Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Pérez Miranda

Publications and source records attributed to M Pérez Miranda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Validation of the Spanish version of the Phase III ISAAC questionnaire on asthma.

The prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood has increased significantly over the last decades. This increase seems to be closely associated with the way of life of western societies. The high prevalence differences on different regions may be due to linguistic and cultural reasons and not to real variations in prevalence. This is the reason why several authors felt the need to perform an objective validation of their versions. Our working group has published the results of the Phase I validation and now is publishing the Phase III validation in order to guarantee the reliability of this phase results. The study sample is formed by 366 children aged 3 to 17 years. The following steps were followed in this study: I. Assessment of the "Criterion validity" of the Spanish ISAAC-Bronchial Asthma questionnaire, evaluating the sensitivity, specificity, relative value, and positive and negative predictive values. 2. Determine the questionnaire reliability, analysing its "Inner consistency". 3. Statistical comparison between our ISAAC-Bronchial Asthma results and the ones obtained by other groups (external concordance and consistency), in order to prove the previously evaluated reliability. 4. Comparison between the ISAAC-Bronchial asthma questionnaire diagnostic ability and the standard diagnostic criteria universally used in clinical praxis. We could confirm that there is a high and very significant concordance between the questions aimed to detect children with asthma. In this sense, it is especially useful the question about "ever had wheezing" because of its high sensitivity (93.3%) and specificity (89.9%), that make it able to be used as initial screening test in a general population, and that has shown a high concordance percentage with the questions "ever had asthma" (98%), "wheezing with exercise" (75%), and "cough at night"(80%). The questions that give more information about the evolution and control of the asthmatic disease are "wheezing in the last 12 months", "number of attacks in the last 12 months", "wakening at night", "wheezing with exercise" and "dry cough at night in the last 12 months". The questions more related to asthma severity were "number of attacks in the last 12 months", "wakening at night", "stop speaking in order to breath", and "wheezing with exercise". We conclude that ISAAC-Asthma questionnaire Phase III is a useful tool for the assessment of childhood asthma due to its criterion validity, inner consistency and external concordance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Diagnostic utility of D-dimer measurement in patients with clinical suspect of pulmonary thromboembolism in the setting of an Internal Medicine Department].

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) may be a challenge in many cases, particularly among the elderly patients. OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnostic utility of D-dimer measurement by a rapid semi-quantitative immunoassay (NycoCard, D-Dimer, normal value < or =0.3 mg/l) in a series of patients with suspected PTE admitted to an Internal Medicine Department. METHODS: Retrospective review of 48 patients admitted to our Department with the clinical suspect of PTE and D-dimer assay, in whom a lung ventilation/perfusion scan was conclusive (high or normal/very low/low probability of PTE). RESULTS: The median age of patients was 67.4 years and 79.2% were older than 60 years. For the diagnosis of PTE, the values of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 95.2%, 55.5%, 62.5% and 93.7%, respectively. When patients with potential confounding factors in the measurement of D-dimer (surgery and/or trauma in the 2 previous weeks, or neoplasm) were excluded, similar results were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: When a normal D-dimer (< or =0.3 mg/l) measurement by a rapid semi-quantitative immunoassay (NycoCard) is obtained, the presence of PTE is very unlikely. An increased D-dimer should lead to additional complementary tests to confirm or rule out PTE. These results apply for patients aged over 60 years and are not influenced by potential confounding factors.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Pulmonary thromboembolism in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in the elderly and to identify potential differences between elderly and non-elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 154 consecutive patients diagnosed of PTE in an Internal Medicine service between January 1993 and December 2001. RESULTS: Ninety patients (58.4%) were older than 70 years. Prior cardiopulmonary disease was significantly more frequent in patients older than 70 years (41.1% vs 23.4%, p = 0.03). Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) clinic was significantly less frequent in older than 70 years (36.7% vs 53.1%, p = 0.04). The rest of studied characteristics was similar in both groups. Four patients older than 70 years (4.4%) did not have "classical" symptoms of PTE (dyspnea, centrothoracic pain, pleuritic pain and/or hemoptysis). Three patients older than 70 years (3.3%) did not have "classical" signs of PTE (tachypnea, tachycardia and/or crackles) nor DVT clinic. Three patients older than 70 years (3.3%) had a normal alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient. Hospital death was more frequent in older than 70 years, but without reaching statistical significance (8.9% vs 3.1%, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PTE characteristics are similar in elderly and in non-elderly patients, although DVT clinic is less frequent in elderly. The absence of "classical" symptoms of PTE, the absence of "classical" signs of PTE and DVT clinic, and a normal alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient are very infrequent in elderly with PTE. Hospital mortality in PTE may be higher in patients older than 70 years.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Photopheresis: new immunomodulatory therapy for T-lymphocite mediated diseases].

