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Frontiers in Neurology 2020Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) are autoimmune inflammatory disorders of the... (Review)
Review
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) are autoimmune inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Pain is highly prevalent and debilitating in NMOSD and MOGAD with a severe impact on quality of life, and there is a critical need for further studies to successfully treat and manage pain in these rare disorders. In NMOSD, pain has a prevalence of over 80%, and pain syndromes include neuropathic, nociceptive, and mixed pain, which can emerge in acute relapse or become chronic during the disease course. The impact of pain in MOGAD has only recently received increased attention, with an estimated prevalence of over 70%. These patients typically experience not only severe headache, retrobulbar pain, and/or pain on eye movement in optic neuritis but also neuropathic and nociceptive pain. Given the high relevance of pain in MOGAD and NMOSD, this article provides a systematic review of the current literature pertaining to pain in both disorders, focusing on the etiology of their respective pain syndromes and their pathophysiological background. Acknowledging the challenge and complexity of diagnosing pain, we also provide a mechanism-based classification of NMOSD- and MOGAD-related pain syndromes and summarize current treatment strategies.
PubMed: 33473247
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00778 -
International Ophthalmology Feb 2022To provide an overview of the ocular features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and of the ophthalmic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that may be associated with the... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To provide an overview of the ocular features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and of the ophthalmic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that may be associated with the administration of antirheumatic drugs.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases. In addition, a cohort of 489 RA patients who attended the Authors' departments were examined.
RESULTS
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, episcleritis, scleritis, peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK), and anterior uveitis were diagnosed in 29%, 6%, 5%, 2%, and 10%, respectively, of the mentioned cohort. Ocular ADRs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are rarely reported and include subconjunctival hemorrhages and hemorrhagic retinopathy. In patients taking indomethacin, whorl-like corneal deposits and pigmentary retinopathy have been observed. Glucocorticoids are frequently responsible for posterior subcapsular cataracts and open-angle glaucoma. Methotrexate, the prototype of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), has been associated with the onset of ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal cotton-wool spots, and orbital non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Mild cystoid macular edema and punctate keratitis in patients treated with leflunomide have been occasionally reported. The most frequently occurring ADR of hydroxychloroquine is vortex keratopathy, which may progress to "bull's eye" maculopathy. Patients taking tofacitinib, a synthetic DMARD, more frequently suffer herpes zoster virus (HZV) reactivation, including ophthalmic HZ. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have been associated with the paradoxical onset or recurrence of uveitis or sarcoidosis, as well as optic neuritis, demyelinating optic neuropathy, chiasmopathy, and oculomotor palsy. Recurrent episodes of PUK, multiple cotton-wool spots, and retinal hemorrhages have occasionally been reported in patients given tocilizumab, that may also be associated with HZV reactivation, possibly involving the eye. Finally, rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has rarely been associated with necrotizing scleritis, macular edema, and visual impairment.
CONCLUSION
The level of evidence for most of the drug reactions described herein is restricted to the "likely" or "possible" rather than to the "certain" category. However, the lack of biomarkers indicative of the potential risk of ocular ADRs hinders their prevention and emphasizes the need for an accurate risk vs. benefit assessment of these therapies for each patient.
Topics: Antirheumatic Agents; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Rituximab
PubMed: 34802085
DOI: 10.1007/s10792-021-02058-8 -
The Lancet. Neurology Oct 2017Structural retinal imaging biomarkers are important for early recognition and monitoring of inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. With the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Structural retinal imaging biomarkers are important for early recognition and monitoring of inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. With the introduction of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), supervised automated segmentation of individual retinal layers is possible. We aimed to investigate which retinal layers show atrophy associated with neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis when measured with SD-OCT.
METHODS
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched for studies in which SD-OCT was used to look at the retina in people with multiple sclerosis with or without optic neuritis in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between Nov 22, 1991, and April 19, 2016. Data were taken from cross-sectional cohorts and from one timepoint from longitudinal studies (at least 3 months after onset in studies of optic neuritis). We classified data on eyes into healthy controls, multiple-sclerosis-associated optic neuritis (MSON), and multiple sclerosis without optic neuritis (MSNON). We assessed thickness of the retinal layers and we rated individual layer segmentation performance by random effects meta-analysis for MSON eyes versus control eyes, MSNON eyes versus control eyes, and MSNON eyes versus MSON eyes. We excluded relevant sources of bias by funnel plots.
