Flebectasia digital en un caso de poliangitis microscópica con polineuropatía periférica

The patient was a 56-year-old man with microscopic polyangiitis and symmetrical peripheral polyneuropathy of the extremities who was positive for p-ANCA, EMG pattern of mononeuritis multiplex and skin biopsy showing the presence of nonspecific vasculitis. He had phlebectasia with plethora and tortuous vessels on dorsum of the fingers on both hands, paresis and hypoesthesia of fingers and toes with functional limitations. The administration of prednisone, azathioprine and a cyclophosphamide pulse achieved rapid improvement in the general symptoms, but the changes in the neuropathy occurred very slowly. After 47 months of treatment, he had mild phlebectasia in fingers and slight hypoesthesia in hands and feet, with normal laboratory tests. Phlebectasia was probably the result of an autonomic dysfunction due to vasculitis of the vasa nervorum and could be a sign to look for in similar cases.     

Cápsula endoscópica para el estudio de patologías de intestino delgado: experiencia en una institución privada en México

Introduction and aimsCapsule endoscopy has revolutionized the study of small bowel disorders. Its diagnostic yield, reasons for referral, and frequency of significant endoscopic findings at our institution are unknown. The aims of our study were to describe the reasons for referral, the frequency of significant endoscopic findings, and the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy in patients that underwent the procedure for the study of small bowel disorders.Material and methodsA retrospective study was conducted that included all patients that underwent capsule endoscopy for small bowel disorder evaluation at our institution. The diagnostic yield for significant endoscopic findings, the frequency of significant endoscopic findings, and the reasons for referral for capsule endoscopy were determined.ResultsA total of 134 patients were included in the study and 143 capsule endoscopies were performed. Women made up 48.5% of the sample and the mean patient age was 63 years (18.7 standard deviation). The main reasons for referral were suspicion of overt small bowel bleeding (55.9%) and suspicion of occult small bowel bleeding (28.6%). The overall diagnostic yield was 66.4%. The most common significant findings were small bowel angioectasias (52.6%) and small bowel ulcers (38.9%). There were two adverse events (1.3%): one capsule retention that required enteroscopic removal and one asymptomatic bronchoaspiration of the capsule that resolved spontaneously.ConclusionsThe frequency of significant endoscopic findings with capsule endoscopy at our institution was different from that reported in other Mexican studies, but the reasons for referral and the diagnostic yield were similar.     

Enfermedad pulmonar intersticial temprana en poliangitis microscópica: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a systemic disease included in the Chapel Hill 2012 Classification as necrotizing vasculitis affecting capillaries, venules and arterioles. It usually expresses antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and has a perinuclear immunofluorescence pattern and correlation with anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies. Capillaritis with alveolar hemorrhage is the most common manifestation of lung disease. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is uncommon, with usual interstitial pneumonia being the predominant pattern. However, other patterns such as organizing pneumonia have been described. No guidelines exist for treating patients with ILD and, currently, ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is managed along the lines of small vessel vasculitis. The prognosis with this association is uncertain, with possibilities of relapse and a fatal outcome. We present a case in which ILD was the first manifestation of MPA, without alveolar hemorrhage, with subsequent renal involvement and, in which, the established treatment produced a significant clinical improvement.     

Vasculitis crioglobulinémica y artritis psoriásica: reporte de caso de una inusual asociación

We report the case of a 47-year-old man with a 9-year history of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in whom we detected renal involvement, hypocomplementemia, peripheral neuropathy, acral necrotic lesions and positive cryoglobulins. The results of the diagnosis led us to conclude that the clinical picture corresponded to cryoglobulinemic vasculitis concomitant with PsA. In addition, we present a review of the literature on the presence of these two diseases in a single patient.     

Osificación heterotópica de las piernas en un varón

Heterotopic ossification is an uncommon disorder that consists of deposition of ectopic bone outside the extraskeletal tissues. In the skin, it can be primary, in association with genetic syndromes, or be secondary to different disorders. The latter include subcutaneous ossification of the legs in chronic venousinsufficiency, an infrequent and unrecognized complication. We report the case of a patient with subcutaneous ossification of both legs secondary to venous insufficiency and review the literature.     

Técnicas de imagen híbridas en cardiopatía isquémica

Hybrid imaging for ischemic heart disease refers to the fusion of information from a single or usually from multiple cardiovascular imaging modalities enabling synergistic assessment of the presence, the extent, and the severity of coronary atherosclerotic disease along with the hemodynamic significance of lesions and/or with evaluation of the myocardial function. A combination of coronary computed tomography angiography with myocardial perfusion imaging, such as single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography, has been adopted in several centers and implemented in international coronary artery disease management guidelines. Interest has increased in novel hybrid methods including coronary computed tomography angiography-derived fractional flow reserve and computed tomography perfusion and these techniques hold promise for the imminent diagnostic and management approaches of patients with coronary artery disease. In this review, we discuss the currently available hybrid noninvasive imaging modalities used in clinical practice, research approaches, and exciting potential future technological developments.