Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is characterized by recurrent sensory and motor neuropathy in individual nerves starting in adolescence or young adulthood, focal ...conduction abnormalities at entrapment sites on nerve conduction studies, and sausage-like swellings (tomacula) of the myelin sheaths by nerve biopsy. It is characterized genetically by the deletion of the chromosome 17p11.2–p12 region including the peripheral myelin protein-22 gene in the overwhelming majority of cases. HNPP may be frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed owing to the heterogeneity of clinical and electrophysiological appearance. The main objective of this review is to describe clinical manifestations, paraclinical features such as electrodiagnostic, pathological, radiological and genetics findings, and possible treatments.
This monocentric prospective study of patient suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) aims to evaluate the prognosis and diagnostic potential of both Neurofilament-Light (Nf-L) and ...neuroinflammatory biomarkers in serum and CSF. Candidate markers levels were measured using multiplex method in serum of 60 ALS patients, 94 healthy controls of 43 patients suffering from Inflammatory Peripheral Neuropathies (IPN). A comparative CSF analysis was performed for 20 ALS and 17 IPN patients. Among the altered biomarkers, CSF Nf-L level remains the best marker of ALS severity, while serum levels correlate strongly with disease progression. The combination of Nf-L and ICAM-1 concentrations in the CSF and IFN-γ concentration in the serum differentiate ALS patients from IPN patients with improved sensibility and specificity relative to individual biomarkers. A cutoff value of 0.49 for the fitted values of these 3 biomarkers discriminate ALS from IPN patients with a specificity of 100% (78.20-100%) and a sensibility of 85.71% (57.19-98.22%) with an AUC of 0.99 ± 0.01. The measure of Nf-L and neuroinflammatory biomarkers in CSF and serum can be useful biomarkers panel in the differential diagnosis of ALS.
Chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy is a heterogeneous and treatable immune-mediated disorder that lacks biomarkers to support diagnosis. Recent evidence indicates that paranodal ...proteins (contactin 1, contactin-associated protein 1, and neurofascin-155) are the targets of autoantibodies in subsets of patients showing distinct clinical presentations. Here, we identified neurofascin-186 and neurofascin-140 as the main targets of autoantibodies in five patients presenting IgG reactivity against the nodes of Ranvier. Four patients displayed predominantly IgG4 antibodies, and one patient presented IgG3 antibodies that activated the complement pathway in vitro. These patients present distinct clinical features compared to those with anti-neurofascin-155 IgG4. Most patients had a severe phenotype associated with conduction block or decreased distal motor amplitude. Four patients had a subacute-onset and sensory ataxia. Two patients presented with nephrotic syndromes and one patient with an IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis. Intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids were effective in three patients, and one patient remitted following rituximab treatment. Clinical remission was associated with autoantibody depletion and with recovery of conduction block and distal motor amplitude suggesting a nodo-paranodopathy. Our data demonstrate that the pathogenic mechanisms responsible for chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy are broad and may include dysfunctions at the nodes of Ranvier in a subgroup of patients.
Objective
To revise the 2010 consensus guideline on chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).
Methods
Seventeen disease experts, a patient representative, and two Cochrane ...methodologists constructed 12 Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome (PICO) questions regarding diagnosis and treatment to guide the literature search. Data were extracted and summarized in GRADE summary of findings (for treatment PICOs) or evidence tables (for diagnostic PICOs).
Results
Statements were prepared according to the GRADE Evidence‐to‐Decision frameworks. Typical CIDP and CIDP variants were distinguished. The previous term “atypical CIDP” was replaced by “CIDP variants” because these are well characterized entities (multifocal, focal, distal, motor, or sensory CIDP). The levels of diagnostic certainty were reduced from three (definite, probable, possible CIDP) to only two (CIDP and possible CIDP), because the diagnostic accuracy of criteria for probable and definite CIDP did not significantly differ. Good Practice Points were formulated for supportive criteria and investigations to be considered to diagnose CIDP. The principal treatment recommendations were: (a) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or corticosteroids are strongly recommended as initial treatment in typical CIDP and CIDP variants; (b) plasma exchange is strongly recommended if IVIg and corticosteroids are ineffective; (c) IVIg should be considered as first‐line treatment in motor CIDP (Good Practice Point); (d) for maintenance treatment, IVIg, subcutaneous immunoglobulin or corticosteroids are recommended; (e) if the maintenance dose of any of these is high, consider either combination treatments or adding an immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory drug (Good Practice Point); and (f) if pain is present, consider drugs against neuropathic pain and multidisciplinary management (Good Practice Point).
