Native Valve Aspergillus Endocarditis in a Non-Neutropenic Immunocompromised Patient on Anti-TNF α Blockers Therapy.

Invasive aspergillosis is a rare opportunistic infection mainly occurring in patients with a well-established risk such as neutropenia or conditions that lead to chronically impaired cellular immune responses. Systemic corticosteroids are a well-known risk factor for fungal infections. Recently, reports of invasive aspergillosis in patients treated with monoclonal biologic agents, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, have been increasing. We present the case of a 47-year-old female patient with seronegative spondyloarthropathy treated with infliximab and corticosteroids. The patient presented classical symptoms of an acute lower respiratory infection, and she was treated with a ß-lactam antibiotic. Infliximab administration was deferred until nine days after clinical recovery. Fourteen days after drug administration, she was admitted with a symptomatic subcortical hematoma in the left parietal region. There was a rapid neurological recovery, and there were no risk factors for haemorrhagic stroke detected. The chest X-ray revealed an oval mass with an air crescent sign, and the CT scan was suggestive of aspergilloma. Bronchoalveolar lavage cytology identified Aspergillus spp. Voriconazole was initiated and, after one month of treatment, the patient was readmitted with a left facial palsy associated with hemiparesis and dysarthria. Laboratory evaluation showed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. A severe right middle cerebral artery stroke was present on the brain CT scan. Transesophageal echocardiogram revealed large mitral valve vegetation, and the diagnosis of Aspergillus endocarditis with cerebral embolization was made. Fungal infections are challenging due to the diagnosis infrequency and paucisymptomatic natural history. Despite being crucial in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, immunosuppressive drugs increase the risk of fungal infection. It is extremely important to consider Aspergillus infection in immunosuppressed patients, and the need for prophylaxis in non-neutropenic patients with risk factors should be clarified.

Drug-Induced Aseptic Meningitis Following Spinal Anesthesia.

Meningitis is a very uncommon complication of spinal anesthesia, and drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM) is even rarer. We present two cases of DIAM following spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine and ropivacaine, respectively. The patients presented shortly after the procedure with typical meningitis symptoms. Since CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) analysis could not initially exclude bacterial meningitis, they were started on empirical antibiotics. CSF was subsequently found to be negative for viruses and bacteria in both cases, and antibiotics were promptly stopped. Both patients improved rapidly and without neurological sequelae. While it remains a diagnosis of exclusion, it is important to be aware of DIAM as recognition of the condition can lead to shorter admission times and avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. LEARNING POINTS: A diagnosis of DIAM should be considered when a patient who recently underwent spinal anesthesia is admitted with symptoms and CSF compatible with meningitis.Clinical and laboratory findings (including CSF analysis) cannot distinguish between bacterial meningitis and DIAM.A negative CSF culture and rapid recovery confirm the diagnosis and stopping antibiotics at this point is effective.

Doença de Behçet ocular: a nossa realidade / Behçet disease: our experience

Resumo Objetivo: A doença de Behçet é uma vasculite inflamatória sistémica, de etiologia desconhecida. Pode atingir virtualmente todos os sistemas, sendo as manifestações oculares comuns. O objectivo deste trabalho foi analisar doentes com doença de Behçet ocular quanto aos parâmetros demográficos, manifestações clinicas, terapêutica e principais complicações. Métodos: Estudo descritivo e retrospetivo, que incluiu 11 doentes com o diagnóstico de doença de Behçet ocular, segundo os critérios do ISG, observados na consulta de Inflamação Ocular do Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando da Fonseca nos últimos 3 anos. Resultados: Identificaram-se 11 doentes, 5 homens e 6 mulheres, todos caucasianos. A idade média ao diagnóstico foi de 33,45±6,49 anos. A manifestação ocular foi o primeiro sinal da doença em 2 doentes. Em 72,7% dos casos as manifestações oculares foram bilaterais. Identificaram-se 4 casos de panuveíte, 3 de uveíte posterior, 2 de uveíte anterior, 1 de queratite e 1 caso de episclerite. O glaucoma e a catarata foram a complicação ocular mais frequente. O tratamento sistémico incluiu a corticoterapia oral em associação com terapêutica adjuvante imunossupressora, sendo os mais utilizados a azatioprina e a ciclosporina. Em 3 doentes houve necessidade de terapêutica biológica com infliximab para controlo da doença. Conclusão: A manifestação ocular mais frequente foi a panuveíte. Esta doença pode condicionar complicações oculares com diminuição irreversível da acuidade visual. A orientação destes doentes exige uma abordagem global e interdisciplinar.

