Immunoadsorption therapy for a meningococcemia patient with myocarditis, adrenal hemorrhage, and purpura fulminans: a case report

Abstract Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, is a relatively uncommon cause of invasive infection, but when it occurs, it is frequently severe and potentially life-threatening. A ten-year-old female patient developed a purpuric rash with fever. Upon arrival to the pediatric intensive care department, she was unconscious and in a poor general condition. We combined treatment with antibiotics, volume resuscitation, hydrocortisone, and CytoSorb® therapy resulted in a stabilization of hemodynamics, as well as control of hyperinflammation. We observed a significant decrease in vasopressor dosage in this patient.

Mechanical circulatory support combined with immunomodulation treatment for patients with fulminant myocarditis: a single-center real-world study / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the mechanical circulatory support (MCS) combined with immunomodulation and the prognosis of patients with fulminant myocarditis. Methods: This is a retrospective study. A total of 88 patients with fulminant myocarditis admitted to Dongguan Kanghua hospital from Aug. 2008 to Dec. 2020 were included. Medical histories, results of laboratory tests, treatment regimens and clinical outcomes of these patients during their hospitalization were collected from the medical record system. According to the treatment methods, the patients were divided into MCS+immunomodulation group (38 cases), MCS group (20 cases) and traditional treatment group (30 cases). Patients in the MCS+immunomodulation group received intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) or IABP combined with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and immunoglobulin or glucocorticoid. Patients in the MCS group only received mechanical circulatory support. Patients in the traditional treatment group received neither mechanical circulatory support nor immunomodulatory therapy, and only used vasoactive drugs and cardiotonic drugs. The in-hospital mortality and length of stay were compared among the three groups. Results: A total of 88 patients with fulminant myocarditis aged (35.0±10.8) years were included, and there were 46 males (52.3%). The mortality of MCS+immunomodulation group (7.9% (3/38) vs. 56.7% (17/30), P=0.001 2) and MCS group (30.0% (6/20) vs. 56.7% (17/30), P=0.002 8) were lower than that of traditional treatment group. Compared with the MCS group, the in-hospital mortality in the MCS+immunomodulation group was lower (P=0.005 4). The most common cause of death was multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). The constituent ratios of death in MCS+immunomodulation group, MCS group and traditional treatment group were 3/3, 4/6 and 12/17, respectively. The incidence of MODS in the MCS group (20% (4/20)) and the traditional treatment group (40% (12/30)) was significantly higher than that in the MCS+immunomodulation group (7.9% (3/38)) (both P<0.01). In discharged patients, the hospitalization time of MCS+immunomodulation group was shorter than that of traditional treatment group ((13.4±5.5)d vs. (18.5±7.4)d, P<0.05) and MCS group ((13.4±5.5)d vs. (16.9±8.5)d, P<0.05). Conclusion: MCS combined with immunomodulatory therapy is associated with lower in-hospital mortality and shorter hospital stay in patients with fulminant myocarditis.

Early effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and factors related to early outcome in adult patients with fulminant myocarditis / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy within the first 24 h post extracorporeal membrane pulmonary oxygenation (ECMO) and the impact of early efficacy on the prognosis of adult patients with fulminant myocarditis (FM). Methods: This retrospective case analysis study included hospitalized patients (age≥18 years) who were diagnosed with fulminant myocarditis from November 2016 to May 2021 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Patients were divided into survival or non-survival groups according to treatment outcomes. The age, sex, treatments, drug use, ECMO use, clinical and laboratory data (before and 24 h after the use of ECMO) were analyzed. The change rate of clinical and laboratory data after 24 h use of ECMO was calculated to find differences between two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors with in-hospital death and complication between the two groups. Results: A total of 38 FM patients treated with ECMO were included. There were 23 cases (60.5%) in the survival group, aged (39.6±13.7) years, and 17 (73.9%) cases were female. The total ECMO time was (134.4±71.3)h. There were 15 cases (39.5%) in non-survival group, aged (40.0±15.8) years, and there were 12(80.0%) female, the ECMO time was (120.1±72.4) h in this group. The proportion of tracheal intubation and continuous renal replacement therapy in the survivor group and dosage of norepinephrine within 24 h after ECMO implantation were significantly less than in non-survival group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in all efficacy related biochemical indexes between two groups before ECMO use. The levels of lactic acid, procalcitonin, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase-MB, cardiac troponin I and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide prosoma were significantly less in survival group than in non-survival group at 24 h after the use of ECMO (all P<0.05). Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the higher 24 h change rate of creatinine (OR=0.587, 95%CI 0.349-0.986, P=0.044) and creatine kinase-MB (OR=0.177, 95%CI 0.037-0.841, P=0.029) were positively correlated with reduced risk of in-hospital mortality. The central hemorrhage and acute kidney injury in survival group were less than in non-survivor group (P<0.05). Conclusions: After 24 h early use of ECMO in FM patients, the improvement of various efficacy related biochemical test indexes in the survival group was better than that in the non-survival group. Faster reduction of creatine kinase-MB and creatinine values within 24 h ECMO use is positively correlated with reduced risk of in-hospital mortality in adult patients with FM.

Efficacy of combined treatment with mechanical circulation support devices and immunomodulation therapy for patients with fulminant myocarditis / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To summarize the efficacy of combined treatment strategy of mechanical circulation support devices and immunomodulation therapy for patients with fulminant myocarditis. Method: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and outcomes of 37 fulminant myocarditis patients complicating cardiogenic shock, who were hospitalized from October 2017 to December 2019 in our department. Patients received guideline therapy according to "Chinese expert consensus statement on clinical diagnosis and treatment of fulminant myocarditis in adults"issued by Chinese Society of Cardiology of Chinese Medical Association. Patients were divided into IABP group (n=19), ECMO group (n=5) and IABP+ECMO group (n=13) according to different mechanical circulation support regimen. The treatment effectiveness among various groups were compared. The major endpoint was in-hospital mortality. The duration and outcome of mechanical circulation support were also analyzed. Furthermore, relationships between baseline data, proportion of different treatments (including medicine treatment, temporary pacemaker and continuous renal replacement treatment, immunomodulation therapy) and clinical outcome were analyzed. Results: The age of the 37 patients in the cohort was (37.4±17.0) years, and there were 22 male among them. Immunomodulation therapy included glucocorticoid (methylprednisolone) and intravenous immunoglobin. At admission, blood pressure was (70.21±17.37)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),heart rate was(100±30)beat/minutes,there were 10 cases of Ⅲ° atrioventricular block and all received temporary pacemaker implantation, 12 cases of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation,1 patient received temporary pacemaker implantation due to electronic storm, peak cardiac troponin I level was (18.61±9.55)μg/L, peak B type natriuretic peptide level was 1 670(518,3 410)ng/L,left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was(32.3±10.4)%. Thirty-four out of the 37 patients survived and 3 patients died. Hospital duration was (22.7±8.2)days, LVEF was (50.1±10.5)% at discharge. Lactic acid level was significantly higher in IABP+ECMO group than in IABP group and ECMO group(P<0.001 or =0.005),LVEF was significantly lower in IABP+ECMO group than in IABP group(P=0.004),the proportion of ventilator usage was higher in IABO+ECMO group than in IABP group (P<0.05). Survival rate was similar among the three groups. Conclusion: Comprehensive treatment regimen with combined mechanical circulation support and immunomodulation therapy as the core strategies is effective in the treatment of fulminant myocarditis complicated with cardiogenic shock.

Synthesis and anti-myocarditis activity in a multifunctional lanthanide microporous metal-organic framework with 1D helical chain building units

A new microporous lanthanide metal-organic framework, {[Yb(BTB)(H2O) (DEF)2}n (1, DEF=N,N-Diethylformamide), with 1D nano-sized channels has been constructed by bridging helical chain secondary building units with 1,3,5-benzenetrisbenzoic acid (H3BTB) ligand. Structural characterization suggests that this complex crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P6122 and possesses 1D triangular channels with coordinated water molecules pointing to the channel center. In addition, anti-myocarditis properties of compound 1 were evaluated in vivo. The results showed that compound 1 can improve hemodynamic parameters of, and it may be a good therapeutic option for heart failure in the future.

