RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar um caso de dor crônica difusa com 36 meses de evolução, associada com aftas orais de repetição e glossite, destacando a importância do amplo diagnóstico diferencial e da possibilidade da deficiência de vitamina B12 como causa. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 39 anos, branco, referindo dores difusas que predominavam em região cervical, torácica, abdominal, coxas e joelho esquerdo, além da presença de aftas orais frequentes, com duração superior a 5 dias, múltiplas e dolorosas, predominando na língua, há 6 meses. O quadro foi atribuído à doença de Behçet, mas houve remissão total e permanente após tratamento com vitamina B12. CONCLUSÃO: É importante inserir a deficiência de vitamina B12 para o diagnóstico diferencial em quadros de dor crônica.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The study’s objective was to present a case of diffuse chronic pain with 36 months of development, associated with recurrent oral aphthous ulcers and glossitis, highlighting the importance of the wide differential diagnosis and the possibility of vitamin B12 deficiency as a cause. CASE REPORT: Male patient, 39 years-old, white, reported diffuse pain predominantly in the cervical, thoracic, abdominal, thighs and left knee regions, besides the presence of frequent oral aphtae, lasting more than 5 days, multiple and painful, predominantly on the tongue, for 6 months. The condition was attributed to Behçet’s disease, but there was complete and permanent remission after treatment with vitamin B12. CONCLUSION: It’s important to insert vitamin B12 deficiency for differential diagnosis in chronic pain scenarios.

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim was to evaluate the quality of life (HRQoL) in women with subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) after 16 weeks of endurance training. Subjects and methods: In the first phase, a cross-sectional study was conducted in which 22 women with sHT (median age: 41.5 (interquartile range: 175) years, body mass index: 26.2 (8.7) kg/m2, thyroid stimulating hormone > 4.94 mIU/L and free thyroxine between 0.8 and 1.3 ng/dL were compared to a group of 33 euthyroid women concerned to HRQoL. In the second phase, a randomized clinical trial was conducted where only women with sHT were randomly divided into two groups: sHT-Tr (n = 10) - participants that performed an exercise program - and sHT-Sed (n = 10) - controls. Exercise training consisted of 60 minutes of aerobic activities (bike and treadmill), three times a week, for 16 weeks. The HRQoL was assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire in the early and at the end of four months. Results: Women with sHT had lower scores on functional capacity domain in relation to the euthyroid ones (770 ± 23.0 vs. 88.8 ± 14.6; p = 0.020). The sHT-Tr group improved functional capacity, general health, emotional aspects, mental and physical component of HRQoL after training period, while the sHT-Sed group showed no significant changes. Conclusion: After 16 weeks of aerobic exercise training, there were remarkable improvements in HRQoL in women with sHT.

CONTEXTO: A população idosa apresenta alta prevalência de hipovitaminose D, sendo provável que, exposta ao uso de anticonvulsivantes, ocorra agravamento dessa condição. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a interferência do uso crônico de fármacos anticonvulsivantes nos níveis séricos de vitamina D em idosos institucionalizados com idade acima de 65 anos. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 18 idosos institucionalizados tratados com anticonvulsivantes, por no mínimo 12 meses, comparados a 16 idosos não tratados. RESULTADOS: O estudo demonstrou que os dois grupos cursaram com deficiência de vitamina D, sendo mais pronunciada no grupo tratado com anticonvulsivantes. Embora não houvesse diferença estatisticamente significativa nos valores de paratormônio, nos idosos tratados foi observada uma tendência de níveis mais elevados, 53,44 ± 28,92 pg/ml em comparação aos idosos não tratados, 38,5 ± 10,08 pg/ml (P = 0,42). Foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os níveis séricos de 25-hidroxivitamina D nas pacientes do sexo feminino tratadas de 9,22 ± 3,80 ng/ml versus não tratadas, 18,78 ± 7,62 ng/ml (P = 0,03). CONCLUSÃO: Nossos achados sugerem que idosos institucionalizados apresentam menores níveis séricos de 25-hidroxivitamina D, configurando um estado de deficiência, e diferença significativa foi detectada nas mulheres tratadas com fármacos anticonvulsivantes.

BACKGROUND: Elderly people have a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, especially when they are exposed to anticonvulsants. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the influence of chronic use of anticonvulsants on serum levels of vitamin D in institutionalized elders aged above 65 years. METHODS: Eighteen elderly subjects treated with anticonvulsants were studied for at least 12 months and compared to 16 untreated elders. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was observed in both groups, but the group treated with anticonvulsants showed a more remarkable deficiency. Although there was no statistically significant difference in serum parathyroid hormone levels, elderly patients in treatment had a higher value (53.44 ± 28.92 pg/ml) compared to untreated elders (38.5 ± 10.8 pg/ml: p = 0.42). Statistically significant difference was observed between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in treated female patients (9.22 ± 3.80 ng/ml) compared to untreated female patients (18.78 ± 7.62 ng/ml: p = 0.03). DISCUSSION: The observed deficiency in both groups suggests that elderly subjects have lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Compared to untreated elderly women, elderly women treated with anticonvulsants showed a significantly lower serum level of vitamin D.

Nodulose acelerada (NA) é o desenvolvimento de um grande número de nódulos durante um curto intervalo de tempo em pacientes adultos com artrite reumatóide (AR) soropositiva ou soronegativa. Esses nódulos são usualmente associados à terapia com o metotrexato. Existem três relatos de casos descritos de pacientes que desenvolveram NA periférica durante o tratamento com leflunomida. Descrevemos o caso de uma paciente de 60 anos com diagnóstico de AR soropositiva que desenvolveu o quadro de NA depois de quatro meses de terapia com leflunomida. Após um período de oito meses de interrupção do uso da droga, houve regressão completa da nodulose.

Accelerated nodulosis is the development of a large number of nodules during a short time in adult patients presenting either seropositive or seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. These nodules are usually described as associated to methotrexate therapy. There have been three case reports of patients who developed peripheral accelerated nodulosis while receiving leflunomide. We describe a 60-years old woman with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis who developed accelerated nodulosis after four months receiving leflunomide therapy. The patient had a complete regression of the subcutaneous nodules eight months after cessation of leflunomide.