Marta Tavares

Publications (5)13.07 Total impact

• Article: Phlegmonous Gastritis: A Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain.

  Filipa Flor-de-Lima, Daniel Gonçalves, Rita Marques, Cármen Silva, Joanne Lopes, Roberto Silva, Marta Tavares, Eunice Trindade, Fátima Carneiro, Jorge Amil-Dias
  Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 03/2013; · 2.18 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Jorge Amil

  Article: Celiac disease in first degree relatives of celiac children.

  Andreia Oliveira, Eunice Trindade, Marta Tavares, Rosa Lima, Mariana Terra, Jorge Amil Dias
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  ABSTRACT: CONTEXT - The first degree relatives of celiac patients represent a high risk group for the development of this disorder, so their screening may be crucial in the prevention of long-term complications. OBJECTIVE - In order to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in a group of first degree relatives of children with proven gluten intolerance, we conducted a prospective study that consisted in the screening of celiac disease, using a capillary immunoassay rapid test that allows a qualitative detection of IgA antibody to human recombinant tissue transglutaminase (IgA-TTG). METHODS - When the screening test was positive subjects were advised to proceed with further investigation. The screening test was performed in 268 first degree relatives (143 mothers, 89 fathers, 36 siblings) corresponding to 163 children with celiac disease. RESULTS - Screening test was positive in 12 relatives (4.5%), of which 1 refused to continue the investigation. In the remaining 11 relatives celiac disease was diagnosed in 7 cases (2.6%, 5 mothers, 2 fathers) who had a median age of 39 years (27-56 years), mild gastrointestinal symptoms, high titre of IgA-TTG and histology abnormalities confirming the diagnosis. All these patients are currently on a gluten-free diet. CONCLUSION - The prevalence of celiac disease among first degree relatives (2.6%) was 5 times higher than that in the general population. Although the recommendations for screening asymptomatic high risk groups, such as first degree relatives, are not unanimous the early diagnosis is crucial in preventing complications, including nutritional deficiency and cancer.
  Arquivos de gastroenterologia 09/2012; 49(3):204-7.
• Article: Omalizumab in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis and food allergy.

  Ruben Rocha, Artur Bonito Vitor, Eunice Trindade, Rosa Lima, Marta Tavares, Joanne Lopes, Jorge Amil Dias
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  ABSTRACT: Omalizumab is currently used in severe asthma and has been tried in other allergic disorders. The authors report two patients with multiple food allergies and eosinophilic esophagitis on a very restrictive diet who have been treated with omalizumab, in order to improve food intolerance--the major distressing factor in their lives. The patients significantly improved in the reported symptoms. However, no improvement was seen regarding esophageal endoscopy and histology. Given the poor histological and endoscopy response, eosinophilic esophagitis persistence is unlikely to be IgE dependent. Omalizumab may improve the quality of life of patients with severe food allergy by improving symptoms, but it does not appear to change endoscopic and histological features of eosinophilic esophagitis in a short follow-up.
  European Journal of Pediatrics 08/2011; 170(11):1471-4. · 1.88 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

  Article: Diagnosis of first case of Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis in Portugal by immunofluorescence and PCR.

  Marta Tavares, Jose M Correia da Costa, S Stirling Carpenter, L A Santos, Caldas Afonso, Alvaro Aguiar, Josue Pereira, Ana Isabel Cardoso, Frederick L Schuster, Shigeo Yagi, Rama Sriram, Govinda S Visvesvara
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  ABSTRACT: We report here the first Portuguese case of acute fatal granulomatous encephalitis attributed to Balamuthia mandrillaris, initially thought to be a brain tumor, which had a progressive and fatal outcome. Balamuthia mandrillaris is a free-living amoeba recognized as an uncommon agent of granulomatous encephalitis. Infections have been identified in immunocompromised hosts and in immunocompetent pediatric patients. Balamuthia infections are very rare, with only two reported cases in Europe. The case presented here occurred in a previously healthy boy who died 5 weeks after the onset of the symptoms. No evidence of immunological deficiency was noted, and testing for human immunodeficiency virus antibodies was negative. The symptoms were initially thought to be the result of a tumor, but histopathologic examination showed evidence of amoebic infection. Immunofluorescence staining of brain tissue identified B. mandrillaris as the infectious agent. The diagnosis was confirmed with PCR by detecting Balamuthia DNA in formalin-fixed brain tissue sections. Despite initiation of empirical antimicrobial therapy for balamuthiasis, the patient died 3 weeks after being admitted to the hospital. No source of infection was readily apparent.
  Journal of Clinical Microbiology 08/2006; 44(7):2660-3. · 4.15 Impact Factor
• Article: NOD2/CARD15 and TNFA, but not IL1B and IL1RN, are associated with Crohn's disease.

  António Carlos Ferreira, Susana Almeida, Marta Tavares, Paulo Canedo, Fábio Pereira, Gonçalo Regalo, Céu Figueiredo, Eunice Trindade, Raquel Seruca, Fátima Carneiro, Jorge Amil, José Carlos Machado, Fernando Tavarela-Veloso
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  ABSTRACT: NOD2/CARD15 was described as the first susceptibility gene to Crohn's disease (CD). Polymorphisms in the TNFA gene and in the IL1 gene cluster, which are associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response, may also play a role in the development of CD. The aim of this study was to determine the association of polymorphisms in the CARD15, TNFA, IL1B, and IL1RN genes with risk of development of CD and with the clinicopathological profile of CD patients. In a case-control study including 235 CD patients and 312 controls (929 controls for TNFA genotyping), the CARD15 (R702W, G908R, and 1007fs), TNFA (-308G/A and -857C/T), IL1B (-511C/T), and IL1RN (intron 2 variable number of tandem repeats) polymorphisms were genotyped. We observed a significant association between CD and the CARD15 polymorphisms, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.9 to 4.6] for carriers of 1 variant allele and an OR of 11.8 (95% CI, 3.5 to 40.4) for carriers of 2 variant alleles. Patients with CARD15 polymorphisms had more frequently ileal or ileocolonic disease location, stricturing phenotype, abdominal surgery, and no extraintestinal manifestations. The TNFA-308A/A genotype was associated with susceptibility to CD with an OR of 3.0 (95% CI, 1.2 to 7.2). TNFA-308A/A homozygotes showed a higher frequency of erythema nodosum and arthritis, colonic disease location, and absence of abdominal surgery. No associations were found with the TNFA-857, IL1B-511, and the IL1RN VNTR polymorphisms. These findings suggest that CARD15 and TNFA-308 genetic polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of CD displaying distinct clinicopathological profiles.
  Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 05/2005; 11(4):331-9. · 4.86 Impact Factor