OBJECTIVE: Immunosuppressed patients are at risk of microsporidiosis, and this parasitosis has an increased rate of dissemination in this population. Our objective was to evaluate the presence of microsporidiosis and other intestinal parasites in rheumatic disease patients undergoing anti-tumor necrosis factor/disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients (47 with rheumatoid arthritis, 31 with ankylosing spondylitis and 11 with psoriatic arthritis) and 92 healthy control patients were enrolled in the study. Three stool samples and cultures were collected from each subject. RESULTS: The frequency of microsporidia was significantly higher in rheumatic disease patients than in control subjects (36 vs. 4%, respectively; p<0.0001), as well as in those with rheumatic diseases (32 vs. 4%, respectively; p<0.0001), ankylosing spondylitis (45 vs. 4%, respectively; p<0.0001) and psoriatic arthritis (40 vs. 4%, respectively; p<0.0001), despite a similar social-economic class distribution in both the patient and control groups (p = 0.1153). Of note, concomitant fecal leukocytes were observed in the majority of the microsporidia-positive patients (79.5%). Approximately 80% of the patients had gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea (26%), abdominal pain (31%) and weight loss (5%), although the frequencies of these symptoms were comparable in patients with and without this infection (p>0.05). Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis disease activity parameters were comparable in both groups (p>0.05). The duration of anti-tumor necrosis factor/disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and glucocorticoid use were also similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: We have documented that microsporidiosis with intestinal mucosa disruption is frequent in patients undergoing concomitant anti-tumor necrosis factor/disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy. Impaired host defenses due to the combination of the underlying disease and the immunosuppressive therapy is the most likely explanation for this finding, and this increased susceptibility reinforces the need for the investigation of microsporidia and implementation of treatment strategies in this population.

A piomiosite é uma infecção primária do músculo esquelético mais comum nos países tropicais. Adultos que desenvolvem a doença apresentam, na maioria dos casos, comorbidades associadas que comprometem o sistema imunológico, entre elas diabetes mellitus e cirrose hepática

Pyomyositis is a primary infection of the skeletal muscle, occurring most commonly in tropical countries. Adults who develop the disease have, in most cases, associated comorbidities that compromise the immune system, including diabetes mellitus and liver cirrhosis

OBJETIVO: realizar uma análise retrospectiva das características demográficas e clínicas de pacientes com artrite reumatóide (AR), em acompanhamento ambulatorial no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: foram revisados 1.381 prontuários de pacientes com artrite reumatóide, atendidos entre 2002 e 2005. Os prontuários foram transcritos em protocolos padronizados, coletando-se idade, sexo, raça, peso corpóreo, tempo de doença, gravidade da doença, classificação do estado funcional, fator reumatóide, condição social, presença de dor na última consulta, avaliação de progressão radiológica, envolvimento extra-articular, emprego de questionários de Qualidade de Vida ou de Atividade da Doença, tipos de tratamentos e de programa de reabilitação. RESULTADOS: dos 1.381 pacientes, 86% eram mulheres, caucasianas, estavam entre a quarta e quinta década, tempo médio de doença de 7,2 anos e o peso corpóreo médio de 65,6 kg. Uma minoria (5%) foi classificada como grave, e a maioria apresentava classe funcional I e II. As manifestações extra-articulares ocorreram em 23,3%, e o fator reumatóide era positivo em 71% dos pacientes. Somente um terço possuía acompanhamento radiológico e estava trabalhando. O medicamento mais utilizado foi o metotrexato (dose 15-19 mg/semana). Um quarto dos pacientes estava freqüentando programas de reabilitação, e um terço possuía avaliações de qualidade de vida e de atividade da doença. CONCLUSÃO: essa análise proporcionou uma visão parcial dos pacientes brasileiros com AR, identificando pontos importantes em relação às características demográficas e clínicas, os tipos de tratamentos farmacológicos e a pequena utilização de marcadores de doença e questionários de qualidade de vida, bem como a limitação de serviços de reabilitação disponíveis para os pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: to perform a retrospective analysis of clinical and demographic characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients followed in outpatient clinics in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: 1.381 medical records of rheumatoid arthritis patients were reviewed in the period between 2002 and 2005. These data were analyzed using a standardized form, based on the following parameters: sex, age, race, weight, follow-up time, disease progression, functional status, rheumatoid factor positivity, social status, pain in the last visit, radiologic progression, extra-articular manifestations, quantitative assessment of functional status and disease active score (DAS), pharmacological treatment, and physical therapy. RESULTS: 86% were female Caucasians. Age of disease onset varied between the forth and fifth decades. Mean follow-up was 7.2 years and mean body weight was 65.6 kg. Less than 5% of the patients were classified as severe and the majority of the patients presented functional class I and II. Extra-articular manifestations were observed in 23.3% and the rheumatoid factor was positive in 71%. Only 33% of the patients had radiological evaluation and were working regularly. Methotrexate was the most common medication (15-19 mg/week). Only 25% of these patients were attending physical therapy and 30% had quantitative assessment of functional status and DAS. CONCLUSION: this analysis provided a partial analysis of the RA Brazilian population, identified demographic and clinical characteristics, the therapeutic drugs used, and the difficulty of the patients in attending rehabilitation services.

Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente com 19 anos de idade, portadora de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, que apresentou edema súbito e progressivo em membro superior esquerdo e dor e circulação colateral visível em região supraclavicular esquerda. Foi realizado diagnóstico de trombose venosa em veia jugular externa esquerda por meio do dúplex scan. Nos exames laboratoriais, evidenciou-se a presença de anticorpo anticardiolipina.

The authors report the case of a 19-year-old patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with sudden and progressive edema in the left upper limb. She suffered from pain and visible collateral circulation in the left supra-clavicle region. Using a duplex scan, a diagnosis of venous thrombosis in the external left jugular vein was made. Laboratory tests proved the existence of anticardiolipin antibody.

O caso de poliarterite nodosa (PAN) em paciente de 54 anos de idade é relatado. O quadro clínico evidenciava polineuropatia sensitivo-motora clássica de 6 meses de evolução, associado a emagrecimento acentuado, adinamia. artralgia, mialgia, taquicardia, febre e hipertensão arterial. Os exames complementares iniciais revelaram leucocitose, VHS elevado, HBsAg positiva e pesquisa de crioglobulinas positiva. O estudo angiográfico visceral na circulação renal e hepática revelou presença de inúmeros aneurismas sendo o diagnóstico confirmado. O paciente evoluiu para óbito após cerca de duas semanas. É feita breve revisão sobre PAN, salientando-se a importância da detecção de HBsAg na etiopatogênese e do estudo angiográfico para o diagnóstico.

A case of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) in a 54 year-old man is presented. The clinical picture showed a 6-month history of mixed sensorimotor distal symmetrical polyneuropathy in all limbs together with anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, mild fever and hypertension. The laboratory studies showed leucocytosis, elevated ESR, positive HBsAg and presence of cryoglobulins. Selective renal, celiac and mesenteric angiography was performed by femoral approach and has showed innumerable aneurysms most of them in hepatic and renal circulation. After about two weeks death has occurred. A brief discussion is done on clinical aspects of PAN pointing out the importance of HBgAg determination on etiopathogenesis and angiographic study on diagnosis.