scholarly journals Nodular Scleritis Associated with Herpes Zoster Virus: An Infectious and Immune-Mediated Process

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Loureiro ◽  
Renata Rothwell ◽  
Sofia Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Poor Response ◽  
Oral Prednisolone ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Clinical Resolution ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
The Right

Purpose.To describe a case of anterior nodular scleritis, preceded by an anterior hypertensive uveitis, which was primarily caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV).Case Report. A 54-year-old woman presented with anterior uveitis of the right eye presumably caused by herpetic viral disease and was successfully treated. Two months later, she developed a nodular scleritis and started oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory without effect. A complete laboratory workup revealed positivity for HLA-B27; the infectious workup was negative. Therapy was changed to oral prednisolone and an incomplete improvement occurred. Therefore, a diagnostic anterior paracentesis was performed and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed VZV. She was treated with valacyclovir and the oral prednisolone began to decrease; however, a marked worsening of the scleritis occurred with the reduction of the daily dose; subsequently, methotrexate was introduced allowing the suspension of the prednisolone and led to clinical resolution of the scleritis.Conclusion.This report of anterior nodular scleritis caused by VZV argues in favor of an underlying immune-mediated component, requiring immunosuppressive therapy for clinical resolution. The PCR analysis of the aqueous humor was revealed to be a valuable technique and should be considered in cases of scleritis with poor response to treatment.

scholarly journals Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada with Unilateral Clinical Presentation: A Case Report

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Maryam Hosseini ◽  
Maryam Dourandish ◽  
Marjan Mazouchi
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Oral Prednisolone ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Systemic Involvement ◽  
Optic Disc Swelling ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
The Right ◽  
Visual Blurring ◽  
Vkh Disease

Purpose: To report a case of acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease with unilateral clinical manifestations followed by late fellow eye involvement. Case Report: This case report reviews the 12-month follow-up observation of a 44-year old woman who presented to the emergency department with unilateral progressive and painless visual blurring. Ophthalmoscopic findings, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography (FAG), enhanced-depth optical coherence tomography (EDIOCT), indocyanine green angiography, and response to treatment were evaluated. Her BCVA was 20/50 (logMAR: 0.4) in the right eye and 20/20 (logMAR: 0) in the left eye. Eye examination revealed optic disc swelling and multiple serous retinal detachments in the right eye and a normal left eye. She had headache, dysacusia, and mild hearing problems. Her past ocular and drug histories were unremarkable. Retinal imaging revealed characteristic features of VKH in the right eye. All laboratory testing results were inconclusive. VA and OCT findings significantly improved following the treatment with methylprednisolone 1 g/day continued by tapering dose of oral prednisolone. Two months after the presentation and during prednisolone tapering, VA of the left eye decreased and fundus examination revealed multiple serous retinal detachments in this eye. Conclusion: Ophthalmologists should recognize unilateral and asymmetrical VKH disease with subtle systemic involvement.

Successful Treatment of Inflammatory Linear Verrucous Epidermal Nevus with Tacrolimus and Fluocinonide

2006 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diya F. Mutasim
Keyword(s):  
Successful Treatment ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Topical Steroid ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Epidermal Nevus ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Right

Background: Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) is a relatively rare disorder that is characterized by an early age at onset; severely pruritic linear papules and plaques; histologic features resembling spongiotic dermatitis, psoriasis, or lichenified dermatitis; and poor response to treatment. Objective: To report the successful treatment of ILVEN with potent topical steroid and tacrolimus ointments. Methods: An 11-year-old girl presented with a 1-year history of markedly pruritic, progressive linear eruption that extended from the right foot to the right buttock. She had failed treatment with pimecrolimus, calcipotriol, mometasone furoate, triamcinolone, tazarotene, and alpha-hydroxy acid. Histologic examination revealed the findings of spongiotic dermatitis. Results: The lesions resolved with fluocinonide ointment and tacrolimus 0.1% ointment. Conclusion: The combination of two therapeutic agents with different mechanisms of action likely resulted in the successful treatment of this usually resistant condition.

scholarly journals Reactivation of Acute Retinal Necrosis following SARS-CoV-2 Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Monica P. Gonzalez ◽  
Radames Rios ◽  
Mariella Pappaterra ◽  
Miguel Hernandez ◽  
Allison Toledo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vision Loss ◽  
Acute Retinal Necrosis ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Ophthalmological Examination ◽  
History Of ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
The Right

Purpose. To report on a case of reactivation of acute retinal necrosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods. Observational case report. Observations. A 32-year-old female with a distant history of left retinal detachment secondary to necrotizing herpetic retinitis complained of right-eye vision loss, pain, redness, and photophobia. An ophthalmological examination revealed findings consistent with acute retinal necrosis of the right eye. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the right vitreous was positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) screening test using reverse transcriptase- (RT-) PCR was positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Conclusions. Our case suggests that COVID-19 may cause a latent HSV infection to reactivate, causing contralateral involvement in patients with a prior history of HSV-associated acute retinal necrosis.

