scholarly journals Screening power of STIR muscle MRI in Critical illness myo-neuropathy and GBS in the ICU

Author(s):  
BOBY VARKEY MARAMATTOM

Introduction; Critical illness myo-neuropathy [CIMN] or ICU acquired weakness [CIMN] is a common cause of weakness in ICU patients. It is diagnosed by clinical features, nerve conduction studies and muscle/nerve biopsies. Methods; The MRI muscle STIR images of 7 patients with suspected CIMN and 7 GBS patients were reviewed. Results; All 7 patients with CIMN showed diffuse muscle edema, predominating in the lower limbs. Only one patient with GBS showed abnormal MRI changes (14%) and MRI was normal in 86%. The sensitivity of MRI to detect CIMN was 100%, whereas the specificity was 85.7%. Thus, the positive predictive value of MRI in this situation was 87.5% and the negative predictive value was 100%. Conclusions; Muscle STIR imaging may help to differentiate between CIMN and GBS and can modify the diagnostic algorithm of CIMN.

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (04) ◽  
pp. 518-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Elias ◽  
I Aptel ◽  
B Huc ◽  
J J Chale ◽  
F Nguyen ◽  
...  

SummaryThe current D-Dimer ELISA methods provide high sensitivity and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis but these methods are not suitable for emergency or for individual determination. We have evaluated the performance of 3 newly available fast D-Dimer assays (Vidas D-Di, BioMerieux; Instant IA D-Di, Stago; Nycocard D-Dimer, Nycomed) in comparison with 3 classic ELISA methods (Stago, Organon, Behring) and a Latex agglutination technique (Stago). One-hundred-and-seventy-one patients suspected of presenting a first episode of deep vein thrombosis were investigated. A deep vein thrombosis was detected in 75 patients (43.8%) by ultrasonic duplex scanning of the lower limbs; in 11 of them the thrombi were distal and very limited in size (<2 cm). We compared the performance of the tests by calculating their sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for different cut-off levels and by calculating the area under ROC curves. The concordance of the different methods was evaluated by calculating the kappa coefficient. The performances of the 3 classic ELISA and of the Vidas D-Di were comparable and kappa coefficients indicated a good concordance between the results provided by these assays. Their sensitivity slightly declined for detection of the very small thrombi. Instant IA D-Di had a non-significantly lower sensitivity and negative predictive value than the 4 previous assays; however its performance was excellent for out-patients. As expected, the Latex assay had too low a sensitivity and negative predictive value to be recommended. In our hands, Nycocard D-Dimer also exhibited low sensitivity and negative predictive value, which were significantly improved when the plasma samples were tested by the manufacturer. Thus significant progress has been made, allowing clinical studies to be planned to compare the safety and cost-effectiveness of D-Dimer strategy to those of the conventional methods for the diagnosis of venous thrombosis.


1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (02) ◽  
pp. 141-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Bounameaux ◽  
B Krähenbühl ◽  
S Vukanovic

SummaryDoppler ultrasound flow examination, strain gauge plethysmography and contrast venography were performed in 160 lower limbs of 80 in-patients. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was suspected in 87 limbs. Using measurement of venous stop-flow pressure, the Doppler method had an overall sensitivity of 83%. By combined use of Doppler and Plethysmography, sensitivity was increased to 96%. Specificity was 62% and 51%, respectively. With a positive and a negative predictive value of 80% and 73%, respectively, the combination of both non-invasive methods cannot reliably replace venography in the diagnosis of DTV, although all (40/40) thromboses proximal to or involving the popliteal segment were detected by either Doppler and Plethysmography or both.After exclusion of 14 patients (18%) suffering from conditions known to alter the results of these non-invasive methods, the positive predictive value of abnormal findings in both Doppler and Plethysmography was increased to 94% for suspected limbs, whilst negative predictive value of both negative Doppler and Plethysmography was 90%, allowing the avoidance of venography in these patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 584-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Batt ◽  
Sunita Mathur ◽  
Hans D. Katzberg

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (01) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Legnani ◽  
Benilde Cosmi ◽  
Giuliana Guazzaloca ◽  
Claudia Pancani ◽  
Sergio Coccheri ◽  
...  

