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Introduction: As the global pandemic continues, new complications of COVID-19 in pediatric population have turned up, one of them being hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (CM-TMA) characterized by triad of thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and acute kidney injury (AKI). With both multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and HUS sharing complement dysregulation as one of the key factors, the aim of this case report is to highlight differences between these two conditions and also emphasize the importance of complement blockade as a treatment modality. Case report: We describe a 21-month-old toddler who initially presented with fever and confirmed COVID-19. His condition quickly deteriorated and he developed oliguria, accompanied with diarrhea, vomiting and oral intake intolerance. HUS was suspected, supported with compelling laboratory findings, including decreased platelets count and C3 levels, elevated LDH, urea, serum creatinine and sC5b-9 and presence of schistocytes in peripheral blood, negative fecal Shiga toxin and normal ADAMTS13 metalloprotease activity. The patient was given C5 complement blocker Ravulizumab and started to display rapid improvement. Conclusion: Although reports of HUS in the setting of COVID-19 continue to pour in, the questions of exact mechanism and similarities to MIS-C remain. Our case for the first time accentuates the use of complement blockade as a valuable treatment option in this scenario. We sincerely believe that reporting on HUS as a complication of COVID-19 in children will give rise to improved diagnosis and treatment, as well as better understanding of both of these intricating diseases.
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One of the least studied topics in the field of obstetrics is liver disease during pregnancy, which creates a challenge for both gynecologists and hepatologists. Approximately 3% of pregnant women are affected by some form of liver disease during pregnancy. Some of these conditions can be fatal for both the mother and child. In addition, 3 types of liver disease need to be differentiated during pregnancy. One type is liver disease directly related to pregnancy, which can occur at a specific time during pregnancy. Another type is liver disease not related to pregnancy, which can occur at any time, such as viral- or drug-induced hepatitis. Furthermore, pregnancy can occur in women with pre-existing liver disease. It is essential that the clinicians are familiar with this disorder so they can respond promptly and appropriately in all of these situations, especially when emergency delivery is needed and must not be postponed.
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Hepatopatías/fisiopatología , Complicaciones del Embarazo/fisiopatología , Embarazo/metabolismo , Colestasis Intrahepática/fisiopatología , Hígado Graso/fisiopatología , Femenino , Síndrome HELLP/fisiopatología , Humanos , Hígado/fisiopatología , Cirrosis Hepática/fisiopatología , Preeclampsia/fisiopatología , Embarazo/fisiología , Complicaciones del Embarazo/metabolismoRESUMEN
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) is a challenging and multisystem disease that has a high socioeconomic impact. NAFLD/NASH is a main cause of macrovesicular steatosis and has multiple impacts on liver transplantation (LT), on patients on the waiting list for transplant, on post-transplant setting as well as on organ donors. Current data indicate new trends in the area of chronic liver disease. Due to the increased incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, NASH cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma caused by NASH will soon become a major indication for LT. Furthermore, due to an increasing incidence of MetS and, consequently, NAFLD, there will be more steatotic donor livers and less high quality organs available for LT, in addition to a lack of available liver allografts. Patients who have NASH and are candidates for LT have multiple comorbidities and are unique LT candidates. Finally, we discuss long-term grafts and patient survival after LT, the recurrence of NASH and NASH appearing de novo after transplantation. In addition, we suggest topics and areas that require more research for improving the health care of this increasing patient population.
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Cirrosis Hepática/cirugía , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirugía , Trasplante de Hígado/tendencias , Síndrome Metabólico/epidemiología , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/cirugía , Comorbilidad , Supervivencia de Injerto , Humanos , Incidencia , Hígado/patología , Hígado/cirugía , Cirrosis Hepática/metabolismo , Cirrosis Hepática/mortalidad , Cirrosis Hepática/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Trasplante de Hígado/efectos adversos , Trasplante de Hígado/normas , Síndrome Metabólico/metabolismo , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/epidemiología , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/metabolismo , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/patología , Prevalencia , Recurrencia , Factores de Riesgo , Obtención de Tejidos y Órganos/normas , Obtención de Tejidos y Órganos/tendencias , Listas de EsperaRESUMEN
We aim to determine the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), measured by T- and Z-score, and mortality risk in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We also investigate which are the most suitable skeletal sites for predicting mortality rate. We analyzed the survival of 102 patients who had been treated with chronic HD according to BMD. Patients with a T-score ≤2.5 at the middle, ultradistal and proximal part of the forearm had a higher mortality risk than those with a T-score of -2.5 or higher. Furthermore, no statistically significant association was found between loss of bone mass at other measuring points-lumbar spine (anteroposterior orientation from L1-L4) and hip (neck, trochanter, intertrochanter, total and Ward's triangle)-and mortality risk. We were also interested in exploring the relationship between Z-score at different skeletal regions and mortality risk. We found that patients with a Z-score of -1 or lower at all three parts of the forearm had a greater mortality risk. It is also worth noting that the Z-score at all three parts of the forearm was a more apparent predictor of mortality, compared to the T-score at the same skeletal regions. This empirical analysis showed that BMD assessments should be obtained at the forearm, due to the good predictability of this skeletal site regarding mortality of HD patients. Moreover, data concerning bone density should be reported as Z-scores.
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Huesos/patología , Antebrazo/patología , Diálisis Renal/mortalidad , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Densidad Ósea , Causas de Muerte , Demografía , Femenino , Humanos , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tamaño de los Órganos , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common comorbidities associated with overweight and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Importantly, NAFLD is one of its most dangerous complications because it can lead to severe liver pathologies, including fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatic cellular carcinoma. Given the increasing worldwide prevalence of obesity, NAFLD has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease and therefore is a major global health problem. Currently, NAFLD is predominantly regarded as a hepatic manifestation of MetS. However, accumulating evidence indicates that the effects of NAFLD extend beyond the liver and are negatively associated with a range of chronic diseases, most notably cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is becoming increasingly clear that these diseases are the result of the same underlying pathophysiological processes associated with MetS, such as insulin resistance, chronic systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia. As a result, they have been shown to be independent reciprocal risk factors. In addition, recent data have shown that NAFLD actively contributes to aggravation of the pathophysiology of CVD, T2DM, and CKD, as well as several other pathologies. Thus, NAFLD is a direct cause of many chronic diseases associated with MetS, and better detection and treatment of fatty liver disease is therefore urgently needed. As non-invasive screening methods for liver disease become increasingly available, detection and treatment of NAFLD in patients with MetS should therefore be considered by both (sub-) specialists and primary care physicians.