Browsing by Author "Rebelo, M"
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- Apolipoprotein E epsilon-4 polymorphism is associated with younger age at referral to a lipidology clinic and a poorer response to lipid-lowering therapyPublication . Baptista, R; Rebelo, M; Decq-Mota, J; Dias, P; Monteiro, P; Providência, LA; Silva, JMThe risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is related to environmental factors and genetic variants. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphisms are heritable determinants of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, with some authors suggesting an association between the ε4 allele and CHD. We investigated the relationship between apoE genotype and age at referral to a specialized lipid clinic by the primary care physician and whether the benefits of treatment with statin differed between genotypes. METHODS: We assessed individual apoE genotypes and lipid blood profile in a total of 463 patients followed at a specialized lipid clinic due to dyslipidemia, with a 3-year median follow-up time. The primary care physician at the time of the referral had no access to the apoE genotyping results. Carriers of apoE ε4/ε2 genotype were excluded. RESULTS: The frequencies of ε2, ε3 and ε4 alleles were 7.8, 78.9 and 13.3%, respectively. There were no significant differences between genders. Although with similar lipid profiles and antidyslipidemic drug usage at baseline, ε4-carriers were referred to the clinic at a younger age (44.2 ± 14.7 years) compared with non-ε4 carriers (50.6 ± 13.8 years) (p < 0.001), with a substantially younger age of referral for homozygous E4/4 and for all genotypes with at least one copy of the ε4 allele (p < 0.001 for trend). Although both ε4 and non-ε4 carriers achieved significant reductions in total cholesterol during follow-up (p < 0.001 vs. baseline), the mean relative decrease in total cholesterol levels was higher in non-ε4 carriers (-19.9 ± 2.3%) compared with ε4 carriers (-11.8 ± 2.3%), p = 0.003. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the concept that there is a reduced response to anti-dyslipidemic treatment in ε4 carriers; this can be a contributing factor for the earlier referral of these patients to our specialized lipid clinic and reinforces the usefulness of apoE genotyping in predicting patients response to lipid lowering therapies.
- Hipovitaminose D em doentes internados num serviço de medicina internaPublication . Santiago, T; Rebelo, M; Porto, J; Silva, N; Vieira, JD; Nascimento-Costa, JMIntrodução: A hipovitaminose D (hipoD) é uma carência vitamínica cada vez mais frequente nos países desenvolvidos, devido não só a erros alimentares, mas também à pouca exposição solar e ao sedentarismo. Objectivo: Determinar a prevalência de hipoD em doentes internados num Serviço de Medicina Interna e identificar possíveis variáveis associadas. Método: Estudo transversal e observacional onde foram incluídos 123 doentes internados, no período de Abril e Maio. Foram determinados os níveis séricos de vitamina D [25-hidroxivitamina D, 25(OH)D] e subdividida a amostra em três grupos com base nos níveis da 25(OH)D: hipoD grave (<10 ng/mL); hipoD moderada (>10 ng/mL e <20 ng/mL) e um terceiro grupo com níveis adequados de 25(OH) D (>20 ng/mL). Foram registadas variáveis demográficas e factores potencialmente relacionados com a deficiência de vitamina D. Resultados: Nesta amostra de doentes (52,0% mulheres) a média das idades foi 71±17 anos; 67,5% dos indivíduos apresentavam hipoD grave; 25,2% hipoD moderada e 7,3% níveis normais de vitamina D. Os doentes do grupo com hipoD grave eram mais idosos (p=0,027). O mesmo grupo apresentava um maior número de doentes acamados (p=0,022), índices funcionais mais elevados (p=0,009) e maior percentagem de indivíduos com IRC (p=0,011). A análise multivariada com aplicação de modelo de regressão logística revelou que as variáveis associadas a uma probabilidade aumentada de desenvolver hipoD grave foram: consumo de diuréticos (furosemida) [OR=3,673 (1,232-10,956) p=0,020] e a albumina ≤3,25 [OR=5,617 (2,257-13,981) p<0,001]. Conclusão: A elevada prevalência de hipoD grave (67,5%) neste grupo de doentes, alerta para a necessidade da determinação e monitorização das concentrações plasmáticas de 25(OH)D, de modo a iniciar tratamento precoce nos doentes com níveis insuficientes. Os doentes que apresentam consumo de furosemida e a hipoalbuminemia têm uma probabilidade aumentada de desenvolver hipoD grave. O tratamento desta hipovitaminose justifica-se não só pelo conhecimento das consequências clínicas relacionadas com a perda de massa óssea, mas também pela sua associação com a hipoalbuminemia que é um marcador de risco de mau prognóstico em doentes internados.