SummaryIn some patients with previous venous thromboembolism (VTE) D-dimer levels (D-Dimer) tend to increase after oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) is stopped. The aim of our study was to evaluate the predictive value of D-Dimer for the risk of VTE recurrence after OAT withdrawal. After a first episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs and/or pulmonary embolism (PE), 396 patients (median age 67 years, 198 males) were followed from the day of OAT discontinuation for 21 months. D-dimer was measured on the day of OAT withdrawal (T1), 3-4 weeks (T2) and 3 months (+/− 10 days, T3) thereafter. The main outcome events of the study were: objectively documented recurrent DVT and/or PE. D-dimer was found to be increased in 15.5%, 40.3% and 46.2% of the patients at T1, T2 and T3, respectively. In 199 (50.2%) patients, D-dimer levels were elevated in at least one measurement. During a follow-up of 628.4 years, 40 recurrences were recorded (10.1% of patients; 6.4% patient-years of follow-up). D-dimer was increased in at least one measurement in 28 of these cases, but remained normal in 11 subjects (three of whom had recurrent events triggered by circumstantial factors, three with malignancyassociated factors) (in one subject D-dimer was not measured). The negative predictive value (NPV) of D-dimer was 95.6% (95% CI 91.6-98.1) at T3 and was even higher (96.7%; 95% CI 92.9-98.8) after exclusion of the six recurrences due to circumstantial factors. Only five idiopathic recurrences occurred in the 186 patients with consistently normal D-dimer. In conclusion, D-dimer has a high NPV for VTE recurrence when performed after OAT discontinuation.


Critical Care ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. R229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwen A Connolly ◽  
Gareth D Jones ◽  
Alexandra A Curtis ◽  
Patrick B Murphy ◽  
Abdel Douiri ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália Merten Athayde ◽  
Alzira Alves de Siqueira Carvalho

Context: Myofibrillar myopathies (MFM) represent a heterogeneous group of disorders of skeletal and cardiac muscle caused by mutations in genes that encode proteins of sarcomere. Diagnosis is a challenge due to clinical and genetic variability. Case report: Woman, 36 years old, presenting stumbles and falls for 3 years evolving with proximal limb weakness. At age 30, she fainted and a cardiac pacemaker was implanted. Non-consanguineous parents. Neurological exam: proximal and distal weakness in lower limbs and distal atrophy; osteotendinous reflexes normal. Bilateral scapula alata. Exams: CPK = 457 U / l; EMG: myopathic pattern. Muscle MRI: diffuse and heterogeneous fatty degeneration, marked in sartorius, gracilis and semitedinous. Panel NGS myopathies: pathogenic variant, c.1175T> C, missense in heterozygosis in desmin gene. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of MFM is based on the morphological findings of muscle biopsy with the presence of protein aggregates as a determining factor. Currently, genetic testing by NGS has facilitated early diagnosis allowing for a more appropriate clinical approach. The desmin gene was the first one described to be associated with this group of myopathies. It encodes the desmin protein, a member of the intermediate filament family present in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Several phenotypes are related to desmin gene: isolated dilated cardiomyopathy; scapuloperoneal weakness and distoproximal weakness with cardiac alterations. Desminopathy is a rare cause of cardiomyopathy and / or myopathy. The diagnosis should be thought in patient with muscle weakness and cardiac changes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 028418512110418
Author(s):  
Katerina Vassiou ◽  
Michael Fanariotis ◽  
Ioannis Tsougos ◽  
Ioannis Fezoulidis

Background Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements are not incorporated in BI-RADS classification. Purpose To assess the probability of malignancy of breast lesions at magnetic resonance mammography (MRM) at 3 T, by combining ADC measurements with the BI-RADS score, in order to improve the specificity of MRM. Material and Methods A total of 296 biopsy-proven breast lesions were included in this prospective study. MRM was performed at 3 T, using a standard protocol with dynamic sequence (DCE-MRI) and an extra echo-planar diffusion-weighted sequence. A freehand region of interest was drawn inside the lesion, and ADC values were calculated. Each lesion was categorized according to the BI-RADS classification. Logistic regression analysis was employed to predict the probability of malignancy of a lesion. The model combined the BI-RADS classification and the ADC value. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. Results In total, 153 malignant and 143 benign lesions were analyzed; 257 lesions were masses and 39 lesions were non-mass-like enhancements. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined method were 96% and 86%, respectively, in contrast to 95% and 81% with BI-RADS classification alone. Conclusion We propose a method of assessing the probability of malignancy in breast lesions by combining BI-RADS score and ADC values into a single formula, increasing sensitivity and specificity compared to BI-RADS classification alone.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongpeng Xie ◽  
Suxia Liu ◽  
Hui Zheng ◽  
Lijuan Cao ◽  
Kexi Liu ◽  
...  

