Browsing by Author "Guimarães, S."
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- Diagnostic challenges of hypersensitivity pneumonitis with autoimmune features: Dealing with more than a coincidence?Publication . Oliveira, T.; Melo, N.; Guimarães, S.; Morais, A.
- Hyperhomocysteinemia in Renal Transplantation: Preliminary ResultsPublication . Fonseca, Isabel; Queirós, J; Santos, M.J.; Mendonça, D.; Henriques, A. C.; Sarmento, A.M.; Santos, A.C.; Guimarães, S.; Pereira, M.Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after renal transplantation (RT).[1] and [2] The excess risk of CVD in RT is due in part to a higher prevalence of established atherosclerotic risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity.[1] and [2] However, some renal-related risk factors like immunosuppressive medication and residual renal insufficiency also contribute to this excess CVD risk and may complicate the management of dyslipidemia and hypertension in this population.[1] and [2] Accordingly, there is a compelling need to identify and safely manage other putative CVD risk factors among RT patients. Elevated plasma homocysteine is emerging as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in general populations.[3] and 4 R Clarke, L Daly and K Robinson et al., N Engl J Med 324 (1991), p. 1149. View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (1372)[4] Some studies have demonstrated that hyperhomocysteinemia is present in patients with impaired renal function and is associated with CVD.[5], [6] and [7] Only a small number of studies are available on the prevalence and determinants of hyperhomocysteinemia in renal transplant recipients.[8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14] and [15] We undertook this study to 1. estimate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in renal transplant recipients; 2. examine the relationships between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and its metabolic determinants vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid; and 3. identify other determinants of tHcy.
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Main features characterization in a Portuguese cohortPublication . Santos, V.; Martins, N.; Sousa, C.; Jacob, M.; Padrão, E.; Melo, N.; Mota, P. Caetano; Bastos, H.N.; Guimarães, S.; Moura, C. Souto; Sokhatska, O.; Cunha, R.; Pereira, J.; Morais, A.Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD) which varies in prevalence across the world, depending on disease definition, diagnostic methods, exposure type and intensity, geographical environments, agricultural and industrial practices, and host risk factors. This study aimed to deepen knowledge about HP's clinical characteristics, diagnosis and functional and imaging features in a cohort of HP patients from the North of Portugal. To achieve this goal, a retrospective assessment of the clinical and diagnostic data was carried out, and patients were classified and compared according to disease presentation (acute, sub-acute and chronic HP forms). Of the 209 HP patients included (mean age 58.3 ± 16.0 years), 52.6% were female and 73.7% presented a chronic form. Most patients had prior exposure to birds (76.6%). Dyspnoea and cough were the most frequently experienced symptoms, but no statistically significant differences were found between groups (p = 0.089, p = 0.418, respectively). Fever was most common in acute HP form (p < 0.001). The most common patterns found in Chest CT were ground glass (p = 0.002) in acute/subacute presentation, and reticulation (p < 0.001) in chronic form, while mosaic attenuation, although was also frequently observed, no statistically significant differences were found between groups (p = 0.512). The most common functional pattern was restrictive (38% of patients, 73.7% with chronic HP form). Bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytes were higher in acute and subacute forms although not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.072), with lowest CD4/CD8 ratio (p = 0.001) in acute forms. Thus, given the significant disease heterogeneity, further studies with different populations and ambient exposures are needed to achieve a better stratification of the exposure risk, to provide proper implementation of avoidance methods and a precise diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
- Interstitial lung disease and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension in neurofibromatosis type 1Publication . Rodrigues, D.; Oliveira, H.; Andrade, C.; Carvalho, L.; Guimarães, S.; Moura, C.; Vaz, A.Although previously reported, the existence of a neurofibromatosis (NF)-associated diffuse lung disease (DLD) still lacks solid evidence. We report a case of a 68-year-old non-smoking female with NF1, pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) and an interstitial lung pattern. Initial findings included progressive dyspnea, hypoxemia and sparse centrilobular ground-glass micronodules on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Further study demonstrated a severe defect in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), macrophages on bronchoalveolar lavage and pre-capillary PH on right cardiac catheterization. Surgical biopsy revealed macrophage accumulation along bronchovascular bundles and alveolar spaces and type II pneumocytes hyperplasia. Given the absence of environmental exposure or new drugs, a NF-DLD was hypothesized. Pre-capillary PH was disproportionate to interstitial findings, so it was attributed to a NF1-vasculopathy. Treatment with triple sequential combined therapy was unsuccessful culminating in death 18 months later. This case adds HRCT and anatomopathological data suggesting NF-DLD as a distinct manifestation of the disease.
- Peritoneal rest may successfully recoverultrafiltration in patients who develop peritoneal hyperpermeability with time on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysisPublication . Rodrigues, A.; Cabrita, A.; Maia, P.; Guimarães, S.Temporary transfer to hemodialysis, as a peritoneal rest, may be a rescue therapy to recover ultrafiltration (UF) in patients who develop peritoneal hyperpermeability as a complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). However, peritoneal sclerosis has been reported after peritoneal pause. Since the beginning of our CAPD program in 1985, 12°elective peritoneal pauses have been performed in 11°patients who developed type°I ultrafiltration failure (D/P240 creatinine: 0.88°± 0.09) after 42°± 14°months on CAPD. Eight patients recovered UF and remained on CAPD with standard solutions for 10°± 9°months more (minimum: 5°months; maximum: 29°months). Only 3 of those patients were later switched to hemodialysis because of recurring UF failure. One patient remains on CAPD (62°months of follow-up). Four patients failed to respond and were permanently transferred to hemodialysis, without signs of developing encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis. The failed pauses were performed later after the detection of UF failure than were the successful ones (483°± 574°days vs. 54°± 52°days). In our study, 8 of 12 peritoneal pauses (66.6%) successfully treated type°I UF failure and prolonged CAPD retention. If a pause is initiated soon after diagnosis of UF failure, results may improve further. We urge prospective studies to better determine the best and timely therapeutic approach in patients with loss of ultrafiltration.