Changes in serum cardiac myosin light chain 1 levels in children with fulminant myocarditis during continuous blood purification

Summary Objective: To investigate the changes in serum cardiac myosin light chain 1 (CMLC-1) levels in children with fulminant myocarditis (FM) during continuous blood purification (CBP), as well as to analyze its correlation with other laboratory indexes. Method: Twenty-four (24) children with FM who underwent CBP were enrolled. Before and during treatment (48 and 72 hours after treatment, or death), the optical density value of serum CMLC-1 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and then the serum CMLC-1 concentration was calculated. The correlations between CMLC-1 OD value change and laboratory indexes including creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), troponin, myohemoglobin and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were analyzed. Results: The serum CMLC-1 concentration significantly increased in the children with FM and decreased obviously during CBP therapy. In the same period, the change of CMLC-1 concentration were positively correlated with creatine kinase-MB (r=0.528), troponin (r=0.726), myohemoglobin (r=0.702), and NT-proBNP levels (r=0.589). Conclusion: The serum CMLC-1 concentration increases significantly in children with FM, but CBP therapy can effectively control this increase.

Valor do Strain Bidimensional no Diagnóstico da Miocardite Aguda: Comparação com a Ressonância Cardíaca / The Value of Two-dimensional Strain in the Diagnosis of Acute Myocarditis: Comparison with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Fundamento: A miocardite aguda é uma das principais causas de morte súbita em pacientes jovens. A ressonância magnética cardíaca (RMC) é um método sensível e não invasivo para detecção de miocardite, mas de alto custo e indisponível na maioria dos centros médicos. O strain bidimensional representa uma nova técnica ecocardiográfica que possibilita a avaliação da deformação miocárdica permitindo a análise da função miocárdica global e regional. Objetivo: Avaliar o valor do strain bidimensional em pacientes com diagnóstico de miocardite. Materiais e métodos: Foram estudados prospectivamente pacientes com quadro de miocardite aguda e contratilidade cardíaca normal pela RMC e submetidos à ecocardiografia convencional e strain bidimensional. O miocárdio ventricular foi dividido em 16 segmentos e esses segmentos divididos em dois grupos. Grupo 0: segmento miocárdico normal pela RMC. Grupo 1: segmento miocárdico compatível com miocardite pela RMC. Resultados: Foram avaliados 28 pacientes sendo 82,1% do sexo masculino, com idade de 35,6 ± 8,9 anos. Dos 448 segmentos miocárdicos avaliados, 316 segmentos foram normais (grupo 0) e 132 segmentos (grupo 1) apresentaram diagnóstico de miocardite pela técnica de realce tardio à RMC. A análise do strain bidimensional mostrou diferença significativa entre os grupos (19,6 ± 2,9 versus 15,4 ± 2,8 p = 0,001), com sensibilidade 75% e especificidade 79% e AUC de 0,86 (IC 95% 0,82 a 0,89). Conclusão: O strain bidimensional pode ser útil na avaliação propedêutica de pacientes com miocardite e contratilidade normal pela RMC e ecocardiografia convencional

Background: Acute myocarditis is one of the most important causes of sudden death in young people. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a sensitive and non-invasive method in myocarditis diagnosis, but it is expensive and unavailable in most medical centers. Speckle tracking strain echocardiography is a new echocardiographic technique that enables the evaluation of myocardial deformation allowing analysis of global and regional myocardial function. Objective: To evaluate the value of speckle tracking strain echocardiography in patients with acute myocarditis and normal wall motion contraction. Materials and Methods: We prospectively studied patients with acute myocarditis and normal cardiac contractility by CMR and underwent conventional echocardiography and speckle tracking strain echocardiography. The ventricular myocardium was divided into 16 segments by CMR and echocardiography and separated into two groups: Normal myocardial segment (group 1) myocardial segment compatible with myocarditis (group 1). Results: We evaluated 28 patients (82.1% male), aged 35.6 ± 8.9 years. Of the 448 myocardial segments evaluated, 316 segments were normal (group 0) and 132 segments (group 1) were diagnosed with myocarditis by RMC. Speckle tracking strain echocardiography showed a significant difference between groups (-19.6 ± 2.9 versus -15.4 ± 2.8 p = 0.001), with sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 79% with AUC of 0.86 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.89). Conclusion: Speckle tracking strain echocardiography can be useful in the diagnosis evaluation of patients with myocarditis and normal contractility by CMR and conventional echocardiography