- Predictors of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine wardPublication . Rebelo, M; Pereira, B; Lima, J; Decq-Mota, J; Vieira, JD; Nascimento-Costa, JMBACKGROUND: Infectious diseases are a common cause of increased morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Bacteraemia in the elderly is a difficult diagnosis and a therapeutic challenge due to age-related vicissitudes and to their comorbidities. The main purpose of the study was to assess independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality among the elderly with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine Ward. METHODS: Overall, a cohort of 135 patients, 65 years of age and older, with bacteraemia were retrospectively studied. Data related to demographic information, comorbidities, clinical parameters on admission, source and type of infection, microorganism isolated in the blood culture, laboratory data and empirical antibiotic treatment was recorded from each patient. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of these 135 patients, 45.9% were women. The most common infections in this group of patients were urinary tract infections (46.7%). The main microorganisms isolated in the blood cultures were Escherichia coli (14.9%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (12.0%), non-MRSA (11.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (8.0%). The in-hospital mortality was 22.2%. Independent prognostic factors associated with in-hospital mortality were age ≥ 85 years, chronic renal disease, bacteraemia of unknown focus and cognitive impairment at admission (OR, 2.812 [95% CI, 1.039-7.611; p = 0.042]; OR, 6.179 [95% CI, 1.840-20.748; p = 0.003]; OR, 8.673 [95% CI, 1.557-48.311; p = 0.014] and OR, 3.621 [95% CI, 1.226-10.695; p = 0.020], respectively). By multivariate analysis appropriate antibiotic therapy was not associated with lower odds of mortality. CONCLUSION: Bacteraemia in the elderly has a high mortality rate. There are no set of signs or clinical features that can predict bacteraemia in the elderly. However, older age (≥ 85 years), chronic renal disease, bacteraemia of unknown focus and severe cognitive impairment adversely affects the outcome of elderly patients with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine ward.
- The intriguing co-existence of a chronic periaortitis, a pericarditis and a pancreatitis: case reportPublication . Rebelo, M; Lima, J; Ramos, L; Vieira, JD; Nascimento-Costa, JMChronic periaortitis (CP) refers to a spectrum of diseases whose common denominator is a fibro-inflammatory tissue developing in the periaortic space and frequently encasing surrounding structures like the kidney and ureters. There is no unified concept regarding the primary aetiology of CP, but recent studies have demonstrated that CP may present features of auto-immune diseases. CP involves three main entities, namely idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF), inflammatory aneurysms of the abdominal aorta (IAAAs) and perianeurysmal retroperitoneal fibrosis (PRF). These entities are usually diagnosed using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, which typically show a retroperitoneal mass surrounding the aorta and that extends laterally without displacing it. Positron emission tomography is useful for the full assessment of the extent of the disease and its metabolic activity. The inflammatory and chronic relapsing nature of these diseases compels the use of medical therapy, which is based on high-dose steroids with a tapering scheme combined with immunosuppressive agents in refractory or relapsing disease. The authors report the clinical and radiological characteristics of a nonaneurysmatic form of chronic periaortitis in a woman presented with pericarditis, pericardial effusion and a pancreatitis. They also describe the investigation and management of this unusual condition
- Thyroid dysfunction and amiodaronePublication . Lima, J; Carvalho, P; Molina, MA; Rebelo, M; Dias, P; Vieira, JD; Nascimento-Costa, JMAlthough most patients remain clinically euthyroid, some develop amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism (HPEAI) or hypothyroidism (HPOAI). The authors present a retrospective analysis of ten patients with amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction. Six patients were female and mean amiodarone intake was 17.7 months. HPOIA was more common (six patients). From all the patients with HPEAI, two had type 2, one had type 1, and one had type 3 hyperthyroidism. Symptoms suggestive of thyroid dysfunction occurred in five patients, most of them with HPOAI. In HPEAI, the most frequent symptom was exacerbation of arrhythmia (three patients). Discontinuation of amiodarone and treatment with levothyroxine was chosen in 83.3% of the HPOAI cases, while thyonamide treatment with corticosteroids and without amiodarone was the option in 75% of the HPEAI cases. There were three deaths, all in patients with HPEAI. HPEAI is potentially fatal. The clinical picture may be vague, so the thyroid monitoring is mandatory.