ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus is an uncommon manifestation of neurosarcoidosis (7-14% of reported cohorts) that poses unique challenges to patient management. Despite being a recognized complication of neurosarcoidosis, very little is known about how hydrocephalus influences its clinical course, management, and prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To characterize hydrocephalus as a clinical manifestation of neurosarcoidosis, highlight which patients required cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion, understand the mediating role of immunomodulatory treatments, and report outcomes in this cohort. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis seen at Emory Healthcare [01/2011-8/2021] were included if hydrocephalus was one manifestation of their disease. Means and proportions were compared between shunted and non-shunted groups using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables and the Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with neurosarcoidosis and hydrocephalus as one disease manifestation were included (22/214, 10.3%). Hydrocephalus was communicating in 13 (13/20, 65.0%) and obstructive in 6 patients (6/20, 30.0%), with features of both seen in 1 patient (1/20, 5.0%). Chronic presentations were typical (12/22, 54.5%) with altered sensorium, gait dysfunction, headache, and weakness being present in the majority of patients. There was a rostral-to-caudal gradient in ventriculomegaly, with the lateral ventricles most affected (20/20, 100%) and the fourth ventricle the least (12/20, 60%). Meningoventricular inflammation was the most common neuroinflammatory accompaniment (18/20, 90.0%), especially infratentorial leptomeningitis (16/20, 80.0%) and fourth ventriculitis (9/20, 45.0%). Thirteen patients (13/22, 59.1%) required ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS). Factors associated with shunt placement were younger age at neurosarcoidosis onset (p = 0.019) and hydrocephalus onset (p = 0.015), obstructive hydrocephalus (p = 0.043), and lateral ventriculitis (p = 0.043). In the 6 patients (6/13, 46.2%) with preceding extraventricular drain (EVD) placement, all failed to wean, including 5/6 patients who received high-dose steroids while the EVD was in place. Almost all (19/20, 95.0%) were treated with steroid-sparing agents, including nine (9/20, 45.0%) with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Modified Rankin Scale score at last outcome was 3.04 (range 0-6). CONCLUSION: Patients with neurosarcoidosis and hydrocephalus experience unique challenges in the management of their disease, including the potential need for CSF diversion, in addition to traditional anti-inflammatory treatments. Younger patients, those with obstructive hydrocephalus, and those with lateral ventriculitis warrant particular consideration for VPS placement, but the decision to shunt likely remains a highly individualized one. The requirement for multiple lines of immunotherapy beyond steroids and moderate disability at last follow-up suggest hydrocephalus may reflect a more severe form of neurosarcoidosis.
Subject(s)
Hydrocephalus , Humans , Cerebral Ventriculitis , Disease Progression , Hydrocephalus/diagnostic imaging , Hydrocephalus/etiology , Retrospective Studies , SteroidsABSTRACT
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare hematologic malignancy that traditionally presents with cutaneous lesions, though metastases are not uncommon in progressive disease. We describe four cases of CTCL with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, detailing the history, pathological characteristics, treatment response, and progression. Median time from initial diagnosis to CNS metastasis was â¼5.4 years (range 3.4-15.5 years) and survival after metastasis was â¼160 days (range 19 days-4.4 years). No patients achieved long-term (>5 years) survival, though some displayed varying degrees of remission following CNS-directed therapy. We conclude that clinicians must be attentive to the development of CNS metastases in patients with CTCL. The growing body of literature on such cases will inform evolving therapeutic guidelines on this rare CTCL complication.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare cancer of the blood, which typically manifests with skin lesions, such as itchy, scaly rashes that may thicken to form tumors on the skin. Though uncommon, metastases do occur in CTCL. A particularly rare location for these metastases is the central nervous system. This case series recounts the story of four unique patients and the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of their CTCL, which unfortunately progressed to involve the central nervous system. Outcomes with central nervous system involvement in CTCL are poor, but may occur sometime later than a patient's initial diagnosis. Our patients had a median time from initial diagnosis to central nervous system metastases of â¼5.4 years and a survival of â¼160 days after central nervous system metastases. Some types of therapy, such as radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy, may be beneficial in extending survival or providing symptomatic relief for patients. It can be difficult to recognize symptoms of central nervous system metastases, so this case series emphasizes that vigilance for potential metastases and use of interdisciplinary teams is important in caring for these patients. This case series demonstrates the importance of continued research in this area, with the hope of improving outcomes for patients with central nervous system metastases of CTCL.