The photopheresis (ECP) is a therapeutic approach based on the biological effect of psoralen and ultraviolet light A on mononuclear cells collected by apheresis, and reinfused into the patient. In 1988, the treatment was the first FDA-approved selective immunotherapy for any type of cancer. Convincing data taken from over 160 centers in Europe and the U.S.A. over the past few years have documented that ECP is associated with a very low side-effect profile. Evidence shows that this therapy prolongs the mean survival, and also induces 50-75% response rates in patients with advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. In addition, more and more reports indicate that photopheresis is a potent agent in the therapy of solid organ transplant rejection, graft versus host disease, scleroderma, and other autoimmune diseases resistant to conventional therapy. The mechanism of this treatment is likely due to the induction of cell-mediated anticlonotypic immune response against pathogenic clones of T lymphocytes.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

[The current clinical spectrum of pulmonary thromboembolism].

BACKGROUND. Mortality in pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) decreases considerable when it is diagnosed early. The suspicion based on clinical and complementary data is essential for an early diagnosis. METHODS. Retrospective review of the clinical features in patients diagnosed of PTE in an Internal Medicine department from January 1993 to December 1999. RESULTS. A total of 117 patients with PTE were identified. The median age was 68.8 years. Sixty-six patients (56.4%) had one or more risk factors for PTE. The most common risk factor was immobilization (37.6%). Dyspnea was the most common symptom (74.4%) and tachypnea the most common sign (66.7%). Fever/low grade fever and leukocytosis were present in 16.2% and 31.6% of patients, respectively. Respiratory failure, alkalosis and hypocapnia were present in 44.4%, 38.5% and 47% of patients, respectively. An alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient > 20 mmHg was demonstrated in 96.6% of patients. Chest radiographs and electrocardiograms were normal in 52.1% and 23.9% of patients, respectively. A vein echo-duplex of the lower limbs demonstrated deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in 52.1% of patients. The hospital mortality rate was 6.8%. CONCLUSIONS. PTE still affects older patients mainly and frequently known risk factors are not detected. The presence of fever/low grade fever and/or leukocytosis does not rule out PTE. Both chest radiographs and electrocardiograms may be normal. Not demonstrating DVT in the lower limbs by the vein echo-duplex does not rule out PTE. The hospital mortality rate has not decreased considerably in the last few years.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2002

[Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA): clinico-pathologic correlations iin a series of 82 cases].

OBJECTIVE: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have been described in a great variety of diseases in addition to the ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis (Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS)) and the pauci-immune rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). The objective of this work is to describe the clinical-pathological diagnosis of a series of patients with ANCA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with positive ANCA by indirect immunofluorescence in our hospital between January 1997 and December 1998. RESULTS: We identify 82 patients with ANCA. Six cases (7.3%) showed a C-ANCA pattern, 19 (23.2%) a P-ANCA pattern and 57 (69.5%) an atypical pattern. Eight patients (9.7%) had an ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis (5 WG, 2 MPA and 1 SCS). Four patients (4.9%) had a pauci-immune RPGN without systemic vasculitis. One only case (1.2%) in our series presented a C-ANCA pattern without evidence of an ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis or a pauci-immune RPGN. CONCLUSIONS: The atypical pattern is the most frequent in patients with ANCA. A minority of patients with ANCA have an ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis (WG, MPA or SCS) or a pauci-immune RPGN. The occurrence of a C-ANCA pattern is exceptional in patients without an ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis or a pauci-immune RPGN.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Primary antiphospholipid syndrome: characteristics and course of a series of 17 cases].

