Bernardino Barceló Martín's research while affiliated with Hospital Universitari Son Espases and other places

Introduction: Recent publications relate the presence of hypoglycemia in venlafaxine (VLX) poisoning depending on the dose. Our aim was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients who presented hypoglycemia induced by VLF overdose. Patients and methods: Retrospective study carried out in the Balearic Islands (2020-2023). Inclusion criteria: serum concentrations of VLX + O-desmethyl-venlafaxine (O-VLX)>800 ng/mL. The characteristics of patients with and without hypoglycemia were compared. Results: Twenty-one patients were included, 8 (38.1%) with hypoglycemia. No differences were found in the doses referred to in both groups. Peak concentrations of VLX + O-VLX (ng/mL) were 9,783 [4,459-17,976] in patients with hypoglycemia and 1,413 [930-1,719] in patients without hypoglycemia (p<0.0001). The presence of hypoglycemia was associated with: lower age and level of consciousness; and higher frequency of suicide attempts, seizures, mydriasis, tachycardia and serotonin syndrome, invasive respiratory support, fluid therapy and ICU admission (p<0.05). Conclusions: The detection of hypoglycemia in a VLX overdose case is a readily available marker to suspect the severity of the patient. In any case, serum concentrations when available allow us to confirm intoxication.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, and toxicologic profiles of patients who used recreational ketamine and experienced acute poisoning. Material and methods: Retrospective observational study of patients attended by several emergency medical services in the Balearic Islands for analytically confirmed acute poisoning after using ketamine between January 2016 and December 2020. Urine samples were analyzed by immunoassay and combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Results: One hundred twenty-two patients were studied. The mean (SD) age was 26.7 (6.5) years. The majority were men (77.9%) and not residents of the Balearic Islands (74.6%). Poisoning cases occurred mainly in the summer and in the island of Ibiza (84.4%). Ketamine use was declared by the patient or clinically suspected in 40.2%. The most common clinical signs were tachycardia (43.4%), hypertension (28.7%), mydriasis (27.0%), altered consciousness (25.4%), agitation/aggressiveness (25.4%), and hypothermia (21.3%). Seven patients (5.73%) required admission to the intensive care unit. The drugs most often detected along with ketamine were cocaine, in 93.4%, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), in 78.7%. Multiple-drug use combining ketamine, cocaine, and MDMA, or on occasion additional substances, was detected in 98.4%. Conclusion: Detection of ketamine in urine samples from patients poisoned by recreational drugs is associated with a characteristic profile: young men who are not residents of the Balearic Islands, who attend electronic music concerts, and who have taken multiple drugs. A substantial percentage of such patients are unaware of drug intake.

Objectives: To detect the presence of unsuspected and/or undeclared cathinone and piperazine-type designer drugs in methamphetamine (METH) and amphetamine users treated in emergency departments, and to compare clinical and toxicologic profiles. Material and methods: Retrospective observational study of emergency department patients treated for confirmed acute intoxication by recreational drugs (METH and amphetamines) between March 2019 and December 2020. We ordered high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to detect cathinones (methylone, fluoromethcathinone, mexedrone, fluoromethamphetamine, mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone) and synthetic piperazines (meta-chlorophenylpiperazine and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine). Demographic, clinical, and toxicologic variables were analyzed with SPSS software (version 23). Results: Thirty-nine patients were included: 24 (61.5%) had used METH and 15 (38.5%) an amphetamine. Synthetic cathinones were detected in samples from 11 patients (28.2%), 10 (90.9%) in the METH group and 1 (9.1%) in the amphetamine group (P = .028). The METH users had taken mephedrone (8 patients) or methylone (2 patients); the amphetamine user had taken mephedrone. None of the patients had declared use of a cathinone; nor was use suspected. The mean (SD) number of substances involved was higher among users of cathinones (3.5 [1.13] vs 2.5 [1.40] in those who took no cathinones; P = .036). Among the cathinone users, 90.9% were men, 90.9% had used METH, and 45.5% had practiced chemsex. HIV positivity was significantly associated with cathinone use (in 45.5% vs 10.7% of those not using cathinones; P = .028). All 5 of the patients who had taken cathinones and also practiced chemsex were HIV positive. Significantly more patients who had taken cathinones presented with anxiety (72.7% vs 21.43%; P = .007). No differences in clinical management were found. Conclusion: Detection of METH in intoxicated patients should raise suspicion of probable use of a synthetic cathinone. Patients in whom new psychoactive substances are detected should be kept under observation, and clinical protocols should include referring them to addiction treatment centers.