To revise the 2010 consensus guideline on chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Seventeen disease experts, a patient representative, and two Cochrane methodologists ...constructed 12 Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome (PICO) questions regarding diagnosis and treatment to guide the literature search. Data were extracted and summarized in GRADE summary of findings (for treatment PICOs) or evidence tables (for diagnostic PICOs). Statements were prepared according to the GRADE Evidence‐to‐Decision frameworks. Typical CIDP and CIDP variants were distinguished. The previous term “atypical CIDP” was replaced by “CIDP variants” because these are well characterized entities (multifocal, focal, distal, motor, or sensory CIDP). The levels of diagnostic certainty were reduced from three (definite, probable, possible CIDP) to only two (CIDP and possible CIDP), because the diagnostic accuracy of criteria for probable and definite CIDP did not significantly differ. Good Practice Points were formulated for supportive criteria and investigations to be considered to diagnose CIDP. The principal treatment recommendations were: (a) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or corticosteroids are strongly recommended as initial treatment in typical CIDP and CIDP variants; (b) plasma exchange is strongly recommended if IVIg and corticosteroids are ineffective; (c) IVIg should be considered as first‐line treatment in motor CIDP (Good Practice Point); (d) for maintenance treatment, IVIg, subcutaneous immunoglobulin or corticosteroids are recommended; (e) if the maintenance dose of any of these is high, consider either combination treatments or adding an immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory drug (Good Practice Point); and (f) if pain is present, consider drugs against neuropathic pain and multidisciplinary management (Good Practice Point).
Distinguishing between hereditary and inflammatory neuropathy is usually straightforward on clinical grounds with the help of a family history. There are nevertheless cases where the distinction is ...less clear. The advent of molecular genetics has in the past several years aided confirmatory diagnosis for an increasing proportion of patients with genetic neuropathy. Various reports have described associations of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with a suspected or confirmed inflammatory neuropathy occasionally responding to immunotherapy. Possible predisposition to an inflammatory component was suggested in a subset of patients. Such reports have, however, been relatively few in number, suggesting the rarity of such associations and of such a predisposition if it exists. There have been a number of publications detailing clinical presentations suggestive of inflammatory neuropathy in patients with a known or later proven genetic aetiology, and subsequently felt to be part of the phenotype rather than representing an association. A number of genetically mediated multisystemic diseases with neuropathy have otherwise been reported as mimicking chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The most common example is that of familial amyloid polyneuropathy, of particular concern for the clinician when misdiagnosed as CIDP, in view of the therapeutic implications. We review the literature on reported associations, mimics and misdiagnoses of hereditary and inflammatory neuropathy and attempt to determine a practical approach to the problem in clinical practice using clinical features, electrophysiology, histopathology and targeted early genetic testing. The issue of attempting immunomodulatory therapy is discussed in view of the published literature.
Introduction
IgG4 antibodies against neurofascin (Nfasc155 and Nfasc140/186), contactin (CNTN1) and contactin-associated protein (Caspr1) are described in specific subtypes of chronic inflammatory ...demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Our objective was to assess, in a real-life practice, the incidence, the clinical features and the response to treatment of these forms of CIDP.
Methods
1500 sera of patients suspected of having CIDP from France, Belgium and Switzerland were prospectively tested using a flow cytometry technique. The characteristics of patients with antibodies against the node of Ranvier were compared to 100 seronegative CIDP from our department.
Results
IgG4 antibodies against Nfasc155, CNTN1, and Caspr1 were, respectively, detected in 15 (prevalence 1%), 10 (0.7%) and 2 (0.2%) sera. Antibodies specific of the Nfasc140/186 were not detected.
