Performance of Massachusetts Male Aging Sudy (MMAS) and Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaires in the prediction of free testosterone in patients aged 40 years or older treated in outpatient regimen

Objetivo: Atualmente, a medição de Testosterona Livre calculada é considerado como sendo o padrão-ouro no diagnóstico do hipogonadismo em homens, porém, não está disponível para todos os indivíduos com suspeita de diminuição da função testicular. Portanto, avaliamos se o questionário Adrogen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) e o questionário Massachusetts Male Ageing Study (MMAS) poderiam ser utilizados como substitutos das determinações bioquímicas na identificação de hipogonadismo em homens com 40 anos ou mais. Métodos: Foram analisados 460 homens, com 40 anos ou mais de idade, participantes voluntários do programa de rastreamento de câncer de próstata do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Foi avaliada a capacidade dos questionários ADAM e MMAS de identificar homens com níveis baixos de Testosterona Total, Livre Calculara e Biodisponível. Resultados: A sensibilidade e especificidade do questionário ADAM, com relação à Testosterona Livre Calculada, foram de 73,6% e 31,9%, respectivamente. O uso de ADAM resultou em uma classificação adequada da nossa população em indivíduos normais ou hipogonádicos em 52,75% dos casos. Para o questionário MMAS, a sensibilidade foi calculada em 59,9% e a especificidade em 42,9%. Com o seu uso, a classificação dos pacientes foi realizada corretamente em 51,4% dos casos. Conclusão: Os questionários ADAM e MMAS têm uma sensibilidade adequada para identificar homens com baixos níveis de testosterona livre. No entanto, devido à sua falta de especificidade, estes testes não podem ser utilizados como um substitutos da dosagem de Testosterona Livre Calculada em homens com 40 anos ou mais em nosso meio.Objective: At present, calculated free testosterone assessment is considered as the gold standard in diagnosing male hypogonadism. However, this assessment is not available for all individuals diagnosed with decreased testicular function. The investigators of this study were, thus, prompted to evaluate whether the androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM) and the Massachusetts Male Ageing Study (MMAS) questionnaires could be used to replace biochemical parameters in the diagnosis for hypogonadism in men aged 40 years and above. Methods: We evaluated 460 men, aged 40 years and above, all volunteers of a screening program for prostate cancer based at the Hospital de Clínicas of Porto Alegre. In this study, we assessed the efficiency of the ADAM and MMAS questionnaires in diagnosing Brazilian men with low levels of total, calculated free, and bioavailable testosterone. Results: The sensitivity of the ADAM questionnaire in diagnosing the calculated free testosterone was 73.6%, whereas specificity was 31.9%. ADAM could be used to properly classify our cohort into normal or hypogonadal individuals in 52.75% of the cases. The sensitivity of the MMAS questionnaire was 59.9%, whereas the specificity was 42.9%, resulting in a successful classification of 51.4% of the patients. Conclusion: The ADAM and MMAS questionnaires showed adequate sensitivity in diagnosing male patients with low levels of free testosterone. However, because of the lack of specificity, these tools cannot replace calculated free testosterone assessments in men aged 40 years and above

Uso de anti-helmínticos durante a gestação : uma análise do possível efeito teratogênico

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Uso de anti-helmínticos durante a gestação : uma análise do possível efeito teratogênico

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Endothelin-1 plasma levels and hypertension in cyclosporine-treated renal transplant patients

Experimental models suggest that endothelin-1 (ET-1) has a significant role in the pathogenesis of cyclosporin A (CyA)-induced hypertension. However, its serum levels evaluated in different studies, including patients who received solid organ transplants, exhibited controversial results. Our study population consisted of 43 renal transplant patients: 33 were taking CyA as a component of their immunosuppressive regimen (CyA group) and 10 that were not taking CyA (control group). Baseline laboratory data, blood pressure and ET-1 levels were taken at baseline and 3 and 4 h after the ingestion of CyA. In the control group samples were collected in the corresponding periods of time. Blood pressure was significantly higher in the CyA group (mean blood pressure: 101.2 ± 9.5 vs. 91.1 ± 10.7 mmHg; p < 0.001), who also presented higher serum creatinine (1.2 ± 0.28 vs. 0.97 ± 0.13 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and ET-1 levels. In the CyA group an ET-1 peak was evident by the third hour after CyA ingestion that showed its maximum concentration after 1–2 h; the control group exhibited significantly lower levels of ET-1 (p = 0.044). ET-1 levels compared between patients with and without hypertension showed a non-statistically significant difference (1.54 ± 0.76 vs. 1.27 ± 0.62 ng/mL; p = 0.27, respectively). In conclusion, in the present study chronic CyA ingestion was associated with higher blood pressure and plasma ET-1 levels