Introduction and objectives: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people often has a genetic cause. Consequently, the results of "molecular autopsy" may have important implications for their relatives. Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of a molecular autopsy program using next-generation sequencing. Methods: We performed a prospective study of a cohort of consecutive patients who died from nonviolent SCD, aged ≤ 50 years, and who underwent molecular autopsy using large panels of next-generation sequencing, with subsequent clinical and genetic family screening. We analyzed demographic, clinical, toxicological, and genetic data. Results: We studied 123 consecutive cases of SCD in persons aged ≤ 50 years. The incidence of SCD was 5.8 cases/100 000 individuals/y, mean age was 36.15±12.7 years, and 95 were men (77%). The cause was cardiac in 53%, unexplained SCD in 24%, toxic in 10.6%, and infant SCD in 4%. Among cardiac causes, ischemic heart disease accounted for 38% of deaths, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy for 7%, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy for 5%, and idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy for 11%. Genetic analysis was performed in 62 cases (50.4%). Genetic variants were found in 42 cases (67.7%), with a mean of 3.4±4 genetic variants/patient, and the variant found was considered to be pathogenic or probably pathogenic in 30.6%. In unexplained SCD, 70% showed some genetic variant. Family screening diagnosed 21 carriers or affected individuals, 5 of whom were at risk, indicating an implantable cardiac defibrillator. Conclusions: Protocol-based and exhaustive study of SCD from cardiac causes in persons aged ≤ 50 years is feasible and necessary. In a high percentage of cases, the cause is genetic, indicating the existence of relatives at risk who could benefit from early diagnosis and treatment to avoid complications.

Background and Aims HEMO study showed that β2M level over time was predictive of all-cause mortality in haemodialysis patients (HD). Later studies suggested that protein-bound uremic toxins are associated with mortality in HD patients but with recent contrasting results. Aim of study was to analyse β2M and indoxyl sulfate (IS) as predictor factors of mortality. Method 5 years follow-up of 60 prevalent HD patients of our hospital. Demographic data was described. Baseline midweek pre-dialysis serum β2M was determined by nephelometry and total IS levels by high performance liquid chromatograph connected to a UV detector. We considered high serum β2M group as if was equal or higher than 27,5 mg/L. As to IS, patients were divided into quartiles (1q <9,7 mg/L, 2-3q ≥9.7-26.5mg/L, 4q>26.5 mg/L). Survival curves were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier analysis at 1,2,3 and 5 years in univariate analysis for albumin (≥38 g/L or lower), β2M, and total IS groups, and evaluated by the proportional hazards Cox´s model. P -values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results 60 prevalent patients with mean vintage of 46,8 months (range 3-299 months). Mean age was 60±20 years. Males were more prevalent (53,3% vs 46,6%). 35% had diabetes. 51,6% underwent conventional hemodialysis (HD), 48,3% post-dilution haemodiafiltration, with mean convective volume of 23,8±2,8L. Mean eKt/V was 1,67±0,4, mean nPCR was 1±0,27g/kg/day. Only 8,3% of patients had urine volume>500cc/24hours. Mean β2M level was 35,6±1,9mg/L (X±SE) and mean total IS level was 18,9±1,6mg/L. The overall mortality at 5 years was 57%. Albuminemia lower than 38g/L was associated with mortality at 2, 3, and 5-years in univariate analysis (Cox´s F test p=0.03, figure 1). We found no difference in survival rate between patients with high or low serum β2M levels at 3- or 5-years analysis (Cox´s F test p=0.27). At 2 years analysis, patients in the lower β2M group had better survival (Cox´s F test p=0.04, Figure 1). There was no statistically significant association between albumin, β2M, IS level and all-cause mortality on Cox regression multivariate analysis. We observe no statistically significant association between IS levels and all-cause mortality neither on univariate, nor on multivariate analysis. Conclusion β2M < 27,5 mg/l was associated with better survival at 2 years univariate analysis. IS had no statistically significant association with all-cause mortality in our cohort.