Manifestações neuropsiquiátricas do hiperparatiroidismo primário no idoso: relato de casos e revisão da literatura

Osteoporosis and neuropsychiatric disorders occur more frequently in elderly than in young people. When they appear together there is a possibility of a common etiology. We report two cases of elderly women at the ages of 75 and 80y with established osteoporosis and neuropsychiatric manifestations (apathy, weakness, depression and loss of memory) caused by hypercalcemia (ionic calcium of 1.43mmol/L and 1.65mmol/L, respectively) due to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Other laboratory results showed normal levels of the intact fraction of parathormone (iPTH), i.e. 64 and 63pg/ml, respectively. They were submitted to parathyroidectomy and only one tumoral mass was removed from each woman. Pathologic examination showed parathyroid adenoma. Shortly after the surgery they got better of the neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms. Six months later the bone mineral density (BMD) of the second patient increased whereas the other one was unable to have her BMD evaluated due to thoracic deformities. The possibility of PHPT must be always considered, especially in patients with normal but not suppresible parathormone levels. The reason is that some parathyroid adenomas present an abnormal set point to calcium and no significantly increase in parathormone production. It should be emphasized that there is no satisfactory medical treatment for parathyroid adenoma except for surgical excision, which is effective in the majority of cases. We conclude that ionic calcium must be measured in all elderly patients who present neuropsychiatric disorders and/ or osteoporosis.A osteoporose e os distúrbios neuropsiquiátricos surgem com maior freqüência entre os pacientes idosos, quando comparados com as demais faixas etárias. Manifestações concomitantes destas síndromes podem apresentar causas comuns. Neste artigo, nós descrevemos os casos de duas mulheres com osteoporose estabelecida e idades de 75 e 80 anos, que desenvolveram sinais e sintomas neuropsiquiátricos (apatia, fraqueza, depressão e perda de memória) associados a hipercalcemia [cálcio iônico de 1,43mmol/L e 1,65mmol/L (1,14 - 1,30mmol/L), respectivamente]. Na investigação laboratorial foi observado que os níveis da fração intacta do paratormônio (PTHi) estavam dentro dos limites da normalidade (64 e 63pg/ml, respectivamente) ou não suprimidos. Após exploração cirúrgica cervical foram removidas, de cada paciente, massas tumorais únicas, cujo anátomo-patológico revelou adenoma de paratireóide. As duas pacientes apresentaram melhora dos sintomas e sinais neuropsiquiátricos após a cirurgia e a segunda paciente obteve ganho de massa óssea significativo, sem uso de qualquer droga anti-reabsortiva. A outra paciente não pode ser avaliada através da densitometria óssea, devido às deformidades na coluna torácica. A possibilidade de HPTP deve ser sempre considerada, principalmente em pacientes com níveis de paratormônio dentro da faixa de normalidade, ou não suprimidos apesar de cálcio ionizado elevado. Isso ocorre devido a alguns tumores de paratireóide apresentarem set point alterado em relação aos níveis de cálcio mas sem aumento significativo da produção de paratormônio. Outra correlação observada é que quanto menor forem os adenomas, maior a chance de serem hipersecretores e autônomos. Em conclusão, a aferição do cálcio iônico em pacientes idosos com osteoporose e ou sintomas e sinais neuropsiquiátricos deve ser feita de rotina com o objetivo de se excluir doenças que possam ser tratadas prontamente e com bons resultados.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL

Bone mineral density and body composition in postmenopausal women with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Introduction: the aim of the present study was to compare bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition (BC) measurements as well as identify risk factors for low BMD and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women with psoriasis (Ps) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 45 PsA women, 52 Ps women and 98 healthy female controls (HC). Clinical risk factors for low bone density and osteoporotic fracture were evaluated by a specific questionnaire. An X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine, total femur and total body was performed on all patients. Skin and joint outcomes were measured by specific tools (PASI, HAQ and DAS28). Morphometric vertebral fractures were evaluated by lumbar and thoracic spine X-ray, according to Genant's method.Results: There were no significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), total lean mass and bone mineral density among the groups. However, the PsA group had a significantly higher body fat percentage (BF%) than the Ps and HC groups. Osteoporotic fractures were more frequently observed in PsA and Ps groups than in the HC group (P = 0.01). Recurrent falls and a longer duration of disease increased the risk of fracture (odds ratio (OR) = 18.3 and 1.08, respectively) in the PsA group (P = 0.02). Disability was the main factor related to osteoporotic fracture in the Ps group (odds ratio (OR) = 11.1) (P = 0.02).Conclusions: Ps and PsA patients did not present lower BMD. However, they had a higher prevalence of osteoporotic fractures and higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Patients with a longer duration of disease, disability and recurrent falls need preventive measures.Rheumatology Division at UNIFESP/EPMUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP Paulista Sch Med, Div Rheumatol, EPM, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP Paulista Sch Med, Div Rheumatol, EPM, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Endoscopic, ultrasonographic, and US-Doppler parameters as indicators of variceal bleeding in patients with schistosomiasis

Bleeding from esophagogastric varices is a potentially deadly complication in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. the aim of this study is to establish indicators of variceal bleeding. We studied 40 patients with compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and varices, analyzing four endoscopic (variceal size, red color signs, fundic var-ices, and congestive gastropathy), nine ultrasonographic (right and left hepatic lobe size, periportal and gallbladder wall thickness, portal and splenic veins diameter, spleen longitudinal axis and volume, and presence of collateral circulation), and five US-Doppler parameters (portal and splenic veins velocity and flaw and portal vein congestion index). Patients were divided in two groups according to previous history of variceal bleeding. the group with bleeding episodes was again divided in two groups: with and without treatment, namely endoscopic sclerotherapy. All endoscopic parameters and two ultrasonographic (periportal thickness and portal vein diameter) were statistically different between the groups with and without previous bleeding. the likelihood index, adopted to determine the best parameters related to previous bleeding showed that the most important combinations are: gastropathy and red signs followed by portal vein diameter and variceal size. in conclusion, although aware of the limits of the statistical analysis due to the small number of patients, our results demonstrated that endoscopic and US parameters (isolated or combined) can identify patients with a high risk of variceal bleeding, allowing physicians to optimize prophylactic therapy.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Div Gastroenterol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Div Radiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Div Gastroenterol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM, Div Radiol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc