The Delayed Appearance of Neurological Signs in Intrathecal Granuloma Warrants Imaging Surveillance: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Abstract: Intrathecal pump therapy (ITP) has become a mainstay of treatment for the chronic, refractory nonmalignant pain patient. Increasingly, ITP therapy is being instituted for the failed back pain population. Inflammatory mass or granuloma is a complication that is considered “rare” or “uncommon.” In this patient population, the symptoms of granuloma can often mimic the symptoms for which the patient is being treated. The case series reported here illustrates 4 cases of inflammatory mass. One patient presented with paralysis before she was diagnosed, and the remainder of the patients were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. The cases presented illustrate the need for broader education of inflammatory mass among nonpain specialists. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment guidelines of inflammatory mass are reviewed. The literature reviewed highlights the number of patients who present with paralysis as well as the need for regular screening of ITP patients.     

不同诊断标准在血清阴性脊柱关节病患者之间的诊断效能比较

目的探讨不同诊断或分类标准在脊柱关节病患者之间诊断效能、临床特点。方法收集2000年2月-2012年8月141例脊柱关节病患者及197例类风湿关节炎、未分化关节炎患者资料。采用3种诊断标准下对141例患者分为纽约标准（NY）组、欧洲脊柱关节病研究（ESSG）组及脊柱关节病国际评估（ASAS）组,统计患者的临床表现、骶髂关节CT、MRI、实验室指标,并加入197例类风湿关节炎未分化关节炎患者,计算和比较3种诊断的敏感性、特异性。结果在141例脊柱关节病中,62例符合NY标准,34例符合ESSG标准,45例只符合ASAS标准。3组患者在性别、胸廓受限、附着点炎及跖（指）炎、非甾体抗炎药及慢作用药使用、炎症因子水平方面差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;ASAS组则较19NY组及ESSG组患者更年轻、病程较短,且表现有外周关节炎明显高于其余两组（P〈0．05）;NY组炎性腰背痛、脊柱活动受限、HLA．B27阳性率明显高于其余两组,且使用生物制剂比例最高,达48．38;在骨盆x线、骶髂关节CT表现关节侵蚀上,NY组较其他两组更严重。NY、ESSG、ASAS分类标准敏感性依次为43．97％、47．51％、73．76％,特异性依次为100．00％、90．86％、84．26％。结论ASAS分类标准敏感性高,患者更年轻、病程更短,炎性腰背痛、外周关节炎是ASAS诊断中非常重要的指标;NY组脊柱活动受限及关节侵蚀最显著,HLA—B27阳性可能是预测AS很好的指标。NY标准特异性最高,敏感性最低,而ASAS标准敏感性最高,特异性最低。     

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease is a polymicrobial infection of the upper genital tract. It primarily affects young, sexually active women. The diagnosis is made clinically; no single test or study is sensitive or specific enough for a definitive diagnosis. Pelvic inflammatory disease should be suspected in at-risk patients who present with pelvic or lower abdominal pain with no identified etiology, and who have cervical motion, uterine, or adnexal tenderness. Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the most commonly implicated microorganisms; however, other microorganisms may be involved. The spectrum of disease ranges from asymptomatic to life-threatening tubo-ovarian abscess. Patients should be treated empirically, even if they present with few symptoms. Most women can be treated successfully as outpatients with a single dose of a parenteral cephalosporin plus oral doxycycline, with or without oral metronidazole. Delay in treatment may lead to major sequelae, including chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Hospitalization and parenteral treatment are recommended if the patient is pregnant, has human immunodeficiency virus infection, does not respond to oral medication, or is severely ill. Strategies for preventing pelvic inflammatory disease include routine screening for chlamydia and patient education.     

Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in chest pain patients: Differentiation from acute coronary ischemic events

Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and related repolarization changes alter the morphology of the ST segment and/or the T wave. Such electrocardiographic abnormalities—all features that are encountered in patients with acute ischemic heart disease—may confound the early emergency department evaluation of the chest pain patient. In the instance of the chest pain patient demonstrating ST segment/T wave abnormality, the correct electrocardiographic diagnosis must be made not only to offer appropriate management for that particular illness but also to avoid the incorrect application of potentially dangerous therapies such as thrombolysis. This report presents two cases in which the electrocardiogram demonstrated significant repolarization changes consistent with LVH, and focuses on the recognition of the expected ST segment/T waves changes and their differentiation from the primary ST segment/T wave changes associated with acute ischemic heart disease.     

