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Translational Stroke Research Jun 2024In intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with pathology-proven etiology, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate the association between cerebral... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
In intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with pathology-proven etiology, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate the association between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and arteriolosclerosis, and directly compared MRI and pathological changes of markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Studies enrolling primary ICH who had received an etiological diagnosis through biopsy or autopsy were searched using Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to June 8, 2022. We extracted pathological changes of CSVD for each patient whenever available. Patients were grouped into CAA + arteriolosclerosis, strict CAA, and strict arteriolosclerosis subgroups. Of 4155 studies identified, 28 studies with 456 ICH patients were included. The frequency of lobar ICH (p<0.001) and total microbleed number (p=0.015) differed among patients with CAA + arteriolosclerosis, strict CAA, and strict arteriolosclerosis. Concerning pathology, severe CAA was associated with arteriolosclerosis (OR 6.067, 95% CI 1.107-33.238, p=0.038), although this association was not statistically significant after adjusting for age and sex. Additionally, the total microbleed number (median 15 vs. 0, p=0.006) was higher in ICH patients with CAA evidence than those without CAA. The pathology of CSVD imaging markers was mostly investigated in CAA-ICH. There was inconsistency concerning CAA severity surrounding microbleeds. Small diffusion-weighted imaging lesions could be matched to acute microinfarct histopathologically. Studies that directly correlated MRI and pathology of lacunes, enlarged perivascular spaces, and atrophy were scarce. Arteriolosclerosis might be associated with severe CAA. The pathological changes of CSVD markers by ICH etiology are needed to be investigated further.
Topics: Humans; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy; Arteriolosclerosis
PubMed: 37280502
DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01154-4 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2022Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small round/oval lesions seen in MRI-specific sequences. They are divided in deep and lobar according to their location. Lobar CMBs...
BACKGROUND
Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small round/oval lesions seen in MRI-specific sequences. They are divided in deep and lobar according to their location. Lobar CMBs (L-CMBs) are commonly associated with amyloid angiopathy. Although CMBs have been considered clinically silent for a long time, a growing body of evidence has shown that they could play a crucial role in cognitive functioning.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review was to estimate the role of L-CMBs in cognitive performance.
METHODS
We selected, from the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases, clinical studies, published from January 2000 to January 2020 and focused on the association between L-CMBs and cognitive functions. The inclusion criteria were: 1) participants grouped according to presence or absence of CMBs, 2) extensive neuropsychological examination, 3) CMBs differentiation according to topographical distribution, and 4) MRI-based CMB definition (< 10 mm and low signal in T2*/SWI). The impact of L-CMBs was separately assessed for executive functions, visuospatial skills, language, and memory.
RESULTS
Among 963 potentially eligible studies, six fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Four studies reported a greater reduction in executive performances in participants with L-CMB and two studies showed a statistically significant association between visuospatial dysfunction and L-CMBs. No association was found between hippocampal memory or language abilities and L-CMBs.
CONCLUSION
Lobar CMBs are associated with a reduction of processing speed and visuospatial performances, thus suggesting the contribution of vascular amyloid deposition to this cognitive profile. This occurrence enables us to suspect an underlying Alzheimer's disease pathology even in absence of typical hippocampal memory impairment.
Topics: Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neuropsychological Tests
PubMed: 35180115
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-215323 -
JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging Jun 2020This study aimed to compare the diagnostic and prognostic performance of native T1 mapping (T1), extracellular volume (ECV) mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to compare the diagnostic and prognostic performance of native T1 mapping (T1), extracellular volume (ECV) mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging for evaluating cardiac amyloidosis (CA).
BACKGROUND
CA is a progressive infiltrative process in the extracellular space that is often underdiagnosed and holds a poor prognosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) offers novel techniques for detecting and quantifying the disease burden of CA.
METHODS
We searched PubMed for published studies using native T1, ECV, or LGE to diagnose and prognosticate CA. A total of 18 diagnostic (n = 2,015) and 13 prognostic studies (n = 1,483) were included for analysis. Pooled sensitivities, specificities, diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) of all diagnostic tests were assessed by bivariate analysis. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality for the 3 techniques were determined.
RESULTS
Bivariate comparison showed that ECV (DOR: 84.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.3 to 236.2) had a significantly higher DOR for CA than LGE (DOR: 20.1; 95% CI: 9.1 to 44.1; p = 0.03 vs. ECV). There was no significant difference between LGE and native T1 for sensitivity, specificity, and DOR. HR was significantly higher for ECV (HR: 4.27; 95% CI: 2.87 to 6.37) compared with LGE (HR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.90 to 3.56; p = 0.03 vs. ECV) and native T1 (HR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.24 to 3.37; p = 0.01 vs. ECV).