Subject(s)
Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous , Neoplasms, Second Primary , Skin Neoplasms , Humans , Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/therapy , Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Small fiber neuropathy [SFN] is a common peripheral neurologic disorder with a vast array of implicated etiologies. It has previously been proposed that some forms of immune-mediated small fiber neuropathy are driven by vasculitis, though antinuclear cytoplasmic antibodies [ANCA] antibodies have not commonly been reported in association with SFN, thus far. We present this case series to discuss the observation of a possible novel association between ANCA and SFN. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series of 6 patients with SFN and ANCA positivity, with and without systemic manifestations. Patients included were diagnosed with SFN by skin biopsy or autonomic function testing and were seropositive for ANCA by ELISA. RESULTS: Six patients are outlined, including 4 females and 2 males. Antigen specific antibodies were MPO alone in 4 cases, PR3 alone in 1 case and both MPO and PR3 in 1 case. Systemic vasculitis was noted in 2 patients. Five patients received immunosuppression. Three patients experienced partial improvement, while symptoms stabilized in 3 patients. DISCUSSION: This is the first series of patients with suspected immune-mediated SFN and ANCA antibody positivity, raising the possibility of ANCA mediated isolated SFN. This is in contradistinction to the more typical ANCA-mediated peripheral neuropathy manifestations of mononeuropathy multiplex or axonal sensorimotor neuropathy. We cannot unequivocally prove ANCA-associated vasculitis [AAV] causality in these cases; however, the stabilization in SFN symptomatology and associated improvement in ANCA antibody titer, after AAV treatment, may be indicative of an association.
Subject(s)
Small Fiber Neuropathy , Vasculitis , Male , Female , Humans , Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/analysis , Small Fiber Neuropathy/complications , Small Fiber Neuropathy/diagnosis , Retrospective Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , PeroxidaseABSTRACT
IgG4-related disease-associated hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IgG4RD-HP) is a fibroinflammatory autoimmune disorder in which diagnosis is difficult without biopsy. Guidance on management of disease refractory to glucocorticoids and intravenous rituximab is limited. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman with IgG4RD-HP who developed sensorineural hearing loss with associated bulky basilar pachymeningeal enhancement. Her cerebrospinal fluid was inflammatory and had an elevated IgG4 concentration, strongly suggestive of IgG4RD-HP. Biopsy of involved meninges was not possible due to surgical risk. Over years she developed bilateral optic neuropathies and hydrocephalus, requiring intravenous rituximab and ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Her disease was refractory to glucocorticoids. Despite maintenance intravenous rituximab, she developed slowly progressive symptoms of intracranial hypertension and hydrocephalus with persistently inflammatory spinal fluid. Switching to intrathecal rituximab therapy led to dramatic improvement in gait and headache and reduced pachymeningeal bulk and metabolic activity. In patients with IgG4RD-HP refractory to glucocorticoids and intravenous rituximab, intrathecal rituximab may be an efficacious therapy.
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BACKGROUND: Enhancing brain parenchymal disease, and especially tumefactive lesions, are an uncommon manifestation of neurosarcoidosis. Little is known about the clinical features of tumefactive lesions and their impact on management and outcomes, which this study aims to characterize. METHODS: Patients with pathologically-confirmed sarcoidosis were retrospectively reviewed and included if brain lesions were: (1) intraparenchymal, (2) larger than 1 cm in diameter, and (3) associated with edema and/or mass effect. RESULTS: Nine patients (9/214, 4.2%) were included. Median onset age was 37 years. Diagnosis was confirmed by brain parenchymal biopsies in 5 (55.6%). Median modified Rankin scale (mRS) score was 2 (range 1-4) at initial presentation. Common manifestations included headache (77.8%), cognitive dysfunction (66.7%), and seizures (44.4%). Sixteen lesions were present in 9 patients. The frontal lobe (31.3%) was most affected, followed by the subinsular region (12.5%), basal ganglia (12.5%%), cerebellum (12.5%), and pons (12.5%). MRI characteristics of the dominant lesions included spherical morphology (77.8%), perilesional edema (100.0%), mass effect (55.6%), well-demarcated borders (66.7%), and contrast enhancement (100.0%; 55.6% heterogeneous). Leptomeningitis was frequently present (77.8%). All required corticosteroid-sparing treatments, and most (55.6%) needed at least a third line of treatment (infliximab used in 44.4%). All patients relapsed (median 3 relapses, range 1-9). Median last mRS was 1.0 after median follow-up of 86 months, with significant residual deficits in 55.6%. CONCLUSION: Tumefactive brain parenchymal lesions are uncommon, usually affect the supratentorial brain along with leptomeningitis, and are refractory to initial treatments with a high risk of relapse. Significant sequelae were encountered despite a favorable median last mRS.
