[Celiac disease in adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of celiac disease in adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Influence the new started treatment of celiac disease on glycemic control and body mass index (BMI) of the patients. Prevail the anti-transglutaminase antibody (atTG) positivity one year after commencement of the therapy.

METHODS

A retrospective assessment of celiac disease targeted screening in 465 adult T1DM patients at Diabetes Center, 1st Medical Department, University Hospital in Pilsen (80 % of all T1DM patients) from 1. 1. 2007 until 1. 7. 2011. Enterobiopsy was indicated in case of atTG-A (or atTG-G) positivity. In patients with newly started gluten-free diet, HbA1c and BMI within a year after diagnosis of celiac disease were compared to a year period six months after treatment commencement (3-4 visits), atTG was evaluated one year after treatment beginning. Paired T-test was used for statistical evaluation.

RESULTS

The prevalence of all forms of celiac disease in the studied group was 10.5 %. Celiac disease diagnosed in childhood was found in 1.1 % patients (5/465). Positivity of atTG was newly observed in 9.5 % (44/465) patients. Three patients with atTG > 300 kIU/l refused the enterobiopsy examination. Celiac disease is highly plausible. The influence of gluten-free diet on BMI and HbA1c could not be evaluated due to the lack of compliance. 22 patients had a potential form of celiac disease (negative histology). Positive enterobiopsy was found in 19 patients (4.1 %). Another 3 patients had to be excluded from the subgroup of 22 patients (newly indicated gluten-free diet) as the HbA1c values and BMI were affected by the primary diagnosis of T1DM. Subgroup characteristics: 9 women and 7 men, mean age 38 ± 12 years, diabetes duration 21 ± 13 years, celiac disease diagnosed 20.7 ± 13 years since first diagnosis of T1DM. No statistically significant change in HbA1c (67 ± 11.4 vs 69 ± 13.9 mmol/mol) was observed in the studied period, however and a significant change of BMI from 25.4 ± 4.2 to 25.9 ± 4.3 (p < 0.01) was found. The atTG positivity prevailed in 47 % (9/19) of patients after one year.

CONCLUSION

A total prevalence of the celiac disease in the group of adult T1DM patients was 10.5 %. No significant change in HbA1c occurred following treatment, a significant change of BMI was observed. The atTG positivity prevailed in 47 % of patients after one year.

[Methods of skin microcirculation assessment]

Microcirculation plays an important role in pathophysiology of a number of severe diseases. At present there exist many techniques that enable evaluation of microvascular perfusion. Some of them found their scientific and clinical use even in the Czech Republic. In last decade, articles referring about individual methods can be found even on the pages of Vnitřní lékařství journal. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview of methods that have been used for examination of the microcirculation to date. After a short review of the anatomy and physiology of the microcirculation, the article provides synopsis of the theoretical and practical use of individual methods including their advantages and disadvantages.

[Spondylodiscitis and epidural empyema as a complication of diabetic foot]

Spinal column infection (vertebral osteomyelitis, discitis, epidural empyema/ abscess) is a rare condition, albeit its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent pathogen. The routes of infection are predominantly hematogenous. Any delay in making correct diagnosis increases risk of adverse outcome of the patient. The authors present 3 case reports of patients with diabetic foot syndrome, who were diagnosed with spondylodicitis in the period of 2009- 2012, two patients had associated epidural empyema. Apart of a chronic neuropathic foot wound, the patients reported severe or deteriorated dorsal pain (2 in the lumbal region, one in thoracic spine), had no new neurologic lesion in the beginning, some had fever, but all had high laboratory parameters of inflammation that did not correlate with local finding on the foot. Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus cultured from the foot defect in all cases, in two patients from blood cultures and from epidural empyema. They were patients with recurrent local infectious complications of diabetic foot ulcers. Two patients had a concomitant diabetic nephropathy, classified into stages 3- 4/ 5 according to K/ DOQI. Glycemic control (Type 1, Type 2 and secondary DM) ranged from excellent to unsatisfactory (HbA1c 43- 100 mmol/ mol). Apart of patient history and clinical examination, the magnetic resonance imaging of the spine was essential for the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis, or epidural empyema. The treatment was founded on longterm (initially parenteral) antibiotic treatment, bed rest, then mobilization with orthosis. Neurosurgical procedure was necessary in the patients with epidural empyema. All patients were mobile following a varied time period of convalescence and rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

Dorsal pain and degenerative changes of the spinal column belong to common findings in our population. When searching for the origin of an infection in patients with elevated inflammatory parameters (inadequate finding for a diabetic ulcer), the history of dorsal pain suddenly becomes the fundamental clue for diagnosis of spondylodiscitis with or without epidural empyema.

