Teriparatide for the Treatment of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a painful and intractable disease of the jaw that clinically presents as an area of ulceration with exposed necrotic bone. In severe cases, it can predispose to jaw fracture, skin fistula, or osteolysis extending beyond the region of the alveolar bone. No effective treatment has been established for this condition. Recently, teriparatide, a recombinant parathyroid hormone, and the only FDA-approved osteoanabolic drug for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, has been used for the treatment of MRONJ. We review the literature highlighting the effectiveness of teriparatide alone or as an adjunct in the treatment of MRONJ. Twenty publications met our selection criteria, comprising 54 patients with stage 2 or 3 MRONJ secondary to antiresorptive/antiangiogenic drugs. Trauma due to implant placement was the most common triggering factor for the development of MRONJ. Patients were treated with subcutaneous injections of 20-µg teriparatide for 3-12 months (5 1/2 months average). Symptomatic relief was achieved in almost all cases, with lesions healing completely in 49 of 54 patients. Based on our findings, teriparatide can play an important role in the treatment of MRONJ.

An Intensive Care Unit Outbreak of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome due to Human Metapneumo Virus Infection.

Human metapneumo virus is an emerging cause of upper and lower respiratory tract illness with increasing reports of a varied spectrum of disease over all age groups. We report an outbreak of 6 cases of human metapneumo virus infection in the intensive care unit of a metropolitan tertiary care center over 6 weeks, leading to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. We report the subsequent favorable outcomes due to the institution of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Adult-Onset Still's Disease.

A 29-year-old female with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) presented with progressive shortness of breath both on rest and on exertion, increased abdominal girth, and swelling in both legs. She was on oral prednisone and was recently started on canakinumab (interleukin-1 antagonist) for joint pain and rash of AOSD. Echocardiogram showed severely dilated right ventricle, dilated pulmonary artery, moderately reduced right ventricular systolic function, but with normal left ventricular systolic function. Computed tomography with contrast ruled out pulmonary embolism. Blood tests ruled out other rheumatologic diseases. The patient was diagnosed with right-sided heart failure likely secondary to AOSD. Right heart catheterization was needed but could not be performed because of severely dilated pulmonary artery. The patient was transferred to a higher center for further management and possible cardiopulmonary transplant.