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases , Central Nervous System Diseases , Sarcoidosis , Humans , Adult , Retrospective Studies , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/pathology , Central Nervous System Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Central Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy , Central Nervous System Diseases/pathology , Sarcoidosis/diagnostic imaging , Sarcoidosis/drug therapy , Sarcoidosis/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Brain Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Brain Diseases/drug therapy , Brain Diseases/pathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular disease is rarely reported in neurosarcoidosis and constitutes one of its least well-described forms, though recognition for it has grown in the last decade with recent studies estimating a higher frequency of occurrence than previously known. METHODS: Patients with ischemic stroke were included if the mechanism was directly attributable to sarcoidosis of the CNS. Patients were excluded if an alternative stroke etiology was of equal or higher likelihood than CNS sarcoidosis. RESULTS: Neurologic disease was the initial presenting manifestation of sarcoidosis in 8/11 (72.7%), and ischemic stroke was an inaugural manifestation of sarcoidosis in 4/11 (36.4%). Small vessel disease was the predominant ischemia subtype (10/11, 90.9%) with pontine perforating vessels (6/11, 54.5%) and lenticulostriate arteries (3/11, 27.3%) being the vasculature most often affected. Vessels with a more rostral supratentorial distribution were uncommonly affected. Common neuroinflammatory accompaniments included leptomeningitis (10/11, 90.9%) and cranial nerve disease (3/11, 27.3%). Recurrent strokes occurred in 8/11 (72.7%), and recurrent neuroinflammation occurred in 7/11 (63.6%). Antiplatelet drugs were used in 6/11 (54.5%) patients. Most (10/11, 90.9%) required at least two lines of immunosuppression to achieve inflammatory disease remission in this context; infliximab was the most successfully employed immunosuppressant (7/8 treatment courses, 87.5%). Recurrent strokes occurred in 8/11 (72.7%) patients, and a second inflammatory attack occurred in 7/11 (63.6%) patients. The presenting median modified Rankin Scale score of 4.0 improved to 2.0 over a median period of follow-up of 52.0 months. CONCLUSION: Ischemic strokes in neurosarcoidosis occur in a caudal-to-rostral distribution, tend to affect small caliber blood vessels that lack collateral blood flow, and typically associate with inflammatory leptomeningeal disease. The risk for relapse in the forms of stroke or neuroinflammation are high in this neurosarcoidosis phenotype.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Diseases , Ischemic Stroke , Sarcoidosis , Stroke , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Central Nervous System Diseases/therapy , Sarcoidosis/complications , Sarcoidosis/drug therapy , Stroke/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Meningeal inflammation is one of the most common manifestations of neurosarcoidosis, occurring in 16%-69% of affected patients. While the clinical and radiographic features of leptomeningitis in neurosarcoidosis are well known, those of pachymeningitis are far less clear. Our primary aim was to study the clinicoradiographic features of pachymeningeal involvement in neurosarcoidosis and its evolution over time in response to treatment. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis seen at Emory University (January 2011-August 2021) were included if pachymeningeal involvement was evident by MRI and the patient's sarcoidosis was pathologically confirmed (from a CNS or non-CNS site). RESULTS: Twenty-six of 215 (12.1%) patients with neurosarcoidosis qualified for inclusion. Pathologic confirmation came from CNS tissue in 50%. The median age of onset was 43.5 years; most were male (16/26, 61.5%). Symptoms were primarily related to pachymeningitis in 20/26 (76.9%). Headache (19/26, 73.1%), visual dysfunction (12/26, 46.2%), and seizures (7/26, 26.9%) were the most common symptoms. All patients had cranial pachymeningitis; only a single patient undergoing spinal imaging (1/11, 9.1%) had spinal pachymeningitis. The falx cerebri (16/26, 61.5%) was the most commonly affected dural structure, but the anterior and middle cranial fossae and tentorium cerebelli were frequently involved (12/26 each, 46.2%). The pachymeningeal lesions were unifocal (11/26, 42.3%) or multifocal (15/26, 57.7%) in distribution, nodular morphologically (23/25, 92.0%), and homogeneously enhancing (24/25, 96.0%). Symptomatic improvement occurred with steroids initially in 22/25 (88.0%). Ultimately, 23/26 (88.5%) required initiation of steroid-sparing immunosuppressants, including 8/26 (30.8%) eventually undergoing TNF inhibition. Pachymeningeal relapses occurred in 7/26 (26.9%). The median clinical follow-up was 48 months. The median modified Rankin scale score at last follow-up improved to 1.0 from 2.0 at presentation. DISCUSSION: Pachymeningitis due to sarcoidosis often presents with headaches, visual dysfunction, and seizures; it usually affects the dura of the falx cerebri, anterior and middle cranial fossae, and tentorium cerebelli and tends to require steroid-sparing immunosuppressants. It has the potential to relapse, but the prospect for recovery is good.
