Detección de mutaciones del gen EGFR en ADN circulante por medio de biopsia líquida en pacientes con cáncer pulmonar de células no pequeñas: Revisión rápida

El cáncer pulmonar es un problema de salud pública debido a su alta morbimortalidad mundial y en el Perú. En el cáncer pulmonar de células no pequeñas (CPCNP) la detección de mutaciones del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (EGFR) ha sido útil para elección de la terapéutica de esta enfermedad. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo discutir la información actual y relevante sobre la biopsia liquida como técnica diagnóstica en detección de mutaciones del gen EGFR en pacientes con cáncer pulmonar de células no pequeñas. Las principales guías de cáncer y dos revisiones sistemáticas muestran evidencia a favor de la biopsia líquida en busca de mutaciones del gen EGFR, esto como una alternativa a la biopsia de tejido al inicio de diagnóstico y con una mayor aceptación de uso en el escenario clínico de pacientes con CPCNP con mutaciones sensibles de EGFR. Esta tecnología sanitaria puede ser útil en nuestro país, y proponemos su uso en dos escenarios clínicos

Sphaerita spp.: Un caso de hiperparasitismo

Galería (sin resumen

"Risk factors for in-hospital complications in patients with acute ischemic stroke: Retrospective cohort in a national reference hospital in Peru"

Objective: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with acute cerebral infarction treated at a national reference hospital in Peru and determine the risk factors for inhospital complications. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 192 patients with acute ischemic stroke in a national reference hospital in Peru from January to September 2021. Clinical, demographic and paraclinical information was recorded from medical records. We estimated risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals using regression models with Poisson family and robust variance for the bivariate and multivariate model, adjusting for age, sex and risk factors for stroke. Results: At least one in-hospital complication occurred in 32.3% of the patients. The most frequent complications were infectious in 22.4%, followed by 17.7% of neurological complications, with other complications, such as thromboembolism, immobility and miscellaneous, being much less frequent. Regression analysis showed that stroke severity (RR = 1.76; 95%CI:1.09–2.86) and albumin greater than 3.5 mg/dL (RR = 0.53; 95%CI: 0.36–0.79) were independent risk factors for the presence of in-hospital complications. Conclusions: A high rate of in-hospital complications were observed, among which infectious and neurological complications were the most frequent. Stroke severity was a risk factor and albumin greater than 3.5 mg/dL was a protective factor for the incidence of in-hospital complications. These results can serve as a starting point for establishing stroke care systems that consider differentiated flows for the prevention of in-hospital complications

Acanthamoeba: Recordando un protozoo olvidado

Carta al editor (sin resumen

Stroke in patients with Covid-19: Experiencie in a national referral hospital in Peru

Introducción: Los eventos cerebro vasculares son una de las principales causas de mortalidad a nivel mundial y la actual pandemia por la COVID-19 ha producido un gran impacto en la atención de estos pacientes. El objetivo es describir las características de los pacientes con evento cerebro vascular en pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19 en un hospital peruano de referencia. El Estudio. Estudio retrospectivo, se incluyó a pacientes mayores de 18 años hospitalizados con el diagnostico de COVID-19 y evento cerebro vascular. Hallazgos. Se incluyeron 26 pacientes con ECV y COVID-19, la edad promedio fue 69.8 años y la mediana del tiempo de admisión fue 24 horas. La mortalidad fue elevada (42.3%) y estuvo asociada a la edad y al compromiso respiratorio por COVID-19. La mayoría de sobrevivientes obtuvieron un pobre resultado funcional. Conclusión. Es necesaria la mejora en los procesos de atención para así realizar un diagnóstico precoz y un tratamiento oportuno

Enteroparasitosis: Un problema vigente de salud pública en el norte del Perú

Carta (sin resumen

Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Threatened Abortion in Women from Northern Peru

Introduction. Toxoplasma gondii infection can cause important complications during pregnancy. Threatened abortion may be a late indicator for infection in settings with high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. We aimed to determine the association between T. gondii infection and threatened abortion in women from northern Peru. Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study in pregnant women from a hospital and a rural community in Lambayeque, Peru. Exposure variable was serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, defined as the demonstration of either IgM or IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Outcome variable was threatened abortion, defined as the diagnosis of bloody vaginal discharge or bleeding during the first half of pregnancy. Prevalence ratios were estimated in simple and multiple regression analyses. Results. Of 218 pregnant women, 35.8% presented positive serology for T. gondii and 14.7% had threatened abortion in their current pregnancy. Pregnant women with positive T. gondii infection had 2.45-fold higher frequency of threatened abortion (PR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.15-5.21). In addition, the frequency of threatened abortion decreased by 9% for each additional year of age (PR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.97). A previous history of threatened abortion also showed a higher frequency of threatened abortion (PR: 5.22, 95% CI: 2.45-11.12). Conclusions. T. gondii infection is associated with threatened abortion. An early age of pregnancy and a previous history of abortion are also associated with this condition

Características de los ensayos clínicos activos desarrollados en la Seguridad Social de Salud del Perú