Objective. To identify the clinical correlations between plasma growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), skeletal muscle function, and acute muscle wasting in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation. In addition, to investigate its diagnostic value for ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) and its predictive value for 90-day survival in mechanically ventilated patients. Methods. 95 patients with acute respiratory failure, who required mechanical ventilation therapy, were randomly selected among hospitalized patients from June 2017 to January 2019. The plasma GDF-15 level was detected by ELISA, the rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFcsa) was measured by ultrasound, and the patient’s muscle strength was assessed using the British Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle strength score on day 1, day 4, and day 7. Patients were divided into an ICU-AW group and a non-ICU-AW group according to their MRC-score on the 7th day. The differences in plasma GDF-15 level, MRC-score, and RFcsa between the two groups were compared on the 1st, 4th, and 7th day after being admitted to the ICU. Then, the correlations between plasma GDF-15 level, RFcsa loss, and MRC-score on day 7 were investigated. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze the plasma GDF-15 level, RFcsa loss, and % decrease in RFcsa on the 7th day to the diagnosis of ICU-AW in mechanically ventilated patients. Moreover, the predictive value of GDF-15 on the 90-day survival status of patients was assessed using patient survival curves. Results. Based on whether the 7th day MRC-score was <48, 50 cases were included in the ICU-AW group and 45 cases in the non-ICU-AW group. The length of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, and hospital length of stay were significantly longer in the ICU-AW group than in the non-ICU-AW group (all P<0.05), while the other baseline indicators were not statistically significant between the two groups. As the treatment time increased, the plasma GDF-15 level was significantly increased, the ICU-AW group demonstrated a significant decreasing trend in the MRC-score and RFcsa, while no significant changes were found in the non-ICU-AW group. In the ICU-AW group, the plasma GDF-15 level was significantly higher than that in the non-ICU-AW group, while the RFcsa and the MRC-score were significantly lower than those in the non-ICU-AW group (GDF-15 (pg/ml): 2542.44 ± 629.38 vs. 1542.86 ± 502.86; RFcsa (cm2): 2.04 ± 0.64 vs. 2.34 ± 0.61; MRC-score: 41.22 ± 3.42 vs. 51.42 ± 2.72, all P<0.001). The plasma GDF-15 level was significantly negatively correlated with the MRC-score (r = −0.60), while it was significantly positively correlated with the RFcsa loss (r = 0.18) and the % decrease in RFcsa (r = 0.16). Moreover, the RFcsa loss was significantly negatively correlated with the MRC-score (r = −0.27) (all P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis showed that plasma GDF-15 level, RFcsa loss, and % decrease in RFcsa on day 7 had predictive value for ICU-AW diagnosis in mechanically ventilated patients. More specifically, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of GDF-15 was 0.904, the AUC of RFcsa loss was 0.873, and the AUC of % decrease in RFcsa was 0.886 (all P<0.001). The 90-day survival curve demonstrated that the survival rate of the high plasma GDF-15 level group was 54.00%, while that of the low plasma GDF-15 level group was 75.56%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion. The plasma GDF-15 concentration level was significantly associated with skeletal muscle function and muscle wasting on day 7 in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the plasma GDF-15 level on the 7th day has a high diagnostic yield for ICU-acquired muscle weakness, and it can predict the 90-day survival status of ICU mechanically ventilated patients.


Neuropsychiatric problems, including posttraumatic stress disorders, depression, and anxiety, after critical illness are receiving increasing attention, particularly in the critical care medicine literature, but all clinicians should be interested in these common problems, given the growing number of critical illness survivors. Patients frequently come out of the intensive care unit (ICU) with horrifying distorted memories and don’t understand what has happened to them. Not only are patients debilitated with cognitive impairment and ICU-acquired weakness, they are traumatized by actual experiences (e.g., shortness of breath and pain) and distorted memories (of being tortured, raped, assaulted, or imprisoned) shaped by delirium. Patients’ family members are also frequently quite distressed, and children surviving critical illnesses appear to have similar experiences to those of adults. This book provides an overview of the nature and epidemiology of cognitive and other psychiatric problems in this growing population, and it addresses the small but growing literature on prevention and early intervention efforts. Addressing these problems successfully will require collaborative interventions, both in-ICU and post-ICU.


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