CONCLUSIONS
ECV demonstrates a higher diagnostic OR for assessing cardiac amyloid than LGE and a higher HR for adverse events compared with LGE and native T1. In addition, native T1 showed similar sensitivity and specificity as ECV and LGE without requiring contrast material. Although limited by study heterogeneity, this meta-analysis suggests that ECV provides high diagnostic and prognostic utility for the assessment of cardiac amyloidosis.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Cardiomyopathies; Female; Gadolinium; Humans; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardium; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Stroke Volume; Ventricular Function, Left
PubMed: 32498919
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2020.03.010 -
Clinical and Experimental Medicine Feb 2015Conventional radiographic skeletal survey has been for many years the gold standard to detect the occurrence of osteolytic lesions in patients with multiple myeloma... (Review)
Review
Conventional radiographic skeletal survey has been for many years the gold standard to detect the occurrence of osteolytic lesions in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, the introduction of more sensitive imaging procedures has resulted in an updated anatomic and functional Durie and Salmon "plus" staging system and has remarkably changed the diagnostic and prognostic approach to this tumor. It is now established that (18)fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET) combined with low-dose computed tomography (CT), shortly designated PET/CT, exhibits a higher screening and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity over the skeleton X-ray. In patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and in those with smoldering MM, PET/CT is consistently unable to detect focal and/or diffuse marrow abnormalities. Conversely, based on a systematic review of 18 studies comprising almost 800 MM patients, PET/CT was able to detect MM osteolytic lesions with a sensitivity of approximately 80-90% and a specificity of 80-100%. Importantly, a poor degree of concordance has also been emphasized between PET/CT and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in that when both techniques were applied to the same patients, double-positive results were recorded in approximately 30% of the cases, but in the majority of them, a higher number of lesions were revealed with PET/CT than with MRI. Double-negative results, on the other hand, were found in about 22% of the patients. Because PET/CT is able to identify tumor foci throughout the body, it can be usefully applied to the study of solitary bone plasmacytoma and extra-medullary plasmacytoma: In both conditions, the detection of additional, previously overlooked sites of skeletal involvement would falsify the diagnosis of single-district disease, upstage the tumor, and therefore require a different therapeutic approach. In addition, although PET/CT is poorly sensitive to diffuse bone marrow infiltration, it can anticipate a site of impending fracture throughout the body and can discriminate old from new pathologic fractures. MRI should, however, be preferred when vertebral bodies are suspected to be involved and the risk of vertebral fracture is to be assessed. PET/CT is a sensitive and reliable procedure to evaluate the response to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, which is shown by a remarkable reduction and sometimes total disappearance of FDG accumulation in the involved bony structures, although these structures remain morphologically abnormal. Conversely, an increased focal uptake of FDG in apparent remission patients often precedes clinically overt relapse. PET/CT should be preferred to other imaging techniques to assess the remission status after autologous stem cell transplantation. In patients with primary and remission-induced non-secretory MM, the use of PET/CT may help to early detect single or multiple districts of focal non-secretory relapse. Osteonecrosis of the jaw, its location, and extent in MM patients receiving bis-phosphonates are better defined by both PET/CT and contrast-enhanced MRI compared with dental panoramic views derived from cone beam CT imaging. Little is known as to the possible role of PET/CT in the assessment of disease extension, tumor load, and response to therapy in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). In a study conducted on 35 WM patients, comparative PET/CT before and after therapy was able to detect positive findings in 83% of the patients, in contrast with the previous results achieved with conventional imaging that reported visceral involvement in much lower percentages. Similarly scanty are the data on the use of PET/CT in localized and systemic amyloidosis, given the small number of patients studied so far. A retrospective study has shown that, at variance from (123)Iodine-serum amyloid P component ((123)I-SAP) scintigraphy, which was found to be positive in about one-third of the patients with localized amyloidosis, an increased FDG uptake was detected at the amyloid site in virtually all of them. On the contrary, none of the patients with systemic amyloidosis showed an increased FDG uptake in sites of known deposition, whereas (123)I-SAP scintigraphy tested positive in the large majority of them. In another study, however, no such remarkable difference of positive PET/CT scans between localized and systemic amyloidosis was reported. Finally, false-positive and false-negative PET/CT findings can occur in different conditions that should be kept in mind to avoid wrong or omitted diagnoses.