未确定型炎症性肠病的临床特征分析

【目的】通过对未确定型炎症性肠病患者的临床特征进行分析加深对该型炎性肠病的认识。【方法】对2001年3月至2008年12月期间住院病人中符合炎性肠病的258例患者的临床特点进行回顾性分组分析。【结果】258例患者中未确定型炎性肠病32例（12．4％）,克罗恩病（CD）71例（27．5％）,溃疡性结肠炎（UC）155例（60．1％）。首发症状为腹泻、粘性血便、腹痛和发热。【结论】与克罗恩病及溃疡性结肠炎相比未确定型炎性肠病有一些自己的特点,有可能是一个独立病变。     

Inflammatory infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm in a young woman

Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare cause of abdominal pain in young adults that may be difficult to diagnose in the Emergency Department. This case highlights the significance of this condition as a possible diagnosis in young patients presenting with abdominal symptoms. A 32-year old woman presented with lower abdominal and back pain. She had four previous visits to the Emergency Department and one hospital admission with similar symptoms and had been discharged without a definite diagnosis. Her vascular risk factors included hypercholesterolemia and smoking. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a non-leaking infrarenal saccular abdominal aortic aneurysm and para-aortic lymphadenopathy. A transthoracic echocardiogram excluded endocarditis. There was no evidence of bacterial, viral, or fungal infection on blood and serum assays, and her autoimmune screen was negative. She underwent urgent open repair using a synthetic graft. The aneurysmal wall and para-aortic lymph node histology confirmed the diagnosis of inflammatory aneurysm with periaortitis. She remained asymptomatic at 8 months after surgery with no evidence of additional aneurysmal disease. Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm is an unusual cause of abdominal pain in young adults. It is more likely in patients with persistent or recurrent abdominal symptoms.     

Diagnostic approach to polyarticular joint pain

Identifying the cause of polyarticular joint pain can be difficult because of the extensive differential diagnosis. A thorough history and a complete physical examination are essential. Six clinical factors are helpful in narrowing the possible causes: disease chronology, inflammation, distribution, extra-articular manifestations, disease course, and patient demographics. Patients with an inflammatory arthritis are more likely to have palpable synovitis and morning stiffness; if the condition is severe, they may have fever, weight loss, and fatigue. Viral infections, crystal-induced arthritis, and serum sickness reactions are common causes of acute, self-limited polyarthritis. Because chronic arthritides may present abruptly, they need to be considered in patients who present with acute polyarticular joint pain. Joint palpation can help to distinguish inflammatory synovitis from the bony hypertrophy and crepitus that typically occur with osteoarthritis. Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatologic disease may be helpful in arriving at a more specific diagnosis. Many classic rheumatologic laboratory tests are nonspecific. A complete blood count, urinalysis, and a metabolic panel may provide more useful diagnostic clues. Plain-film radiographs may demonstrate classic findings of specific rheumatologic diseases; however, radiographs can be normal or only show nonspecific changes early in the disease process.     

Effective management of peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum

Peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum (PPG) is a skin disorder which manifests as painful exudating, ulcerative lesions. It is generally associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when affecting patients with a stoma. Patients with PPG typically present to the stoma care nurse (SCN) in the first instance, when the discharging ulcers cause pain, prevent effective stoma appliance application and result in leakage. Anecdotal evidence suggests that clinical nurse specialist posts, such as that of the SCN, are being diluted within some trusts, with a demand for staff to work on wards to cover clinical shifts. As a consequence there is a possibility that these patients will not receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment plan. This article will examine the role of the SCN in managing the patient with PPG, including the use of effective topical treatments. The importance of early diagnosis to prevent escalation of PPG and subsequent prolonged patient discomfort-and the SCN's crucial role in this-is discussed.     

Spinal epidural abscess in clinical practice

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare but severe infection requiring prompt recognition. The major prognostic factor for a favourable outcome is early diagnosis, leading to appropriate treatment. In clinical practice, a diagnosis of SEA is often not considered, particularly in the early stages of the disease when neurological symptoms are not apparent. Knowledge of persons at risk, clinical features and the required diagnostic procedures may decrease the number of initially misdiagnosed cases. Clinical signs, duration of symptoms and the rate of neurological deterioration show a high inter-individual variability, and the classic triad (spinal pain, fever and neurological deficit) is often not found, especially not at first presentation to a physician. However, most patients complain of severe localized back pain. Inflammatory parameters in the blood are generally elevated, but not specific. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is the most sensitive, specific and accurate imaging method. Although neurosurgical decompression is still the treatment of choice in the majority of cases, less invasive procedures (e.g. computed tomography-guided needle aspiration) or antimicrobial treatment alone can be applied in selected cases. The choice of the most appropriate therapy should be discussed immediately after a confirmed diagnosis in consultation with infectious disease, radiology and spinal surgery specialists. The outcome of SEA is largely influenced by the severity and duration of neurological deficits prior to surgery, stressing the importance of early recognition.     

