Project description:Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common finding in patients with underlying malignancy and is the commonest cause of acute cor pulmonale. A 65-year-old woman with a background of non-small-cell lung cancer presented to the emergency department with nausea and vomiting after starting erlotinib; she was pyrexial and had raised C-reactive protein. Despite aggressive fluid resuscitation and antibiotics the patient remained tachycardic, hypotensive, profoundly hypoxic and had a persistent raised jugular venous pulse. Massive PE was therefore suspected. A bedside echocardiogram demonstrated a dilated right ventricle and evidence of pulmonary hypertension. A CT pulmonary angiogram excluded a PE but revealed progression of the right hilar tumour causing complete obstruction of the right upper and middle lobe pulmonary arteries. This case highlights an important differential diagnosis when assessing patients with an underlying intrathoracic tumour with findings suggestive of PE and the importance of obtaining further imaging before considering thrombolysis.
Project description:We herein report a case of pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma (PHG), which is a rare pulmonary mass. A 69-year-old man with no symptoms presented to our hospital because of the appearance of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. Computed tomography revealed a right middle-lobe mass with spicula and infiltration into the upper lobe. Since a bronchofiberscopic examination showed no malignant cells in the specimen, the patient underwent thoracoscopic surgery, which revealed PHG. Spiculation and interlobar infiltration, which comprise the characteristic features of primary lung cancer, are uncommon presentations of this rare entity.
Project description:β2-Microglobulin is responsible for systemic amyloidosis affecting patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Its genetic variant D76N causes a very rare form of familial systemic amyloidosis. These two types of amyloidoses differ significantly in terms of the tissue localization of deposits and for major pathological features. Considering how the amyloidogenesis of the β2-microglobulin mechanism has been scrutinized in depth for the last three decades, the comparative analysis of molecular and pathological properties of wild type β2-microglobulin and of the D76N variant offers a unique opportunity to critically reconsider the current understanding of the relation between the protein's structural properties and its pathologic behavior.
Project description:The term "amyloidosis" encompasses the heterogeneous group of diseases caused by the extracellular deposition of autologous fibrillar proteins. The global incidence of amyloidosis is estimated at five to nine cases per million patient-years. While amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is more frequent in developed countries, amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is more common in some European regions and in developing countries. The spectrum of AA amyloidosis has changed in recent decades owing to: an increase in the median age at diagnosis; a percent increase in the frequency of primary AL amyloidosis with respect to the AA type; and a substantial change in the epidemiology of the underlying diseases. Diagnosis of amyloidosis is based on clinical organ involvement and histological evidence of amyloid deposits. Among the many tinctorial characteristics of amyloid deposits, avidity for Congo red and metachromatic birefringence under unidirectional polarized light remain the gold standard. Once the initial diagnosis has been made, the amyloid subtype must be identified and systemic organ involvement evaluated. In this sense, the (123)I-labeled serum amyloid P component scintigraphy is a safe and noninvasive technique that has revolutionized the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in systemic amyloidosis. It can successfully identify anatomical patterns of amyloid deposition throughout the body and enables not only an initial estimation of prognosis, but also the monitoring of the course of the disease and the response to treatment. Given the etiologic diversity of AA amyloidosis, common therapeutic strategies are scarce. All treatment options should be based upon a greater control of the underlying disease, adequate organ support, and treatment of symptoms. Nevertheless, novel therapeutic strategies targeting the formation of amyloid fibrils and amyloid deposition may generate new expectations for patients with AA amyloidosis.
Project description:BackgroundCardiac amyloidosis, a progressive cardiac disease, results from the accumulation of undegraded proteinaceous substrates in the extracellular matrix of the heart. It may present as acute coronary syndrome (ACS); therefore, a clear distinction remains challenging in clinical practice. We describe a case of cardiac amyloidosis mimicking ACS.Case summaryA 72-year-old man experienced chest discomfort for 2 days. He gradually developed dyspnoea during the preceding month. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus rhythm with right bundle branch block and low voltage. Echocardiography revealed concentric left ventricular thickening, biatrial dilation, and preserved ejection fraction with predominantly left ventricular basal hypokinesis. Serial testing of the cardiac biomarkers showed persistently increased high-sensitive cardiac troponin T levels and normal serum creatine kinase myocardial band levels. He was diagnosed with ACS with haemodynamic stability. However, coronary angiography demonstrated non-obstructive coronary arteries. Furthermore, significant macroglossia and periorbital purpura were noticed. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated serum immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC) kappa and lambda levels with an increased FLC ratio. Histological analysis of the biopsied abdominal skin confirmed amyloidosis.DiscussionCardiac amyloidosis often presents as restrictive cardiomyopathy. The usual symptoms include dyspnoea and peripheral oedema. Chest pain may manifest rarely, leading to misdiagnosis as coronary artery disease. Some findings suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis include clinical signs such as amyloid deposits, dyspnoea, low ECG voltage, and basal-predominant hypokinesis with relative apical sparing in echocardiography. Serum FLC test and abdominal skin biopsy can confirm the diagnosis of amyloidosis when a myocardial biopsy is not feasible.