FINDINGS
Of 25 497 records identified, 110 articles were eligible and 40 reported data (in total 5776 eyes from patients with multiple sclerosis [1667 MSON eyes and 4109 MSNON eyes] and 1697 eyes from healthy controls) that met published OCT quality control criteria and were suitable for meta-analysis. Compared with control eyes, the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) showed thinning in MSON eyes (mean difference -20·10 μm, 95% CI -22·76 to -17·44; p<0·0001) and in MSNON eyes (-7·41 μm, -8·98 to -5·83; p<0·0001). The macula showed RNFL thinning of -6·18 μm (-8·07 to -4·28; p<0·0001) in MSON eyes and -2·15 μm (-3·15 to -1·15; p<0·0001) in MSNON eyes compared with control eyes. Atrophy of the macular ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) was -16·42 μm (-19·23 to -13·60; p<0·0001) for MSON eyes and -6·31 μm (-7·75 to -4·87; p<0·0001) for MSNON eyes compared with control eyes. A small degree of inner nuclear layer (INL) thickening occurred in MSON eyes compared with control eyes (0·77 μm, 0·25 to 1·28; p=0·003). We found no statistical difference in the thickness of the combined outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer when we compared MSNON or MSON eyes with control eyes, but we found a small degree of thickening of the combined layer when we compared MSON eyes with MSNON eyes (1·21 μm, 0·24 to 2·19; p=0·01).
INTERPRETATION
The largest and most robust differences between the eyes of people with multiple sclerosis and control eyes were found in the peripapillary RNFL and macular GCIPL. Inflammatory disease activity might be captured by the INL. Because of the consistency, robustness, and large effect size, we recommend inclusion of the peripapillary RNFL and macular GCIPL for diagnosis, monitoring, and research.
FUNDING
None.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Optic Neuritis; Retina; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Young Adult
PubMed: 28920886
DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30278-8 -
Autoimmunity Reviews Mar 2022Corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for several common autoimmune neurological diseases. Other therapeutic approaches, including intravenous immunoglobulin... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for several common autoimmune neurological diseases. Other therapeutic approaches, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and plasmapheresis, have shown mixed results in patient improvement.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of IVIg administration with that of corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, and placebo in autoimmune neurological diseases like Guillain-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, optic neuritis, and multiple sclerosis.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed on the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane. Controlled, randomized studies comparing the efficacy of IVIg with placebo, plasmapheresis, and/or glucocorticoid administration were selected. Only studies reporting the number of patients who improved after treatment were included, irrespective of language or publication year. In total, 23 reports were included in the meta-analysis study.
RESULTS
Our meta-analysis showed a beneficial effect of IVIg administration on patient improvement over placebo (OR = 2.79, CI [95%] = 1.40-5.55, P = 0.01). Meanwhile, IVIg administration showed virtually identical effects to plasmapheresis (OR = 0.83, CI [95%] = 0.45-1.55, P < 0.01). Finally, no significant differences were found in the efficacy of IVIg and glucocorticoid administration (OR = 0.98, Cl [95%] = 0.58-1.68, P = 0.13).
CONCLUSION
IVIg can be regarded as a viable therapeutic approach, either as a first- or second-line therapy, and as an adjuvant therapy for autoimmune neurological diseases.
Topics: Guillain-Barre Syndrome; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Myasthenia Gravis; Plasma Exchange; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating
PubMed: 34920107
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.103019 -
The Journal of Rheumatology Jan 2021Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic diseases may present with ocular manifestations.The purpose of our work was to determine the prevalence and type of eye... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic diseases may present with ocular manifestations.The purpose of our work was to determine the prevalence and type of eye involvement in RA and other connective tissue diseases through a metaanalysis and literature review.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed using Medline, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from their inceptions until January 7, 2019. Conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, xeropthalmia, uveitis, eye hemorrhage, optic neuritis, papilledema, orbital disease, retinal artery/vein occlusion, macular edema, retinitis, chorioretinitis, scleritis, iridocyclitits, choroid hemorrhage, blindness, and amaurosis fugax were searched for prevalence in patients with RA, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome (SS), undifferentiated connective tissue disease, giant cell arteritis, granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA; formerly Wegener granulomatosis), systemic vasculitis, and sarcoidosis.