Subject(s)
Meningitis , Sarcoidosis , Adult , Biopsy , Central Nervous System Diseases , Female , Headache , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Meningitis/diagnostic imaging , Meningitis/drug therapy , Sarcoidosis/diagnosis , Sarcoidosis/diagnostic imaging , Seizures , SteroidsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Facial nerve palsy is a cardinal manifestation of neurosarcoidosis, but dedicated studies of this disease feature have not been conducted. We sought to clarify the impact of facial palsy on the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis, its subsequent clinicoradiographic evolution, and eventual treatment decisions. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of patients with neurosarcoidosis and facial palsy was conducted over the preceding 10 years (01/01/2011-08/12/2021). RESULTS: 23/218 (10.6%) patients with neurosarcoidosis developed facial neuropathy. It was the inaugural manifestation of neurosarcoidosis in 17/23 (73.9%) and presented in isolation of other neurologic deficits or extra-facial MRI abnormalities in 12/23 (52.2%). At onset, facial palsy was unilateral in 20/23 (87.0%), and multiple cranial neuropathies were seen in 8/23 (34.8%). Non-facial inflammatory MRI abnormalities were observed in 6/15 (40.0%) patients at onset with leptomeningitis being most common (5/15, 33.3%). 13/23 (56.5%) experienced a second attack of neurosarcoidosis at a median of 8 months, including 3/23 (13.0%) with recurrent facial palsies. In the 12 patients with isolated facial paresis at onset, 4/12 (33.3%) remained free of new deficits or neuroimaging abnormalities by last follow-up. 17/23 (73.9%) eventually required initiation of steroid-sparing immunosuppressants, almost all for development of non-facial disease. The final median House-Brackmann score was 1. CONCLUSION: Facial neuropathy occurred less commonly than historically reported, and it often acts as a forerunner to systemic sarcoidosis and more widespread neurologic disease. Recurrent attacks of neurosarcoidosis occur early at high frequency following facial palsy. Recovery of facial nerve function is typically excellent.
Subject(s)
Bell Palsy , Facial Nerve Diseases , Facial Paralysis , Sarcoidosis , Central Nervous System Diseases , Facial Nerve/diagnostic imaging , Facial Nerve Diseases/etiology , Facial Paralysis/etiology , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Sarcoidosis/complications , Sarcoidosis/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is critical in the development of granulomas and multiple recent reports have highlighted the role of infliximab, an infused TNF alpha inhibitor, in the treatment of neurosarcoidosis. As a self-injected TNF alpha inhibitor, adalimumab has certain advantages over infused medications, including greater patient freedom and autonomy. Experience with adalimumab is not well reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To report clinical experience with adalimumab in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) sarcoidosis by combining observations in our center with those that have been reported in the literature. METHODS: Patients were identified from the Mass General Brigham Research Patient Data Registry and in the literature by searching PubMed. Patients with CNS manifestations of sarcoidosis treated with adalimumab were included for retrospective review and analyzed for baseline characteristics, treatment indications, outcomes, and adverse effects. RESULTS: Adalimumab was commonly started after failure of or intolerance to infliximab and methotrexate. Of those with adequate follow-up, 5/10 ultimately improved, remission was maintained in 3/10, and 2/10 with active disease remained stable without further worsening. One patient suffered a relapse, likely multifactorial in etiology, but has remained relapse free on adalimumab for 10 months subsequently. Three patients ultimately discontinued adalimumab. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary evidence suggests that adalimumab may be a reasonable therapeutic option for patients with neurosarcoidosis affecting the CNS, including those with medically refractory disease.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Diseases , Sarcoidosis , Adalimumab/therapeutic use , Central Nervous System , Central Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy , Humans , Infliximab/therapeutic use , Sarcoidosis/drug therapy , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (PNH) typically presents with complaints of muscle twitching, cramps, and muscle stiffness. Symptoms and signs indicating central and/or autonomic nervous system dysfunction also may be reported. An electroclinical spectrum exists, spanning from the milder cramp-fasciculation syndrome to more severe syndromes characterized by continuous muscle fiber activity. It is important to recognize that PNH may be an autoimmune phenomenon associated with antibodies targeting proteins of the voltage-gated potassium channel-complex and, in some patients, a paraneoplastic phenomenon. Symptomatic therapies include medicines that reduce neuronal excitability and in severe disease immunomodulatory treatments may be indicated.