A Case of Erotomanic Delusion in Dementia

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S646-S646 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Arts ◽  
S. Petrykiv ◽  
J. Fennema ◽  
L. De Jonge
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Dementia ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Occipital Lobe ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Sudden Onset ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Clock Drawing Test ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
The Right

IntroductionIn dementia, delusions are common with prevalence up to 75%. However, erotomanic delusions, or De Clerambault's syndrome, are a rarity in dementia. To date, only six case-reports have been described in vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's dementia.ObjectivesTo present a case of De Clerambault's syndrome in an older adult diagnosed with vascular dementia.AimsTo review available literature on De Clerambault's syndrome in dementia.MethodsA case report is presented and discussed followed by a literature review.ResultsWe report a 72-year-old female with a history of right posterior cerebral artery infarction. The patient developed a sudden onset erotomanic delusion after she met a male patient of her age during her stay in a dementia day care center. She was agitated, disorientated, presented with confabulation, and showed a dysphoric mood. On MMSE she scored 14/30, the clock-drawing test revealed visuospatial deficits. On MRI, the right occipital lobe showed an encephalomalacia. The patient was treated with sertraline 50 mg/day and olanzapine 5 mg/day. Her erotomanic delusions improved after 3 months of treatment.ConclusionDe Clerambault's syndrome is a rare and poorly understood disorder with generally a poor response to treatment. Some cases were successfully treated with atypical anti-psychotics. However, further research is needed to explore the course and treatment of this delusion.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Criteria positive and criteria negative anaphylaxis, with a focus on undifferentiated somatoform idiopathic anaphylaxis: A review and case series

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 436-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Rosloff ◽  
Kunal Patel ◽  
Paul J. Feustel ◽  
Jocelyn Celestin
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Subjective Symptoms ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Physical Findings ◽  
Idiopathic Anaphylaxis

Background: Undifferentiated somatoform (US) idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) is considered a psychogenic disorder characterized by a lack of observable physical findings and poor response to treatment. Although failure to diagnose true anaphylaxis can have disastrous consequences, identification of US-IA is crucial to limit unnecessary expenses and use of health care resources. Objective: To better define the presentation and understand the potential relationship between US-IA and underlying psychiatric comorbidities. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 110 visits by 107 patients to our institution for evaluation and management of anaphylaxis over a 1-year period. The patients were classified as having either criteria positive (CP) or criteria negative (CN) anaphylaxis based on whether they met Second National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network Symposium criteria for the clinical diagnosis of anaphylaxis. Patient characteristics, including objective and subjective signs and symptoms, and the presence of psychiatric diagnoses were collected and analyzed. Statistical significance was assessed by using the Fisher exact test. A literature review of US-IA and other psychogenic forms of anaphylaxis was performed. Results: Patients with CP anaphylaxis were more likely to present with hypotension, wheezing, urticaria, and vomiting than were patients with CN anaphylaxis. The patients with CN anaphylaxis were more likely to present with subjective symptoms of sensory throat tightness or swelling compared with patients with CP anaphylaxis. No significant difference was detected in the prevalence of psychiatric conditions between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients who met previously established diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis were more likely to present with objective physical findings than those who did not meet criteria for true anaphylaxis. CN patients who presented for treatment of anaphylaxis were more likely to present with subjective symptoms. Formal diagnostic criteria should be used by clinicians when evaluating patients with suspected anaphylaxis.

scholarly journals Predictive Factors of the Responses to Treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1154
Author(s):  
Eun Lee ◽  
Yun Young Lee
Keyword(s):  
Pleural Effusion ◽  
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae ◽  
Predictive Factors ◽  
Respiratory Virus ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Slow Response ◽  
Response Group ◽  
Time Of Admission