Abstract Objective: Behçet's disease is a systemic inflammatory vasculitis of unknown etiology. It can virtually reach all systems, being common ocular manifestations. The aim of this study was to analyze patients with ocular Behcet's disease regarding demographic parameters, clinical manifestations, therapeutic approach and main complications. Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study, including 11 patients diagnosed with ocular Behcet's disease, according to the ISG criteria, observed in the Ocular Inflammation appointment of the Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando da Fonseca in the last 3 years. Results: We identified 11 patients, 5 males and 6 females, all caucasian. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.45 ± 6.49 years. Ocular manifestation was the first sign of the disease in 2 patients. In 72.7% of the cases, ocular manifestations were bilateral. There were four cases of panuveitis, 3 of posterior uveitis, 2 of anterior uveitis, 1 of keratitis and 1 case of episcleritis. Glaucoma and cataract were the most frequent ocular complications. Systemic treatment included oral corticosteroid therapy in combination with adjuvant immunosuppressive therapy, and the most commonly used was azathioprine and cyclosporine. In 3 patients there was a need for biological treatment with infliximab to control the disease. Conclusion: The most frequent ocular manifestation was panuveitis. This disease can promote eye complications with an irreversible decrease in visual acuity. Orientation of these patients requires a global and interdisciplinary approach.

Sarcoidose ocular: a nossa realidade nos últimos seis anos / Ocular sarcoidosis: our reality for the past six years

RESUMO Introdução: Na sarcoidose, as manifestações oculares são comuns e podem constituir a manifestação inicial da doença ou mesmo a única. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os parâmetros demográficos, manifestações clínicas, terapêutica e principais complicações oculares em doentes com sarcoidose ocular. Métodos: Estudo descritivo e retrospectivo que incluiu doentes com o diagnóstico de sarcoidose ocular, observados nas consultas de Inflamação Ocular e de Doenças Auto-Imunes do Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca, no período entre 2009 e 2015. Resultados: Foram identificados 11 doentes com o diagnóstico de sarcoidose ocular, com predomínio do sexo feminino (54,5%) e caucasianos. A média da idade ao diagnóstico foi de 45±14 anos. A sarcoidose manifestou-se de forma exclusivamente ocular em 36% dos casos. O envolvimento ocular foi a manifestação inicial em 90,9% dos casos. Identificaram-se 9 casos de uveíte, 1 de esclerite anterior nodular e 1 de queratite intersticial. O tratamento com corticoterapia tópica foi realizado em 100% dos casos, sendo o tratamento único em apenas 1 doente. Nos restantes, foi necessário associar corticoterapia oral. Em 4 desses doentes, pela gravidade da doença e atingimento binocular, utilizou-se também corticoterapia pulsada endovenosa. O tratamento adjuvante imunossupressor mais frequentemente utilizado foi o metotrexato (45%). Um doente necessitou de terapia biológica com infliximabe para controle da doença. Conclusão: A manifestação ocular mais comum foi a uveíte, com predomínio da panuveíte. O tratamento mais utilizado e com maior taxa de controle da doença foi a corticoterapia sistêmica em associação com o metotrexato.

ABSTRACT Purpose: In sarcoidosis, ocular manifestations are common and can be the initial or even the only clinical manifestation. The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic parameters, clinical manifestations, treatment and the major ocular complications in patients with ocular sarcoidosis. Methods: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study that included patients with the diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis, followed by inflammatory ophthalmology and immune-mediated disease consults at the Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca Hospital, between 2009 and 2015. Results: Eleven patients with the diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis were identified, with a predominance of females (54,5%) and Caucasians. The average age at diagnosis was 45 ± 14 years. Sarcoidosis was exclusively ocular in 36%. The first manifestation of sarcoidosis was eye disease in 90.9 % of cases. Nine cases of uveitis, one of nodular scleritis and one of interstitial keratitis were observed. Topical corticoid treatment was applied in 100% of cases, with only one achieving remission of the disease. Oral corticoid treatment was necessary in 10 cases, four of which needed a high dose methylprednisolone induction. Methotrexate was the adjunctive immunosuppressive treatment of choice in 45% of cases. There was one refractory case for conventional immunosuppressive therapy, having achieved remission with biologic agent infliximab. Conclusion: Uveitis was the commonest ocular manifestation, and there was a predominance of panuveitis. Systemic corticoid and methotrexate were the most used immunosuppressive treatments for maintaining the controlled stated of the disease.

