Fatal neurogenic pulmonary edema in a patient with progressive multiple sclerosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 711-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bramow ◽  
JC Faber-Rod ◽  
C Jacobsen ◽  
A Kutzelnigg ◽  
P Patrikios ◽  
...  

We report a case of fatal neurogenic pulmonary edema in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The patient had one isolated relapse-like episode. Six years later progressive disease began, lasting 5 years until unexpected death during sleep. Medico-legal autopsy revealed pulmonary edema and neuropathological examination showed infiltrations with lymphocytes and microglia in the respiratory centers of the medulla. More classical demyelinated lesions were found in the white matter of spinal cord and in the gray matter of the brain along with disseminated perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates. Medullary inflammation in progressive MS may result in sudden fatal respiratory failure.

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A322-A323
Author(s):  
Rahul Dasgupta ◽  
Sonja Schütz ◽  
Tiffany Braley

Abstract Introduction Sleep-disordered breathing is common in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and may contribute to debilitating fatigue and other chronic MS symptoms. The majority of research to date on SDB in MS has focused on the prevalence and consequences of obstructive sleep apnea; however, PwMS may also be at increased risk for central sleep apnea (CSA), and the utility of methods to assess CSA in PwMS warrant further exploration. We present a patient with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis who was found to have severe central sleep apnea on WatchPAT testing. Report of case(s) A 61 year-old female with a past medical history of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis presented with complaints of fragmented sleep. MRI of the brain, cervical spine, and thoracic spine showed numerous demyelinating lesions in the brain, brainstem, cervical, and thoracic spinal cord. Upon presentation, the patient noted snoring, witnessed apneas, and daytime sleepiness. WatchPAT demonstrated severe sleep apnea, with a pAHI of 63.3, and a minimum oxygen saturation of 90%. The majority of the scored events were non-obstructive in nature (73.1% of all scored events), and occurred intermittently in a periodic fashion. Conclusion The differential diagnosis of fatigue in PwMS should include sleep-disordered breathing, including both obstructive and central forms of sleep apnea. Demyelinating lesions in the brainstem (which may contribute to impairment of motor and sensory networks that control airway patency and respiratory drive), and progressive forms of MS, have been linked to both OSA and CSA. The present data illustrate this relationship in a person with progressive MS, and offer support for the WatchPAT as a cost-effective means to evaluate for both OSA and CSA in PwMS, while reducing patient burden. PwMS may be at increased risk for CSA. Careful clinical consideration should be given to ordering appropriate sleep testing to differentiate central from obstructive sleep apnea in PwMS, particularly for patients with demyelinating lesions in the brainstem. Support (if any) 1. Braley TJ, Segal BM, Chervin RD. Obstructive sleep apnea and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Clin Sleep Med. 2014 Feb 15;10(2):155–62. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.3442. PMID: 24532998; PMCID: PMC3899317.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1428-1436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Comi

The last 20 years have seen major progress in the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) using a variety of drugs targeting immune dysfunction. In contrast, all clinical trials of such agents in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) have failed and there is limited evidence of their efficacy in secondary progressive disease. Evolving concepts of the complex interplay between inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes across the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) may explain this discrepancy. This paper will provide an up-to-date overview of the rationale and results of the published clinical trials that have sought to alter the trajectory of both primary and secondary MS, considering studies involving drugs with a primary immune target and also those aiming for neuroprotection. Future areas of study will be discussed, building on these results combined with the experience of treating RRMS and new concepts emerging from laboratory science and animal models.


2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 877-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Serafini ◽  
Barbara Rosicarelli ◽  
Caterina Veroni ◽  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Camilla Reali ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 758-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Valencia-Sanchez ◽  
Brent P Goodman ◽  
Jonathan L Carter ◽  
Dean M Wingerchuk

Diverse acute neurological injuries may cause acute cardiopulmonary events including neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) and neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM). The mechanism is probably mediated by sympathetic nervous system activation. Focal central nervous system (CNS) lesions, such as demyelinating lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), may also cause cardiopulmonary disturbances. We aim to review the acute cardiopulmonary events associated with MS relapses. We performed a literature search using PubMed, and selected case reports of acute cardiac and/or pulmonary events related to MS exacerbations. We grouped these events into three categories: 1) NPE with normal cardiac function; 2) NSM and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC); 3) coexisting myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary edema. In some cases, cardiac and pulmonary symptoms preceded the onset of neurological symptoms. The majority of cases were associated with acute demyelinating lesions located in the medulla. Acute brainstem MS relapses, with demyelinating lesions affecting the medulla, may cause acute cardiac and pulmonary events presumably secondary to sympathetic hyperstimulation. Specific regions in the medulla that regulate cardiac function, systemic blood pressure and pulmonary hydrostatic pressure seem to be responsible for these events.


2007 ◽  
Vol 65 (3b) ◽  
pp. 800-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bárbara Padilla-Docal ◽  
Alberto J Dorta-Contreras ◽  
Hermes Fundora-Hernández ◽  
Elena Noris-García ◽  
Raisa Bu-Coifiu-Fanego ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory and progressive disease of the central nervous system in which local inflammatory injuries of the brain white matter appears, being the most outstanding feature the myeline loss (demyelination). OBJECTIVE: To determine if the complement system might be involved in the MS immunopathogeny favouring the mechanism intervening in the myelin destruction. METHOD: Samples of sera and CSF from twelve patients with a diagnosis of MS obtained at the moment of the admission to the hospital at the beginning of the break out, were collected. Levels of C3c and albumin in sera and in CSF were quantified using radial immunodiffusion plates. RESULTS: High values over 80% of intrathecal synthesis were obtained except in one of the patients. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal synthesis of C3c and its liberation to the CSF means that the activation of the complement system in any of the two ways has taken place, and that once performed its biological functions, has suffered a degradation process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. A12.1-A12
Author(s):  
Jordana Hughes ◽  
Vilija Jokubaitis ◽  
Mark Slee ◽  
Jeannette Lechner-Scott ◽  
Anneke Van der Walt ◽  
...  

IntroductionWe showed that the available immunotherapies do not modify disability outcomes when used in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. However, these therapies are effective in advanced active multiple sclerosis. Primary progressive multiple sclerosis may present with or without superimposed relapses. Significance of these relapses for disability accumulation and treatment remains contested. We aimed to examine the effect of the available immunotherapies in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.Methods1427 eligible patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis from MSBase were studied. Confirmed disability progression of disability was compared between treated and untreated propensity score-matched cohorts. Multivariable regression models were used to compare disability accrual between primary progressive multiple sclerosis with and without superimposed relapses. Finally, the effect of therapy on disability accrual in cohorts with and without superimposed relapses was analysed.Results173 treated and 373 untreated patients were matched. No differences in the risk of disability progression (p=0.79) and improvement (p=0.98) were observed over the median 3 year follow-up.The likelihood of disability progression was relatively lower in patients with superimposed relapses (hazard ratio=0.83, p<0.01). We observed an association between the proportion of time on immunotherapy and the hazard of disability progression in active (hazard ratio=0.96, p=0.01) but not in the inactive primary progressive disease (p=0.21).ConclusionSuperimposed relapses in primary progressive multiple sclerosis represent a favourable prognostic marker, associated with slower disability accrual. This is most likely attributed to the effectiveness of immunotherapy in active primary progressive disease. Relapse activity, therefore, is a treatable modifier of disability accrual in primary progressive disease.


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