-
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Feb 2017Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a monogenetic disease with progressive calcification of arteries and potential risk of stroke. To gain insights in the cerebral... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a monogenetic disease with progressive calcification of arteries and potential risk of stroke. To gain insights in the cerebral involvement in PXE, we evaluated prevalence and determinants of cerebral disease in our PXE cohort and performed a systematic review of literature.
METHODS
Systematic history taking concerning cerebral disorders was performed in our PXE cohort. Cardiovascular risk factors were compared between PXE patients with and without cerebral disease. Additionally, Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and PsycINFO were systematically reviewed for studies published up to August 2016 about cerebral disease in PXE.
RESULTS
Of the 178 PXE patients 31 (17%) had cerebral disease including ischemic stroke (n=15, 8%) or transient ischemic attack (n=13, 7%). The cerebral disease group was older (61±12 vs. 52±15years, adjusted p=0.004) and had less favorable profiles of traditional cardiovascular risk factors regarding the use of lipid lowering medication (61% vs. 31%, adjusted p=0.037) and levels of HDL-cholesterol (1.4±0.3 vs. 1.6±0.4mmol/L, adjusted p=0.005). One prospective cohort study reporting an incidence rate of ischemic stroke of 477/100,000/year and two cross-sectional studies with a reported prevalence of ischemic stroke of 14% and 0% were identified. Furthermore, 53 unique cases of cerebral disease in PXE including ischemic stroke (n=16) and transient ischemic attack (n=7) were reported.
CONCLUSIONS
Physicians and patients should be aware of the prevalent occurrence of cerebrovascular disease in PXE, which further stresses the importance of strict cardiovascular risk management in these patients.
Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Prevalence; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 28131180
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.12.053 -
BMC Ophthalmology Jul 2016Beta-thalassemia is a severe genetic blood disorder caused by a mutation in the gene encoding for the beta chains of hemoglobin. Individuals with beta-thalassemia major... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Beta-thalassemia is a severe genetic blood disorder caused by a mutation in the gene encoding for the beta chains of hemoglobin. Individuals with beta-thalassemia major require regular lifelong Red Blood Cell transfusions to survive. Ocular involvement is quite common and may have serious implications.
METHODS
Extensive review of observational studies on beta-thalassemia, to determine the prevalence and spectrum of ocular abnormalities, by clinical examination and multimodal imaging, and to investigate risk factors for their development.
RESULTS
Frequency of ocular involvement differs among various studies (41.3-85 %, three studies). Ocular findings in beta-thalassemia may correlate to the disease itself, iron overload or the chelating agents used. Beta-thalassemia ocular manifestations include ocular surface disease, as demonstrated by tear function parameters (two studies). Lens opacities are present in 9.3-44 % (five studies). Lenticular opacities and RPE degeneration correlated positively with use of desferrioxamine and deferriprone respectively (two studies). Ocular fundus abnormalities characteristic of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), including peau d'orange, angioid streaks, pattern dystrophy-like changes, and optic disc drusen are a consistent finding in seven studies. Patients with PXE-like fundus changes were older than patients without these fundus changes (two studies). Age (two studies) and splenectomy (one study) had the strongest association with presence of PXE-like fundus changes. Increased retinal vascular tortuosity independently of the PXE-like fundus changes was found in 11-17.9 % (three studies), which was associated with aspartate amino transferase, hemoglobin and ferritin levels (two studies). Fundus autofluorescence and electrophysiological testing (ERG and EOG) may indicate initial stages or more widespread injury than is suggested by fundus examination (two studies).
CONCLUSIONS
Beta-thalassemia may present with various signs, both structural and functional. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum like fundus changes are a frequent finding in patients with b-thalassemia. These changes increase with duration or severity of the disease. Retinal vascular tortuosity may be an additional disease manifestation related to the severity and duration of anemia and independent of the PXE-like syndrome. Patients with long-standing disease need regular ophthalmic checkups because they are at risk of developing PXE-like fundus changes and potentially of subsequent choroidal neovascularization.
Topics: Chelating Agents; Humans; Iron Overload; Observational Studies as Topic; Retinal Diseases; Vision Disorders; beta-Thalassemia
PubMed: 27390837
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-016-0285-2 -
Bone Reports Dec 2022To clarify the role of mediators of ectopic mineralization as biomarkers for arterial calcifications. (Review)
Review
AIM
To clarify the role of mediators of ectopic mineralization as biomarkers for arterial calcifications.
