Association between Wegener´s granulomatosis and severe lumbar pain

Introducción: La granulomatosis de Wegener (GW) es una enfermedad autoinmune sistémica caracterizada por vasculitis granulomatosa necrotizante que afecta principalmente a las vías respiratorias superiores, pulmones y riñones. Sin embargo, con menos frecuencia puede afectar a los músculos, las articulaciones, la piel, los ojos, el sistema cardiovascular y el sistema nervioso. La presencia de dolor lumbar consiste en una manifestación clínica inusual debido a la afectación del sistema nervioso. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es alertar a los profesionales de la salud acerca de la posibilidad de cortar el dolor lumbar estar relacionado con la granulomatosis de Wegener, su impacto en la vida diaria del paciente, así como los signos clínicos y las formas de diagnóstico. Materiales y Métodos: Revisión de la literatura utilizando PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, SciELO, EBSCO. Los trabajos seleccionados entre 1995 y 2013 por un total de 48 obras de las cuales se seleccionaron 21 de acuerdo con sus informes de afectación neurológica, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Discusión: Los síntomas neurológicos pueden ocurrir en 22-50 por ciento de los pacientes durante el curso de la GW. sistema nervioso (SNC) central es poco frecuente (sólo 2-8 por ciento de los pacientes) dolor lumbar .Severe es una manifestación clínica poco frecuente y puede estar asociada con la participación de sistema nervioso central y periférico. CNS debido a la compresión de la médula espinal a nivel lumbar. sistema nervioso periférico debido a la compresión de las raíces nerviosas. Conclusión: La granulomatosis de Wegener es ser una enfermedad sistémica puede presentar diferentes manifestaciones clínicas De acuerdo con el sitio involucrado. Es asociaciones con el dolor lumbar es rara y la refleja la afectación neurológica. Por lo tanto, en pacientes con dolor lumbar grave sin diagnóstico confirmado, granulomatosis de Wegener no debería ser considerado.

Introduction: Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by necrotizing granulomatousvasculitis which primarily affects upper respiratory tract, lungs and kidneys. However, less frequently can affect muscles,joints, skin, eyes, cardiovascular system and nervous system. The presence of lumbar pain consists in an unusual clinicalmanifestation due to the involvement of the nervous system. Objective: The objective of this study is to alert health professionalsabout the possibility that severe lumbar pain be related to Wegener’s granulomatosis, it’s impact on the patient’s dailylife as well as clinical signs and diagnosis forms. Materials and Methods: Literature review using PubMed, MEDLINE, GoogleScholar, SciELO, EBSCO. Selected works from 1995 to 2013 totaling 48 works of which 21 were selected according to theirreports of neurological involvement, diagnosis and treatment. Discussion: Neurological symptoms may occur in 22-50 percent of patients during the course of WG. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is uncommon (only 2-8 percent of patients).Severelumbar pain is a rare clinic manifestation and it can be associated with the involvement of central and peripheral nervous system.CNS due to compression of the spinal cord at the lumbar level. Peripheral nervous system due to compression of nerveroots. Conclusion: Wegener’s granulomatosis for being a systemic disease can present different clinical manifestations accordingto the involved site. It’s associations with lumbar pain is rare and reflects it’s neurological involvement. Therefore, inpatients with severe lumbar pain without confirmed diagnosis, Wegener’s granulomatosis should be considered.

Neuropatia periférica associada à crioglobulinemia em paciente com hepatite C: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Peripheral neuropathy associated to cryoglobulinemia in patient with hepatitis C: case report and literature review

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A hepatite C é uma doença infecciosa que afeta cerca de 170 milhões de pessoas no mundo. Além da doença hepática, o vírus causa manifestações extra-hepáticas como a neuropatia periférica e a crioglobulinemia mista essencial. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar o caso de um paciente portador do vírus da hepatite C que desenvolveu no curso da doença um quadro de crioglobulinemia associado à neuropatia periférica. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 62 anos, portador de hepatite C subtipo 1b, diagnosticada há mais de 10 anos, com provável contágio após procedimento cirúrgico em joelho direito. Apresentou inicialmente episódios de dor tipo "choque" acompanhado de parestesias em mãos e pés com padrão bota-luva, contínua, associado à fenômeno de Raynaud e petéquias em membros inferiores. Evoluiu ao longo dos anos com déficit motor em nervo fibular esquerdo levando a quadro de pé caído. A pesquisa de crioglobulinas plasmáticas foi positiva. A dor se tornou contínua, intensa, simétrica, localizada no terço distal e face lateral dos membros inferiores. Quando foi solicitada avaliação pela equipe multidisciplinar de dor e reabilitação, associado à pulsoterapia foi prescrito tramadol (50 mg) a cada 6h e gabapentina (900 mg/dia) com resolução total do quadro doloroso em algumas semanas. Foram necessários o uso de órtese e reabilitação diária por vários meses. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento multimodal com diferentes classes de fármacos associado à reabilitação adequada realizados o mais precocemente possível está diretamente relacionado à melhor prognóstico deste tipo de neuropatia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting approximately 170 million people worldwide. In addition to the liver disease, the virus causes extra-liver manifestations, such as peripheral neuropathy and essential mixed cryoglobulinemia. This study aimed at presenting a case of a patient with hepatitis C virus who developed cryoglobulinemia associated to peripheral neuropathy. CASE REPORT: Male patient, 62 years old, with hepatitis C subtype 1 diagnosed more than 10 years ago, with possible contamination after right knee surgical procedure. He presented initially "shock"-type pain episodes followed by hands and feet continuous paresthesia in boot-glove pattern, associated to Raynaud phenomenon and lower limbs petechiae. He evolved along the years with motor deficit in left fibular nerve leading to foot-drop. Plasma cryoglobulines test was positive. Pain became continuous, severe, symmetric, located in the distal third and lateral face of lower limbs. When the evaluation of the multidisciplinary pain and rehabilitation team was asked, tramadol (50 mg) every 6 hours and gabapentin (900 mg/day) were prescribed in association to pulse therapy with total resolution of pain in some weeks. Orthosis and daily rehabilitation were needed for several months. CONCLUSION: As early as possible, multimodal treatment with different classes of drugs associated to adequate rehabilitation is directly associated to a better prognosis for this type of neuropathy.

Association of HTLV-I with Arnold Chiari syndrome and syringomyelia

HTLV-I is associated with a broad spectrum of manifestations, including tropical spastic paraparesis and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Arnold Chiari syndrome is a condition characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. This condition should be suspected in all patients with headache and impaired motor coordination. Syringomyelia is a developmental anomaly that leads to the formation of an intramedullary cavity. Its clinical presentation is classically characterized by syringomyelic dissociation of sensation, with suspended distribution in the proximal portion of the trunk and upper limbs and preservation in other regions. We report here a case of association of the three diseases, which is rare in clinical practice, illustrating the difficulty in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of these conditions.