scholarly journals Late diagnosed DiGeorge syndrome in a 44-year-old female: a rare cause for recurrent syncopes in adulthood—a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khuraman Isgandarova ◽  
Stephan Molatta ◽  
Philipp Sommer

Abstract Background DiGeorge syndrome, also known as ‘CATCH 22’, is the most common deletion in humans and is one of the velocardiofacial syndromes. It is characterized by a specific facial phenotype, and structural and functional abnormalities in the cardiac and endocrine systems. One form of endocrine system dysfunction is hypocalcaemia, which causes arrhythmic events and can result in a transient loss of consciousness. We present a case highlighting the late diagnosis of DiGeorge syndrome in a patient with recurrent episodes of syncope due to suspected arrhythmic events secondary to hypocalcaemia. Case summary A 44-year-old woman was referred for further investigation of recurrent syncope episodes and documented transient QT-prolongation with hypocalcaemia. Previous detailed cardiological examination, including invasive procedures such as coronary angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance tomography, was unremarkable. Slight characteristic facial dysmorphia and transient hypocalcaemia were strongly suggestive of DiGeorge syndrome. The diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing. Calcium substitution was initiated and no recurrent episodes of syncope or arrhythmic events were reported during 12 months of follow-up. Discussion Clinical presentation and time of manifestation of the DiGeorge syndrome varies widely depending on the mutation expression extent. An atypical disease course may delay the diagnosis and appropriate management of affected patients. In this case, confirmation of the diagnosis allowed the initiation of appropriate treatment, reducing the risk for further events. Given that syncope and arrhythmia can be the first and only manifestation of late-onset DiGeorge syndrome, specialists in adult cardiology need to be aware of this presentation.

Author(s):  
M. Faber ◽  
C. Sonne ◽  
S. Rosner ◽  
H. Persch ◽  
W. Reinhard ◽  
...  

AbstractTo compare the ability of cardiac magnetic resonance tomography (CMR) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to predict the need for valve surgery in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation on a mid-term basis. 66 individuals underwent assessment of aortic regurgitation (AR) both in CMR and TTE between August 2012 and April 2017. The follow-up rate was 76% with a median of 5.1 years. Cox proportional hazards method was used to assess the association of the time-to-aortic-valve-surgery, including valve replacement and reconstruction, and imaging parameters. A direct comparison of most predictive CMR and echocardiographic parameters was performed by using nested-factor-models. Sixteen patients (32%) were treated with aortic valve surgery during follow-up. Aortic valve insufficiency parameters, both of echocardiography and CMR, showed good discriminative and predictive power regarding the need of valve surgery. Within all examined parameters AR gradation derived by CMR correlated best with outcome [χ2 = 27.1; HR 12.2 (95% CI: 4.56, 36.8); (p < 0.0001)]. In direct comparison of both modalities, CMR assessment provided additive prognostic power beyond echocardiographic assessment of AR but not vice versa (improvement of χ2 from 21.4 to 28.4; p = 0.008). Nested model analysis demonstrated an overall better correlation with outcome by using both modalities compared with using echo alone with the best improvement in the moderate to severe AR range with an echo grade II out of III and a regurgitation fraction of 32% in CMR. This study corroborates the capability of CMR in direct quantification of AR and its role for guiding further treatment decisions particularly in patients with moderate AR in echocardiography.


Author(s):  
Matheus Augusto Araújo Castro ◽  
Juliana Heather Vedovato Santos ◽  
Rachel Sayuri Honjo ◽  
Guilherme Lopes Yamamoto ◽  
Débora Romeo Bertola ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Yazbeck ◽  
Hélène Maurey ◽  
Carole Leroy ◽  
Philippe Horellou ◽  
Silvia Napuri ◽  
...  

AbstractAcquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) are frequently associated with myelin oligodendrocytes glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies in children. Clinical phenotypes are heterogeneous and may delay the diagnosis, especially when they relapse and are atypical, mimicking diseases such as multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders . Here, we describe two children: one with a progressive cognitive and behavioral deterioration with seizures after only one relapse and the other with similar clinical impairments associated with multiple relapses. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a subsequent progressive leukodystrophy-like lesion with diffuse bilateral white matter injuries in both patients. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed pleiocytosis, increased level of proteins with no oligoclonal bands. Metabolic and inflammatory blood markers were all negative. Brain biopsy was performed in the second child and nonspecific inflammatory lesions with no argument for histiocytosis or tumor were observed. Clinical and radiological stabilization were obtained after active immunotherapy. Retrospective analysis of anti-MOG antibodies in these two children was positive at the earlier stage of the disease and turned negative after treatment and during follow-up. Leukodystrophy-like ADS with anti-MOG-antibodies may display distinct progressive phenotype and have a severe neurological prognosis. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may improve outcome in these children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wang ◽  
Yanyun Wang ◽  
Dingyuan Ma ◽  
Zhilei Zhang ◽  
Yahong Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) is the most common amino acid metabolic disease involving phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH, OMIM*612,349) deficiency or coenzyme tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency. Patients with severe HPA often have a difficult life. Early diagnosis of HPA before the development of symptoms is possible via neonatal screening, facilitating appropriate treatment and reducing mortality and disability rates. This study revealed the prevalence, mutational and phenotypic spectrum, and prognosis of HPA by neonatal screening from January 2001 to September 2020 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Methods Through a retrospective analysis of the information available in the neonatal screening database, the clinical presentations, laboratory data, molecular characteristics and treatment follow-up data of HPA patients detected by neonatal screening were evaluated. Results We diagnosed 181 patients with HPA from 1 to 957 newborns, giving an incidence of 1:6873. Among these patients, 177 were identified as PAH deficient and four patients were BH4 deficient. The average current age of the patients was 6.38 years old. The most common mutations of PAH were c.728 C > A/ p.Arg243Gln (13.83 %), c.158G > A/ p.Arg53His (9.57 %), c.611 A > G/ p.Tyr204Cys (7.44 %), and c.721 C > T/ p.Arg241Cys (6.38 %). Conclusions This study revealed the prevalence, phenotype-genotype, and prognosis of HPA in China and contributes to the updating of PAHD data for China and worldwide. Our study not only expanded the spectrum of phenotypes and genotype but also provided a valuable tool for improved genetic counseling and management of future cases.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1010-1018
Author(s):  
Marhendra Satria Utama ◽  
Andi Kurniadi ◽  
A.A. Citra Yunda Prahastiwi ◽  
Antony A. Adibrata

Yolk sac tumor (YST) is a rare malignant germ cell tumor with no appropriate treatment strategy to date. However, patients are treated on a case-to-case basis as per various case reports that have been published. Here, we present a case of 27-year-old female patient who presented to us with chief complaints of severe abdominal pain associated with leucorrhea. She previously had a similar pain episode, which was then evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. She was diagnosed with YST. After that, she underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy, but there was no improvement. Then the medical oncologist referred her to performed radiotherapy. Then, the radiation oncologist decided to give her curative radiotherapy of 3D-CRT. After completing her sessions, she felt better and clinically improving. After that, she was discharged and scheduled a follow-up visit for first evaluation. At her follow-up visit, she was feeling well, and we decided to have an abdominal MRI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8368
Author(s):  
Luis M. Valor ◽  
Jorge C. Morales ◽  
Irati Hervás-Corpión ◽  
Rosario Marín

Abnormal trinucleotide expansions cause rare disorders that compromise quality of life and, in some cases, lifespan. In particular, the expansions of the CGG-repeats stretch at the 5’-UTR of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene have pleiotropic effects that lead to a variety of Fragile X-associated syndromes: the neurodevelopmental Fragile X syndrome (FXS) in children, the late-onset neurodegenerative disorder Fragile X-associated tremor-ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) that mainly affects adult men, the Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) in adult women, and a variety of psychiatric and affective disorders that are under the term of Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (FXAND). In this review, we will describe the pathological mechanisms of the adult “gain-of-function” syndromes that are mainly caused by the toxic actions of CGG RNA and FMRpolyG peptide. There have been intensive attempts to identify reliable peripheral biomarkers to assess disease progression and onset of specific pathological traits. Mitochondrial dysfunction, altered miRNA expression, endocrine system failure, and impairment of the GABAergic transmission are some of the affectations that are susceptible to be tracked using peripheral blood for monitoring of the motor, cognitive, psychiatric and reproductive impairment of the CGG-expansion carriers. We provided some illustrative examples from our own cohort. Understanding the association between molecular pathogenesis and biomarkers dynamics will improve effective prognosis and clinical management of CGG-expansion carriers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarod L. Roland ◽  
Richard L. Price ◽  
Ashwin A. Kamath ◽  
S. Hassan Akbari ◽  
Eric C. Leuthardt ◽  
...  