Topics: Bone Marrow; Bone Neoplasms; Bone and Bones; Diagnostic Errors; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance; Multiple Myeloma; Plasmacytoma; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prognosis; Radiopharmaceuticals; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 25218739
DOI: 10.1007/s10238-014-0308-3 -
CNS & Neurological Disorders Drug... 2021Vascular Dementia (VaD) occurs due to cerebrovascular insufficiency, which leads to decreased blood circulation to the brain, thereby resulting in mental disabilities....
Vascular Dementia (VaD) occurs due to cerebrovascular insufficiency, which leads to decreased blood circulation to the brain, thereby resulting in mental disabilities. The main causes of Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) are severe hypoperfusion, stroke, hypertension, large vessel disease (cortical), small Vessel Disease (subcortical VaD), strategic infarct, hemorrhage (microbleed), Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA), which leads to decreased cerebrovascular perfusion. Many metabolic disorders such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia are also related to VaD. The rodent experimental models provide a better prospective for the investigation of the molecular mechanism of new drugs. A plethora of experimental models are available that mimic the pathological conditions and lead to VaD. This review article updates the current knowledge on the basis of VaD, risk factors, pathophysiology, mechanism, advantages, limitations, and the modification of various available rodent experimental models.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Brain; CADASIL; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy; Cognitive Dysfunction; Dementia, Vascular; Disease Models, Animal; Hypertension; Risk Factors; Rodentia; Stroke
PubMed: 33423653
DOI: 10.2174/1871527319666210108123438 -
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience :... Aug 2021We measured the proportion of Lewy body pathology (LB), hippocampal sclerosis (HS), and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) among community-dwelling people with and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
We measured the proportion of Lewy body pathology (LB), hippocampal sclerosis (HS), and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) among community-dwelling people with and without dementia.
METHODS
We searched for community-based cohorts with postmortem brain autopsy until 1 January 2020. We calculated the summary risk difference and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) using a random-effects model in R.
RESULTS
We found 12 articles, comprising 2197 demented and 2104 non-demented participants. LB, HS, CAA were prevalent lesions among community-dwelling elderly (15%, 10%, and 24%, respectively). These significantly increased the risk of dementia (LB: risk difference 38%, 95% CI 20-56%, HS: 34%, 24-44%, CAA: 19%, 3-34%). 20% of cases with neocortical LB, 17% with bilateral HS, and 42% with moderate/severe CAA pathology remained non-demented by death.
DISCUSSION
LB or HS or CAA are common neuropathologies among community-dwelling elderly. Although these lesions independently are associated with dementia, many remain non-demented, by death.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy; Dementia; Female; Hippocampus; Humans; Independent Living; Lewy Bodies; Male; Prevalence; Sclerosis
PubMed: 34275535
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2021.05.044 -
Journal de Mycologie Medicale Dec 2019Secondary amyloidosis results from the deposition of abnormally folded proteins in body organs due to chronic inflammatory disorders. Kidneys are the most commonly...
Secondary amyloidosis results from the deposition of abnormally folded proteins in body organs due to chronic inflammatory disorders. Kidneys are the most commonly affected organ and manifest as nephrotic syndrome with or without renal failure. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a chronic infection of lung parenchyma affecting those with an underlying structural lung disease. Herein, we present a case of CPA where the initial manifestation was that of nephrotic syndrome due to renal amyloidosis. We also perform a systematic review for studies describing secondary amyloidosis due to CPA.
Topics: Adult; Amyloidosis; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Kidney; Nephrotic Syndrome; Pulmonary Aspergillosis
PubMed: 31570305
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2019.100898 -
Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular... Sep 2015Cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammatory process (CAA-I) is a rare potentially treatable encephalopathy, characterized by an inflammatory response to... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammatory process (CAA-I) is a rare potentially treatable encephalopathy, characterized by an inflammatory response to vascular deposits of β-amyloid. We aimed to describe 3 clinical cases and perform a systematic review of all neuropathologically proved CAA-I case reports to describe its clinical and pathologic features and outcome under different treatments.
METHODS
We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library and screened references of included studies and review articles for additional citations. Outcome was classified at the last available follow-up by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).
