Reversible valproate-induced choreiform movements.

Valproate is an anticonvulsive drug whose mechanism of action is based on GABAergic systems. One of the infrequent adverse effects of valproate is choreiform movements. In our study, we report a patient having head trauma history with partial and secondary generalized seizures taking 1500 mg/day valproate. During the second month of the therapy, generalized chorea was observed. Since other aetiologic causes of chorea were excluded, acutely occurring chorea in the patient was thought to be related with valproate usage because of persistence of choreiform movements for days without any fluctuation. Valproate was stopped slowly and lamotrigine was added at a dose of 400 mg/day. Within a two-month period after cessation of the valproate, choreiform movements had disappeared. We thought that the history of head trauma and another antiepileptic drug usage were the risk factors for the occurrence of valproate-induced choreiform movements.     

Medium-term results of thrust plate prostheses for osteoarthritis of the hip

We retrospectively evaluated the results of 61 patients (67 hips) who underwent total hip arthroplasty using the thrust plate prosthesis (TPP) for osteoarthritis of the hip joint. All patients were followed-up at least two years (mean: 37.2 months). Mean preoperative Harris hip score improved from 45.8 (SD: 13.5) to 94.9 (SD: 5.4) points postoperatively. Revision was performed in five cases. Medium-term results of TPP are promising.     

Postoperative immobilisation orthosis for surgically corrected hallux valgus

A postoperative immobilisation orthosis was developed at the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, and applied from the first postoperative day as an alternative device for ambulation of patients who have undergone hallux valgus surgery while maintaining the corrected position. The orthosis is constructed with polyethylene thermoplastic sheet of 3mm thickness and Velcro. During the ambulation period, there was no complication or complaint due to its application and the position of the great toe was maintained. The time of the orthotic application was six weeks. The orthosis has allowed patients to walk with full weight bearing from the postoperative first day without any complication or recurrence.     

Increased immunoglobulin E response in acute coronary syndromes

The role of inflammation and mast cell activation has been implicated in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and rupture. To investigate the role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in acute coronary syndrome, a prospective clinical study was conducted in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina pectoris (UAP), stable angina pectoris (SAP), and healthy controls. IgE levels were serially measured and compared in consecutive patients with AMI (n = 16) and UAP (n = 14) on days 1, 3, 7, 21 after admission and 3 months later and only once in stable angina pectoris (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 14). In addition, blood eosinophil and basophil levels on admission were measured in all groups and compared. Initial IgE levels determined at admission in patients with AMI, UAP, and SAP were significantly higher than levels in the control group (p = 0.002). Initial high IgE level in AMI on day 1 increased to a peak by day 7 (p = 0.024), then gradually decreased by day 21 and at 3 months (p = 0.052). High IgE level in UAP persisted by day 7 and gradually decreased by day 21 and 3 months (p = 0.037 and p = 0.018, respectively). Blood eosinophil count on admission was significantly higher in UAP than in the control group (p = 0.005). Basophil levels of both AMI and UAP groups on admission were found to be elevated as opposed to control group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.012, respectively). This study demonstrates that the level of IgE significantly increased during the acute phase of acute coronary syndromes and gradually decreased, supporting the role of acute inflammatory response and mast cell involvement in plaque rupture.     

Serological screening for celiac disease in premenopausal women with idiopathic osteoporosis

The aim of this study was to perform serological testing to screen for celiac disease (CD) among premenopausal women with idiopathic osteoporosis and to investigate the bone turnover in patients who are seropositive for CD. We studied 89 premenopausal women with idiopathic osteoporosis. The serological screening protocol was based on a two-level evaluation. The first level consisted of determining serum level of IgA antigliadin antibodies (AGA). Subjects who were negative for IgA AGA were classified as not having CD, while samples testing positive for IgA AGA underwent a second level of the screening process. For the second level of screening, the serum IgA endomysial antibody (EMA) test was performed. Bone metabolism was evaluated by serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25 (OH) vitamin D, osteocalcin (OC), urinary deoxypyridinoline (dPD), and 24-h urinary calcium levels. Of the 89 patients evaluated, 17 were found to have positive IgA AGA tests (19%) and 9 were found to be positive for EMA (10.11%). EMA-positive patients showed lower values of serum Ca (p<0.05) and 25 (OH) vitamin D (p<0.01) and significantly higher values of PTH (p<0.01) compared with the EMA-negative patients. The level of urinary dPD was found to be significantly higher in EMA-positive patients (p<0.05). The results of this study suggest that all patients with idiopathic osteoporosis should be screened for CD by measurement of EMA. Additionally, we believe that serological screening for CD and detection of such patients will allow determination of the most convenient treatment strategies for osteoporosis.     

