1/29. susac syndrome: microangiopathy of the retina, cochlea and brain.BACKGROUND: susac syndrome is characterized by the triad of branch retinal arterial occlusions, encephalopathy and cochlear microangiopathy. The underlying process is believed to be a small vessel vasculitis causing microinfarcts in the retina, brain and cochlea. methods: Analysis of two male and two female cases of susac syndrome recognized in australia. RESULTS: In this series the epidemiology, mode of presentation, ophthalmologic features, neurologic and cochleo-vestibular features, radiologic characteristics, cerebrospinal fluid findings, therapeutic interventions, clinical course and outcome of susac syndrome is examined. Key ophthalmologic differential diagnoses include systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), Behcet's syndrome and other vasculitides such as sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, syphilis and lymphoma. Neuro-otologic features are most frequently misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSION: susac syndrome, first described in 1979, is becoming an increasingly recognized condition. Early recognition of the syndrome is important because treatment with systemic immunosuppression may minimize permanent cognitive, audiologic and visual sequelae.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/29. susac syndrome: a vasospastic disorder?PURPOSE: The susac syndrome is a microangiopathy that leads to visual symptoms, hearing loss and neurological symptoms. CASE REPORT: We report on a young woman suffering from this syndrome who also presented the following signs and symptoms typical of a vasospastic syndrome; 1) a history of cold hands, low blood pressure and migraine; 2) a typical alteration of conjunctival vessels; 3) prolonged flow arrest time after cooling in nailfold capillaromicroscopy; 4) increased resistivity in the orbital vessels measured by color Doppler imaging; and 5) an increased plasma level of endothelin-1. CONCLUSIONS: We postulate that the Susac syndrome is a manifestation of the vasospastic syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/29. Cogan's syndrome: organ-specific autoimmune disease or systemic vasculitis? A report of two cases and review of the literature.Cogan's syndrome is a rare disorder of unknown origin characterized by inflammatory eye disease and vestibuloauditory symptoms. Typically, young adults suffer from interstitial keratitis and sudden onset of tinnitus and hearing loss. Few cases (around 150) have been published and thus it is difficult to determine the percentage of patients with underlying systemic disorders such as systemic vasculitis. The variety of systemic manifestations is large and includes fever, splenomegaly, lymphadenopath, and musculoskeletal complaints. systemic vasculitis can be seen in around 10% of cases and may involve the large vessels, appearing as Takayasu-like vasculitis with affection of the aortic valve but also the coronary arteries and the small kidney vasculature. Evaluating the exact extension of the systemic features determines the choice of treatment. While corticosteroids have proved to be of short-term benefit, long-term treatment with immunosuppressive drugs is controversial. Auditory function in deaf patients has often been restored successfully with cochlear implants. To illustrate the nature of the syndrome, we present two patients with a wide clinical spectrum of symptoms from local disease restricted to the eyes and ears to a widespread vasculitis affecting arteries of the brain, kidney and the upper and lower extremities. We then review the typical aspects as well as the etiology of the disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/29. Myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated sensorineural hearing loss.A 36-year-old female with hyperthyroidism that had been treated with propilthiouracil (PTU) complained of tinnitus and hearing loss in both ears. She was treated with steroid administration by an otolaryngologist; however, hearing continued to fluctuate when the steroids were tapered. Laboratory evaluation revealed a decreased complement level and elevated levels of immunoglobulin m (IgM) and myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). With the withdrawal of PTU and high-dose methylprednisolone, she had excellent return of right-sided hearing. In recent years, there have been many reports about MPO-ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis. Although any organ may be affected by this disease, there are no reports about MPO-ANCA-associated progressive hearing loss without any other organ involvement. The present case suggests the possibility that inner ear blood flow impairment due to ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis induces the so-called autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/29. The potential risk of carotid injury in cochlear implant surgery.BACKGROUND: The advent of cochlear implantation has revolutionized the options afforded to the deaf population. With the increase in the prevalence of this procedure have come larger experiences in the associated technical challenges and complications. RESULTS: We present the evaluation and management of a patient with an unusual complication of improper placement of the implant electrode into the carotid canal and its management. We discuss the anatomy of the carotid artery and its proximity to the cochlea to emphasize the potential risk to this large vessel. CONCLUSIONS: Damage to the carotid canal and the carotid artery is a potential risk of cochlear implant surgery. When available, we recommend intraoperative