A prospective, open-label, multicentre study of pregabalin in the treatment of neuropathic pain in Latin America

AIMS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pregabalin at flexible doses of 150-600 mg/day in Latin American patients with neuropathic pain.

METHODS

A prospective, multicentre, open-label, non-comparative study included patients age >or= 18 years diagnosed with neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP), or human immunodeficiency virus-related PNP. Eligible patients (N = 121) had a score of >or= 40 mm on the visual analogue scale and a daily pain rating scale (DPRS) score of >or= 4 throughout screening. Patients received flexible-dose pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) for 12 weeks, which included a 4-week dose-adjustment phase. The primary efficacy measure was change from baseline to end of treatment/last observation carried forward (EOT/LOCF) in weekly mean pain score on the DPRS. Secondary efficacy measures included pain, anxiety, sleep interference, treatment satisfaction and Patient and Clinician Global Impression of Change.

RESULTS

Pregabalin significantly reduced the weekly mean pain score on DPRS from baseline to EOT/LOCF [-3.8 (95% CI: -4.2 to -3.3); p < 0.0001]. Reductions from baseline to EOT/LOCF were observed for all secondary efficacy outcomes (p < 0.0001). Pain and sleep interference were significantly improved compared with baseline across all weeks of the study, as early as 1 week after initiation of pregabalin (p < 0.0001). The most common adverse events (AEs) were somnolence, dizziness, weight gain and peripheral oedema. Nine (7.4%) patients discontinued the study because of AEs and 25 (20.7%) temporarily stopped or reduced their pregabalin dose because of AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Flexible-dose pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) significantly reduced pain and anxiety and improved sleep and was generally well tolerated in Latin American patients with neuropathic pain.

The blaSHV-5 gene is encoded in a compound transposon duplicated in tandem in Enterobacter cloacae

The presence of bla(SHV-5) is described in a compound transposon, duplicated in tandem and flanked by IS26 copies on a 70-kb conjugative plasmid (pHNM1), in an Enterobacter cloacae strain associated with a nosocomial outbreak that occurred in Mexico.

Huntington disease in children: genotype-phenotype correlation

Huntington disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of adulthood; however, a subset of early-onset patients exists, representing 1% of all HD patients. We reviewed a population of 155 HD-families to determine the frequency, molecular and clinical characteristics of children with an onset before the age of 10 years. In each case, a neurological evaluation was performed as well as molecular detection of the expanded CAG triplet in the affected child and both parents. The family history was also reviewed and updated. Seven children (1.92%) had onset of symptoms before the age of 10, two of them were dead by the time of the study. Large CAG expansions with intergenerational instability were identified, and in one case the child's allele was almost three times larger than the allele of the asymptomatic transmitting father, a situation reported only once before. Clinically, they showed preponderance of rigidity, seizures, learning disabilities and a rapid course of the disease. We attempted to use UHDRS. However, consistent results could not be obtained, suggesting that the scale should be revised for use in juvenile cases. HD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases in children, even in the absence of a positive family history.

Behavior of resting Aedes aegypti (Culicidae: Diptera) and its relation to ultra-low volume adulticide efficacy in Panama City, Panama

The resting behavior of Aedes aegypti (L.) adults was investigated in 14 districts of Panama City, Panama, in relation to ground ultra-low volume (ULV) applications of malathion. Adults primarily rested inside the premises (75.1%) at a distance > 6 m from the street (86.4%). Both sexes rested mainly in bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms. The small ULV aerosol droplets (2-4 microns) penetrated all indoor resting sites of Ae. aegypti, but in low amounts. Because of the low amount of insecticide reaching the primary resting sites within the premises, limited control of the Ae. aegypti was obtained. This limited the potential effectiveness of ground vehicle ULV applied insecticide as a dengue epidemic control method.

Serum erythropoietin concentrations fail to increase after significant phlebotomy losses in ill preterm infants

OBJECTIVE/STUDY DESIGN: After blood loss, production of erythropoietin in adults increases, which accelerates erythropoiesis and restores the erythroid mass. It is unclear whether preterm infants with large phlebotomy losses have a similar response. We therefore measured serum erythropoietin concentrations in 11 ill preterm infants (1057 +/- 167 gm) as their phlebotomy losses accumulated.

RESULTS

Before the first transfusion, erythropoietin concentrations were 68.9 +/- 36.2 mU/ml (range 0 to 205 mU/ml) at 5 ml/kg blood out, 17.4 +/- 8.9 mU/ml at 10 ml/kg, and 4.8 +/- 2.6 mU/ml at 15 ml/kg. Erythropoietin concentrations did not increase in any patients despite increasing phlebotomy losses.

CONCLUSION

Serum erythropoietin concentrations in ill preterm infants do not increase in the face of significant blood loss. Although the mechanistic explanation for this failure is unclear, it likely contributes to the transfusion requirements of this population.

