Browsing by Author "Teixeira, C"
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- One Year of Lamivudine Therapy for Portuguese Patients with Chronic Hepatitis BPublication . Areias, J; Calinas, F; Porto, A; Carvalho, A; Freitas, D; Macedo, G; Noronha, R; Cotter, J; Meliço-Silvestre, A; Peixe, R; Pratas, J; Barrote, D; Teixeira, R; Augusto, F; Carrilho, I; Campante, F; Velosa, J; Carvalho, L; Duarte, MA; Guerreiro, H; Pires, C; Silva, A; Cotrim, I; Guedes, F; Tomé, L; Marcelino, M; Gonçalves, C; Ferreira, E; Matos, L; Peixe, P; Esteves, J; Valente, T; Simões, C; Marinho, C; Jasmins, L; Vieira, MJ; Marinho, R; Matos, P; Estevens, J; Carrasquinho, J; Salcedo, G; Parada, P; Teixeira, COBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of lamivudine treatment on hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and/or hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion, on other virological and serological markers of response including hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and serum aminotransferases, and the safety of lamivudine treatment in hepatitis B patients. PATIENTS: This phase III open-label study evaluated the virological and biochemical response to lamivudine in 70 Portuguese patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. Patients were treated with lamivudine 100mg once daily for 12 months. METHODS: Antiviral activity was assessed by measuring alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels at all protocol visits, and hepatitis B serology and HBV DNA were performed at baseline and at month 12 visits. Evaluation of safety and tolerance was based on clinical adverse events and laboratory analyses. RESULTS: The primary endpoint was virological response at month 12, defined as loss of detectable HBeAg from serum with a reduction of HBV DNA to undetectable levels, and this was observed in 19/69 (27.5%) of patients. Almost half of the patients were HBV DNA negative by this time. Mean ALT values decreased steadily during treatment and by 12 months 61% of patients had values within the normal range. HBeAg seroconversion (HBeAg negative, HBeAb positive) was achieved in 27.9% of patients by 12 months, although all patients remained HBsAg positive. CONCLUSION: Lamivudine was well tolerated and the incidence of adverse events was similar to those reported in previous studies. Lamivudine treatment resulted in virological and biochemical improvements in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients, with HBeAg seroconversion in one-third of patients.
- Portuguese Consensus Document Statement in Diagnostic and Management of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic SyndromePublication . Azevedo, A; Faria, B; Teixeira, C; Carvalho, F; Neto, G; Santos, J; Santos, MC; Oliveira, N; Fidalgo, T; Calado, JAmong thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA), the hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway (aHUS) is one of the most challenging diseases a nephrologist can face. By the end of the XXth century, the complement’s role was unraveled with the discovery that mutations in the factor H coding gene were responsible for aHUS. But it was the acknowledgment that pharmacological C5-9 blockage provided a cure for aHUS that fostered the interest of the nephrology community in the genetics, pathophysiology and therapeutics of, not only of aHUS, but TMA in general. The molecular genetics of aHUS is technically demanding and, as such, in Portugal (alike many other European countries) a single laboratory emerged as a national reference center. The fact that all samples are evaluated in a single center provides a unique opportunity for data collection and a forum for discussion for all those interested in the field: immunologists, molecular geneticists, pathologists and nephrologists. The current consensus document emerged from such a discussion forum and was sponsored by the Portuguese Society of Nephrology. The goal is more to portray the Portuguese picture regarding the diagnostic approach and therapeutic options than to extensively review the state of the art of the subject. The accompanying documents that are published as supplementary data are in line with that goal. They range from the informed consent and clinical form to be sent together with the biological samples for genetic testing, to the appendix regarding the actual sampling and storing conditions. The document is also intended to set an example for future documents and independent discussion forums on other kidney diseases for which emerging diagnostic and/or therapeutic strategies are reaching clinical practice.