METHODS
MEDLINE and Embase were searched for relevant literature, until January 4th 2022. The investigated biomarkers were: calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, pyrophosphate, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), Klotho, osteopontin, osteocalcin, Matrix Gla protein (MGP) and its inactive forms and vitamin K. Studies solely performed in patients with kidney insufficiency or diabetes mellitus were excluded.
RESULTS
After screening of 8985 articles, a total of 129 articles were included in this systematic review. For all biomarkers included in this review, the results were variable and more than half of the studies for each specific biomarker had a non-significant result. Also, the overall quality of the included studies was low, partly as a result of the mostly cross-sectional study designs. The largest body of evidence is available for phosphate, osteopontin and FGF-23, as a little over half of the studies showed a significant, positive association. Firm statements for these biomarkers cannot be drawn, as the number of studies was limited and hampered by residual confounding or had non-significant results. The associations of the other mediators of ectopic mineralization with arterial calcifications were not clear.
CONCLUSION
Associations between biomarkers of ectopic mineralization and arterial calcification are variable in the published literature. Future longitudinal studies differentiating medial and intimal calcification could add to the knowledge of biomarkers and mechanisms of arterial calcifications.
PubMed: 35769144
DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2022.101599 -
Rheumatology International Feb 2024Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE) is a rare genetic disorder caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in the ABCC6 gene. It manifests with distinctive clinical symptoms... (Review)
Review
Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE) is a rare genetic disorder caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in the ABCC6 gene. It manifests with distinctive clinical symptoms impacting the skin, eyes, and cardiovascular system, along with an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases. We present a case of a 34-year-old male patient who was initially referred to the rheumatology clinic for evaluation due to suspected large vessel vasculitis. The patient's primary complaint was severe hemifacial pain radiating to the neck and upper limb. Radiological imaging studies unveiled substantial vascular narrowing and collateral vessel formation, prompting further investigation to exclude systemic vasculitis. Intriguingly, the patient also exhibited cutaneous manifestations, which were later confirmed via skin biopsy as consistent with PXE. An ophthalmological examination further revealed the presence of the classic PXE findings of angioid streaks. Given the rarity of PXE and its multifaceted clinical presentation, it can be particularly challenging to diagnose and manage. As such, cases like the one presented here may necessitate a referral to a rheumatologist for evaluation of potential systemic involvement. To provide a comprehensive perspective on PXE, we conducted a systematic review of case reports published in the past decade in English, collected from PubMed, Scopus, and the Directory of Open Access databases. The analysis of these cases will be discussed to shed light on the diversity of PXE's clinical features and the diagnostic and management dilemmas it poses and to facilitate ongoing exploration and research into this intricate condition, ultimately leading to improved care for individuals affected by PXE.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum; Skin; Mutation; Cardiovascular System; Vasculitis; Rare Diseases
PubMed: 38141121
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05509-w -
International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2017Gamma-carboxylation, performed by gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), is an enzymatic process essential for activating vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDP) with important... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Gamma-carboxylation, performed by gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), is an enzymatic process essential for activating vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDP) with important functions in various biological processes. Mutations in the encoding gene are associated with multiple phenotypes, amongst which vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor deficiency (VKCFD1) is best known. Other patients have skin, eye, heart or bone manifestations. As genotype-phenotype correlations were never described, literature was systematically reviewed in search of patients with at least one mutation with a phenotypic description, resulting in a case series of 47 patients. Though this number was too low for statistically valid correlations-a frequent problem in orphan diseases-we demonstrate the crucial role of the horizontally transferred transmembrane domain in developing cardiac and bone manifestations. Moreover, natural history suggests ageing as the principal determinant to develop skin and eye symptoms. VKCFD1 symptoms seemed more severe in patients with both mutations in the same protein domain, though this could not be linked to a more perturbed coagulation factor function. Finally, distinct GGCX functional domains might be dedicated to carboxylation of very specific VKDP. In conclusion, this systematic review suggests that there indeed may be genotype-phenotype correlations for GGCX-related phenotypes, which can guide patient counseling and management.
Topics: Blood Coagulation Disorders, Inherited; Carbon-Carbon Ligases; Congenital Abnormalities; Eye; Gene Knockout Techniques; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Counseling; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; Mutation; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; Skin; Vitamin K
PubMed: 28125048
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020240