The prevalence of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia is increasing. The present study aimed to identify the predictive factors of responses to treatment of MP pneumonia in children. A total of 149 children were diagnosed with MP pneumonia, of whom 56 were included in the good response group, 75 children in the slow response group, and 18 children in no response or progression group. Data on the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic features were retrospectively obtained through medical chart reviews. The severity of pneumonia, based on the extent of pneumonic lesions on chest x-ray (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 10.573; 95% confidence intervals (CIs), 2.303−48.543), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (aOR, 1.002; 95% CIs, 1.000–1.004) at the time of admission were associated with slow response to treatment of MP pneumonia. Pleural effusion (aOR, 5.127; 95% CIs, 1.404–18.727), respiratory virus co-infection (aOR, 4.354; 95% CIs, 1.374–13.800), and higher LDH levels (aOR, 1.005; 95% CIs, 1.002–1.007) as well as MP-specific IgM titer (aOR, 1.309; 95% CIs, 1.095–1.564) were associated with no response or progression of MP pneumonia. The area under the curve for the prediction of no or poor response in MP pneumonia using pleural effusion, respiratory virus co-infection, LDH levels, and MP-specific IgM titer at the time of admission was 0.8547. This study identified the predictive factors of responses to treatment of MP pneumonia in children, which would be helpful in establishing a therapeutic plan and predicting the clinical course of MP pneumonia in children.

scholarly journals Right ventricular function and its coupling with the pulmonary circulation in acute heart failure

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Barki ◽  
M Losito ◽  
M.M Caracciolo ◽  
F Bandera ◽  
M Rovida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Acute Heart Failure ◽  
Acute Phase ◽  
Pulmonary Circulation ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
The Right ◽  
B Lines

Abstract Background The right ventricle (RV) is extremely sensitive to hemodynamic changes and increased impedance. In acute heart failure (AHF), the development of pulmonary venous congestion and the increase of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures favors pulmonary vascular adverse remodeling and ultimately RV dysfunction, leading to the onset of symptoms and to a further decay of cardiac dynamics. Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate RV morphology and functional dynamics at admission and discharge in patients hospitalized for AHF, analyzing the role and the response to treatment of the RV and its coupling with pulmonary circulation (PC). Methods Eighty-one AHF patients (mean age 75.75±10.6 years, 59% males) were prospectively enrolled within 24–48 hours from admission to the emergency department (ED). In either the acute phase and at pre-discharge all patients underwent M-Mode, 2-Dimensional and Doppler transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), as well as lung ultrasonography (LUS), to detect an increase of extravascular lung water (EVLW) and development of pleural effusion. Laboratory tests were performed in the acute phase and at pre-discharge including the evaluation of NT-proBNP. Results At baseline we observed a high prevalence of RV dysfunction as documented by a reduced RV systolic longitudinal function [mean tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) at admission of 16.47±3.86 mm with 50% of the patients exhibiting a TAPSE<16mm], a decreased DTI-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (50% of the subjects showed a tricuspid s' wave<10 cm/s) and a reduced RV fractional area change (mean FAC at admission of 36.4±14.6%). Furthermore, an increased pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) and a severe impairment in terms of RV coupling to PC was detected at initial evaluation (mean PASP at admission: 38.8±10.8 mmHg; average TAPSE/PASP at admission: 0.45±0.17 mm/mmHg). At pre-discharge a significant increment of TAPSE (16.47±3.86 mm vs. 17.45±3.88; p=0.05) and a reduction of PASP (38.8±10.8 mmHg vs. 30.5±9.6mmHg, p<0.001) was observed. Furthermore, in the whole population we assisted to a significant improvement in terms of RV function and its coupling with PC as demonstrated by the significant increase of TAPSE/PASP ratio (TAPSE/PASP: 0.45±0.17 mm/mmHg vs 0.62±0.20 mm/mmHg; p<0.001). Patients significantly reduced from admission to discharge the number of B-lines and NT-proBNP (B-lines: 22.2±17.1 vs. 6.5±5 p<0.001; NT-proBNP: 8738±948 ng/l vs 4227±659 ng/l p<0.001) (Figure 1). Nonetheless, no significant changes of left atrial and left ventricular dimensions and function were noted. Conclusions In AHF, development of congestion and EVLW significantly impact on the right heart function. Decongestion therapy is effective for restoring acute reversal of RV dysfunction, but the question remains on how to impact on the biological properties of the RV. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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