RESULTS
There were 3394 studies identified and 65 included. The prevalence of eye involvement was 18% in RA, 26% in GPA, 27% in giant cell arteritis, 27% in sarcoidosis, 31% in SLE, and 35% in APS. The most common manifestation was dry eye syndrome ("dry eye"; keratoconjunctivitis sicca) in most diseases analyzed, with an especially high frequency of 89% in SS. Anterior and posterior uveitis were the most common ocular complications in sarcoidosis, occurring in 16% (95% CI 3-28) and 6% (95% CI 3-9) of patients, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Eye involvement is present in approximately one-fifth of patients with RA, and a one-quarter to one-third of patients with connective tissue diseases (other than SS at 89%) and vasculitis.
Topics: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Connective Tissue Diseases; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Rheumatic Diseases
PubMed: 32358156
DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.190768 -
Chinese Journal of Traumatology =... 2015Heel pain is a very common foot disease. Varieties of names such as plantar fasciitis, jogger's heel, tennis heal, policeman's heel are used to describe it. Mechanical... (Review)
Review
Heel pain is a very common foot disease. Varieties of names such as plantar fasciitis, jogger's heel, tennis heal, policeman's heel are used to describe it. Mechanical factors are the most common etiology of heel pain. Common causes of hell pain includes: Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spur, Sever's Disease, Heel bump, Achilles Tendinopathy, Heel neuritis, Heel bursitis. The diagnosis is mostly based on clinical examination. Normally, the location of the pain and the absence of associated symptoms indicating a systemic disease strongly suggest the diagnosis. Several therapies exist including rest, physical therapy, stretching, and change in footwear, arch supports, orthotics, night splints, anti-inflammatory agents, and surgery. Almost all patients respond to conservative nonsurgical therapy. Surgery is the last treatment option if all other treatments had failed. Rest, ice, massage, the use of correct exercise and complying with a doctor's advice all play important part in helping to recover from this hell pain condition, but getting good quality, suitable shoes with the appropriate amount of support for the whole foot is the most important.
Topics: Foot Diseases; Heel; Humans; Pain Management; Physical Examination
PubMed: 26643244
DOI: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2015.03.002 -
The Journal of International Medical... Jul 2023The exact etiology of Parsonage-Turner syndrome is unknown, but it is known to be preceded by infection, vaccination, or surgical intervention. In this review, we... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The exact etiology of Parsonage-Turner syndrome is unknown, but it is known to be preceded by infection, vaccination, or surgical intervention. In this review, we describe associations of Parsonage-Turner syndrome with COVID-19 infection and vaccination.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Microsoft Excel was used for data extraction and statistical analysis. The quality of case reports and case series was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool.
RESULTS
We selected 44 case reports and 10 case series, including 68 patients (32 post-vaccination and 36 with post-COVID-19 infection Parsonage-Turner syndrome). Middle-aged males were predominantly affected in both groups. The most frequently administered vaccine was Comirnaty (Pfizer) (53%). The mean latency was 11.7 days in the post-vaccination group and 20.3 days in the post-infection group. The most affected nerves in both groups were the axillary, suprascapular, and musculocutaneous nerves; and 78.1% and 38.9% of patients showed partial amelioration of their symptoms in the post-vaccination and post-infection groups, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Post-vaccination Parsonage-Turner syndrome presents earlier than post-infection disease. Pain and sensorimotor deficits of the upper limb are common in both situations. Complete or partial recovery occurs in most cases.
Topics: Male; Middle Aged; Humans; Brachial Plexus Neuritis; COVID-19; Pain; Upper Extremity; Vaccination
PubMed: 37523491
DOI: 10.1177/03000605231187939 -
Journal of Neuroinflammation Mar 2023Recent literature on multiple sclerosis (MS) demonstrates the growing implementation of optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) to discover potential... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Recent literature on multiple sclerosis (MS) demonstrates the growing implementation of optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) to discover potential qualitative and quantitative changes in the retina and optic nerve. In this review, we analyze OCT-A studies in patients with MS and examine its utility as a surrogate or precursor to changes in central nervous system tissue.
METHODS
PubMed and EMBASE were systematically searched to identify articles that applied OCT-A to evaluate the retinal microvasculature measurements in patients with MS. Quantitative data synthesis was performed on all measurements which were evaluated in at least two unique studies with the same OCT-A devices, software, and study population compared to controls. A fixed-effects or random-effects model was applied for the meta-analysis based on the heterogeneity level.
