RESUMO

Epidemiological data clearly indicate a link between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and altered glucose homeostasis. Objective: To evaluate the response of treatment with direct antiviral agents (DAAs) on metabolic variables of patients with hepatitis C. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study in a sample of patients with hepatitis C starting therapy with DAAs followed on the hepatology division of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State. Data were collected in two stages: before the start of therapy and between 12 and 52 weeks after obtaining the sustained virological response. Results: In the baseline assessment of the 97 patients selected, 19.3% were obese, 38.6% were overweight, 50% were hypertensive, 43.8% were pre-diabetic, 12.5% were diabetic, 31.2% were dyslipidemic, and 21.8% had metabolic syndrome. There was an increase in total cholesterol and LDL levels (p < 0.001), and a non-significant reduction in blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels after treatment. In the post-treatment, there was a reduction in fibrosis (p = 0.016), with a reduction in the levels of GGT, AST, and ALT (all with p < 0.001), as well as in the FIB4 and APRI scores (both with p < 0.001) and in the degree of fibrosis evaluated by elastography represented in kPa (p = 0.006). The blood glucose level was higher in patients with steatosis (p = 0.039) after treatment. There was a positive pre-treatment correlation between the degree of fibrosis (kPa) and FIB4 (r = 0.319, p = 0.004), APRI (r = 0.287, p = 0.010), and the NAFLD score (r = 0.275, p = 0.016). Conclusion: Patients with hepatitis C had a high prevalence of metabolic disturbance in the pre-treatment phase, but the therapy did not show beneficial effects, especially on glucose metabolism.

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The incidence of arrhythmias may be increased in acromegaly, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved are still unclear, and it has never been correlated with structural heart changes analyzed by the gold-standard method cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). AIM: Evaluate the frequency of arrhythmias in drug-naïve acromegaly patients at baseline and after 1 year of somatostatin analogs (SA) treatment and to correlate the occurrence of arrhythmias with the presence of structural heart changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive drug-naïve acromegaly patients were recruited. The occurrence of arrhythmias and structural heart changes were studied through 24-h Holter and CMR, respectively, at baseline and after 1-year SA treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were studied at baseline and 28 were re-evaluated after 1 year of SA treatment. There were 13 females and median age was 48 years (20-73 years). Nine patients (32 %) were controlled after treatment. No sustained arrhythmias were reported in the 24-h Holter. No arrhythmia-related symptoms were observed. Only two patients presented left ventricular hypertrophy and three patients presented fibrosis at baseline. There was no correlation of the left ventricular mass with the number of episodes of arrhythmias and they were not more prevalent in the patients presenting cardiac fibrosis. CONCLUSION: We found no sustained arrhythmias and a lack of arrhythmia-related symptoms at baseline and after 1 year of SA treatment in a contemporary cohort of acromegaly patients that also present a low frequency of structural heart changes, indicating that these patients may have a lower frequency of heart disease than previously reported.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in acromegalic patients and to investigate the relationship between the coronary artery calcium score (CS) and acromegaly status and clinical parameters [Framingham risk score (FRS)]. Fifty-six acromegalic patients and paired non-acromegalic volunteers were stratified according to the FRS into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. CS was assessed using multidetector computed tomography. The patients were considered to have controlled or active acromegaly at the time they were submitted to evaluation. Sixty-six percent of acromegalic patients exhibited arterial hypertension, 36 % had diabetes mellitus, and 34 % had hypercholesterolemia. The median FRS and the median risk for cardiovascular event within the next 10 years were similar in the acromegalics and the controls. The median total CS and CS >75th percentile didn't differ significantly between these groups. In patients with controlled acromegaly, a low, intermediate, or high FRS risk was observed in 86, 14, and 0 %, respectively. In patients with active disease, a low, intermediate, or high FRS risk was verified in 94, 3, and 3 %, respectively, and differences between the controlled and active groups were not significant. Seventy-two percent of the patients had total CS = 0, and there were no differences between the controlled and active groups. The risk of coronary artery disease in acromegalic patients, determined according to FRS and CS, is low despite the high prevalence of metabolic abnormalities.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare and life-threatening clinical condition caused by hemorrhage and/or infarction of the pituitary gland or adenoma. Although pituitary apoplexy is usually spontaneous, it has been associated with numerous precipitating factors, such as bromocriptine use. However, reports of pituitary apoplexy during cabergoline therapy are scarce. We report three patients with cystic macroprolactinomas who developed pituitary apoplexy during cabergoline treatment.

Assuntos