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Medicine Jun 2024Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune-mediated motor sensory peripheral neuropathy that is rare in clinical practice. This treatment...
RATIONALE
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune-mediated motor sensory peripheral neuropathy that is rare in clinical practice. This treatment method aims to suppress potential immunopathology. Nocardiosis is a rare, destructive, opportunistic disease. We report a case of failed treatment of CIDP combined with pulmonary nocardiosis, and for the first time, we link these 2 diseases together.
PATIENT CONCERNS
A 65-year-old man developed symmetrical limb weakness. Four months later, he was diagnosed with CIDP and started receiving glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. The disease progressed slowly and was treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in combination. He did not follow the doctor requirements for monthly follow-up visits, and the preventive medication for sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim was not strictly implemented. Two months after the combination therapy, the patient developed fever, coughing and sputum production, as well as fatigue and poor appetite. Based on imaging and etiological results, he was diagnosed with pulmonary nocardiosis.
DIAGNOSES
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, pulmonary nocardiosis.
INTERVENTIONS
After treatment with antibiotics, the patient lung infection temporarily improved. However, the patient CIDP condition progressed, limb weakness worsened, respiratory muscle involvement occurred, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was administered. However, there was no significant improvement in the condition, and the patient died.
OUTCOMES
In this report, we present a case of a patient with CIDP and pulmonary nocardiosis. It is worth noting that in order to avoid the progression and recurrence of CIDP, we did not stop using related therapeutic drugs during the treatment process, the patient had repeatedly refused to use IVIG. Despite this, the patient condition worsened when lung inflammation improved, leading to persistent respiratory failure and ultimately death. Treatment contradictions, medication issues, and patient compliance issues reflected in this case are worth considering.
LESSONS
For patients with CIDP receiving immunosuppressive therapy, attention should be paid to the occurrence and severity of Nocardia infection. Therefore, early detection and treatment are necessary. We need to pay attention to the compliance of patients with prophylactic use of antibiotics, strengthen the follow-up, and urge them to return to their appointments on time.
Topics: Humans; Male; Aged; Nocardia Infections; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
PubMed: 38875438
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038544 -
Predictors of developing renal dysfunction following diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.Clinical Cardiology Jun 2024In patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), renal dysfunction is a poor prognostic indicator. Limited data are available on variables that portend...
BACKGROUND
In patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), renal dysfunction is a poor prognostic indicator. Limited data are available on variables that portend worsening renal function (wRF) among ATTR-CA patients.
OBJECTIVES
This study assesses which characteristics place patients at higher risk for the development of wRF (defined as a drop of ≥10% in glomerular filtration rate [GFR]) within the first year following diagnosis of ATTR-CA.
METHODS
We included patients with ATTR-CA (n = 134) evaluated between 2/2016 and 12/2022 and followed for up to 1 year at our amyloid clinic. Patients were stratified into two groups: a group with maintained renal function (mRF) and a group with wRF and compared using appropriate testing. Significant variables in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression model to determine characteristics associated with wRF.
RESULTS
Within a follow-up period of 326 ± 118 days, the median GFR% change measured -6% [-18%, +8]. About 41.8% (n = 56) had wRF, while the remainder had mRF. In addition, in patients with no prior history of chronic kidney disease (CKD), 25.5% developed de novo CKD. On multivariable logistic regression, only New York Heart Association (NYHA) class ≥III (odds ratio [OR]: 3.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.6-9.3]), history of ischemic heart disease (IHD) (OR: 0.3, 95% CI: [0.1-0.7]), and not receiving SGLT-2i (OR: 0.1, 95% CI: [0.02-0.5]) were significant predictors of wRF.
CONCLUSION
Our study demonstrated that the development of de novo renal dysfunction or wRF is common following the diagnosis of ATTR-CA. Additionally, we identified worse NYHA class and no prior history of IHD as significant predictors associated with developing wRF, while receiving SGLT-2i therapy appeared to be protective in this population.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Aged; Cardiomyopathies; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Middle Aged; Follow-Up Studies; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Disease Progression; Kidney; Time Factors; Incidence; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 38873847
DOI: 10.1002/clc.24298 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jun 2024Double crush syndrome refers to a nerve in the proximal region being compressed, affecting its proximal segment. Instances of this syndrome involving ulnar and cubital... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Double crush syndrome refers to a nerve in the proximal region being compressed, affecting its proximal segment. Instances of this syndrome involving ulnar and cubital canals during ulnar neuropathy are rare. Diagnosis solely through clinical examination is challenging. Although electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) can confirm neuropathy, they do not incorporate inching tests at the wrist, hindering diagnosis confirmation. We recently encountered eight cases of suspected double compression of ulnar nerve, reporting these cases along with a literature review.
METHODS
The study included 5 males and 2 females, averaging 45.6 years old. Among them, 4 had trauma history, and preoperative McGowan stages varied. Ulnar neuropathy was confirmed in 7 cases at both cubital and ulnar canal locations. Surgery was performed for 4 cases, while conservative treatment continued for 3 cases.
