Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation and predisposition to hemostatic and atherosclerotic complications. This case-control study evaluated the microparticles (MPs) profile in patients with the PCOS and related these MPs to clinical and biochemical parameters. MPs derived from platelets (PMPs), leuckocytes (LMPs) and endothelial cells (EMPs) were evaluated, as well as MPs expressing tissue factor (TFMPs), by flow cytometry, comparing women with PCOS (n = 50) and a healthy control group (n = 50). PCOS women presented increased total MPs, PMPs, LMPs and EMPs levels when compared to control group (all p < 0.05). TFMPs was similar between the groups (p = 0.379). In conclusion, these MPs populations could be useful biomarkers for association with thrombosis and cardiovascular disease in PCOS women.
A sindrome dos ovarios policisticos (SOP) e a endocrinopatia mais comum entre mulheres, afetando entre 4 - 8% deste grupo em idade reprodutiva. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a associacao entre fatores metabolicos, hormonais e pro-inflamatorios com o desenvolvimento da SOP em 63 mulheres portadoras da sindrome comparadas com 63 mulheres higidas (grupo controle). Alem disso, foi comparada a frequencia do polimorfismo 4G/5G no gene do PAI- 1 entre 79 mulheres com SOP e 79 mulheres do grupo controle. O grupo de pacientes com SOP apresentou resistencia a insulina, niveis aumentados de testosterona e Proteina C Reativa (PCR) e pior perfil antropometrico e lipidico quando comparado ao grupo controle. Os niveis de PAI-1 correlacionaram-se positivamente: com a molecula vascular de adesao celular soluvel (sVCAM-1), com o produto de acumulacao lipidica (LAP), indice de massa corporal (IMC), circunferencia abdominal, glicemia, com o modelo da avaliacao da homeostase (HOMA-IR) e VLDL-C no grupo com SOP. Alem disso, encontrou-se uma diferenca significativa nas frequencias alelicas e genotipicas no polimorfismo 4G/5G no gene do PAI-1 quando comparados os dois grupos, sendo o alelo 4G mais frequente no grupo com SOP. O genotipo 4G/4G mostrou-se associado a niveis mais altos de PAI-1 neste grupo, o qual apresentou ainda uma correlacao negativa entre os niveis de vitamina D (25OHD) e sVCAM-1. Uma correlacao positiva entre a escala Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) e IMC, circunferencia abdominal e niveis de insulina foi ainda observada no grupo com SOP. Desta forma, medidas de sVCAM-1, 25OHD, PCR e a pesquisa do alelo 4G no gene do PAI-1 podem atuar como bons preditores do estado pro-inflamatorio e risco cardiovascular em mulheres com SOP. Os resultados tambem apontam para o possivel uso do LAP como uma ferramenta para avaliacao de risco cardiovascular. A escala F-G pode ser um melhor parâmetro que a testosterona para correlacionar hiperandrogenismo e obesidade/resistencia a insulina. Por fim, alteracoes em parâmetros metabolicos e hormonais evidenciam o estado pro-inflamatorio e pro-aterogenico em mulheres com SOP.
Rifampicin remains one of the first-line drugs used in tuberculosis therapy. This drug´s potential to induce the hepatic cytochrome P450 oxidative enzyme system increases the risk of drug-drug interactions. Thus, although the presence of comorbidities typically necessitates the use of multiple drugs, the co-administration of rifampicin and warfarin may lead to adverse drug events. We report a bleeding episode after termination of the co-administration of rifampicin and warfarin and detail the challenges related to international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring. A 59-year-old Brazilian woman chronically treated with warfarin for atrial fibrillation (therapeutic INR range: 2.0-3.0) was referred to a multidisciplinary anticoagulation clinic at a university hospital. She showed anticoagulation resistance at the beginning of rifampicin therapy, as demonstrated by repeated subtherapeutic INR values. Three months of sequential increases in the warfarin dosage were necessary to reach a therapeutic INR, and frequent visits to the anticoagulation clinic were needed to educate the patient about her pharmacotherapy and to perform the warfarin dosage adjustments. The warfarin dosage also had to be doubled at the beginning of rifampicin therapy. However, four weeks after rifampicin discontinuation, an excessively high INR was observed (7.22), with three-day macroscopic hematuria and the need for an immediate reduction in the warfarin dosage. A therapeutic and stable INR was eventually attained at 50% of the warfarin dosage used by the patient during tuberculosis therapy. The present case exemplifies the influence of rifampicin therapy on warfarin dosage requirements and the increased risk of bleeding after rifampicin discontinuation. Additionally, this case highlights the need for warfarin weekly monitoring after stopping rifampicin until the maintenance dose of warfarin has decreased to the amount administered before rifampicin use. In particular, patients with cardiovascular diseases and active tuberculosis represent a group with a substantial risk of drug-drug interactions. Learning how to predict and monitor drug-drug interactions may help reduce the incidence of clinically significant adverse drug events.