1/25. A case of the subacute brainstem encephalitis.A case of brainstem encephalitis of undetermined etiology is reported in 66-year-old woman who had a sudden onset of illness with left abducens palsy, nystagmus and ataxia. The symptoms progressed to complete paralysis of eye movements, dysphagia and left hemiparesis with generalized hyperreflexia. Examination of CSF, CT scan and MRI of the brain were normal. The patient died 4 months after onset of disease. Neuropathologic study disclosed in the brainstem numerous perivascular and nodular inflammatory cell infiltrations composed predominantly of lymphocytes T and B. Most intensive inflammation concerned midbrain and pontine tegmentum and to a lesser degree medulla oblongata, pontine nuclei and cerebellar nuclei. basal ganglia, cerebral and cerebellar cortex were unaffected. Neuropathological finding was reminiscent of brainstem encephalitides related to viral infection or to paraneoplastic syndrome. However, HSV-1, EBV, and CMV antigens were not detected by immunohistochemistry, as well as evidences of malignancy were not present in this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/25. Paraneoplastic pemphigus with fatal pulmonary involvement in a woman with a mesenteric Castleman tumour.A 42-year-old woman presented with oral and labial erosions, conjunctivitis, facial rash and lichenoid erythematous papules on the trunk. Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) was suspected, and a search for a neoplasm revealed an intra-abdominal Castleman tumour sized 7 x 5 x 6 cm. After removal of the Castleman tumour, the skin and mucosal inflammation gradually subsided over the next 12 months. However, due to irreversible pulmonary involvement the patient died of intractable respiratory distress 2 years after the onset of the disease. Systemic corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins and thalidomide were ineffective. The diagnosis of PNP was confirmed by keratinocyte antigen immunoprecipitation with the patient's serum.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/25. Eruptive paraneoplastic keloids.We present a 66-year-old woman who developed eruptive keloids in association with endometrial carcinoma in the absence of trauma, surgery, inflammation, or other known preludes to keloid formation. keloid formation and endometrial carcinoma are both associated with similar cytokine abnormalities and as such, we hypothesize that this is a previously unreported paraneoplastic phenomenon.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/25. Paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with bronchiolitis obliterans.Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoantibody-mediated mucocutaneous blistering disease associated with underlying neoplasms. autoantibodies of PNP bind to the plakin family of cytoplasmic proteins and desmogleins of cell-surface target antigens. We describe a 36-year-old female patient with PNP who had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and who developed bronchiolitis obliterans and died of respiratory failure. autopsy findings confirmed luminal narrowing of bronchioles by scarring, which is a histopathologic features of bronchiolitis obliterans. After the onset of respiratory failure, the reaction of autoantibodies against the plakins detected by immunoprecipitation at the onset of PNP disappeared with negative immunofluorescence within the bronchial epithelium. It is thought that autoantibodies against some of these antigens play a role in causing acute inflammation of the respiratory epithelium. In treating PNP, the possibility of the patient developing the lethal complication bronchiolitis obliterans should be kept in mind. Furthermore, prevention of the initial autoantibody-mediated injury to the respiratory epithelium should be an important treatment goal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/25. Lichenoid dermatitis in paraneoplastic pemphigus: a pathogenic trigger of epitope spreading?BACKGROUND: In select cases, lichen planus has been observed to be a paraneoplastic condition sometimes associated with paraneoplastic pemphigus, a disease featuring autoantibodies directed against plakin proteins, desmogleins 3 and 1, and a still uncharacterized 170-kd antigen. Epitope spreading describes the phenomenon where underlying chronic inflammation leads to the sequential recognition of new epitopes on self-proteins over time. OBSERVATIONS: Five of 6 patients diagnosed as having paraneoplastic pemphigus had concomitant clinical and histological features of lichen planus. In 1 patient, results of the initial indirect immunofluorescence on rat bladder were negative and only 2 of the 5 antigens were identified by immunoprecipitation. After 1 year of worsening disease, repeated testing confirmed the presence of antibodies directed against all 6 of the implicated antigens, supportive of our hypothesis that epitope spreading may occur in paraneoplastic pemphigus. CONCLUSIONS: lichenoid eruptions may predispose to an early evolutionary stage of paraneoplastic pemphigus. Cell-mediated autoimmunity at the dermoepidermal junction may promote the exposure of self-antigens and the development of subsequent and progressive humoral autoimmunity. As such, paraneoplastic pemphigus may demonstrate epitope spreading in a human, humoral-mediated autoimmune disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/25. Relapsing polychondritis associated with monoclonal gammopathy in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome.Relapsing polychondritis is a rare condition characterized by inflammation and subsequent degeneration of cartilages. Deformity of the pinna, nasal saddling and stridor due to involvement of the cartilages of the respiratory tract may lead to patients being referred to the otolaryngologist for initial assessment and further management. Recent observations have suggested that relapsing polychondritis may occur as a paraneoplastic phenomenon in cases of myelodysplasia. The case of a patient with relapsing polychondritis, myelodysplastic syndrome and a monoclonal gammopathy is presented. The authors highlight the apparent existence of this association and encourage otolaryngologists to consider such possible links when cases of relapsing polychondritis present to the outpatients department.