Subject(s)
Isaacs Syndrome , Neuromuscular Diseases , Autoantibodies , Humans , ProteinsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of reports have described cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) following infection with COVID-19. Given their relatively rare occurrence, the primary objective of this systematic review was to synthesize their clinical features, response to treatments, and clinical outcomes to better understand the nature of this neurologic consequence of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Patients with a history of COVID-19 infection were included if their reports provided adequate detail to confirm a diagnosis of ADEM or AHLE by virtue of clinical features, radiographic abnormalities, and histopathologic findings. Cases purported to be secondary to vaccination against COVID-19 or occurring in the context of a preexisting relapsing CNS demyelinating disease were excluded. Case reports and series were identified via PubMed on May 17, 2021, and 4 additional cases from the authors' hospital files supplemented the systematic review of the literature. Summary statistics were used to describe variables using a complete case analysis approach. RESULTS: Forty-six patients (28 men, median age 49.5 years, 1/3 >50 years old) were analyzed, derived from 26 case reports or series originating from 8 countries alongside 4 patient cases from the authors' hospital files. COVID-19 infection was laboratory confirmed in 91% of cases, and infection severity necessitated intensive care in 67%. ADEM occurred in 31 cases, whereas AHLE occurred in 15, with a median presenting nadir modified Rankin Scale score of 5 (bedridden). Anti-MOG seropositivity was rare (1/15 patients tested). Noninflammatory CSF was present in 30%. Hemorrhage on brain MRI was identified in 42%. Seventy percent received immunomodulatory treatments, most commonly steroids, IV immunoglobulins, or plasmapheresis. The final mRS score was ≥4 in 64% of patients with adequate follow-up information, including 32% who died. DISCUSSION: In contrast to ADEM cases from the prepandemic era, reported post-COVID-19 ADEM and AHLE cases were often advanced in age at onset, experienced severe antecedent infection, displayed an unusually high rate of hemorrhage on neuroimaging, and routinely had poor neurologic outcomes, including a high mortality rate. Findings are limited by nonstandardized reporting of cases, truncated follow-up information, and presumed publication bias.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated/etiology , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/pathology , Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated/mortality , Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated/physiopathology , Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated/therapy , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Humans , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use , Intensive Care Units , Leukoencephalitis, Acute Hemorrhagic/etiology , Leukoencephalitis, Acute Hemorrhagic/mortality , Leukoencephalitis, Acute Hemorrhagic/physiopathology , Leukoencephalitis, Acute Hemorrhagic/therapy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Plasmapheresis , SARS-CoV-2 , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We perform a randomized trial to test the impact of electronic pill bottles with audiovisual reminders on oral disease modifying therapy (DMT) adherence in people with MS (PwMS). METHODS: Adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) taking an oral DMT were randomized 1:1 for 90 days to remote smartphone app- and pill bottle-based (a) adherence monitoring, or (b) adherence monitoring with audiovisual medication reminders. Optimal adherence was defined as the proportion of doses taken ±3 h of the scheduled time. Numbers of missed pills and pills taken early, on time, late, and extra were recorded. A multivariable regression model tested possible associations between optimal adherence and age, MS duration, cognitive functioning, and number of daily prescription pills. RESULTS: 85 participants (66 female; mean age 44.9 years) took dimethyl/diroximel fumarate (n = 49), fingolimod (n = 26), or teriflunomide (n = 10). Optimal adherence was on average higher in the monitoring with reminders arm (71.4%) than the monitoring only arm (61.6%; p = 0.033). In a multivariable model, optimal adherence was less likely in younger participants (p < 0.001) and those taking more daily prescription pills (p < 0.001). In the monitoring only arm, 4.0% of doses were taken early, 61.6% on time, 5.6% late, 4.4% in excess, and 24.4% were missed. In the reminders arm, these proportions were 3.4%, 71.4%, 3.7%, 8.7%, and 12.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We map real-world oral DMT adherence patterns using mHealth technology. PwMS who received medication reminders had higher optimal adherence. Nonadherence was more nuanced than simply missing pills. Developing strategies to improve adherence remains important in longitudinal MS care.