BACKGROUND: Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a thrombophilic disorder which is not associated with connective tissue diseases or with other diseases. METHOD: Retrospective review of patients diagnosed of primary APS in an Internal Medicine service between January 1996 and December 2000. RESULTS: We identified 17 patients with primary APS. The most common presenting manifestations were deep vein thrombosis (7 cases) and ischemic stroke (3 cases). Eleven patients (65%) had vein thrombosis, 4 (24%) arterial thrombosis and no patient had both types of thrombosis. The 15 patients with thrombosis received treatment with indefinite oral anticoagulation (INR between 2.5 and 3.5). There was no recurrence of thrombosis or major hemorrhagic complications after a median follow-up time of 36 months (range 10-52 months). CONCLUSIONS: The most common presenting manifestation of primary APS is deep vein thrombosis. Venous thrombosis is more frequent than arterial thrombosis. The occurrence of both types of thrombosis seems to be exceptional. Long-term oral anticoagulation is an effective and safe treatment to prevent the recurrence of thrombosis in patients with primary APS.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Comparison of the antihypertensive activity of fosinopril and irbesartan].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the antihypertensive effect of two daily single dose drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin axis by two different ways. METHODS: Thirty patients were randomized to receive either irbesartan (150 mg once daily) (n = 15, mean age 65.2 +/- 8.7 years, 9 men and 6 women) or fosinopril (20 mg once daily) (n = 15, mean age 57.4 +/- 11.5 years, 4 men and 11 women, difference are not significant) during 12 weeks. When needed, hydroclorothiazide (12.5 mg) was added to treatment to improve hypotensive response. RESULTS: A reduction of SBP and DBP was observed in both treatment groups throughout the study. In order to obtain further BP reduction, hydrochlorothiazide was added to 6 patients with inadequate BP response at the 4th week (3 patients in the irbesartan group) and 8th week (2 patients in irbesartan group and 1 patient in fosinopril group). SBP was reduced in irbesartan group from 157.7 +/- 11.2 to 131.0 +/- 8.7 mmHg (12th week, p < 0.001). DBP decreases from 94.1 +/- 5.6 to 82.7 +/- 4.2 mmHg (p < 0.001). In fosinopril group SBP was reduced from 147.9 +/- 11.7 to 132.2 +/- 12.4 mmHg (p < 0.001) and DBP decreases from 92.3 +/- 6.3 to 84.0 +/- 5.4 mmHg (p < 0.001). Final between group differences in BP are not significant. Final BP reduction in irbesartan group (26.7 +/- 11.6 mmHg) was bigger than that obtained in fosinopril group (15.6 +/- 11.6 mmHg, p = 0.011). BP reduction was significant in fosinopril group from the first month (SBP 140.7 +/- 12.2, p = 0.021; DBP 87.2 +/- 6.2, p = 0.003). In irbesartan group BP reduction was not significant until the second month (SBP 135.5 +/- 10.4, p < 0.001; DBP 85.3 +/- 4.3, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fosinopril and irbesartan seems to be equally effective to reduce DBP. Irbesartan might have higher effectiveness on systolic blood pressure. Irbesartan act more gradually than fosinopril and this may be useful to prevent from acute blood pressure falls.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Evolution of antithrombin activity and plasma fibrinogen levels and of hematologic values among women in child-bearing age on treatment with the new hormonal oral contraceptives].