Manifestaciones cardiovasculares de la toxocariasis humana / Cardiovascular manifestations of human toxocariasis

La toxocariasis es una infección parasitaria producida por un helminto que en el ser humano no alcanza su estadio adulto. El hombre es para sus especies, Toxocara canis y Toxocara cati, un hospedador paraténico. Dicha infección puede producir el síndrome de larva migrans visceral, el síndrome de larva migrans ocular y la toxocariasis inaparente. En el síndrome de larva migrans visceral el compromiso de órganos puede incluir hígado, pulmón, piel, sistema nervioso, musculoesquelético, riñón y corazón. Sobre este último, cada vez se reconoce más la importancia que pueden tener las manifestaciones cardiovasculares de la toxocariasis y la relevancia clínica de considerarlas. En el presente artículo, haciendo una búsqueda sistemática de información, se revisan los principales aspectos clinicopatológicos de las manifestaciones cardiovasculares de la toxocariasis incluyendo su fisiopatología, hallazgos de laboratorio, diagnóstico y opciones terapéuticas, con el objeto de llamar la atención acerca de la importancia de esta zoonosis y su relevancia para la medicina cardiovascular en adultos y en niños.

Toxocariasis is a parasitic infection produced by helminths that cannot reach their adult stage in humans. For their etiological species (Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati), man is a paratenic host. Infection by such helminths can produce a variety of clinical manifestations, such as: visceral larvae migrans syndrome, ocular larvae migrans syndrome and covert toxoca-riasis. In the visceral larvae migrans syndrome, the organs that are mainly involved include liver, lungs, skin, nervous system, muscles, kidneys and the heart. Regarding the latter, the importance of cardiovascular manifestations in toxocariasis, as well as its clinical relevance, has increasingly begun to be recognized. The current article is based on a systematic information search, focused mainly on the clinical and pathological aspects of cardiovascular manifestations in toxocariasis, including its pathophysiology, laboratory findings, diagnosis and therapeutical options, with the objective of highlighting its importance as a zoonosis and its relevance to the fields of cardiovascular medicine in adults and children.

Diagnóstico clínico e radiológico da miocardite aguda e uma complicação não-usual / Clinical and radiological diagnosis of acute myocarditis with an unusual complication

O objetivo desse relato de caso é descrever as abordagens diagnósticas e terapêuticas empregadas durante a avaliação de um paciente com queixa de dor torácica e história clínica sugestiva de miocardite aguda...

Curso de atualização em cardiologia: aula 10. Miocardite como modelo de doença imunológica: aspectos clínicos e diagnósticos / Cardiology updating course: class 10. Miocardite as model of disease imunológica: clinical aspects and diagnoses

Miocardites são um grupo de doenças heterogêneas que podem ser compreendidas com uma fisiopatologia imunológica. Os autores discutem aspectos históricos e a imunologia dessas doenças, correlacionando o trabalho de cientistas como Carlos Chagas, Noel Rose e Nelson Vaz. Levam em consideração a evolução histórica do conhecimento científico e a mudança de paradigma em andamento na imunologia. Também analisam as principais manifestações clínicas e estratégias para o diagnóstico e abordam novas propostas para investigação clínica dessas síndromes.

Atualização em miocardites / Myocarditides update

As miocardites (inflamações do músculo cardíaco, podendo envolver os miócitos, o interstício, estruturas vasculares e/ou o pericárdio) são importantes causas de morte súbita e inesperada em adultos com menos de 40 anos de idade e atletas jovens. Têm etiologia diversa, incluindo vírus, bactérias, protozoários, drogas e doenças sistêmicas. Sua fisiopatologia envolve a ativação prolongada das imunidades celular e humoral. Seu curso geralmente é assintomático ou insidioso, havendo considerável dificuldade no estabelecimento do diagnóstico, devido à inespecificidade de seu quadro clínico e à baixa sensibilidade dos exames complementares. O tratamento é basicamente suportivo e direcionado às possíveis complicações ou às causas de base. Possuem prognóstico variável, dependendo da causa-base, sendo pior nas doenças sistêmicas e na infecção pelo HIV.