[Gliomatous meningitis of hemispheric tumors. Study of 22 cases in adults]

Twenty-two patients suffering from diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis (LG) were identified at the Salpêtrière Hospital between January 1989 and January 1994: 20 patients had a known primary supratentorial glioma when LG was diagnosed (8 glioblastomas, 5 anaplastic astrocytomas, 3 anaplasic oligodendrogliomas, 2 astrocytomas and 2 oligodendrogliomas); 2 patients had primary LG. The delay between the discovery of the primary tumour and the development of LG was 5 +/- 4 months in glioblastomas and 22 +/- 16 months for others gliomas. In 1/2 primary LG, autopsy demonstrated an hippocampic astrocytoma which was undetected pre-mortem even on MRI; in the second patient with primary LG no autopsy was obtained and the diagnosis was based on meningeal biopsy. An epidemiological study was made by comparing 13 LG with 275 supratentorial gliomas without LG who were seen during the same period. The incidence of symptomatic LG was 4.7% and was more frequent in anaplasic astrocytomas (6.5%) and anaplasic olidendrogliomas (11.4%) than in glioblastomas (3%) but the difference was not statistically significant. The age at diagnosis of LG was 56 +/- 11 years in glioblastomas and 41 +/- 7 in others gliomas, related to tumour histology. Among the 22 studied cases, only 27% had a meningeal syndrome; multifocal neurological involvement was present in 74% of patients combining at various degree signs of cerebral, cranial nerves and roots or spinal cord dysfunction. Contrast enhancing lesions in the meninges or ventricules on CT/MRI were found in 82% of cases and 45% had an hydrocephalus. In the CSF 94% of patients had a protein level over 1 milligram and 47% of them had a low glucose level < 2.7 mmol/l; malignant cells were found in 47% of cases. Among 11 patients who received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, 3 improved and 2 were stable and their survival ranged from 6 to 34+ months. Criteria allowing diagnosis of LG are defined and the therapeutic option are reviewed.

Human immunoglobulin treatment of multifocal motor neuropathy and polyneuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy

Intravenous human immune globulin (IVIg) has been proposed for the treatment of various peripheral neuropathies that are considered to be immunemediated. The results are reported of an open trial conducted in multifocal motor neuropathy and polyneuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy. Six cases with multifocal motor neuropathy, selected on clinical and electrophysiological criteria (four of six patients also had significantly high anti-GM1 titres), received IVIg monthly, at doses varying from 1.6 to 2.5 mg/kg, over three to 13 months. The initial response to treatment was dramatic in 3/6 cases (with improvement of at least two grades on the MRC scale in the five more severely affected muscles). The final evaluation showed a good result in 4/6 cases, but the conduction blocks were not significantly reduced. In 13 other cases with polyneuropathy associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance, IVIg was of benefit, with improvement of at least one grade on the Prineas score, in 4/7 cases previously treated with immunosuppression and 2/3 cases not treated before IVIg. In the last group of four patients with polyneuropathy and IgG monoclonal gammopathy, IVIg was followed by clinical improvement in the two cases with a chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in predicting adverse pregnancy outcome. A prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the presence of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) in healthy pregnant women is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome, including 1) intrauterine fetal loss, 2) maternal pregnancy complications, 3) low birth weight, and 4) low 5-minute Apgar scores.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study in women with normal pregnancies.

SETTING

Obstetrics clinic at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

PATIENTS

Eligible patients included 451 low-risk, nulliparous pregnant women who came to the obstetrics clinic before 25 weeks gestation; 408 were enrolled and 389 had blood drawn at the first prenatal visit and completed clinical follow-up.

MEASUREMENTS

Blood for six aPL measures was drawn at the first prenatal visit and for 239 patients at delivery.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients (24.4%) had elevated aPL levels by one or more measures at the first prenatal visit: 15.8% of the aPL-positive and 6.5% of the aPL-negative patients experienced fetal loss (relative risk, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.29 to 4.62). However, an elevated IgG anticardiolipin antibody level at the first prenatal visit was the only aPL measurement that was significantly associated with fetal loss (relative risk, 3.5; CI, 1.56 to 8.07). Adjustment for confounding variables decreased the relative risk of aPL for fetal loss slightly, but the difference remained statistically significant. Neither a positive aPL result at the initial visit nor a positive result at delivery was associated with maternal complications of pregnancy, low birth weight, or low Apgar scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with elevated aPL levels at their initial prenatal visit had an increase in fetal loss but no increase in maternal pregnancy complications, low birth weight, or low Apgar scores. Immunoglobulin G anticardiolipin antibody was the only single test of aPL significantly associated with fetal loss.

Diffuse primary leptomeningeal gliomatosis

A 38 year old patient developed multiple cranial nerve palsy, seizures and progressive alteration in consciousness. CSF examination revealed tumor cells and a tentative diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from an unknown primary tumor was made. Treatment with intrathecal methotrexate and cranial radiation therapy was started without effect. At autopsy widespread leptomeningeal gliomatosis originating from a previously unknown astrocytoma of the hippocampus was found.

Reemergence of self-induced abortions

Two cases of adolescent females attempting self-induced abortions are presented. Many ramifications and complications of illegal abortions are discussed as they affect the patient and society. In addition, we discuss the future of medical education as well as the economic aspects of health care in relationship to illegal abortions.