Plasma exchange for severe attacks of inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system

Plasma exchange has not been widely accepted as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. However, several uncontrolled studies have suggested that patients with severe attacks of MS and other inflammatory demyelinating disease may improve rapidly after plasma exchange treatment. We recently completed a randomized, sham-controlled, crossover clinical trial of plasma exchange in 22 patients with idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. Twelve had MS and ten had other inflammatory demyelinating disease syndromes. Forty-two percent of patients experienced moderate or greater recovery over 2 weeks of active treatment administered every other day while only 6% of patients experienced similar improvement while receiving sham treatment. Three patients who failed the sham treatment subsequently improved rapidly after crossover to active treatment; no patient who failed active treatment improved after crossover to sham. This study illustrates the importance of designing randomized clinical trials based on the treatment regimen and patient population studied in the uncontrolled reports that suggested treatment efficacy. Plasma exchange should be considered for patients with idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease syndromes when they have failed corticosteroid therapy.     

Certolizumab pegol for treating axial spondyloarthritis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints. The spectrum of axSpA includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA). Evidence has supported the use of TNF alpha inhibitors (TNFi) in treating these diseases, with good efficacy and tolerable safety profiles. Certolizumab pegol (CZP) is an anti-TNF alpha (TNFa) agent with data to support its use in both AS and nr-axSpA.

Areas covered: The pharmacologic properties of CZP were reviewed. Data regarding the use and efficacy of CZP in axSpA were reviewed. Quality of life outcomes and safety profiles of CZP in axSpA patients were discussed as well.

Expert opinion: While there are several biologics with evidence for improved outcomes in AS, there is less evidence for biologic medications that have good efficacy in nr-axSpA. CZP has good evidence of improved outcomes in terms of clinical efficacy, patient reported outcomes and imaging outcomes in both conditions, with a tolerable safety profile.     

Video wireless capsule endoscopy: a diagnostic tool for early Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is a chronic immune-mediated disease that affects any or all segments of the gastrointestinal tract, but is mainly found in the small intestines or colon. Crohn's disease in the early stages present with symptoms such as chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss that may mimic other conditions and cause a delay in diagnosis. Many patients experience emotional difficulties related to this debilitating disease. Current procedures used to visualize the small bowel for diagnosis of Crohn's disease include small-bowel follow through, enteroclysis, and computerized tomography, but do not provide definition of the mucosal surface. Clinical research shows us the diagnostic yield of these tests are not as high as once thought. A new diagnostic tool, the M2A Video Capsule, can be used to visualize the small bowel mucosa. With the detailed photo images provided by the capsule, the physician now has the ability to detect subtle changes in the mucosal lining that may be consistent with early Crohn's disease that were previously not available or identifiable. Earlier disease treatment and management may decrease the inflammatory changes that lead to bowel thickening and stricturing and have a positive impact on the patient's total quality of life.     

原发性硬化性胆管炎合并克罗恩病病例报道及文献分析

目的：分析和总结原发性硬化性胆管炎（PSC）合并克罗恩病（CD）的发病过程、临床特征和治疗。方法：病例报道及文献分析炎症性肠病（IBD）诊断标准参考我国2007年炎症性肠病诊断治疗规范的共识意见,PSC诊断参考我国2009年胆汁淤积性肝病诊断治疗专家共识（胆汁淤积性肝病诊断治疗专家委员会）;引流术＋泼尼松＋5-氨基水杨酸（5-ASA）＋熊去氧胆酸观察治疗一年余。结果：观察治疗一年余,患者症状持续缓解;文献复习：原发性硬化性胆管炎群体合并IBD以溃疡性结肠炎多发,少见与克罗恩病并发,另有少部分不能定型。PSC-IBD的结肠镜的表现特点可以无直肠炎,而常并存末端回肠炎。IBD常常发生于PSC病程的早期阶段,PSC进程与IBD的疾病活动程度无关。结论：PSC-CD发病过程中,PSC呈隐匿性进展,引流术＋泼尼松＋5-ASA＋熊去氧胆酸可以控制和缓解病情。     