RESULTS
A total of 67 publications, reporting on 155 patients, were included. Mean age was 66.9 years, and 53.5% were men. The most common clinical presentation was cognitive dysfunction (48.0%) followed by headaches (38.7%), seizures (36.7%), and pyramidal signs (20.0%). Perivascular and vasculitic inflammation with granuloma was the most common pathologic pattern (27.5%). Eighty-six percent were treated with corticosteroids and 33.9% with cyclophosphamide. Forty-two percent regained independence (mRS score 0-2), whereas 20.5% were left with a severe handicap (mRS score 3-5) and 37.5% died. There were no statistically significant differences in outcome between patients treated with therapy with corticosteroids alone comparing with those treated with combination corticosteroids with cytostatic agents.
CONCLUSIONS
The most common clinical manifestation of CAA-I was cognitive dysfunction. The functional outcome was unfavorable in the majority of the patients, with death or severe disability in almost two third of the cases, despite treatment. No differences in outcome could be detected between patients treated with corticosteroids versus patients treated with cytostatics, combined with corticosteroids.
Topics: Aged; Animals; Brain; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy; Databases, Bibliographic; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Inflammation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 26163888
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2015.04.015 -
Rheumatology International Jul 2024We aimed to review the literature on the clinical presentation, renal pathology, treatment, and outcome of renal manifestations in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to review the literature on the clinical presentation, renal pathology, treatment, and outcome of renal manifestations in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).
METHODS
We used PRISMA guidelines for our systematic review and included all English-language original articles from inception till September 15, 2023, on AOSD and kidney involvement in any form. Data on patient demographics, diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation, renal pathology, treatment employed including dialysis, outcome, cause of death were collected and analyzed.
RESULTS
The median age at the diagnosis of renal issues was 37, with a higher prevalence among females (58.1%). Among the cases, 28 experienced renal problems after being diagnosed with AOSD, 12 had simultaneous diagnoses of renal issues and AOSD, and in 4 cases, renal problems appeared before AOSD diagnosis. Out of the 44 cases, 36 underwent renal biopsy, revealing various pathology findings including AA amyloidosis (25%), collapsing glomerulopathy (11.4%), thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) (11.4%), IgA nephropathy (9.1%), minimal change disease (6.8%), and others. Some cases were clinically diagnosed with TMA, proximal tubular dysfunction, or macrophage activation syndrome-related acute kidney injury. Treatment approaches varied, but glucocorticoids were commonly used. Renal involvement was associated with increased mortality and morbidity, with 6 out of 44 patients passing away, 4 progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and data on 2 cases' outcomes not available.
CONCLUSION
Renal manifestations in AOSD are diverse but rarely studied owing to the rarity of the disease. Studies with larger data would be essential to study further on the pathogenesis and implications.
Topics: Humans; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset; Kidney Diseases; Adult; Nephrosis, Lipoid; Kidney; Thrombotic Microangiopathies; Female; Amyloidosis; Glomerulonephritis, IGA; Glucocorticoids
PubMed: 38625385
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05578-5 -
Autoimmunity Reviews Feb 2020To evaluate the prevalence, clinical presentation, serological and morphological features of, and therapeutic options for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) in primary...
Clinical, morphological features and prognostic factors associated with interstitial lung disease in primary Sjӧgren's syndrome: A systematic review from the Italian Society of Rheumatology.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence, clinical presentation, serological and morphological features of, and therapeutic options for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) in primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS).
METHODS
Pubmed was searched between February 1996 and December 2018 using a combination of MESH terms related to pSS and ILD. Selected works were subjected to blind evaluation by two authors and a senior author in case of disagreement. The work followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018118669).
RESULTS
About 20% of pSS patients have ILD, with a 5-y survival of 84% and a need for supplemental oxygen in the 11-33% range. A significant proportion of ILD patients are seronegative without sicca syndrome. ILD seems to be associated with higher levels of Lactic Dehydrogenases and positivity for Anti-Ro52k. The prevalent pattern in High Resolution Computed Tomography is Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP), but all other patterns can be present. No difference in mortality was found between patients with NSIP and Usual Interstitial Pneumonia patterns. Amyloidosis and primary lung lymphoma can be observed in about 10% of pSS patients.
CONCLUSION
The recognition of pSS underlying an ILD can be challenging in seronegative patients with no or mild sicca symptoms. A complete diagnostic assessment, including minor salivary glands and, in some cases, lung biopsy, should be performed on all patients at risk. A better recognition of the clinical or serological markers of ILD progression in these patients is warranted to drive the physicians to an early diagnosis and an effective treatment.
Topics: Humans; Italy; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Prognosis; Rheumatology; Sjogren's Syndrome; Societies, Medical
PubMed: 31843713
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.102447