RESULTS
In 4 cases with wrist involvement, 2 showed ulnar nerve compression by a fibrous band, and 1 had nodular hyperplasia. Another case displayed ulnar nerve swelling with muscle covering. Among the 4 surgery cases, 2 improved from preoperative McGowan stage IIB to postoperative stage 0, with significant improvement in subjective satisfaction. The remaining 2 cases improved from stage IIB to IIA, respectively, with moderate improvement in subjective satisfaction. In the 3 cases receiving conservative treatment, satisfaction was significant in 1 case and moderate in 2 cases. Overall, there was improvement in hand function across all 7 cases.
CONCLUSION
Typical outpatient examinations make it difficult to clearly differentiate the two sites, and EMG tests may not confirm diagnosis. Therefore, if a surgeon lacks suspicion of this condition, diagnosis becomes even more challenging. In cases with less than expected postoperative improvement in clinical symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, consideration of double crush syndrome is warranted. Additional tests and detailed EMG tests, including inching tests at the wrist, may be necessary. We aim to raise awareness double crush syndrome with ulnar nerve, reporting a total of 7 cases to support this concept.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes; Ulnar Nerve; Electromyography; Crush Syndrome; Wrist; Neural Conduction; Elbow; Treatment Outcome; Aged
PubMed: 38872094
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07574-z -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Tafamidis is the world's first and only oral drug approved to treat the rare disease transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Medicines are known to have...
Tafamidis is the world's first and only oral drug approved to treat the rare disease transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Medicines are known to have different adverse reactions during the course of treatment. However, the current limited clinical studies did not identify significant adverse drug reactions to tafamidis. Tafamidis has been on the market for 5 years now, a large number of adverse drug event (ADE) reports with tafamidis as the primary suspected drug have been reported in the United Food and Drug Administration's adverse event reporting system (FAERS). We retrieved 8170 adverse event reports in FAERS with tafamidis as the first suspected drug, and mined these reports for positive signals to perform risk warnings for potentially possible adverse events with tafamidis. We found that a large number of adverse events associated with the primary disease were reported due to insufficient awareness of ATTR among the reporters, leading to a large number of positive signals reported in the cardiac disorders system. We also found that tafamidis has the potential to cause an adverse event risks of ear and labyrinth disorders system and urinary tract infection bacterial, which deserve continued clinical attention.
Topics: United States; Humans; United States Food and Drug Administration; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; Benzoxazoles; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Male
PubMed: 38871835
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64697-y -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024
Topics: Humans; Diabetic Neuropathies; Early Diagnosis; Drug Therapy, Combination
PubMed: 38868745
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1422734 -
Reviews in the Neurosciences Jun 2024Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a peripheral nerve condition affecting thin myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C-fibers, characterized by severe neuropathic pain and other... (Review)
Review
Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a peripheral nerve condition affecting thin myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C-fibers, characterized by severe neuropathic pain and other sensory and autonomic symptoms. A variety of medical disorders can cause SFN; however, more than 50% of cases are idiopathic (iSFN). Some investigations suggest an autoimmune etiology, backed by evidence of the efficacy of IVIG and plasma exchange. Several studies suggest that autoantibodies directed against nervous system antigens may play a role in the development of neuropathic pain. For instance, patients with CASPR2 and LGI1 antibodies often complain of pain, and and studies support their pathogenicity. Other antibodies have been associated with SFN, including those against TS-HDS, FGFR3, and Plexin-D1, and new potential targets have been proposed. Finally, a few studies reported the onset of SFN after COVID-19 infection and vaccination, investigating the presence of potential antibody targets. Despite these overall findings, the pathogenic role has been demonstrated only for some autoantibodies, and the association with specific clinical phenotypes or response to immunotherapy remains to be clarified. The purpose of this review is to summarise known autoantibody targets involved in neuropathic pain, putative attractive autoantibody targets in iSFN patients, their potential as biomarkers of response to immunotherapy and their role in the development of iSFN.
