6; 95% CI = 1.4-53.4) were independently associated with latex sensitization. Sex, family and personal allergic history, hydrocephalus with ventriculoperitoneal shunt, cystourethrograms, intermittent bladder catheterization and atopy were not related to latex sensitization. Conclusions: In children with spina bifida, significant and independent risk factors identified for latex sensitization were multiple interventions and higher levels of total serum IgE. A prospective study will clarify the clinical evolution of assymptomatic children sensitized to latex.

Duração dos Episódios de Fibrilhação Auricular e Implicações no Risco Tromboembólico

Introdução: A fibrilhação auricular é uma arritmia comum e com risco tromboembólico bem documentado, estando definidas nas recomendações internacionais indicações referentes ao uso de anticoagulantes orais. Existem, contudo, lacunas de informação nomeadamente no que se refere à duração dos episódios de fibrilhação auricular e sua relação com o risco de tromboembolismo. Esta questão tem particular interesse em doentes com dispositivos electrónicos cardíacos implantados com documentação contínua da duração de episódios de taquidisritmias auriculares, que são frequentemente curtos e assintomáticos. Material e Métodos: Foi feita uma análise crítica da evidência disponível sobre a relação da duração dos episódios de FA paroxística e a ocorrência de eventos embólicos, com base numa pesquisa na base de dados bibliográfica PubMed. Resultados: Foram selecionados oito artigos com abordagens diferentes no estudo deste tema; sete com recurso a monitorização cardíaca com dispositivos electrónicos cardíacos implantados (pacemakers, cardioversores-desfibilhadores implantáveis e ressincronizadores cardíacos) e um com base em registo de Holter. Metade destas publicações, correspondendo globalmente às maiores amostragens, aborda a questão do ponto de vista do somatório diário de episódios de fibrilhação auricular (carga diária) e não da duração de cada episódio. O risco tromboembólico aumenta gradualmente com a carga arrítmica, tendo sido demonstrado um aumento significativo do risco quando esta ultrapassa os cinco minutos num dia. Discussão: A formação de um trombo intracavitário, e consequente potencial embólico, é um processo dinâmico que resulta da interacção de várias condicionantes anatómicas e funcionais. O risco individual dependerá da interacção destes factores. A associação entre fenómenos embólicos e curtos períodos de fibrilhação auricular é inequívoca, apesar do mecanismo não ser óbvio, tendo em conta a discrepância frequentemente observada entre os períodos de fibrilhação auricular e os eventos clínicos. Conclusões: O risco de eventos tromboembólicos aumenta significativamente mesmo para períodos curtos de fibrilhação auricular (≥ cinco minutos de fibrilhação auricular em um dia), apesar da relação causa-efeito não estar definida. A decisão final sobre o recurso à anticoagulação oral deve basear-se na avaliação clínica individualizada.

Acute Kidney Injury after Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: Risk Factors and Outcomes. Proposal for a Predictive Model

Objectives: To characterize the epidemiology and risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) after pediatric cardiac surgery in our center, to determine its association with poor short-term outcomes, and to develop a logistic regression model that will predict the risk of AKI for the study population. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included consecutive pediatric patients with congenital heart disease who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2010 and December 2012. Exclusion criteria were a history of renal disease, dialysis or renal transplantation. Results: Of the 325 patients included, median age three years (1 day---18 years), AKI occurred in 40 (12.3%) on the first postoperative day. Overall mortality was 13 (4%), nine of whom were in the AKI group. AKI was significantly associated with length of intensive care unit stay, length of mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death (p<0.01). Patients’ age and postoperative serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and lactate levels were included in the logistic regression model as predictor variables. The model accurately predicted AKI in this population, with a maximum combined sensitivity of 82.1% and specificity of 75.4%. Conclusions: AKI is common and is associated with poor short-term outcomes in this setting. Younger age and higher postoperative serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and lactate levels were powerful predictors of renal injury in this population. The proposed model could be a useful tool for risk stratification of these patients.

Validation of Two US Risk Scores for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in a Single-Center Portuguese Population of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

INTRODUCTION: New scores have been developed and validated in the US for in-hospital mortality risk stratification in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty: the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) risk score and the Mayo Clinic Risk Score (MCRS). We sought to validate these scores in a European population with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to compare their predictive accuracy with that of the GRACE risk score. METHODS: In a single-center ACS registry of patients undergoing coronary angioplasty, we used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), a graphical representation of observed vs. expected mortality, and net reclassification improvement (NRI)/integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) analysis to compare the scores. RESULTS: A total of 2148 consecutive patients were included, mean age 63 years (SD 13), 74% male and 71% with ST-segment elevation ACS. In-hospital mortality was 4.5%. The GRACE score showed the best AUC (0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.96) compared with NCDR (0.87, 95% CI 0.83-0.91, p=0.0003) and MCRS (0.85, 95% CI 0.81-0.90, p=0.0003). In model calibration analysis, GRACE showed the best predictive power. With GRACE, patients were more often correctly classified than with MCRS (NRI 78.7, 95% CI 59.6-97.7; IDI 0.136, 95% CI 0.073-0.199) or NCDR (NRI 79.2, 95% CI 60.2-98.2; IDI 0.148, 95% CI 0.087-0.209). CONCLUSION: The NCDR and Mayo Clinic risk scores are useful for risk stratification of in-hospital mortality in a European population of patients with ACS undergoing coronary angioplasty. However, the GRACE score is still to be preferred.