Flash Pulmonary Edema in Multiple Sclerosis.

Sept 2012

Plummer C, Campagnaro R.

Source

Centre for Neuroscience and Neurological Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) occurs in the setting of an acute neurological insult and in the absence of a primary cardiopulmonary cause. No unifying theory on NPE pathogenesis exists. NPE triggered by a discrete neurological lesion is rare, but such cases offer valuable insight into NPE pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe an unusual and instructive case of NPE in multiple sclerosis.

CASE REPORT:

A young woman with multiple sclerosis presented to the Emergency Department in acute respiratory failure. She was cyanotic centrally, hypertensive, and tachycardic. The chest X-ray study suggested pulmonary edema. She required non-invasive mechanical ventilation for 12 h. Echocardiography revealed left ventricular hypokinesis. The asymmetrical pulmonary infiltrate raised the suspicion of pneumonia; she was given intravenous antibiotics. By 36 h, she had persistent dyspnea, paroxysmal tachycardia, nausea, and facial flushing; carcinoid syndrome was excluded. By 48 h, she had facial numbness and ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a demyelinating lesion at the rostromedial medulla. Her symptoms promptly resolved with intravenous steroids, as did the perilesional edema on follow-up MRI.

CONCLUSION:

Life-threatening pulmonary edema can complicate medullary demyelination. Lack of awareness of this diagnostic possibility and an asymmetrical pulmonary infiltrate culminated in diagnostic delay in this case. The case provides clinico-radiological evidence of the pathogenic link between medullary lesions and NPE. The pathogenesis is likely to rely on lesion involvement of the nucleus tractus solitarius or its immediate pathways. Non-uniform vasoconstriction of the pulmonary arterial bed might account for the other peculiarity of this case: the asymmetrical pulmonary infiltrate. Timely diagnosis of NPE is essential because the condition is best managed by nullifying the "neurogenic" trigger.

PubMed

Significant improvement in MRI-proven bone edema is associated with protection from structural damage in very early RA patients managed using the tight control approach.

Significant improvement in MRI-proven bone edema is associated with protection from structural damage in very early RA patients managed using the tight control approach.

June 2012



Kita J, Tamai M, Arima K, Kawashiri SY, Horai Y, Iwamoto N, Okada A, Koga T, Nakashima Y, Suzuki T, Yamasaki S, Nakamura H, Origuchi T, Ida H, Aoyagi K, Uetani M, Eguchi K, Kawakami A.

Source

Unit of Translational Medicine, Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To identify the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-proven bone edema in patients with very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS:

All of the 13 patients included in the study were positive at entry for MRI-proven bone edema of the wrist and finger joints and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies or IgM-rheumatoid factor. A tight control approach was applied for 12 months. Plain MRI and radiographs of both wrist and finger joints were examined every 6 months. MRI was scored by the RA MRI scoring (RAMRIS) technique and plain radiographs were scored using the Genant-modified Sharp score. Variables that were correlated with plain radiographic changes at 12 months were examined.

RESULTS:

Simplified disease activity index (SDAI) remission was achieved in 7 patients, and a significant reduction in the RAMRIS bone edema score, which declined to .... see article at link below. Program does not allow complete paragraph to be shown here.

CONCLUSIONS:

Improvement in  bone edema may be associated with protection against structural damage in very early RA patients managed using the tight control methods.

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