Validation of the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score in systemic lupus erythematosus patients in Argentina.

Introduction: Assessment of risk both for pregnancy morbidity and thrombosis in the presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) is still a challenge in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients. The Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score (GAPSS) takes into account the aPL profile (criteria and non-criteria aPL), the conventional cardiovascular risk factors and the autoimmune antibody profile. An adjusted model of the score (aGAPSS) excluding anti-phosphatidylserine/Prothrombin (aPS/PT), suggests that the score is able to stratify patients for their rate of events making it widely applicable in daily clinical practice.

Axial involvement according to ASAS criteria in an observational psoriatic arthritis cohort.

The definition of axial involvement in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is still under debate. Currently, the axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) criteria defined by Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) may be the most adequate.(1) The aims of present study were to assess axial involvement according to ASAS criteria in an observational PsA cohort and define the clinical characteristics more associated with this kind of involvement.

[Gazeous necrosis of the liver due to hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation].

An emergency liver transplantation was performed in a 22 year-old female for fulminant hepatitis. The donor had had splenectomy with portal vein thrombosis which was diagnosed and removed during portoscopy. Nineteen days later, abdominal pain with shock and hepatic failure occurred.

Antibiotic levels in bronchial tree and in serum during selective digestive decontamination.

Selective digestive decontamination has been found to prevent pulmonary infections in mechanically ventilated patients. The aims of this study were: 1) to determine whether detectable levels of antibiotics could be found in bronchial tree secretions of patients receiving SDD, and 2) to evaluate antibiotic serum levels. In 15 patients receiving mechanical ventilation and SDD for 10 days or more, tobramycin and amphotericin B levels were determined every 3 days in the following specimens: tracheal aspirates, distal bronchial secretions and blood samples.