Mielopatía por déficit de cobre: serie de casos y revisión de la literatura / Myelopathy due to copper deficiency: A case series and review of the literature

El déficit de cobre puede presentarse como una mielopatía y manifestarse como una ataxia sensorial secundaria a una desmielinización de los cordones posteriores de la médula espinal. Puede acompañarse de citopenias, principalmente anemia y leucopenia. Se presenta una serie de casos de tres pacientes con mielopatía por déficit de cobre, diagnosticados y manejados desde el año 2020 al 2022 en un hospital universitario de alta complejidad en Colombia. Dos de los casos eran mujeres. El rango de edad fue entre 57 y 68 años. En los tres casos, los niveles séricos de cobre estaban disminuidos y en dos de ellos, se descartaron diferentes causas de mielopatía que afectan los cordones posteriores de la médula espinal como el déficit de vitamina B12, vitamina E y ácido fólico, tabes dorsal, mielopatía por virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, esclerosis múltiple e infección por el virus linfotrópico humano de tipo I y II, entre otras. Sin embargo, un paciente tenía deficiencia de vitamina B12 asociada con de cobre en el momento del diagnóstico de la mielopatía. En los tres casos hubo ataxia sensitiva y en dos, la paraparesia fue el déficit motor inicial. Se deben incluir siempre la determinación de los niveles de cobre dentro del abordaje diagnóstico de todo paciente con enfermedad gastrointestinal crónica, con diarrea crónica, síndrome de mala absorción o reducción significativa de la ingestión en la dieta, y que desarrolle síntomas neurológicos sugestivos de compromiso de los cordones, ya que se ha reportado que el retraso en el diagnóstico de las mielopatías se asocia con pobres desenlaces neurológicos.

Copper deficiency can present as myelopathy by the manifestation of sensory ataxia, secondary to demyelination of the posterior cords of the spinal cord, accompanied by cytopenia, mainly anemia, and leukopenia. Case series study of three patients with myelopathy due to copper deficiency, diagnosed and managed from 2020 to 2022 in a highly complex university hospital in Colombia. Regarding gender, two cases were female patients. The age range was between 57 and 68 years. In all three cases serum copper levels were decreased, and in two of these, different causes of myelopathy affecting the posterior cords of the spinal cord were ruled out, such as vitamin B12, vitamin E and folic acid deficiency, tabes dorsalis, myelopathy due to human immunodeficiency virus, multiple sclerosis and infection by the human lymphotropic virus type I and II, among others. However, at the moment of the myelopathy diagnosis, one patient had vitamin B12 deficiency associated with copper insufficiency. All three cases presented sensory ataxia, and in two, paraparesis was the initial motor deficit. The diagnostic approach must include copper levels assessment in every case of patients with chronic gastrointestinal pathology, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or significant reduction in dietary intake; and the development of neurological symptoms that may suggest cord involvement. It has been reported that a delay in diagnosis can lead to poor neurological outcomes.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with refractory seropositive myasthenia gravis: A case report.

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease characterized by fatigable weakness of skeletal muscles that results from an antibody-mediated immunological attack directed at acetylcholine postsynaptic receptors. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered as a treatment option in refractory cases of myasthenia gravis. A 56-year-old Colombian male presented with six months of progressive hoarseness and dysphagia, with a positive repetitive stimulation test suggestive of end plate neuromuscular disease. Myasthenia gravis was confirmed with serology testing that reported presence of circulating acetylcholine postsynaptic receptors antibodies. The patient received several lines of pharmacological treatment and thymectomy without control of symptoms, requiring admission to the intensive care unit and mechanical ventilation in two occasions. Patient underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and has been in complete clinical remission for 65 months. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a well-tolerated treatment that should be considered over conventional therapy in selected patients with refractory myasthenia gravis.

Encefalopatía de Wernicke posterior a cirugía bariátrica: más que una pérdida de peso: [revisión] / Wernicke encephalopathy following a bariatric surgery: more than a weight loss: [review]

La encefalopatía de Wernicke y polineuropatía por deficiencia de tiamina (vitamina B1) es una de las posibles complicaciones neurológicas que comúnmente se presentan en pacientes sometidos a cirugías bariátricas. Al tener un aumento del número de procedimientos también se ha observado un aumento de estas complicaciones relacionadas a déficit vitamínico, y haciendo de esta condición relevante que debería conocerse por todos los profesionales de la salud; ya que su pronóstico está estrechamente relacionado con su prevención prequirúrgica y con la instauración rápida del tratamiento al tener una sospecha diagnóstica. La siguiente es una revisión de la literatura acerca de esta entidad; su presentación clínica, factores de riesgo, diagnóstico diferencial, tratamiento y pronóstico.

Wernicke encephalopathy and polyneuropathy related with Thiamine deficiency, is one of the possible neurologic complications that are commonly presented in patients who undergo bariatric surgery. With increasing number of bariatric procedures done there is also an increase in complications related to vitamin deficiency, making this a relevant condition that must be known by all healthcare professionals; mainly because its prognosis is closely related to its pre-surgical prevention and the prompt treatment when there is a clinical suspicious of the condition. The following in a literature review about this condition; its clinical presentation, risk factors, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.