All subjects with antibodies against the node of Ranvier fulfilled diagnostic criteria for CIDP.
CIDP with anti-Nfasc155 were younger, had more sensory ataxia and postural tremor than seronegative CIDP. CIDP with anti-CNTN1 had more frequent subacute onset and facial paralysis, commoner renal involvement with membranous glomerulonephritis and greater disability, than seronegative CIDP. CIDP with anti-Caspr1 had more frequent respiratory failure and cranial nerve involvement but not more neuropathic pain than seronegative CIDP. Intravenous immunoglobulins were ineffective in most seropositive patients. Rituximab produced dramatic improvement in disability and decreased antibodies titres in 13 seropositive patients (8 with anti-Nfasc155 and 5 with anti-CNTN1 antibodies).
Conclusions
Although rare, anti-paranodal antibodies are clinically valuable, because they are associated with specific phenotypes and therapeutic response.
To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and identify factors associated with COVID-19 severity in ...patients with MG.
The CO-MY-COVID registry was a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study conducted in neuromuscular referral centers and general hospitals of the FILNEMUS (Filière Neuromusculaire) network (between March 1, 2020, and June 8, 2020), including patients with MG with a confirmed or highly suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. COVID-19 was diagnosed based on a PCR test from a nasopharyngeal swab or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) serology, thoracic CT scan, or typical symptoms. The main outcome was COVID-19 severity based on location of treatment/management (home, hospitalized in a medical unit, or in an intensive care unit). We collected information on demographic variables, general history, and risk factors for severe COVID-19. Multivariate ordinal regression models were used to identify factors associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Among 3,558 patients with MG registered in the French database for rare disorders, 34 (0.96%) had COVID-19. The mean age at COVID-19 onset was 55.0 ± 19.9 years (mean MG duration: 8.5 ± 8.5 years). By the end of the study period, 28 patients recovered from COVID-19, 1 remained affected, and 5 died. Only high Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) class (≥IV) before COVID-19 was associated with severe COVID-19 (
0.004); factors that were not associated included sex, MG duration, and medium MGFA classes (≤IIIb). The type of MG treatment had no independent effect on COVID-19 severity.
This registry-based cohort study shows that COVID-19 had a limited effect on most patients, and immunosuppressive medications and corticosteroids used for MG management are not risk factors for poorer outcomes. However, the risk of severe COVID-19 is elevated in patients with high MGFA classes (odds ratio, 102.6 4.4-2,371.9). These results are important for establishing evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients with MG during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) is the third most common inherited muscular dystrophy. Considering the highly variable clinical expression and the slow disease progression, ...sensitive outcome measures would be of interest.
Using muscle MRI, we assessed muscular fatty infiltration in the lower limbs of 35 FSHD1 patients and 22 healthy volunteers by two methods: a quantitative imaging (qMRI) combined with a dedicated automated segmentation method performed on both thighs and a standard T1-weighted four-point visual scale (visual score) on thighs and legs. Each patient had a clinical evaluation including manual muscular testing, Clinical Severity Score (CSS) scale and MFM scale. The intramuscular fat fraction measured using qMRI in the thighs was significantly higher in patients (21.9 ± 20.4%) than in volunteers (3.6 ± 2.8%) (p<0.001). In patients, the intramuscular fat fraction was significantly correlated with the muscular fatty infiltration in the thighs evaluated by the mean visual score (p<0.001). However, we observed a ceiling effect of the visual score for patients with a severe fatty infiltration clearly indicating the larger accuracy of the qMRI approach. Mean intramuscular fat fraction was significantly correlated with CSS scale (p ≤ 0.01) and was inversely correlated with MMT score, MFM subscore D1 (p ≤ 0.01) further illustrating the sensitivity of the qMRI approach. Overall, a clustering analysis disclosed three different imaging patterns of muscle involvement for the thighs and the legs which could be related to different stages of the disease and put forth muscles which could be of interest for a subtle investigation of the disease progression and/or the efficiency of any therapeutic strategy.
The qMRI provides a sensitive measurement of fat fraction which should also be of high interest to assess disease progression and any therapeutic strategy in FSHD1 patients.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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