Resumo Introdução: A lesão renal aguda (LRA) foi descrita em pacientes com doença do Coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19) e é considerada um marcador de gravidade da doença e fator prognóstico negativo para sobrevivência. Neste estudo, os autores visaram estudar o impacto da lesão renal aguda transitória e persistente (LRAp) na mortalidade hospitalar em pacientes com COVID-19. Métodos: Estudo observacional retrospectivo de pacientes internados com COVID-19 no Departamento de Medicina do Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal, entre Março-Agosto de 2020. Realizou-se análise multivariada para prever desenvolvimento de LRA e mortalidade hospitalar. Resultados: De 544 pacientes com COVID-19, 330 desenvolveram LRA: 166 LRA persistente (LRAp), 164, LRA transitória. Pacientes com LRA eram mais velhos, apresentaram mais comorbidades prévias, maior necessidade de serem medicados com inibidores do SRAA, apresentaram creatina sérica basal mais elevada (CrS) (1,60 mg/dL vs 0,87 mg/dL), maior razão NL, e acidemia mais grave na admissão hospitalar, e necessitaram mais frequentemente de internação na UTI, ventilação mecânica, e uso de vasopressores. Pacientes com LRA persistente apresentaram maior nível de CrS (1,71 mg/dL vs 1,25 mg/dL) na admissão hospitalar. A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 14,0% e foi maior em pacientes com LRA (18,5% vs 7,0%). A DRC e ferritina sérica foram preditores independentes de LRA. A LRA não previu mortalidade, mas a LRAp foi um preditor independente de mortalidade, assim como idade e nível de lactato. Conclusão: A LRAp foi associada independentemente à mortalidade hospitalar em pacientes com COVID-19, mas seu impacto no acompanhamento de longo prazo ainda precisa ser determinado.

Abstract Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been described in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and is considered a marker of disease severity and a negative prognostic factor for survival. In this study, the authors aimed to study the impact of transient and persistent acute kidney injury (pAKI) on in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Department of Medicine of the Centro Hospitalar Universitario Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal, between March 2020 and August 2020. A multivariate analysis was performed to predict AKI development and in-hospital mortality. Results: Of 544 patients with COVID-19, 330 developed AKI: 166 persistent AKI (pAKI), 164 with transient AKI. AKI patients were older, had more previous comorbidities, had higher need to be medicated with RAAS inhibitors, had higher baseline serum creatine (SCr) (1.60 mg/dL vs 0.87 mg/dL), higher NL ratio, and more severe acidemia on hospital admission, and more frequently required admission in intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use. Patients with persistent AKI had higher SCr level (1.71 mg/dL vs 1.25 mg/dL) on hospital admission. In-hospital mortality was 14.0% and it was higher in AKI patients (18.5% vs 7.0%). CKD and serum ferritin were independent predictors of AKI. AKI did not predict mortality, but pAKI was an independent predictor of mortality, as was age and lactate level. Conclusion: pAKI was independently associated with in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients but its impact on long-term follow-up remains to be determined.

Resumo Introdução: COVID-19 é atualmente um problema de saúde global e uma causa importante de mortalidade. Doença renal crônica (DRC) é um dos fatores de risco para infecção, morbilidade e mortalidade por SARS-CoV-2. Neste estudo, objetivamos avaliar a apresentação clínica e os outcomes de doentes com DRC com COVID-19, bem como identificar preditores de mortalidade. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo de doentes com DRC internados num hospital terciário português entre Março-Agosto/2020. As variáveis foram submetidas a análise univariada e multivariada para determinar fatores preditivos de mortalidade hospitalar. Resultados: analisámos 130 pacientes com DRC (média de idades 73,9 anos; 60,0% homens). Hipertensão (81,5%), doença cardiovascular (36,2%) e diabetes (54,6%) foram comorbilidades frequentes. Tosse, dispneia, febre e insuficiência respiratória também foram comuns. Quase 60% apresentavam anemia, 50% hipoalbuminemia e 13,8% hiperlactacidemia, 17% acidemia. A ferritina sérica média foi 1531 µg/L, PCR média 8,3 mg/dL, LDH médio 336,9 U/L. A maioria foi tratada com lopinavir/ritonavir, hidroxicloroquina ou corticosteroides e apenas 2 com remdesivir. Oitenta por cento tiveram lesão renal aguda; 16,2% necessitaram de internamento na unidade de cuidados intensivos. Os 34 pacientes que faleceram eram mais velhos e mais propensos a ter insuficiência cardíaca. Estes apresentaram razão neutrófilos/linfócitos e níveis de ferritina, lactato e LDH mais elevados. A análise multivariada identificou uma associação entre idade avançada [OR 1,1 (IC 1,01-1,24), p=0,027], níveis de ferritina [OR 1,0 (IC 1,00-1,00), p=0,009] e LDH mais elevados [OR 1,0 (IC 1,00-1,01), p=0,014] e mortalidade. Conclusão: Na nossa coorte de doentes com DRC com COVID-19, a idade avançada e níveis mais elevados de ferritina e LDH foram fatores de risco independentes para mortalidade.