OBJECTIVE: To study the evolution of antithrombin (AT) and plasma fibrinogen levels and of hematologic values among women in child-bearing age on treatment with the new hormonal oral contraceptives (HOC): in microdose, ultramicrodose and Diane-35. METHOD: Retrospective review of 100 randomized cases out of a total registry of 1,245 clinical records. RESULTS: The mean age in our series was 23.4 years (range: 18-39 years). The mean study time was 3.3 years (range: 1-5 years). During the study period, there was not a single woman with an AT lower than 70%. There were no significant changes at the end of the study period regarding AT, plasma fibrinogen, hematocrit, hemoglobin, prothrombin activity and activated partial thromboplastin time. A significant decrease was observed for platelet count (246,113 5,842 vs. 215,636 4,383 platelets/mm3; p = 0.003). There was not a single case of thrombocytopenia registered. No relevant differences were observed between the treatment groups with microdosaged, ultramicrodosaged and Diane-35. CONCLUSIONS: At mid-term (3.3 years), the new HOC (in microdose, ultramicrodose and Diane-35), do not cause significant changes in AT, plasma fibrinogen, hematocrit, hemoglobin, prothrombin activity and activated partial thromboplastin time. In our series, a moderate but significant decrease in the platelet count was observed but there were no cases of thrombocytopenia. The effect of the different new HOC on the studied parameters was similar.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Differences between tuberculous spondylitis and brucellar spondylitis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential differences in the clinical and laboratory characteristics between tuberculous spondylitis (TS) and brucellar spondylitis (BS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with TS and BS diagnosed in our hospital between january 1992 and december 1998. RESULTS: TS was diagnosed in 17 patients and BS in 10 patients. In our series, a higher delay in the diagnosis (27.9 +/- 24.6 vs. 16 +/- 5.6 weeks, p = 0.02) was found in TS. There was a higher frequency, but without stadistic significance, of immunosuppression, one or several paravertebral or epidural abscesses, spinal cord compression, anemia and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate in TS, and a higher frequency of fever/febricule and residual vertebral pain in BS. Lumbar location was the most frequent in both groups (58.8% in TS and 70% in BS). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that there were some differences in the clinical and laboratory characteristics between TS and BS which may be an aid in the differential diagnosis of both entities and orient the empirical treatment in these cases without a definitive microbiological diagnosis or while awaiting the diagnostic confirmation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Rheumatic polymyalgia].

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common clinical syndrome that is characterized by pain and stiffness in neck, shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle. The aetiology is unknown. However, recent studies have documented an association with HLA antigens and infectious agents. It occurs mostly after the age of 50 years and is often accompanied by systemic features such as fever, asthenia, hyporexia and weight loss. An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of at least 40 mm/hour has been considered diagnostic criterion. Nevertheless, a normal ESR accounted for up to 20% of cases of PMR. A dramatic and prompt response to corticosteroid treatment is characteristic. Giant cell arteritis/temporal arteritis (GCA) has been found in 0-80% of cases of PMR. Temporal biopsy could initially be deferred in patients with PMR younger than 70 years with no cranial symptoms, in which the risk of GCA is very low.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Giant-cell arteritis: a descriptive study in southwestern Spain].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and laboratory features of a series of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) or temporal arteritis in south-western Spain (Extremadura). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 25 patients with GCA diagnosed by temporal artery biopsy between 1990 and 1998. RESULTS: Nine patients were males and 16 (64%) females. Sixteen cases (64%) presented polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Other clinical findings were: fever/febricula (64%), constitutional syndrome (64%), new headache (96%), visual symptoms (48%), jaw claudication (17%) and abnormal temporal arteries (17%). All patients had an ESR of more than 50 mm/hour and a raised C-reactive protein. Thirteen patients (52%) had anemia (hemoglobin level < 12 g/dl). Eleven cases (44%) presented a platelet count higher than 400,000/mm3. Four patients (16%) had an elevated AST and/or ALT levels and 8 patients (32%) had an elevated GGT and/or alkaline phosphatase levels. In patients with PMR, there was a higher frequency of constitutional syndrome (81 vs 33%, p = 0.02). In females, there was a higher frequency of anemia (75 vs 11%, p < 0.01), platelet count higher than 400,000/mm3 (75 vs 0%, p < 0.01) and elevated AST and/or ALT (25 vs 0%, p < 0.01) and elevated GGT and/or alkaline phosphatase (50 vs 0%, p < 0.01) levels. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and laboratory features of GCA in our series of patients in south-western Spain are similar to that described in other spanish populations, with the exception of a slightly higher frequency of PMR and a lower frequency of jaw claudication and abnormal temporal arteries. In our study, the clinical picture of GCA was more severe in patients with PMR and in females.

Aged↗