Myocarditis are defined as inflammation of the cardiac muscle, which may involve the myocite, the interstitium, the vascular structures and/or the pericardium. They are important causes of sudden and unexpected death in adults and in young athletes. There are many known etiologies for myocarditis, including virus, bacteria, protozoan, drugs and systemic diseases. Its pathophysiology involves the continuum activation of humoral and cellular immunity. The course of the disease usually is assymptomatic or insidious, clinical manifestations are quite non-specific and complementary, exams show poor sensibility and specificity, making diagnosis difficult. Treatment is basically supportive and addressed to the possible complications or its causes. The prognosis is somewhat variable, depending on the underlying cause, being worse in systemic diseases and in HIV infections.

Miocardite aguda, uma apresentação típica e uma abordagem nova / Acute myocarditis - a typical case report with a new approach

Relato de caso que tem o objetivo de mostrar alguns aspectos da abordagem diagnóstica da miocardite aguda. Será discutido rapidamente o diagnóstico atual da miocardite e de forma mais abrangente sobre a abordagem diagnóstica pela ressonância magnética cardíaca

Manifestações cardiovasculares no lúpus eritematoso sistêmico / Cardiovascular manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus

Lúpus eritematosos sistêmico (LES) é uma doença auto-imune que pode cursar com divesas e frequentes alterações cardiovasculares. Embora rara como manifestação inicial dessa doença, o envolvimento cardíaco tem sido relatado em mais de 50 por cento desses pacientes, com significante morbidade e mortalidade. São descritos pericardite com ou sem derrame, endocardite, miocardite, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, hipertensão arterial pulmonar e doença coronariana isquêmica. A pericardite é considerada a manifestação cardíaca mais comum, podendo ser observada no início da doença e na exarcebação do LES. A endocardite de Libman-Sacks era encontrada em aproximadamente 40 por cento dos casos de LES em estudos de autópsias, mas esta frequência tem diminuído nos últimos 30 anos. As causas das lesões valvulares são múltiplas, como a endocardite bacteriana, valvulite, fibrose e degeneração mucóide das valvas. Classicamente, a miocardite lúpica tem sido diagnosticada com maior frequência em estudos de autópsias, porém, nas últimas décadas, a introdução do ecocardiograma bidimensional tem demonstrado alta frequência de doença miocárdica assintomática ou subclínica. A doença cardíaca isquêmica, que possui patogênese multifatorial, é considerada a mais importante causa de mortalidade em pacientes com LES de longa evolução. Recentemente, foi relatado que infarto agudo do miocárdio é de 52 vezes mais frequente em lúpicas jovens quando comparadas com controles pareadas por sexo e idade. O desenvolvimento de técnicas sensíveis de imagem cardíaca não invasivas tem aumentado os conhecimentos de muitas formas de doença cardíaca subclínica, não descritas em estudos clássicos. Neste artigo os autores fazem uma revisão de importantes manifestações cardiovasculares em pacientes com LES.

Miocardiopatias na infância / Infancy's myocardiopathies

Este artigo descreve a relaçäo entre as várias causas de acometimento miocárdico e comenta brevemente as características de cada doença, com ênfase no quadro clínico e nos achados de exame físico e laboratorial do envolvimento cardíaco. Levando-se em conta a faixa etária pediátrica, o assunto foi mais aprofundado em relaçäo ao vírus Coxsackie tipo B e à difteria.

Miocardite infecciosa / Infective myocarditis

A miocardite infecciosa pode ser causada por diversos agentes. Clinicamente a maioria do casos nao é reconhecida e muitos pacientes apresentam cardiomiopatia dilatada idiopática como principal seqüela de uma miocardite infecciosa nao-diagnosticada. Os autores se propuseram a fazer uma revisao literária imparcial do assunto, abordando aspectos etiológicos, clínicos, diagnósticos e terapêuticos.