Currents issues in cardiorespiratory care of patients with post-polio syndrome

ABSTRACT Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. Most often, polio survivors experience a gradual new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection. The actual incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in individuals suffering from PPS is not known. However, there is a reason to suspect that individuals with PPS might be at increased risk. Method A search for papers was made in the databases Bireme, Scielo and Pubmed with the following keywords: post polio syndrome, cardiorespiratory and rehabilitation in English, French and Spanish languages. Although we targeted only seek current studies on the topic in question, only the relevant (double-blind, randomized-controlled and consensus articles) were considered. Results and Discussion Certain features of PPS such as generalized fatigue, generalized and specific muscle weakness, joint and/or muscle pain may result in physical inactivity deconditioning obesity and dyslipidemia. Respiratory difficulties are common and may result in hypoxemia. Conclusion Only when evaluated and treated promptly, somE patients can obtain the full benefits of the use of respiratory muscles aids as far as quality of life is concerned

Association between plasmatic oxidative stress and thrombosis in primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid antibodies induce a pro-inflammatory and hypercoagulable state that lead to increased risk of thrombosis. Whether oxidative damage contributes thrombosis risk is a matter of debate. We evaluated the association between oxidative stress and thrombosis in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (t-PAPS). Plasma total antioxidant capacity and the levels of malondialdehyde (TBARs), carbonyl protein, and 8-isoprostane in plasma were determined in a group of patients with t-PAPS and in individuals without a history of thrombosis (controls) using commercial ELISA assays. The levels of these plasma markers of oxidative stress were compared between t-PAPS and controls using Mann-Whitney test. A total of 70 patients with t-PAPS and 74 controls were included. Overall, measurements of all plasma oxidative stress markers were similar between t-PAPS patients and controls. In a subgroup analysis, patients with t-PAPS and arterial thrombosis had a higher antioxidant capacity as compared to controls. Thrombotic PAPS was not associated with increased levels of oxidative stress markers, in comparison with individuals without thrombosis. Even though it is not possible to rule out that a mild oxidative damage, not detected by plasma markers, occurs in t-PAPS, our results suggest that measuring plasma oxidative stress markers has limited clinical relevance in t-PAPS