钙卫蛋白及抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体联合检测对炎症性肠病的诊断价值研究

目的 探讨钙卫蛋白与抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体(ANCA)联合检测对炎症性肠病(IBD)的诊断价值.方法 收集确诊为IBD的患者79例作为IBD组,腹痛、腹泻等排除IBD的患者42例作为疾病对照组,健康体检者34例作为健康对照组.分别检测血液样本中ANCA和粪便样本中钙卫蛋白的水平.结果 79例IBD患者粪便钙卫蛋白浓度为(493.86±204.18)μg/g高于疾病对照组[(71.46±60.51)μg/g]和健康对照组[(36.19±13.46)μg/g].钙卫蛋白在IBD组、疾病对照组和健康对照组中的阳性率分别为57.0%、19.0%、0.0%;ANCA在三组中的阳性率分别为63.3%、4.8%、0.0%.IBD组的钙卫蛋白、ANCA阳性率显著高于其他两组(P＜0.05).钙卫蛋白与ANCA联合检测在IBD组、疾病对照组和健康对照组中的阳性率分别为78.5%、23.8%和0.0%.结论 钙卫蛋白和ANCA联合检测可显著提高IBD的诊断率,为临床IBD的早期诊断和治疗提供可靠依据.     

Role of bedside transvaginal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess in the emergency department

Tubo-ovarian Abscess (TOA) is a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) requiring admission, i.v. antibiotics and, possibly, aspiration or surgery. The purpose of this study was to describe the role of emergency department (ED) bedside transvaginal ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of TOA. This was a retrospective review of non-pregnant ED patients presenting with pelvic pain who were diagnosed with TOA using bedside transvaginal US. ED US examinations were performed by emergency medicine residents and ultrasound-credentialed attending physicians within 1 h after clinical assessment. ED US logs were reviewed for the diagnosis of TOA. Medical records were reviewed for risk factors, medical and sexual history, physical examination findings, laboratory results, additional diagnostic testing, hospital course, and a discharge diagnosis of TOA by the admitting gynecology service. A total of 20 patients with TOA were identified over a 3-year period. Ages ranged from 14 to 45 years (mean 27 years). Seven (35%) patients reported a prior history of PID or sexually transmitted disease, and 1 (5%) was febrile. All had lower abdominal tenderness and 9 (45%) had cervical motion or adnexal tenderness. The sonographic abnormalities included 14 (70%) with a complex adnexal mass, 5 (25%) with echogenic fluid in the cul-de-sac, and 3 (15%) patients with pyosalpinx. The discharge diagnosis was TOA by the admitting gynecology service for all patients. Our study illustrates the limitations of clinical criteria in diagnosing TOA and supports the use of bedside US when evaluating patients with pelvic pain and symptoms that do not meet classic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for PID.     

Pulmonary Embolism Presenting as Flank Pain: A Case Series

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal disease that can be effectively treated once diagnosed. Due to insidious and often cryptogenic presentations, the diagnosis of this disease can easily elude clinicians. Over the last several years the use of computed tomography (CT) scanning has improved the clinician's ability to diagnose PE. In addition, the widespread use of CT to investigate other complaints such as flank and abdominal pain could theoretically result in radiographic findings not previously identified that could point to the diagnosis of PE. The current case series reveals the unexpected and initially unrecognized CT finding of a pulmonary infarct in two patients presenting with flank pain; a third patient presented with flank pain and was also found to have a PE. Objective: We describe three cases of patients who presented to the Emergency Department with flank pain who were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. Case Reports: The cases reported here discuss patients who presented with flank pain and were ultimately diagnosed with PE. In the first two cases, the patients had incidental findings of pulmonary infiltrates on abdominal CT scans, which prompted further diagnostic investigation. In the third case, the patient had risk factors for PE and presented with flank pain and the diagnosis was quickly made by CT imaging. Conclusion: Physicians should consider pulmonary embolism in the differential diagnosis of patients with isolated flank pain. Additionally, unexpected pulmonary findings on abdominal CT scans may help suggest the diagnosis of PE in the appropriate clinical setting.     