RESULTS
The study selection process yielded the inclusion of 18 studies with a total of 1552 evaluated eyes in 673 MS-associated optic neuritis (MSON) eyes, 741 MS without optic neuritis (MSNON eyes), and 138 eyes without specification for the presence of optic neuritis (ON) in addition to 1107 healthy control (HC) eyes. Results indicated that MS cases had significantly decreased whole image superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel density when compared to healthy control subjects in the analyses conducted on Optovue and Topcon studies (both P < 0.0001). Likewise, the whole image vessel densities of deep capillary plexus (DCP) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) were significantly lower in MS cases compared to HC (all P < 0.05). Regarding optic disc area quadrants, MSON eyes had significantly decreased mean RPC vessel density compared to MSNON eyes in all quadrants except for the inferior (all P < 0.05). Results of the analysis of studies that used prototype Axsun machine revealed that MSON and MSNON eyes both had significantly lower ONH flow index compared to HC (both P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review and meta-analysis of the studies reporting OCT-A measurements of people with MS confirmed the tendency of MS eyes to exhibit reduced vessel density in the macular and optic disc areas, mainly in SCP, DCP, and RPC vessel densities.
Topics: Humans; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Multiple Sclerosis; Retina; Angiography; Retinal Vessels; Optic Neuritis; Fluorescein Angiography
PubMed: 36973708
DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02763-4 -
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology 2022Galvanic vestibular stimulation has been evaluated in the context of vestibular rehabilitation. The objective was to identify evidence in the scientific literature about... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Galvanic vestibular stimulation has been evaluated in the context of vestibular rehabilitation. The objective was to identify evidence in the scientific literature about the clinical applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation.
METHODS
In this systematic review, the articles describing the applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation were extracted from PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, LILACS and SciELO databases. The survey was limited to articles published in English, Portuguese and Spanish. All the articles about the clinical applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation were compiled. Repeated articles in the databases, literature review articles, case reports, letters and editorials were excluded. The descriptors included: galvanic vestibular stimulation, postural balance, central nervous system diseases, vestibular diseases, spinal cord diseases and cognition.
RESULTS
The search strategy resulted in the initial selection of 994 articles; the reading of titles and abstracts was accomplished in 470 articles and the complete reading in 23 articles. Clinical applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation included Ménière's disease, vestibular neuritis, bilateral vestibular disorders, vestibular schwannoma, Parkinson's disease, ischemic central lesions, motor myelopathies, anxiety disorders, cognition and memory.
CONCLUSION
Galvanic vestibular stimulation has been considered a potentially useful strategy for balance rehabilitation, since it has the effect of stimulating the central connections related to the postural balance, favoring new neuronal synapses that allow the partial or total recovery of postural imbalance.
Topics: Humans; Vestibule, Labyrinth; Electric Stimulation; Vestibular Diseases; Postural Balance; Meniere Disease
PubMed: 35915031
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2022.05.010 -
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Nov 2023Studies have demonstrated that people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience visual impairments and neurodegenerative retinal processes. The disability progression in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Studies have demonstrated that people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience visual impairments and neurodegenerative retinal processes. The disability progression in pwMS may be associated with retinal changes assessed with optical coherence tomography (OCT). This meta-analysis aims at synthesizing the correlations between OCT measurements of disability in pwMS.
METHODS
We systematically searched four databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) from inception to November 2022, then conducted a meta-analysis using a random effects model to determine the pooled correlation coefficient(r) between OCT measurements and disability scales by R version 4.2.3 with the meta version 6.2-1 package.
RESULTS
From 3129 studies, 100 studies were included. Among 9051 pwMS, the female-to-male ratio was 3.15:1, with a mean age of 39.57 ± 6.07 years. The mean disease duration and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were 8.5 ± 3.7 and 2.7 ± 1.1, respectively. Among the pooled subgroup analyses, macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) in patients with relapsing-remitting (pwRRMS) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) in patients with progressive MS (pwPMS) had strong correlations with EDSS, r = -0.33 (95% CI: -0.45 to -0.20, I = 45%, z-score = -4.86, p < 0.001) and r = -0.20 (95% CI:-0.58 to 0.26, I = 76%, z-score = -0.85, p = 0.395), respectively. According to subgroup analysis on pwMS without optic neuritis (ON) history, the largest correlation was seen between EDSS and macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC): r = -0.39 (95% CI: -0.70 to 0.04, I = 79%, z-score = -1.79, p = 0.073).
CONCLUSION
OCT measurements are correlated with disability in pwMS, and they can complement the comprehensive neurological visit as an additional paraclinical test.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Retina; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive; Optic Neuritis
PubMed: 37924591
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120847