Tocilizumab-Associated Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction: A Case Report.

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) possibly precipitated by tocilizumab. BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressant drugs are a rare cause of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction, a syndrome characterized by segmental vasospasm. However, although it is considered a reversible process that resolves within 3 months, the cerebral vasoconstriction over time may lead to severe complications such as strokes. RESULTS: We describe a 53-year-old woman who presented with a reversible vasoconstriction syndrome possibly associated with tocilizumab, an inhibitor of IL-6 receptor used in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The patient developed a cerebellar infarction as the major complication of the vasoconstriction syndrome. CONCLUSION: Tocilizumab could be a trigger of RCVS. It is important to bear in mind the role of tocilizumab as a possible precipitating factor in order to remove it and reduce complications such as strokes. It is, to our knowledge, the first reversible vasoconstriction syndrome possibly precipitated by tocilizumab published to date.

Predictors of unknown cancer in patients with ischemic stroke.

Stroke is the second most frequent neurologic finding in postmortem studies of cancer patients. It has also been described as the first expression of an occult cancer. We have studied patients diagnosed with cancer after an ischemic stroke (IS) and we analyze differences with non-tumor patients. Single cohort longitudinal retrospective study of patients admitted to our center with IS diagnosis from 1 January 2012 to 12 December 2014. All patients were followed for 18 months. Patients with transient ischemic infarction or cerebral hemorrhage, active cancer or in the last 5 years, inability to follow-up or absence of complete complementary study (holter-EKG, echocardiogram, and dupplex/angiography-CT) were excluded. Demographic, clinical, analytical and prognostic characteristics were compared between both subgroups. From a total of 381 IS patients with no history of cancer, 29 (7.61%) were diagnosed with cancer. The mean time from stroke onset to cancer diagnosis was 6 months. The most frequent location was colon (24%). 35% were diagnosed in a metastatic stage. Older age (p = 0.003), previous cancer (p = 0.042), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (p = 0.006) and lower hemoglobin (p = 0.004) and fibrinogen (p = 0.019) values were predictors of occult neoplasm. No differences were found in other biochemical or epidemiological parameters, prognosis, etiology or clinical manifestations of the IS. In our study, older age, CKD, previous cancer and hemoglobin and fibrinogen values were related to the diagnosis of cancer after IS. More studies are needed to determine which patients could benefit from a larger study on admission that might allow an earlier diagnosis of the underlying neoplasm.

Perfil clínico y satisfacción con el tratamiento anticoagulante en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular atendidos en consultas de medicina interna y neurología de España / Clinical profile and satisfaction with anticoagulated treatment in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology departments of Spain

Objetivo. Determinar el perfil clínico, el manejo del tratamiento anticoagulante y la satisfacción relacionada con la anticoagulación en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular atendidos en consultas de neurología o medicina interna de España. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio prospectivo, transversal y multicéntrico en el que se incluyó a 1.337 pacientes, que completaron los cuestionarios Anti-Clot Treatment Scale, Self-Assessment of Treatment Questionnaire y EuroQol-5 dimensions. Resultados. 865 pacientes (64,7%) provenían de consultas de neurología, y 472 (35,3%), de medicina interna. Los atendidos en medicina interna eran mayores, tenían más hipertensión, diabetes, insuficiencia cardíaca, insuficiencia renal y arteriopatía periférica. Los pacientes atendidos en neurología tenían más antecedentes de ictus. Globalmente, la escala CHADS2 fue 3,2 ± 1,3; CHA2DS2Vasc, 4,8 ± 1,5, y HAS-BLED, 2,0 ± 0,9, y las puntuaciones más altas fueron en neurología. El 56,1% tomaba antagonistas de la vitamina K, lo que era más común en medicina interna. El porcentaje de tiempo en rango terapéutico adecuado fue del 47% (Rosendaal), sin diferencias entre los grupos. La satisfacción con el tratamiento anticoagulante oral fue elevada en ambos grupos, aunque mayor en los sujetos atendidos en neurología, y mayor con los anticoagulantes orales de acción directa que con los antagonistas de la vitamina K. Conclusiones. Aunque existieron ciertas diferencias en el perfil clínico de los pacientes con fibrilación auricular atendidos en neurología o medicina interna, todos presentaban múltiples comorbilidades y un riesgo tromboembólico elevado. A pesar de que el control del índice internacional normalizado fue pobre, el anticoagulante oral más empleado fueron los antagonistas de la vitamina K. La satisfacción con el tratamiento anticoagulante oral fue alta (AU)

Aim. To determine the clinical profile, management of anticoagulant treatment and satisfaction related to anticoagulation in outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation attended in Neurology or Internal Medicine departments of Spain. Patients and methods. Cross-sectional and multicenter study, in which 1,337 outpatients were included. Patients fulfilled ACTS, SAT-Q and EQ-5D questionnaires. Results. 865 patients (64.7%) were recruited from Neurology department and 472 (35.3%) from Internal Medicine department. Those patients attended in Internal Medicine department were older and had more frequently hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, renal insufficiency and peripheral artery disease. Those patients attended in Neurology department had more commonly prior stroke. Overall, CHADS2 score was 3.2 ± 1.3, CHA2DS2-Vasc 4.8 ± 1.5 and HAS-BLED 2.0 ± 0.9. All scores were higher in those patients attended in Neurology department. Globally, 56.1% of patients were taking vitamin K antagonists, more commonly in Internal Medicine department. The adequate percent of time in therapeutic range was 47% (Rosendaal), without significant differences between groups. Satisfaction with oral anticoagulation was high in both groups, but higher in those attended in Neurology department, and higher in those individuals taking direct oral anticoagulants compared with vitamin K antagonists. Conclusions. Although there were some differences in the clinical profile of patients with atrial fibrillation attended in Neurology or Internal Medicine departments, all of them had many comorbidities and a high thromboembolic risk. Despite INR control was poor, the most common oral anticoagulant used were vitamin K antagonists. Satisfaction related to oral anticoagulation was high (AU)