Rheumatic mimics and selected triggers of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by diffuse pain and tender points, which have been present for more than 3 months. Many patients with systemic illnesses can have diffuse pain similar to that found in fibromyalgia, including rheumatic diseases such as polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, systemic lupus erythematosus, and joint hypermobility. Osteomalacia and thyroid disease are also in the differential diagnosis of diffuse pain and are imminently treatable. In addition, there has been interest throughout the past 10 years in infectious diseases including hepatitis C, Lyme disease, coxsackie B, HIV, and parvovirus infection, which may cause or trigger fibromyalgia. This paper provides a framework to use when identifying these diseases as part of the evaluation of a patient with chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain.     

带状疱疹急性期临床症状与皮损区病理性改变的相关性研究

目的观察带状疱疹急性期临床症状与皮损区病理性改变的相关关系,以及皮损区早期应用抗免疫炎性治疗对病程转归的影响。方法①基础研究部分:选取临床确诊的带状疱疹病人3例,取疱疹下或疼痛区皮肤组织,HE染色及S-100染色下观察皮损区组织病理切片中淋巴细胞异常浸润及神经末梢损害情况。②临床研究部分:皮神经阻滞组18例(n=18),应用腺苷钴胺0.5 mg+甲强龙40 mg+0.3%利多卡因,总量约10～15 ml,于皮肤损伤最严重或感觉疼痛最明显的区域,自神经分布近端至远端进行皮下阻滞。药物治疗组18例(n=18),常规口服抗病毒药物+维生素B12+镇痛药物,并且在皮损区辅助应用外用药物。评价疗效。结果①基础研究部分:活体中带状疱疹受累处皮肤存在中重度免疫炎性反应。②临床研究部分:皮神经阻滞组的结痂时间较药物治疗组缩短,疼痛缓解程度较药物治疗组明显,且差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论①在带状疱疹病毒受累皮肤区,周围神经周围有大量的免疫细胞浸润,神经轴突的完整性遭到破坏,存在免疫炎性反应,这是带状疱疹产生疼痛的重要病理学因素。②皮神经阻滞治疗方法可以通过有效的抑制带状疱疹皮损区免疫炎性反应,更快的促进局部皮损结痂愈合且明显减低带状疱受累区的疼痛程度。     

Relationship between Vitamin D levels and pain and disease activity in patients with newly diagnosed axial spondyloarthritis

ObjectivesTo explore the relationship between Vitamin D levels and pain and disease activity in patients with newly diagnosed axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).MethodsA convenience sample of 131 newly diagnosed axSpA patients and 60 healthy controls was recruited from July 2016 to December 2018. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured to assess vitamin D levels. Disease activity was assessed by objective indicators [Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)], patient-reported questionnaires [the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)]. Pain intensity and interference were also assessed.ResultsVitamin D insufficiency [serum 25(OH) D levels<50 nmol/L]was found in 46 (35.1%) and 25 (43.3%) of the axSpA patients and the healthy controls, respectively. Female patients had higher risk (OR:4.928; 95% CI: 1.921–12.642) for vitamin D insufficiency than male patients. Vitamin D was positively correlated with CRP, ESR level, the BASFI, and the BASMI. Logistic regression showed that vitamin D levels were not associated with pain, or disease activity in the newly diagnosed axSpA patients. Gender was the only predictive variable for vitamin D levels.ConclusionsVitamin D insufficiency was prevalent in both newly diagnosed axSpA patients and healthy controls. There was no association between vitamin D and pain and disease activity in the newly diagnosed axSpA patients. Monitoring vitamin D levels is important and early intervention for vitamin D insufficiency is needed, especially in female patients.     

Is Chronic Pain a Disease?

It was not until the twentieth century that pain was considered a disease. Before that it was managed medically as a symptom. The motivations for declaring chronic pain a disease, whether of the body or of the brain, include increasing its legitimacy as clinical problem and research focus worthy of attention from healthcare and research organizations alike. But 1 problem with disease concepts is that having a disease favors medical solutions and tends to reduce patient participation. We argue that chronic pain, particularly chronic primary pain (recently designated a first tier pain diagnosis in International Diagnostic Codes 11), is a learned state that is not intransigent even if it has biological correlates. Chronic pain is sometimes a symptom, and may sometimes be its own disease. But here we question the value of a disease focus for much of chronic pain for which patient involvement is essential, and which may need a much broader societal approach than is suggested by the disease designation.PerspectiveThis article examines whether designating chronic pain a disease of the body or brain is helpful or harmful to patients. Can the disease designation help advance treatment, and is it needed to achieve future therapeutic breakthrough? Or does it make patients over-reliant on medical intervention and reduce their engagement in the process of recovery?