electrical testing of the cochlear implant be performed. If there is doubt as to the placement of the electrode, a radiograph should be obtained before the patient is taken out of the operating room to avoid this complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/29. Vascular occlusion in the endolymphatic sac in Meniere's disease.In 2 patients with severe Meniere's disease (MD), there was histologic evidence of occlusion of the vein of the vestibular aqueduct (VVA). This finding coincided with total or partial occlusion of numerous small vessels around the endolymphatic sac (ES), flattening of epithelium, extensive perisaccular fibrosis, and signs of new bone formation. Ultrastructural analysis of the occluding material showed foci with dense connective tissue, calcification, lipid deposits, and layers of basement membrane, sometimes concentrically arranged. The exact nature of the occluding material was unknown. In another 2 MD patients, the VVA was not visualized, and the ES vessels showed no signs of occlusion. Seven controls with acoustic schwannoma or meningioma had normal vasculature. The presence of vascular impairment in the ES in MD patients indicated that altered hemodynamics may contribute to the pathogenesis of endolymphatic hydrops and MD.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/29. Sudden hearing loss in chronic myelogenous leukaemia implicating the hyperviscosity syndrome.Sudden sensorineural hearing loss that presents as the initial sign of haematological disease is very rare. Chronic myelogenous leukaemia has been implicated as a causative factor of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. A 49-year-old male presented with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The patient was found to have chronic myelogenous leukaemia during a work-up for his hearing loss. We present a case of a chronic myelogenous leukaemia patient whose first manifestation was sudden sensorineural hearing loss. We presume that cochlear vessel occlusion as a result of elevated blood viscosity was responsible for this patient's hearing loss. Early onset of sudden deafness in a chronic myelogenous leukaemia patient may be due to the hyperviscosity syndrome and it may be possible to reverse hearing loss through early leukapheresis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/29. Adamantiades-Behcet's disease with inner ear involvement.Adamantiades-Behcet's disease is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disorder involving the small and large vessels. Typical loci of manifestations are the mucous membranes, skin and eyes, as well as the joints and central nervous system. Other organs are not commonly involved. We present two patients, one with ocular and the other with mucocutaneous manifestation of Adamantiades-Behcet's disease. In addition, the first patient reported three episodes of sudden hearing loss while under immunosuppressive therapy for his eye involvement. The second, therapy-naive patient complained of tinnitus in his left ear. Careful examination revealed vestibular involvement in the first patient and retrocochlear involvement in the second. Inner ear involvement is an uncommon manifestation of Adamantiades-Behcet's disease. In case of relevant signs or history, such as hearing disturbance, tinnitus and/or vertigo, patients should be examined for inner ear involvement.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/29. Coats-like lesions in Usher syndrome type II.BACKGROUND: An unusual case of Usher syndrome type II associated with bilateral Coats-like exudative retinopathy is described. methods: A 14-year-old boy with congenital sensorineural deafness and normal vestibular functions presented with a recent history of night blindness. He was followed for 3 years with fundus photography, intravenous fluorescein angiography, electroretinography and audiometric testings. His parents refused any form of treatment. RESULTS: Fundoscopy showed bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and a single focus of subretinal exudation and overlying telangiectatic retinal vessels inferotemporal to the vascular arcade in the right eye. He had bilateral mild macular edema. A year later, a similar lesion developed inferotemporally in the left fundus. electroretinography responses, particularly the rod-mediated signals, were significantly reduced. Audiometric studies documented hearing loss in high frequencies. His visual acuity declined from 20/40 to 20/80 RE and from 20/80 to 20/100 LE during follow-up. No new lesions developed. CONCLUSIONS: Coats-type exudative lesions may develop in patients with Usher syndrome type II. Although left untreated, only a minimal increase in exudation occurred over 3 years.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/29. Cranial nerve VIII involvement in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis.Systemic sclerosis is a multisystem disorder characterized by abundant fibrosis of the skin, blood vessels, and visceral organs. Cranial nerve involvement is an uncommon feature of this connective tissue disorder, and when it occurs it is the trigeminal nerve that is primarily affected. We report an elderly woman who presented with sensorineural hearing loss and was then diagnosed with the crest syndrome of progressive systemic sclerosis (calcinosis cutis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia). Involvement of the eighth cranial nerve with scleroderma and crest syndrome is rare, but appears to be the cause of sensorineural hearing loss in our patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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