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/25. Paraneoplastic pemphigus. A report of two cases associated with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukaemia.Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune blistering and erosive mucocutaneous disease associated with neoplasia. Clinical manifestations are polymorphous, and include erythema, bullae, erythema multiforme-like lesions and severe mucous membrane involvement. PNP manifesting as lichenoid dermatitis has recently been observed. We describe two Italian men with fatal PNP featuring typical PNP autoantigens associated with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukaemia. The first patient presented with an extensive blistering eruption, several erythema multiforme-like lesions and severe mucosal involvement. The second patient presented with a lichenoid dermatitis, then developed bullae, and died with an erythrodermic and exfoliative dermatosis resembling pemphigus foliaceus. Our patients represent two Italian cases of well-documented PNP. In patient 2, the sequence of clinical presentations was unique, and strongly supports the hypothesis of epitope spreading through chronic lichenoid inflammation of the dermo-epidermal junction exposing new self antigens, leading to the humoral response characteristic of PNP.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/25. Opsoclonus in three dimensions: oculographic, neuropathologic and modelling correlates.Opsoclonus is a dyskinesia consisting of involuntary, arrhythmic, chaotic, multidirectional saccades, without intersaccadic intervals. We used a magnetic scleral search coil technique to study opsoclonus in two patients with paraneoplastic complications of lung carcinoma. Eye movement recordings provided evidence that opsoclonus is a three-dimensional oscillation, consisting of torsional, horizontal, and vertical components. Torsional nystagmus was also present in one patient. Antineuronal antibody study revealed the presence of anti-Ta (Ma2 onco-neuronal antigen) antibodies in one patient, which had previously been associated only with paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis and brainstem dysfunction, but not opsoclonus, and only in patients with testicular or breast cancer. Neuropathologic examination revealed mild paraneoplastic encephalitis. Normal neurons identified in the nucleus raphe interpositus (rip) do not support postulated dysfunction of omnipause cells in the pathogenesis of opsoclonus. computer simulation of a model of the saccadic system indicated that disinhibition of the oculomotor region of the fastigial nucleus (FOR) in the cerebellum can generate opsoclonus. Histopathological examination revealed inflammation and gliosis in the fastigial nucleus. This morphological finding is consistent with, but not necessary to confirm, damage to afferent projections to the FOR, as determined by the model. Malfunction of purkinje cells in the dorsal vermis, which inhibit the FOR, may cause opsoclonus by disinhibiting it.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/25. Paraneoplastic erythroderma in a prostate cancer patient.BACKGROUND: Erythroderma is an inflammation of the skin, which can be triggered by various diseases as psoriasis, allergies, side effects of medication, infections or malignant tumors. Caused by these various etiologic possibilities patients require extensive diagnostic effort. PATIENT: We report a case of a 71-year-old man presenting with an erythroderma of unknown etiology. Therapy with corticosteroids was not successful. A complete remission was reached by therapy with cyclosporine A, 350 mg/day. Finally, an increased prostate specific antigene (PSA) value was found and a prostate cancer was diagnosed in the patient. RESULTS: After definitive radiotherapy of the carcinoma (total dose 74 Gy, 5 x 2 Gy/week), the cyclosporine A was displaced without recurrence of erythroderma. CONCLUSION: In this case, we consider the erythroderma to have been a paraneoplastic effect of the prostate carcinoma. In male patients with erythroderma an early PSA test should be performed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/25. Intestinal pseudoobstruction as a paraneoplastic syndrome in ganglioneuroblastoma.Intestinal pseudoobstruction may be part of a paraneoplastic syndrome. We report a teenage girl with ganglioneuroblastoma who presented with severe constipation. The intestinal pseudoobstruction was presumed to be due to inflammation of the myenteric plexus with destruction of the ganglion cells caused by antineuronal nuclear antibodies (ANNA or Anti-Hu).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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