Project description:BackgroundLyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in North America and Europe. Infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi complex can involve cardiac tissue causing Lyme carditis (LC). Due to the infection of conductive tissue, LC typically presents with varying degrees of atrioventricular conduction block. Here, we provide the first evidence that conductive tissue of the sinus node can be involved in LC resulting in higher degree sinoatrial (SA) block with concomitant syncope.Case summaryWe report the case of an otherwise healthy 31-year-old female presenting with LC manifesting with SA exit block causing asystole over 12 s with concomitant syncope. Signs of SA block completely resolved with antibiotic treatment with a third-generation cephalosporin. The patient did not require permanent pacemaker implantation and had no sinus pauses after 12 months of follow-up as confirmed via implantable loop recorder.ConclusionThe possibility of LC in patients with sinus node dysfunction should be considered, as adequate antibiotic therapy can spare patients from potentially unnecessary pacemaker implantation.
Project description:Purpura fulminans (PF) is a haematologic emergency that can occur in the setting of severe septic shock. Its pathophysiology is not well-understood; however, some evidence suggests it may be mediated by excessive protein C consumption. In this case report, we describe a patient with PF secondary to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. She presented with severe septic shock and, despite haemodynamic improvement, developed a significant purpuric rash. Diagnostic work-up was notable for severely decreased serum levels of protein C. This patient was successfully treated with protein C concentrate and surgical valve replacement. While PF is rarely associated with S. aureus infection, this presentation may be more frequently encountered among clinicians in the current opioid epidemic. Quick recognition is crucial and a multidisciplinary approach, including intravenous infusion of protein C, may be considered.
Project description:Hyper-/hypoglycemic states are rare but well-established causes of hyperkinetic movements, including chorea and ballismus, usually associated with brain lesions in the basal ganglia. We report a case of hemichorea-hemiballismus (HCHB) syndrome that developed after a severe hypoglycemic episode in a 71-year-old man with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Uncommonly, brain MRI showed contralateral cortical-subcortical T2 and T2-FLAIR-hyperintense frontoparietal lesions, with cingulate gyrus involved, while the basal ganglia were unaffected. In patients with hypoglycemic encephalopathy associated with cortical lesions, the long-term prognosis is usually poor. Nevertheless, in our patient, the dyskinesias and the cerebral lesions progressively regressed by achieving good glycemic control. After four and 12 months, the patient's neurological examination was normal. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of hypoglycemic etiology of cortical HCHB syndrome, supporting recent theories that cortical circuitries may independently contribute to the pathogenesis of chorea and ballismus. This is also the first report of cingulate gyrus involvement in hypoglycemic encephalopathy. Finally, this case may indicate that a subset of patients with cortical lesions due to hypoglycemia could present a good clinical outcome, likely depending on the size of the lesions and the duration and severity of the hypoglycemic episode.
Project description:BackgroundSince the first report of fatal Borna virus-1 (BoDV-1) encephalitis in 2018, cases gradually increased. There is a lack of diagnostic algorithm, and there is no effective treatment so far.Case presentationWe report an acute BoDV-1 encephalitis in a 77-year-old female with flu-like onset, rapid progression to word-finding difficulties, personality changes, global disorientation, diffuse cognitive slowness, and gait ataxia and further deterioration with fever, meningism, severe hyponatremia, epileptic seizures, cognitive decline, and focal cortical and cerebellar symptoms/signs. The extensive diagnostic workup (cerebrovascular fluid, serum, and MRI) for (meningo-)encephalitis was negative for known causes. Our empirical common antiviral, antimicrobial, and immunosuppressive treatment efforts failed. The patient fell into coma 5 days after admission, lost all brainstem reflexes on day 18, remained fully dependent on invasive mechanical ventilation thereafter and died on day 42. Brain and spinal cord autopsy confirmed an extensive, diffuse, and severe non-purulent, lymphocytic sclerosing panencephalomyelitis due to BoDV-1, affecting neocortical, subcortical, cerebellar, neurohypophysis, and spinal cord areas. Along with our case, we critically reviewed all reported BoDV-1 encephalitis cases.ConclusionThe diagnosis of acute BoDV-1 encephalitis is challenging and delayed, while it progresses to fatal. In this study, we list all tried and failed treatments so far for future reference and propose a diagnostic algorithm for prompt suspicion and diagnosis.
