Lipotoxicidade na leptospirose humana: aspectos prognósticos e potencial efeito benéfico da administração de albumina

Abstract

Human leptospirosis is an acute infectious disease with a broad clinical spectrum. It courses with metabolic and dyslipidemic alterations, involving total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs). The cellular mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis include the inhibition of the enzyme sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase and lipotoxicity. Both mechanisms are aggravated by the reduction of serum levels of albumin, a molecule that plays a fundamental role in the adsorption of lipid molecules. In this observational study, we determined the serum concentrations of bilirubin, creatinine and albumin, and, by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, the serum concentrations of long chain NEFAs (C16: C18) during the period of hospitalization of 27 patients with Weil's syndrome, five of whom progressed to death. Significant correlations were found between the length of hospitalization and serum concentrations of biochemical markers of severity (bilirubin, creatinine, albumin), NEFAs, oleic acid and linoleic acid, and the oleic acid: albumin molar ratio, with r (Pearson) of de -0,7981, -0,7699, 0,9014, -0,8795 -0,9816, -0,9694, -0,9821 respectively. The oleic acid :albumin molar ratio and oleic-plus-linoleic acid: albumin molar ratio were significantly higher in the patients who progressed to death, whereas in the cured patients this ratio decreased to levels that were similar to those found in the control group. Roc Curve analysis for the acid oleic: albumin molar ratio proved a good predictive test, with value of cutting 0.705 associated with greater specificity and prognostic sensitivity. Our results suggest that parenteral administration of human albumine may interfere positively in the rescue of biochemical balance of oleic acid: albumin molar ratio and oleic-plus-linoleic acid: albumin molar ratio and be a therapeutic tool for severe cases of leptospirosis.