Leprosy and rheumatoid arthritis: consequence or association?

Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae with a high prevalence in some developing countries however, it is rarely seen in non-endemic regions. Arthritis has been described in all types of Hansen's disease. Chronic arthritis is known to exist even in paucibacillary forms, resolved or treated disease and in patients without reaction, suggesting a perpetuated inflammatory process. In these cases leprosy can mimic some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. When a patient with a history of leprosy presents with a symmetric, distal, polyarthritis the diagnosis may not be linear. Possibly it is a rheumatoid-like leprous arthritis with M leprae acting as the trigger element for the chronic process or it is an overlap condition, with a concomitant rheumatoid arthritis? A case report of a patient with a chronic inflammatory arthritis with 10 years of evolution is presented. The differential diagnosis between leprous and rheumatoid arthritis is discussed.

Thrombotic risk in patients submitted to splenectomy for systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome-related thrombocytopenia.

Background: Splenectomy has been performed to treat refractory autoimmune thrombocytopenia. However, some reports have suggested that an increased risk of thrombosis could be present in splenectomized patients. This study aims to evaluate the possibility of an increased risk of thrombosis after splenectomy in patients with systemic lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome. Methods: Thrombotic-related events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and/or primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS), before and after splenectomy for severe thrombocytopenia, were compared. Clinical data, laboratory investigations, and anticoagulation or antiaggregation treatment data were collected from the notes of outpatients attending three European centers. Results: Twenty patients who had had a splenectomy were identified: eight with SLE, five with PAPS, and seven with SLE and APS. The mean time between diagnosis and splenectomy was 3.1 years and mean follow-up was 6.5 years. There were no differences in anticardiolipin antibody titers, lupus anticoagulant, anti-DNA or anti-nuclear antibodies before and after surgery. The incidence of venous events before and after splenectomy was not significantly different. There was a trend towards an increase in the total number of arterial events post-splenectomy. In aCL-positive patients, and in the pre-splenectomy period, the total number of miscarriages was higher (p=0.017), as was the number of patients who had had a miscarriage (p=0.025). Conclusions: The total risk of thrombosis in patients with PAPS and SLE was not increased after splenectomy, but there was a trend towards an increase in the number of arterial events. Splenectomy induced long-term remission of thrombocytopenia (partial or complete) in all patients.

Oxidative stress in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome: a gateway to atherosclerosis.

Vascular disease and atherosclerosis are significant clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome. Oxidation is one of the major factors responsible for atheroma development in this context. Anticardiolipin antibodies seem to play an important role by inducing nitric oxide and superoxide production, resulting in enhanced levels of plasma peroxynitrite, which is a powerful pro-oxidant substance. Furthermore, direct interference of these antibodies with paraoxonase activity, a high-density lipoprotein-related anti-oxidant enzyme, would contribute to the oxidative stress found in these conditions. The accelerated process of atherogenesis found in these diseases can represent a useful model for the study of atherosclerosis in the general population.

Personality, brain asymmetry, and neuroendocrine reactivity in two immune-mediated disorders: a preliminary report.

Development of some immune-mediated disorders may depend on dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. To explore neuropsychologic mechanisms in relation to the abnormal endocrine reactivity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) we used the corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) test, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and the Edinburgh Inventory of Manual Preference Inventory (EIMP). Compared to controls, the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) response to CRH was reduced in CHC, while SLE presented reduced baseline dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels; higher neurotic scores were found in SLE and higher behavior deviant scores in CHC. Peak ACTH levels were a significant factor for the MMPI profile variability, while the manual preference score was a significant factor for the ACTH response. Personality and manual preference contribute to neuroendocrine abnormalities. Different behavioral and neuroimmunoendocrine models emerge for these disorders.