The authors describe 2 cases of triventricular hydrocephalus initially presenting as aqueductal stenosis that subsequently developed tumors of the pineal and tectal region. The first case resembled late-onset idiopathic aqueductal stenosis on serial imaging. Subsequent imaging revealed a new tumor in the pineal region causing mass effect on the midbrain. The second case presented in a more typical pattern of aqueductal stenosis during infancy. On delayed follow-up imaging, an enlarging tectal mass was discovered. In both cases hydrocephalus was successfully treated by cerebrospinal fluid diversion prior to tumor presentation. The differential diagnoses, diagnostic testing, and treatment course for these unusual cases are discussed. The importance of follow-up MRI in cases of idiopathic aqueductal stenosis is emphasized by these exemplar cases.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1271-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsuan-Chieh Liao ◽  
Min-Ju Chan ◽  
Chia-Feng Yang ◽  
Chuan-Chi Chiang ◽  
Dau-Ming Niu ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid α-glucosidase (GAA) causes Pompe disease. Newborn screening for Pompe disease is ongoing, and improved methods for distinguishing affected patients from those with pseudodeficiency, especially in the Asian population, would substantially reduce the number of patient referrals for clinical follow-up. METHODS We measured the enzymatic activity of GAA in dried blood spots on newborn screening cards (DBS) using a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) assay. The assay displayed a relatively large analytical range compared to the fluorimetric assay with 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-glucoside. DBS from newborns confirmed to have infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD, n = 11) or late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) (n = 12) and those from patients bearing pseudodeficiency alleles with or without Pompe mutations, or Pompe disease carriers (n = 230) were studied. RESULTS With use of the MS/MS GAA assay in DBS, 96% of the pseudodeficiency newborns and all of the Pompe disease carriers were well separated from the IOPD and LOPD newborns. The fluorimetric assay separated &lt;10% of the pseudodeficiencies from the IOPD/LOPD group. CONCLUSIONS The relatively large analytical range MS/MS GAA assay but not the fluorimetric assay in DBS provides a robust approach to reduce the number of referrals and should dramatically facilitate newborn screening of Pompe disease.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. E1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Li ◽  
Chirag Patil ◽  
John R. Adler ◽  
Shivanand P. Lad ◽  
Scott G. Soltys ◽  
...  

Object By targeting the medial branches of the dorsal rami, radiofrequency ablation and facet joint injections can provide temporary amelioration of facet joint–producing (or facetogenic) back pain. The authors used CyberKnife radiosurgery to denervate affected facet joints with the goal of obtaining a less invasive yet more thorough and durable antinociceptive rhizotomy. Methods Patients with refractory low-back pain, in whom symptoms are temporarily resolved by facet joint injections, were eligible. The patients were required to exhibit positron emission tomography–positive findings at the affected levels. Radiosurgical rhizotomy, targeting the facet joint, was performed in a single session with a marginal prescription dose of 40 Gy and a maximal dose of 60 Gy. Results Seven facet joints in 5 patients with presumptive facetogenic back pain underwent CyberKnife lesioning. The median follow-up was 9.8 months (range 3–16 months). The mean planning target volume was 1.7 cm3 (range 0.9–2.7 cm3). A dose of 40 Gy was prescribed to a mean isodose line of 79% (range 75–80%). Within 1 month of radiosurgery, improvement in pain was observed in 3 of the 5 patients with durable responses at 16, 12, and 6 months, respectively, of follow-up. Two patients, after 12 and 3 months of follow-up, have neither improved nor worsened. No patient has experienced acute or late-onset toxicity. Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that CyberKnife radiosurgery could be a safe, effective, and non-invasive alternative to radiofrequency ablation for managing facetogenic back pain. No patient suffered recurrent symptoms after radiosurgery. It is not yet known whether pain relief due to such lesions will be more durable than that produced by alternative procedures. A larger series of patients with long-term follow-up is ongoing.


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