Objetive: To describe the characteristics of active clinical trials (CTs) developed in the Social Health Security of Peru. Material and methods: Observational and descriptive study of active CTs between May 24 to July 8, 2021, registered in the Peruvian Registry of Clinical Trials during the period 2007-2020. The distribution of the different variable was analyzed, such as the number of CTs, phase, EsSalud networks, sponsor, funding sources, specialty, number of EsSalud research centers per CT, CIEI that approved CT by research center, and the calculation of relative and absolute frequencies. Results: 97 active CTs were identified, executed 144 times in 23 different research centers that belong to EsSalud. 94.9% of the active CTs were sponsored by pharmaceutical industries and 36% belong to the specialty of oncology. 80.42% are phase III and 70.8% were approved by an EsSalud CIEI. Conclusions: The active CTs in EsSalud are developed mostly in Lima, are financed by the pharmaceutical industry and are mostly approved in the CIEI of EsSalud.Objetivo: Describir las características de los ensayos clínicos activos (EC) desarrollados en la Seguridad Social de Salud del Perú. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional y descriptivo de los EC activos entre el 24 mayo al 8 julio del 2021, inscritos en el Registro Peruano de Ensayos Clínicos durante el periodo 2007-2020. Se analizó la distribución de las diferentes variables tales como N° de EC, fase, redes de EsSalud, regiones en el Perú, patrocinador, fuentes de financiamiento, especialidad, número de centros de investigación (CI) de EsSalud por EC, CIEI que aprobó los ECs por CI, y el cálculo de frecuencias relativas y absolutas. Resultados: Se identificaron 97 EC, ejecutados 144 veces en 23 diferentes CI pertenecientes a EsSalud. El 94,9% de los EC activos fue patrocinado por la industria farmacéutica y el 36% pertenecen a la especialidad de oncología. El 80,42% son de fase III y el 70,8% fue aprobado por un CIEI de EsSalud. Conclusiones: Los EC activos en EsSalud se desarrollan mayormente en Lima, son financiados por la industria farmacéutica y se aprobaron en su mayoría en los CIEIs de EsSalud

Effectiveness and safety of the bevacizumab and erlotinib combination versus erlotinib alone in EGFR mutant metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe EGFR gene encodes a protein that stimulates molecular pathways that allow the growth and development of the tumor microenvironment. The current preferred tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for the first-line treatment of EGFRm metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is osimertinib. However, the combination of angiogenesis inhibitors and TKI has produced discordant results. We aimed to assess the effects of the bevacizumab and erlotinib combination in EGFRm metastatic NSCLC.MethodsUsing eligibility criteria focused on patients with EGFRm metastatic NSCLC treated with bevacizumab and erlotinib, we searched databases including clinical trial randomized studies and reviews published until April 15, 2023 in Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Embase. Eight clinical trials (1,052 patients) were selected from 1,343 articles for quantitative and qualitative assessment. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data were synthesized through random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsThe bevacizumab and erlotinib combination significantly improved the progression-free survival (PFS) (log(HR) = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.54–0.73, p < 0.001) and overall response ratio (ORR) (RR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64–0.97, p = 0.03). However, it did not improve the overall survival (log(HR) = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.78–1.10, p = 0.38) and was associated with higher serious adverse events (SAEs) (OR = 3.48; 95% CI, 1.76–6.88, p = 0.005). A subgroup analysis suggested similar benefits in different mutation subtypes and brain metastasis condition. The evidence is limited by a moderate risk of bias across studies and heterogeneity in the reporting of SAEs.ConclusionsThe bevacizumab and erlotinib combination significantly improved PFS and ORR in EGFRm metastatic NSCLC but were also associated with higher-grade (≥3) adverse events. These results suggest that while the combination therapy may enhance progression-free survival and overall response, it does not improve the overall survival and is associated with higher toxicity. Thus, the treatment should be personalized based on individual patient comorbidities. Further prospective trials are needed to validate these results.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#searchadvanced, identifier CDR 42022364692

Cardiotoxicidad asociado al uso de carmustina: Reporte de caso en farmacovigilancia

Background: Carmustine is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of myeloma, lymphomas and other cancers. Cardiotoxicity due to carmustine is a rare adverse reaction that must be identified early to prevent fatal outcomes. Report case: We present an unusual case of acute cardiac toxicity related to the intravenous administration of carmustine. After stopping the carmustine, patient received symptomatic treatment and, finally was fully recovered. The case was reported as adverse drug reaction and we performed a pharmacovigilance causality assessment between carmustine and cardiotoxicity, resulting in probable (final score = 7). Conclusions: This case might be considered as a signal in pharmacovigilance. Clinicians should be aware of the potential risk of cardiotoxicity in patients exposed to carmustine. It is recommended to implement active pharmacovigilance to chemotherapy.Introducción: La carmustina es un agente antineoplásico alquilante utilizado en el tratamiento de mielomas, linfomas y otros tipos de cáncer. La cardiotoxicidad por carmustina es una reacción adversa muy rara, por lo que debe ser identificada oportunamente para prevenir desenlaces fatales. Reporte de caso: Se presenta un caso inusual de una paciente con cardiotoxicidad aguda grave reversible posterior a la administración endovenosa de carmustina. Al suspender la exposición a este producto e iniciar tratamiento sintomatológico, la paciente se recupera satisfactoriamente sin nueva manifestación cardiaca. El caso fue notificado como reacción adversa medicamentosa y al evaluarse la causalidad entre la cardiotoxicidad y la carmustina, resultó probable (puntaje final =7). Conclusiones: El presente caso puede ser considerado una señal en farmacovigilancia, por lo que, los clínicos deben ser conscientes del riesgo potencial de cardiotoxicidad en pacientes expuestos a carmustina. Se recomienda realizar farmacovigilancia activa a los fármacos oncológicos