Subject(s)
Medication Adherence , Multiple Sclerosis , Adult , Dimethyl Fumarate , Electronics , Female , Fingolimod Hydrochloride , Humans , Middle Aged , Multiple Sclerosis/drug therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To review the previous literature on the associations of pachymeningitis with Crohn disease (CD) and relapsing polychondritis (RP) and to describe a new case occurring in association with both in addition to highlighting its positive response to steroid and adalimumab treatment. METHODS: We review the patient's clinical presentation, diagnostic workup (serum and CSF testing), and MRI findings in detail and chronicle the response of the pachymeningitis to intensive immunotherapy. We contrast this case against previous reports of pachymeningitis occurring in association with RP and inflammatory bowel disease that were found on PubMed. RESULTS: Only 2 cases of ulcerative colitis and 5 cases of RP were found in association with pachymeningitis; there were no cases in association with CD. Our patient presented with symptoms isolated to a steroid-responsive headache in the setting of normal neurologic and rheumatologic examinations. Her preceding history was notable for long-standing CD and increasingly active symptoms referable to RP. Focal nodular pachymeningitis was seen overlying the left hemisphere on brain MRI. An extensive serum and CSF workup and body fluorodeoxyglucose-PET scan failed to identify an alternative etiology beyond her underlying autoimmune inflammatory disorders. After adding prednisone and adalimumab to her preexisting treatment of methotrexate, she responded dramatically both clinically and radiographically. CONCLUSIONS: Although exceptionally rare, pachymeningitis may occur as a neuroinflammatory complication of CD and RP.
Subject(s)
Adalimumab/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Crohn Disease/complications , Encephalitis/complications , Meningitis/complications , Polychondritis, Relapsing/complications , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Encephalitis/drug therapy , Female , Headache/complications , Humans , Meningitis/drug therapy , Middle Aged , Polychondritis, Relapsing/drug therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study long-term outcomes in patients with CNS demyelinating events exposed to TNFa-inhibitors (TNFai), including subsequent clinical relapse, MRI lesions, and use of disease modifying therapy (DMT) for MS. METHODS: Adult patients evaluated for a CNS demyelinating disease during TNFai use were identified at Mass General Brigham [01/1998-08/2020] and analyzed in clinically-relevant subgroups. Inclusion criteria required a first neurological event while taking a TNFai, MRI lesions consistent with demyelination, and the absence of a more probable alternative diagnosis. RESULTS: 21 cases (mean age 44 years, 20 female, 14 ≥ 2 MS risk factors) had an index neurological event (INE) at a median of 12 months (range 1-176) from onset of TNFai use (adalimumab in 10, etanercept 6, infliximab 5). MRI lesions were most often present in periventricular (16/20, 80%) and spinal zones (10/20, 50%); 37% (7/19) met ≥ 2 Barkhof criteria at onset. CSF testing was abnormal in 64% (7/11). 67% (10/15) with available follow-up MRIs developed new lesions by a median of 29.5 months of MRI surveillance (median MRI surveillance 60 months); 55% (11/20) met ≥ 2 Barkhof criteria. 47% (8/17) suffered a clinical relapse by a median of 40.5 months of clinic follow-up (median clinic follow-up since INE: 26 months). In patients discontinuing TNFai (18/21, 86%) at INE onset, 56% (10/18) had further evidence of CNS demyelination. Six patients (6/21, 29%) started an MS disease modifying therapy (DMT) at INE of whom 50% (3/6) had subsequent disease activity. Continuing or restarting TNFai was followed by relapse in 75% (3/4). 65% (13/20) met 2017 McDonald criteria for MS at INE with another 10% (15/20, 75%) by study conclusion. CONCLUSIONS: With extended follow-up, a majority of patients had a relapsing CNS demyelinating disorder-as evidenced by new MRI lesions or clinical relapses-despite TNFai discontinuation.