摘要
Background@#and PurposeGiant-cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common type of vasculitis in the elderly and is associated with high risks of visual loss and recurrence. Owing to its rarity in Asian populations, the current clinical interventions for these patients are not well known. Here we aimed to characterize the current management status of patients with GCA using Korean multicenter data. @*Methods@#This retrospective study analyzed medical records of patients with GCA at six Korean university hospitals from February 2009 to November 2022. GCA had originally been diagnosed based on the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, and cases were selected for inclusion in this study based on the 2022 ACR/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria. We evaluated treatments, follow-up periods, and outcomes (relapse, remission, and adverse drug reactions) in patients with GCA with or without arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION). @*Results@#This study analyzed 18 patients with a median age of 75.5 years that included 12 females (66.7%). Seven patients (38.8%) had AAION. All patients initially received prednisolone treatment, while four (22.2%) underwent adjuvant treatment with methotrexate and azathioprine during prednisolone tapering. During the median follow-up of 3.5 months (interquartile range: 2.0–23.2 months), 4 patients (22.2%) had prednisolone-related adverse reactions, 2 (11.1%) relapsed, and 13 (72.3%) dropped out. Nine patients (50.0%) experienced remission, with this being sustained in four (36.4%). @*Conclusions@#This study observed high dropout rates and short follow-ups. Adverse effects of prednisolone were common, and relapses occurred in approximately one-tenth of Korean patients with GCA. Thus, optimizing GCA treatment necessitates regular monitoring and long-term follow-up.
摘要
We present the case of a 78-year-old female who experienced acute mental deterioration after vomiting. She showed severe hypercapnia without definite lung disease and hypoxic injury on brain image. After the acute period, she still had excessive daytime sleepiness, and the hypercapnia aggravated during the night. Polysomnography revealed severe obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder with a high apneahypopnea index of 60.2/h (mainly a hypopnea index of 59.0/h). She was diagnosed with combined obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) and sleep-related breathing disorder, as the cause of daytime hypercapnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. Three months of successful bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) therapy dramatically improved her daytime sleepiness and cognition. This case suggests that patients with OHS can be susceptible to hypoxic brain damage, and emphasizes the importance of the recognition and diagnosis of OHS and appropriate treatment with BiPAP therapy.
摘要
Objectives@#Clinicians often depend on the results of the the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) for diagnosing narcolepsy, but the diagnosis can be confusing when there is a co-existence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study is aimed to address the diagnostic tendency and the strategies of treatment for narcolepsy and other hypersomnia in the grey zone. @*Methods@#We performed a web-based survey of Korean neurologists who were interested in narcolepsy and had experience with sleep studies. @*Results@#The results of this survey present their concerns according to the severity of comorbid OSA in analyzing the results of the MSLT. @*Conclusions@#This study also might help by providing the opinions of experienced Korean neurologists for the assessment and management of excessive daytime sleepiness.