Project description:AIMS: To establish a clinical and molecular diagnosis in a family with late onset lattice corneal dystrophy. METHODS: Linkage analysis, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, and direct sequencing of genomic DNA were performed. A review of the patients' clinical symptoms and signs was undertaken. RESULTS: Linkage to chromosome 9q34 was established and a mutation in the gelsolin gene was found in affected individuals. Numerous symptoms experienced by the patients were attributable to this mutation. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of amyloidosis type V (familial amyloidosis, Finnish type, FAF/Meretoja syndrome/gelsolin related amyloidosis) was made. This is the first case of amyloidosis type V described in the UK. This emphasises the importance of recognition of the extraocular manifestations of eye disease both in the diagnosis and management of the patient. In addition, these findings can help molecular geneticists in their search for disease-causing mutations.
Project description:A 26-year-old woman was diagnosed with and treated for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 2002. She was admitted 11 years later with nephrotic-range proteinuria and lupus nephritis and received two doses of rituximab after failing on steroids and mycophenolate mofetil. Four months later, she presented with fever and joint pain/swelling. Gram stains, joint aspirates, and blood culture all yielded negative results for bacteria. She was discharged after treatment for a possible flare of lupus, but two weeks later, she presented again with a cough and shortness of breath in addition to the flare symptoms. Synovial fluid Smears, and cultures yielded positive results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis; similarly, sputum polymerase chain reaction test and culture confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose in SLE patients; it may present like or precipitate SLE flare. In this patient a presumed SLE flare turned out to be an aggressive miliary, disseminated tuberculosis.
Project description:Systemic Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a monoclonal plasma cell proliferative disorder characterized by deposition of amyloidogenic monoclonal light chain fragments causing organ dysfunction. It is a fatal disease and if not diagnosed and treated early can lead to organ failure and potentially death. The renal system along with the cardiovascular system are the most common organs involved but other organs such as gut and liver can be involved as well. The initial evaluation of patients requires confirming the diagnosis with tissue biopsy and staining with Congo red followed by confirmatory typing with mass spectrometry of the Congo red positive tissue. Then establishing the extent of the organs involvement by various staging and biomarkers testing. The treatment options and the tolerability of therapy depend on the disease staging, frailty, and co-morbidities. The autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) after high dose melphalan therapy is an effective strategy which is usually done after initial bortezomib induction therapy. Unfortunately, most systemic AL amyloidosis patients are not candidate for HCT due to frailty, old age, multi-organ involvement, renal and heart failure at the time of diagnosis. While it is widely accepted that the patients need to be treated until they achieve complete hematologic response, the maintenance therapy after HCT is not well established in AL amyloidosis. In this review, we report the literature on the latest treatment updates of AL amyloidosis and the ongoing clinical trials highlighting the future treatments.
Project description:The immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis is a multisystemic disease which manifests by damage to the vital organs by light chain-derived amyloid fibril. Traditionally, the treatment has been directed to the underlying plasma cell clone with or without high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation using melphalan based conditioning. Now with the approval of highly tolerable anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab based anti-plasma cell therapy in 2021, high rates of hematologic complete responses are possible even in patients who are otherwise deemed not a candidate for autologous stem cell transplantation. However, despite the progress, there remains a limitation in the strategies to improve symptoms particularly in patients with advanced cardiac involvement, those with nephrotic syndrome and autonomic dysfunction due to underlying systemic AL amyloidosis. The symptoms can be an ordeal for the patients and their caregivers and effective strategies are urgently needed to address them. The supportive care is aimed to counteract the symptoms of the disease and the effects of the treatment on involved organs' function and preserve patients' quality of life. Here we discuss multidisciplinary approach in a system-based fashion to address the symptom management in this dreadful disease. In addition to achieving excellent anti-plasma cell disease control, using treatment directed to remove amyloid from the vital organs can theoretically hasten recovery of the involved organs thereby improving symptoms at a faster pace. Ongoing phase III clinical trials of CAEL-101 and Birtamimab will address this question.
Project description:PurposeThe clinical diagnosis of pulmonary involvement in individuals with systemic AL amyloidosis remains challenging. [18F]florbetapir imaging has previously identified AL amyloid deposits in the heart and extra-cardiac organs. The aim of this study is to determine quantitative [18F]florbetapir pulmonary kinetics to identify pulmonary involvement in individuals with systemic AL amyloidosis.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 58 subjects with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis and 9 control subjects (5 without amyloidosis and 4 with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis). Pulmonary [18F]florbetapir uptake was evaluated visually and quantified as distribution volume of specific binding (Vs) derived from compartmental analysis and simpler semiquantitative metrics of maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax), retention index (RI), and target-to-blood ratio (TBR).ResultsOn visual analysis, pulmonary tracer uptake was absent in most AL subjects (40/58, 69%); 12% (7/58) of AL subjects demonstrated intense bilateral homogeneous tracer uptake. In this group, compared to the control group, Vs (median Vs 30-fold higher, 9.79 vs. 0.26, p < 0.001), TBR (median TBR 12.0 vs. 1.71, p < 0.001), and RI (median RI 0.310 vs. 0.033, p < 0.001) were substantially higher. Notably, the AL group without visually apparent pulmonary [18F]florbetapir uptake also demonstrated a > 3-fold higher Vs compared to the control group (median 0.99 vs. 0.26, p < 0.001). Vs was independently related to left ventricular SUVmax, a marker of cardiac AL deposition, but not to ejection fraction, a marker of cardiac dysfunction. Also, intense [18F]florbetapir lung uptake was not related to [11C]acetate lung uptake, suggesting that intense [18F]florbetapir lung uptake represents AL amyloidosis rather than heart failure.Conclusions[18F]florbetapir PET/CT offers the potential to noninvasively identify pulmonary AL amyloidosis, and its clinical relevance warrants further study.