[A case of chronic progressive neuro-Behcet's disease with cerebellar ataxia and bulbar palsy preceding mucocutaneo-ocular symptoms].

A 77-year-old man with a history of cigarette smoking had suffered from vertigo and depression repeatedly for twelve years. He gradually developed bradykinesia in the past half decade and fell down 3 times in the last half year. On admission, he presented with cerebellar ataxia and bulbar symptoms. Brain MRI showed atrophy in the cerebellum and brainstem. 123I-IMP SPECT showed hypoperfusion bilaterally in the cerebellum. Blood examinations showed various elevated inflammatory values and positive for HLA-B51. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed aseptic meningitis and increased IL-6 levels. Therefore, we strongly suspected that he had chronic progressive neuro-Behcet's disease (CPNBD), clinically. Systemic mucocutaneous symptoms appeared 1 month after starting treatments. Pathological findings of his skin biopsy were consistent with Behcet's disease. It should be kept in mind that both positive HLA-B51 and increased CSF IL-6 levels have the possibility of containing important clues in the diagnosis of CPNBD.

A case of acute renal failure of multiple myeloma due to monoclonal type I cryoglobulinemia with thrombotic microangiopathy.

The term cryoglobulinemia (CG) is used to refer to vasculitis due to so-called mixed cryoglobulins containing immune complexes. Although most cases of monoclonal CG, called type I CG, are asymptomatic, purpura, skin ulcers, and renal failure develop in some cases. Hematological disorders are the underlying diseases in most cases, on which the therapeutic strategies available and the prognosis of patients depends. We here report a case of a 47-year-old man who had pain in both his ankles, with palpable purpura and epistaxis, and presented with acute renal failure. Monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) G-κ protein was detected and cryoglobulin was also positive. Renal biopsy revealed emboli with a fibrillar structure in the glomeruli and renal tubule lumina. The complication of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) occurred during the course. Therefore, plasma exchange and hemodialysis were added to methylprednisolone pulse therapy. The treatment was successful, dissipating the purpura. However, the purpura relapsed and renal dysfunction progressed when the administration of oral steroids was tapered. Bone marrow biopsy was performed again, which indicated an increase in abnormal plasma cells. The patient was finally diagnosed as multiple myeloma. Then, bortezomib-dexamethasone therapy was initiated. This is the first case of type I CG with monoclonal IgG complicated by TMA during the course; it provides insight into the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction associated with type I CG.