Abstract Introduction: COVID-19 is currently a global health issue and an important cause of mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the risk factors for infection, morbidity and mortality by SARS-CoV-2. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and outcomes of CKD patients with COVID-19, as well as identify predictors of mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective study of CKD patients admitted in a tertiary-care Portuguese hospital between March and August of 2020. Variables were submitted to univariate and multivariate analysis to determine factors predictive of in-hospital mortality. Results: 130 CKD patients were analyzed (median age 73.9 years, male 60.0%). Hypertension (81.5%), cardiovascular disease (36.2%), and diabetes (54.6%) were frequent conditions. Cough, dyspnea, fever and respiratory failure were also common. Almost 60% had anemia, 50% hypoalbuminemia, 13.8% hyperlactacidemia and 17% acidemia. Mean serum ferritin was 1531 µg/L, mean CRP 8.3 mg/dL and mean LDH 336.9 U/L. Most patients were treated with lopinavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine or corticosteroids and only 2 with remdesivir. Eighty percent had acute kidney injury and 16.2% required intensive care unit admission. The 34 patients who died were older and more likely to have heart failure. They had higher neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio, ferritin, lactate, and LDH levels. Multivariate analysis identified an association between older age [OR 1.1 (CI 1.01-1.24), p=0.027], higher ferritin [OR 1.0 (CI 1.00-1.00), p=0.009] and higher LDH levels [OR 1.0 (CI 1.00-1.01), p=0.014] and mortality. Conclusion: In our cohort of CKD patients with COVID-19, older age, higher ferritin, and higher LDH levels were independent risk factors for mortality.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Dysproteinemia is associated with kidney damage and treatment of underlying conditions is crucial to minimize kidney damage. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the characteristics and outcome of the patients diagnosed with dysproteinemia-associated kidney disease with initial renal presentation. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of the patients admitted with initial dysproteinemia-associated kidney disease in the Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation at Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte in Lisbon over five years. Results: Thirty patients were diagnosed with dysproteinemia-associated kidney disease: twenty-six (86.7%) with multiple myeloma, one of these with concomitant amyloidosis; three (10.0%) with gammopathy of renal significance and one (3.0%) with Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Mean age was 71.5 (± 12.44) years and half patients were male. Anemia, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypoalbuminemia was found in twenty-three (76.7%), ten (30.0%), fourteen (46.7%) and seventeen (56.7%) patients, respectively. Bence Jones proteinuria was found in twenty-one (70.0%) patients and thirteen (43.3%) patients presented with creatinine >6 mg/dL. Twelve (40.0%) patients were submitted to kidney biopsy and light chain cast nephropathy was the most common finding. Twenty-nine (96.7%) patients were treated with chemotherapy. Twenty-two (72.3%) patients required renal replacement therapy and six of these (27.3%) patients were submitted to high cut-off dialyzers. Four (13.3%) patients had full recovery of renal function, sixteen (53.3%) remained dialysis-dependent at hospital discharge. At one-year follow-up, eleven (36.7%) patients remained dialysis-dependent and six (20.0%) had died. Conclusion: Dysproteinemia-associated kidney disease can present heterogeneously, and diagnostic suspicion is crucial to start prompt directed therapy to improve kidney and overall outcomes. Renal replacement therapy requirement and dependence at discharge appear to be related to higher mortality in these patients. In the future, routine screening of dysproteinemia may be particularly relevant in older patients to prevent irreversible kidney damage.

Abstract We describe one case of iatrogenic rupture of the left ventricle after mitral valve replacement and myectomy of the outflow tract. The cause and site of the rupture could not be identified, neither from the internal nor from the external examination. After unsuccessful use of hemostatic patches in the surface of the ruptured area, wrapping of the ventricles with a surgical gauze pad controlled the hemorrhage, hence saving the patient’s life.

A apresentação clínica da sarcoidose e diversa e em mais de 90% dos casos existe envolvimento pulmonar. Os achados radiológicos mais frequentes aquando do diagnostico são a presença de adenopatias hilares e infiltrados pulmonares. Os autores apresentam o caso de uma doente jovem cuja radiografia torácica apresentava múltiplos nódulos bilaterais. A biopsia cirúrgica revelou a presença de granulomas nao necrotizantes com células gigantes multinucleadas, compatível com sarcoidose. Apesar de se tratar de uma sarcoidose pulmonar estádio III, a doente apresentava -se assintomática, o estudo funcional ventilatorio era normal e não havia sinais de envolvimento extratoracico, pelo que foi decidido não iniciar tratamento. Houve remissão espontânea das lesões, comprovada em tomografia computorizada de alta resolução após um ano.

The clinical presentation of sarcoidosis is diverse and in over 90% of patients there is pulmonary involvement. The most common features of the radiographic findings at the time of diagnosis are bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and pulmonary infiltration. The authors report the case of a young female patient who presented with multiple bilateral nodular shadows on chest radiograph. Surgical biopsy revealed non-necrotizing granulomas with occasional multinucleated giant cells compatible with sarcoidosis. Al-though this was a case of stage III pulmonary disease, the patient was asymptomatic, lung function tests were normal and there were no signs of extrathoracic involvement. Spontaneous remission occurred without treatment as shown on high resolution CT scan follow-up, one year later.

Os autores apresentam o caso de um doente com um adenoma pleomórfico da traqueia, diagnosticado no contexto da avaliação clínica de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica ou neoplasia broncopulmonar, tendo em conta a dimensão dos seus hábitos tabágicos e a história familiar positiva para patologia oncológica. O doente foi submetido a ressecção segmentar da traqueia com excisão total do tumor, antevendo-se bom prognóstico.

The authors present a case of a pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea, diagnosed during the clinical evaluation of a suspected COPD or lung cancer in a heavy smoker patient with a positive family history of oncologic diseases. The patient underwent segmental resection of the trachea with complete excision of the tumour, and a good prognosis is anticipated.

Depois de definir duas formas de propriedades características da classe dos gestores, o autor relaciona a sua evolução com as transformações operadas no aparelho de Estado. Descreve vários processos recentes de privatização na Europa do Leste, concluindo que essas transformações nas formas de propriedade permitem à classe dos gestores manter-se no poder.

The author defines two systems of property distinctive of the managerial class, and relates their development to the transformation of the political apparatus. He describes several recent privatization processes in Eastern Europe, concluding that the changes in the systems of property allow the managerial class to keep in power.