PubMed: 38865989
DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2024-0027 -
Pharmacology Research & Perspectives Jun 2024Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2n first appeared in Wuhan, China in 2019. Soon after, it was declared a... (Review)
Review
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2n first appeared in Wuhan, China in 2019. Soon after, it was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The health crisis imposed by a new virus and its rapid spread worldwide prompted the fast development of vaccines. For the first time in human history, two vaccines based on recombinant genetic material technology were approved for human use. These mRNA vaccines were applied in massive immunization programs around the world, followed by other vaccines based on more traditional approaches. Even though all vaccines were tested in clinical trials prior to their general administration, serious adverse events, usually of very low incidence, were mostly identified after application of millions of doses. Establishing a direct correlation (the cause-effect paradigm) between vaccination and the appearance of adverse effects has proven challenging. This review focuses on the main adverse effects observed after vaccination, including anaphylaxis, myocarditis, vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and transverse myelitis reported in the context of COVID-19 vaccination. We highlight the symptoms, laboratory tests required for an adequate diagnosis, and briefly outline the recommended treatments for these adverse effects. The aim of this work is to increase awareness among healthcare personnel about the serious adverse events that may arise post-vaccination. Regardless of the ongoing discussion about the safety of COVID-19 vaccination, these adverse effects must be identified promptly and treated effectively to reduce the risk of complications.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19; Incidence; Vaccination; Anaphylaxis; SARS-CoV-2; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; Myocarditis
PubMed: 38864106
DOI: 10.1002/prp2.1224 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024Historically, the central nervous system (CNS) was regarded as 'immune-privileged', possessing its own distinct immune cell population. This immune privilege was thought... (Review)
Review
Historically, the central nervous system (CNS) was regarded as 'immune-privileged', possessing its own distinct immune cell population. This immune privilege was thought to be established by a tight blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal-fluid barrier (BCSFB), which prevented the crossing of peripheral immune cells and their secreted factors into the CNS parenchyma. However, recent studies have revealed the presence of peripheral immune cells in proximity to various brain-border niches such as the choroid plexus, cranial bone marrow (CBM), meninges, and perivascular spaces. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that peripheral immune cells may be able to infiltrate the brain through these sites and play significant roles in driving neuronal cell death and pathology progression in neurodegenerative disease. Thus, in this review, we explore how the brain-border immune niches may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). We then discuss several emerging options for harnessing the neuroimmune potential of these niches to improve the prognosis and treatment of these debilitative disorders using novel insights from recent studies.
Topics: Humans; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain; Immune Privilege
PubMed: 38863704
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1380063 -
Diagnostic Pathology Jun 2024Inflammatory rhabdomyoblastic tumors are relatively recently recognized soft tissue tumors with a low malignant potential. Here, we present a case of concurrent...
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory rhabdomyoblastic tumors are relatively recently recognized soft tissue tumors with a low malignant potential. Here, we present a case of concurrent inflammatory rhabdomyoblastic tumor (IRMT), adrenal pheochromocytoma, and pulmonary hamartoma in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). To our knowledge, this is the first time that this constellation of tumors has been described in the literature.
CASE PRESENTATION
A female patient in her late 20s with known NF1 was diagnosed with an inflammatory rhabdomyoblastic tumor, pheochromocytoma, and pulmonary hamartoma in a short succession. IRMT was found to harbor a near-haploid genome and displayed a typical immunohistochemical profile as well as a focal aberrant p53 expression pattern.
CONCLUSIONS
This case report strengthens the theory that defects in the tumor suppressor NF1 play a central role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory rhabdomyoblastic tumors and that IRMT may be part of the spectrum of neurofibromatosis type 1 related tumors.
Topics: Humans; Neurofibromatosis 1; Female; Hamartoma; Pheochromocytoma; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adult; Immunohistochemistry; Lung Diseases; Neurofibromin 1; Biomarkers, Tumor
PubMed: 38862977
DOI: 10.1186/s13000-024-01503-3 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Diabetic corneal neuropathy (DCN) is a common diabetic ocular complication with limited treatment options. In this study, we investigated the effects of topical and oral...
Diabetic corneal neuropathy (DCN) is a common diabetic ocular complication with limited treatment options. In this study, we investigated the effects of topical and oral fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist, on the amelioration of DCN using diabetic mice (n = 120). Ocular surface assessments, corneal nerve and cell imaging analysis, tear proteomics and its associated biological pathways, immuno-histochemistry and western blot on PPARα expression, were studied before and 12 weeks after treatment. At 12 weeks, PPARα expression markedly restored after topical and oral fenofibrate. Topical fenofibrate significantly improved corneal nerve fibre density (CNFD) and tortuosity coefficient. Likewise, oral fenofibrate significantly improved CNFD. Both topical and oral forms significantly improved corneal sensitivity. Additionally, topical and oral fenofibrate significantly alleviated diabetic keratopathy, with fenofibrate eye drops demonstrating earlier therapeutic effects. Both topical and oral fenofibrate significantly increased corneal β-III tubulin expression. Topical fenofibrate reduced neuroinflammation by significantly increasing the levels of nerve growth factor and substance P. It also significantly increased β-III-tubulin and reduced CDC42 mRNA expression in trigeminal ganglions. Proteomic analysis showed that neurotrophin signalling and anti-inflammation reactions were significantly up-regulated after fenofibrate treatment, whether applied topically or orally. This study concluded that both topical and oral fenofibrate ameliorate DCN, while topical fenofibrate significantly reduces neuroinflammation.
Topics: Animals; PPAR alpha; Mice; Fenofibrate; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetic Neuropathies; Cornea; Male; Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Corneal Diseases; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Proteomics
PubMed: 38862650
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64451-4