Fatores de risco individuais e familiares no desenvolvimento da pré-eclâmpia

Preeclampsia is a spectral disease, with different clinical forms which can evolve with severe multisystemic complications. This present study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with preeclampsia (PE); to validate the existence of aggregation of hypertensive disease in families of women with preeclampsia and verify the existence of association between polymorphisms in the VEGF gene and level of VEGF and its soluble receptor (sFlt1). A case-control study was performed (n = 851). Genotyping of VEGF was performed and serum levels of VEGF and sFlt1 were measured by ELISA. It was observed that 38% of mothers (173, 455) of a case of preeclampsia and 30.8% (78 of 361) of controls had history of hypertension (p <0.0001). Similarly, when examining the history of maternal preeclampsia, we observed that 14.6% (48 of 328) of mothers of women with preeclampsia and 9.6% (12 of 294) of mothers of controls had a history of preeclampsia (p = 0.0001). As for maternal history of preeclampsia, we found that 5.1% (15 of 295) of cases and 3.6% (7 of 314) of controls had a history of preeclampsia (p = 0.0568). Sisters of women with preeclampsia also had a history of hypertensive disease in 9% (41 of 455) versus 6.6% (13 of 361), p = 0.002. Similarly when examining the history of preeclampsia in sisters, it was observed that 22.7% (57 of 251) of a sister of case versus 11.4% (26 of 228) of controls had a history of preeclampsia (P = 0.0011). We observed a decrease in free VEGF in the serum of patients (P <0.05) and increased soluble VEGF receptor. There was no association between polymorphisms in the VEGF gene and preeclampsia. The data obtained in this work validate that hypertensive disease in mothers and sisters with preeclampsia are risk factors for preeclampsia. The risk of illness in the family is higher according to disease severity. High incidence of preeclampsia can be assumed by the high incidence of this disease among the controls. Significant differences between the frequency of preeclampsia in mothers of cases and controls indicate familial factors. Work is being conducted with the to eventually perform genome wide association studies to identify susceptibility loci

O cuidador familiar de pessoa com doença de Alzheimer: história oral de vida

The aim of the present study was to understand the feelings and the difficulties faced by the family caregiver in the care of the person affected by Alzheimer`s Disease (AD). It is a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach, using the oral life history proposed by Bom Meihy as the method. Data collection was conducted in the Basic Health Unit of Candelaria, located in Natal -RN, with five collaborators that carry out the role of family caregivers for people affected by Alzheimer`s disease (AD) and are members of the Group "Caring for those who Care". Caregi vers who resided with the affected family member for at least one year were selected for the study, and as a collection tool, it was opted to use semi-structured interviews via a script of open questions, recorded by permission of the collaborators, then t ranscribed and subsequently returned to respondents for checking the contents described. To analyze the results, the collaborators narrative technique was used in conjuction with the specific literature on the subject.The discussions were organized around five themes inherent to the guiding questions, and defined as follows: the incorporation of the role of the family caregiver; life before and after assuming the role of caregiver, the caregiver`s feelings and attitudes after assuming the care, difficulti es in caring, participation of the group as a foundation for caregivers. The stories showed many difficulties in the daily routine of the caregivers, and also that their participation in the group "Caring for those who Care" helps them in maintaining the q uality of their lives. The results open possibilities for the construction of new forms of approach and care for the people who fulfill the role of family caregiver contributing to strengthening of subsidies that help them better face the daily difficulti es.This study helped shed light on the fact that being a family caregiver of a person affected by AD is a suffered, exhausting and stressful condition involving much self-denial in one´s life. The situation experienced by these collaborators is considered a public health issue, and thus highlights the urgency for governmental political -social actions, besides the programs of care and health promotion for this target group.