Project description:Frontometaphyseal dysplasia 1 (FMD1) is a rare otopalatodigital spectrum disorder (OPDSD) that is inherited as an X-linked trait and it is caused by gain-of-function mutations in the FLNA. It is characterized by generalized skeletal dysplasia, and craniofacial abnormalities including facial dysmorphism (supraorbital hyperostosis, hypertelorism, and down-slanting palpebral fissures). The involvement of the central nervous system in patients with OPDSD is rare. Herein, we present the case of a 12-year-old boy with facial dysmorphism, multiple joint contractures, sensorineural hearing loss, scoliosis, craniosynostosis, and irregular sclerosis with hyperostosis of the skull. Brain and whole-spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed Chiari I malformation with extensive hydrosyringomyelia from the C1 to T12 levels. Targeted next-generation sequencing identified a hemizygous pathologic variant (c.3557C>T/p.Ser1186Leu) in the FLNA, confirming the diagnosis of FMD1. This is the first report of a rare case of OPDSD with pansynostosis and Chiari I malformation accompanied by extensive syringomyelia.
Project description:BackgroundIARS2 (EC6.1.5) is a mitochondrial isoleucine-tRNA synthetase. Despite the fact that only fewer than 30 patients have been reported in the literature, mitochondrial disorders caused by pathogenic variants in the IARS2 gene (OMIM: 616007) have a very broad and variable clinical phenotype spectrum. We present a child who has sideroblastic anemia and hypoparathyroidism as a result of a previously unreported mutation in the IARS2 gene.Case presentationA 14-year-old girl who had been anemic for 12 years was diagnosed with pure red cell aplasia (hemoglobin 42 g/L, reference range 110-160) at the age of 2. Her anemia was resistant to high-dose intravenous gamma globulin and cyclosporine therapy and required monthly blood transfusions to maintain normal hemoglobin levels. She developed cataracts at the age of 6 and was cured by phacoemulsification. At the age of 8, she visited the endocrine department, because of mental and physical retardation accompanied by repeated convulsions, and the antiepileptic treatment was ineffective. She was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism. To control the convulsions, she was given calcitriol orally as well as large doses of calcium supplements. Due to severe growth and development delays, delayed sexual development, and hypokinesia at the age of 13.5Y, the parents agreed to a whole-exon gene sequencing test. IARS2 gene compound heterozygous variants c.2450G > A (p.Arg817His) and c.2511del (p.Leu838Phefs*69) were discovered. The girl was then diagnosed with IARS2-related disease and given a cocktail therapy of coenzyme Q10, vitamin B2, L-Carnitine and vitamin E. Although the child's clinical symptoms improved, she still experienced intermittent claudication and hip joint pain. The vitamin B6 was discontinued after three months due to its ineffectiveness in treating anemia. Because the child's ferritin levels remained elevated, she was also prescribed long-term oral deferiprone therapy.ConclusionOur findings broaden the clinical and genetic spectrum of IARS2-associated disease, and case summaries help raise clinical awareness of IARS2-associated disease and reduce under- and misdiagnosis.
Project description:Renal leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are extremely rare neoplasms with aggressive behaviour and poor survival prognosis. The most frequent somatic events in leiomyosarcomas are mutations in TP53, RB1, ATRX and PTEN genes, chromosomal instability and chromoanagenesis. By using chromosomal microarray analysis we identified monosomy of chromosomes 3 and 11, gain of Xp (ATRX) arm and three chromoanasynthesis regions (6q21-q27, 7p22.3-p12.1 and 12q13.11-q21.2), with MDM2 and CDK4 oncogenes copy number gains, whereas no CNVs or tumor specific SNVs in TP53, RB1 and PTEN genes were observed.