Salmonelose associada à esquistossomose mansônica hépato-esplênica: ação do praziquantel

Cinco pacientes portadores de esquistossomose mansônica hépato-esplênica, associada à salmonelose, foram tratados com dose única de praziquantel (60 mg/kg peso), havendo desaparecimento da hipertermia do 1.° ao 3.° dia após a terapêutica e cura clínica subseqüente da salmonelose e da esquistossomose. O estudo da sensibilidade "in vitro" das bactérias isoladas: Salmonella minnesota, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella panama e Salmonella typhi (2 pacientes) não mostrou ação direta do praziquantel sobre tais enterobactérias. Os soros coletados antes e 24 horas após o tratamento não foram capazes de inibir o crescimento das bactérias isoladas dos respectivos pacientes.

Cutaneous anthrax in Lima, Peru: retrospective analysis of 71 cases, including four with a meningoencephalic complication

Anthrax is a zoonosis produced by Bacillus anthracis, and as an human infection is endemic in several areas in the world, including Peru. More than 95% of the reported naturally acquired infections are cutaneous, and approximately 5% of them can progress to meningoencephalitis. In this study we review the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients with diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax evaluated between 1969 and 2002 at the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia (HNCH) and the Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt in Lima, Peru. Seventy one patients were included [49/71 (69%) of them men], with a mean age of 37 years. The diagnoses were classified as definitive (44%) or probable (56%). The most common occupation of the patients was agriculture (39%). The source of infection was found in 63 (88.7%) patients. All the patients had ulcerative lesions, with a central necrosis. Most of the patients (65%) had several lesions, mainly located in the upper limbs (80%). Four patients (5.6%) developed meningoencephalitis, and three of them eventually died. In conclusion, considering its clinical and epidemiological characteristics, cutaneous anthrax must be included in the differential diagnosis of skin ulcers. A patient with clinical suspicion of the disease should receive effective treatment soon, in order to avoid neurological complications which carry a high fatality rate.

Hipertensão pulmonar esquistossomotica persistente em paciente após reversão da forma hépato-esplênica: apresentação de um caso

Os autores relatam o caso de um paciente masculino, de 24 anos, hépato-esplênico e com hipertensão pulmonar esquistossomótica (pressão média na artéria pulmonar de 27,5mm HG). Tratado com oxamniquine. Após 11 anos o exame mostrou reversão à hépato-intestinal, com persistência da hipertensão pulmonar, diagnosticada pelo cateterismo cardíaco (pressão média na artéria pulmonar de 20mm Hg) e ecocardiografia.

Elimination of biliary stones through the urinary tract: a complication of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy

The introduction and popularization of laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been accompanied with a considerable increase in perforation of gallbladder during this procedure (10%--32%), with the occurrence of intraperitoneal bile spillage and the consequent increase in the incidence of lost gallstones (0.2%--20%). Recently the complications associated with these stones have been documented in the literature. We report a rare complication occurring in an 81-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and developed cutaneous fistula to the umbilicus and elimination of biliary stones through the urinary tract. During the cholecystectomy, the gall bladder was perforated, and bile and gallstones were spilled into the peritoneal cavity. Two months after the initial procedure there was exteriorization of fistula through the umbilicus, with intermittent elimination of biliary stones. After eleven months, acute urinary retention occurred due to biliary stones in the bladder, which were removed by cystoscopy. We conclude that efforts should be concentrated on avoiding the spillage of stones during the surgery, and that no rules exist for indicating a laparotomy simply to retrieve these lost gallstones.

Histoplasmosis as a late infectious complication following heart transplantation in a patient with Chagas' disease

Infectious complications following heart transplantation are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Generally, bacterial infections are predominant; however, fungal infections can be responsible for up to 25% of infectious events. We report the case of a patient who presented with histoplasmosis as an infectious complication five years after heart transplantation due to a chagasic cardiopathy. This association has rarely been reported in the international literature.

A patologia da forma hépato-esplênica da esquistossomose mansoni em sua forma avançada (estudo de 232 necrópsias completas)

Uma análise de 232 necrópsias completas realizadas em portadores de esquistossomose hepática avançada evidenciou em todos a lesão constante e característica de fibrose periportal com alterações destrutivas e obstrutivas de ramos intra-hepáticos da veia porta. Geralmente esta lesão estava associada a sinais de hipertensão porta (esplenomegalia e varizes do esôfago), constitutindo-se na forma hépato-esplênica mas em 12 casos estes sinais não existiam (a forma hepática avançada). Ao passar para a fase descompensada da esquistossomose hépato-esplênica, o fígado geralmente exibia uma acentuação da fibrose ao lado de sinais de inflamação crônica ativa, mas não mostrava uma evolução para a cirrose difusa. A esplenomegalia se acompanhou de lesões congestivas crônicas e de evidências de hiperplasia celular, especialmente no setor fagocítico mononucelar. Excepecionalmente se superajuntou a tais lesões um linfoma tipo nodular, o qual tende a ocorrer em mulheres após os 45 anos de idade. O envolvimento intestinal foi muito menor do que se poderia esperar. As lesões mais salientes foram a fibrose peri-intestinal, qua não parece ter maior repercussão clínica, e, raramente, as lesões pseudoneoplásicas e os polipos. Uma complicação freqüente foi o cor pulmonale secundário às elsões de arterite pulmonar esquistossomótica, que apareceu em 44 casos (18,9%). O aparecimento de doença renal associada se deu em 15% dos casos e foi geralmente representada por glomerulonefrite crônica, o que se presume seja devido a um processo mediado por complexos imunes na esquistossomose. Muitos dos casos exibiam infecções intercorrentes, com algumas delas, como a salmonelose e a hepatite viral, tendendo a ter um curso mais prolongado. Assim a esquistossomose avançada se apresentou um processo que atinge fundamentalmente of fígado, mas que repercute em vários outros órgãos através uma patogenia variada, complexa, ainda não bem entendida em toda a sua extensão.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the hip: a complication of arthroplasty to be recognized by the radiologist

AbstractSoft tissue complications following hip arthroplasty may occur either in cases of total hip arthroplasty or in hip resurfacing, a technique that has become popular in cases involving young patients. Both orthopedic and radiological literatures are now calling attention to these symptomatic periprosthetic soft tissue masses called inflammatory pseudotumors or aseptic lymphocytic vasculites-associated lesions. Pseudotumors are associated with pain, instability, neuropathy, and premature loosening of prosthetic components, frequently requiring early and difficult reoperation. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a relevant role in the evaluation of soft tissue changes in the painful hip after arthroplasty, ranging from early periprosthetic fluid collections to necrosis and more extensive tissue damage.

Glenohumeral interposition of rotator cuff stumps: a rare complication of traumatic rotator cuff tear

Abstract The present report describes a case where typical findings of traumatic glenohumeral interposition of rotator cuff stumps were surgically confirmed. This condition is a rare complication of shoulder trauma. Generally, it occurs in high-energy trauma, frequently in association with glenohumeral joint dislocation. Radiography demonstrated increased joint space, internal rotation of the humerus and coracoid process fracture. In addition to the mentioned findings, magnetic resonance imaging showed massive rotator cuff tear with interposition of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis stumps within the glenohumeral joint. Surgical treatment was performed confirming the injury and the rotator cuff stumps interposition. It is important that radiologists and orthopedic surgeons become familiar with this entity which, because of its rarity, might be neglected in cases of shoulder trauma.