- Prophylactic Use of Liposomal Amphotericin B in Preventing Fungal Infections Early After Liver Transplantation: a Retrospective, Single-Center StudyPublication . Antunes, AM; Teixeira, C; Corvo, ML; Perdigoto, R; Barroso, E; Marcelino, PIn this study the authors evaluated the efficacy of prophylaxis with liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) in the incidence of fungal infections (FI) during the first 3 months after liver transplant (LT). The study was retrospective and accessed a 4-year period from 2008 to 2011. All patients who died in the first 48 hours after LT were excluded. Patients were divided by the risk groups for FI: Group 1, high-risk (at least 1 of the following conditions: urgent LT; serum creatinine >2 mg/dL; early acute kidney injury [AKI] after LT; retransplantation; surgical exploration early post-LT; transfused cellular blood components [>40 U]); and Group 2, low-risk patients. Group 1 patients were further separated into those who received antifungal prophylaxis with L-AmB and those who did not. Prophylaxis with L-AmB consisted of intravenous administration of L-AmB, 100 mg daily for 14 days. Four hundred ninety-two patients underwent LT; 31 died in the first 48 hours after LT. From the remaining 461 patients, 104 presented with high-risk factors for FI (Group 1); of these, 66 patients received antifungal prophylaxis and 38 did not. In this group 8 FI were observed, 5 in patients without antifungal prophylaxis (P = .011). Three more FI were identified in Group 2. By logistic regression analysis, the categorical variable high-risk group was independently related to the occurrence of invasive FI (P = .006). We conclude that prophylaxis with L-AmB after LT was effective in reducing the incidence of FI. No influence on mortality was detected.
- Reactividade Cutânea Inespecífica em Estudos PopulacionaisPublication . Morais-Almeida, M; Gaspar, A; Romeira, AM; Sampaio, G; Teixeira, C; Câmara, R; Marques, A; Lopes, D; Ieong, K; Andrade, I; Andrade, N; Santa-Marta, C; Pires, G; Romeira, J; Neuparth, N; Drummond Borges, F; Humberto, J; Rosado-Pinto, JOs testes cutâneos por prick constituem o método diagnóstico de eleição no estudo da sensibilização alergénica, sendo no entanto influenciados por diversos factores. Não se encontram disponíveis dados sobre a quantificação da reacti-vidade cutânea inespecífica em estudos populacionais pediátricos, incluindo amostras de raças diversas. Objectivo: Avaliar e correlacionar a reactividade cutânea à histamina em crianças de diferentes raças,bem como a possível influência de factores como o sexo e a atopia. Material e Métodos: Englobado no Estudo Português de Doenças Alérgicas na Criança (PAC Study), foram estudadas 1710 crianças em idade escolar (6 a 12 anos), 244 de raça Negra na República de Cabo Verde, 756 Caucasianas na Ilha da Madeira e 710 de raça Chinesa em Macau. A todas as crianças foram efectuados testes cutâneos por prick com aeroalergenos, utilizando como referência positiva um extracto de histamina a 10mg/ml (Merck Allergopharma). Foi efectuada análise comparativa do diâmetro médio da pápula induzida pela histamina.
- A Retrospective Analysis of the Real-Life Utilization of Ranibizumab in Patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration from PortugalPublication . Silva, R; Goncalves, C; Meireles, A; Teixeira, C; Rosa, P; Monteiro-Grillo, M; Canelas, J; Carneiro, A; Flores, RINTRODUCTION: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy has revolutionized the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration; however, it is important to monitor actual use of ranibizumab and related treatment outcomes in routine practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study to monitor the 2-year outcomes following ranibizumab treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration in Portugal. Patients treated between January 2009 and December 2009 were retrospectively evaluated. All decisions were made by the treating physician in accordance with their usual routine clinical practice. The primary assessment was mean change in visual acuity score using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study or Snellen equivalent. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients with wet age-related macular degeneration were analyzed (mean age 79.4 years; mean visual acuity score 54.2 letters). Mean change in visual acuity score from baseline was -1.6 letters (n = 82) at year one and -5.1 letters (n = 72) at year two. The mean number of ranibizumab injections was 3.8 (year one) and 1.6 (year two). On average, patients attended 8.6 and 5.0 visits and optical coherence tomography was used in 75.0% of patients in year one and in 56.3% of patients in year two, respectively. DISCUSSION: Despite a relatively high number of visits, including monitoring visits and use of optical coherence tomography - guided therapy, few injections were administered and visual acuity was not improved. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that as-needed treatment resulted in under-dosing in a real-life setting in Portugal. Such limitations may also be related to increasing numbers of patients, resulting in clinic saturation.