The importance of thrombotic risk factors in the development of idiopathic sudden hearing loss

Impaired cochlear blood circulation has been suggested to cause sudden hearing loss. In this study, the role of factor V 1691 G-A (FV 1691 G-A), prothrombin 20210 G-A (PT 20210 G-A), methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C-T (MTHFR 677 C-T), factor V 4070 A-G (FV 4070 A-G), endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) gene 23-bp insertion, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G mutation was assessed. Fifty-three patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and 80 individuals comprising the control group were included in this study. The frequency for FV 1691 A was 6.2% in the patient group and 3.7% in the control group, PT 20210 G-A was 1.2% in the patient group and 1.9% in the control group, and FV 4070 A-G was 7.5% in the patient group and 11.3% in the control group. The frequency of MTHFR 677 C-T was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group, with a P value of .03. PAI-1-675 4G/5G polymorphism was found to be 71.2% and 69.8%, in the control group and the patient group, respectively. The EPCR 23-bp insertion was 0% in the control group and was found in 3 patients (3.7%), which needs further study.     

Stent implantation to the stenosed right coronary artery in a patient whose right and left coronary arteries originate from a single ostium in the right sinus of Valsalva

The authors report a rare case of a patient who had anomalous origin of left and right coronary arteries from a single coronary ostium in the right sinus of Valsalva. The stenosed right coronary artery was successfully dilated with stent implantation.     

Pulmonary manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome: a retrospective analysis of 67 patients

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by arterial and/ or venous thrombosis accompanied by persistently elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). The aim of this study is to evaluate the pulmonary manifestations of APS and compare the levels of aPLs in patients with and without pulmonary involvement. We retrospectively reviewed the files of patients with the diagnosis of APS between October 2010 and May 2017. Demographic data, clinical, radiological and laboratory findings were recorded. The study included 67 patients (56 female/11 male) with a mean age of 39?±?13 years. Pulmonary manifestations such as parenchymal and/or vascular involvement were seen in 12 (17.9%) patients. The patients with and without pulmonary manifestations were not significantly different in terms of age (p?=?0.46), comorbidities (p?=?0.48) and APS duration (p?=?0.66). Acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) was determined in 11 (16.4%), alveolar hemorrhage in 2 (3%) patients. Four patients with acute PE (36%) developed chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). One patient developed both CTEPH and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage after acute PE during follow up. Antiphosholipid antibody IgM was highly positive in patients with PE compared to patients without PE (p?=?0.005). Other antibodies and lupus anticoagulant were not significantly different in patients with and without PE. None of the patients were deceased due to pulmonary manifestations of APS. PE was the most common pulmonary manifestation of APS. The development of CTEPH was high among APS patients. Patients with APS should be closely followed for the onset of PE and CTEPH.

     

Frequency of rheumatic diseases in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease

We aimed to investigate the frequency of rheumatic diseases in patients suffering from autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATD). Sixty-five patients (56 F, 9 M), who were followed by diagnosis of ATD, were questioned and examined for the presence of rheumatic disease. Basic laboratory tests and antithyroid antibodies, antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels were also measured by appropriate methods. Various rheumatic diseases were detected in 40 (62%) of patients with ATD. The most frequent rheumatic conditions were fibromyalgia, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, osteoarthritis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia and carpal tunnel syndrome which were detected in 20 (31%), 13 (20%), 10 (15%), 9 (14%) and 8 (12%) of patients, respectively. Autoimmune diseases, except Sjogren’s syndrome, which were detected in ten patients with ATD, are as follows—vitiligo: two; autoimmune hepatitis: two; oral lichen planus: one, ulcerative colitis: one, inflammatory arthritis in four patients (two of them had rheumatoid arthritis, one had psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and one had mixed collagen tissue disease). RF was positive in two patients, one of them had rheumatoid arthritis and FANA was positive in six (9%) patients; all of them had hypothyroidism. The frequency of rheumatic diseases seems to be higher in patients suffering from ATD. Initial evaluation and a regular checking for rheumatic diseases in patients suffering from ATD were recommended.