[Unusual cause of foot defect in patient with diabetes mellitus]

Foot complications are one of the most serious and costly complications of diabetes mellitus. Amputation of a part of a lower extremity is usually preceded by a foot ulcer. There have been also other not so typical causes of foot defect. The paper describe a history of a male diabetic patient with an atypical course of the foot defect.

[The heart of a patient with type 1 diabetes]

The heart of a patient with type 1 diabetes might be affected by ischemic heart disease, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy as well as diabetic cardiomyopathy. These diseases might occur in isolation, although, more frequently, their effects are combined. Also, these co-morbidities have common risk factors. The aim of this review paper is to summarise the options currently available for the diagnostics, prevention and treatment of the listed heart diseases and, since the most frequent cause of death in the type 1 diabetes patients are cardiovascular diseases, to emphasise the fact that these patients should have cardiology assessment. To ensure clarity of the paper, each disease is discussed in a separate chapter.

[Glycated haemoglobin--is it its exclusive position in diabetology under threat?]

Hyperglycaemia is the common characteristic for diabetes patients. Prolonged hyperglycaemia due to absolute or relative lack of insulin is the cause of microangiopathy. Glucose reacts with both blood vessel wall proteins and plasmatic proteins and erythrocyte haemoglobin. This characteristic of glucose is used to monitor the level of diabetes compensation. The level of glycated haemoglobin reflects glycaemia for the last 2 to 3 months. It began to be used in diabetology in the 1980's. This outline paper deals with some of the pitfalls with which glycated haemoglobin has been recently associated. The first part is dedicated to factors influencing haemoglobin glycation. The second, methodological part focuses on factors influencing its assessment and interpretation. The third part concentrates on the options for the substitution ofglycated haemoglobin by other diabetes compensation markers.

[Are the antibodies against laminin-1 the signifikant marker of decreased fertility in women?]

OBJECTIVE

Study of antibodies against laminin-1 in IgG in patients with habitual abortion.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

METHODS

Commercial ELISA method for detection of IgG antibodies against laminin-1 in ovulatory cervical mucus, in sera in women with repeated spontaneous abortions, in sera in patients during spontaneous miscarriages.

RESULTS

Positive levels of antibodies against laminine-1 in IgG in sera were found in patients during spontaneous abortions, as to ovulatory mucus of infertile women in time out of pregnancy, we did not find any positivity, only in one serum sample in patient with three pregnancy losses in her history.

CONCLUSION

Antibodies against adhesive molecule as laminin-1 presents, can participate during diagnosis of repated spontaneous miscarriages in context of neuro-endocrinne-immune dysregulation, which is not seen during physiological pregnancy.

[Ovulatory mucus and its pH, arborization and spermagglutination antibodies in women with fertility disorders]

OBJECTIVE

We studied pH of ovulatory mucus, sperm penetration through capillary filled with ovulatory mucus in one hour and presence of local spermagglutinating antibodies.

METHODS

We measured pH, arborization and Kremer test in ovulatory mucus in 127 women with fertility disorder. Indirect mixed antiimunoglobulin reaction test (i-MAR-test for IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE) was used for detection of spermagglutinating antibodies.

RESULTS

pH 7.4-9.6 (physiological limit) was found in 94/127 women (74%), pH < 7.4 in 33 women (26%). 60% of 94 patients with physiological pH had Kremer's test above 2cm/hour (normal sperm penetration in ovulatory mucus), in 40% of them reduction of sperm penetration (< 2cm/hour, swelling, shaking, cytotoxicity) was seen. Sperm antibodies in ovulatory mucus in 24% patients with pH < 7.4 and 22% patients with physiological pH were studied. In 111 patients with regular menstrual cycle a classical arborization was found in 81%, in 14% was not proved. In 16 patients with irregular menstrual cycle classical arborization was observed in 11 of them. Local sperm antibodies were detected only in 13% of the total count of patients, it means in 17 patients. Their ovulatory mucus showed classical arborization. 30 healthy fertile women created the control group, only one secretion had pathological findings in all studied parameters owing to latent mycotic infection.

SUMMARY

Pathological pH of ovulatory mucus, hormonal dysbalance, and presence of local spermagglutinating antibodies evidently influence penetration of sperm cells through cervix uteri. Otherwise pathological microbial vaginal environment can start a cross reaction with the surface microbes and sperm epitopes. One sign of ovulation, arborization of cervical ovulatory mucus, is not connected directly with the presence of local sperm antibodies, but insufficient estrogen influence is a sign of the reduced immunosuppression in cervix area.