scholarly journals Induction of remission with tacrolimus in a patient with severe acute, cortisone refractory ulcerative colitis and severe Covid-19 pneumonia: a case report

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisanne Rieker ◽  
Johannes Hofer ◽  
Golo Petzold ◽  
Volker Ellenrieder ◽  
Ahmad Amanzada

Abstract Background Therapy regimens used in patients with inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) have been associated with enhanced risk of viral infections or viral reactivation. Moreover, it is uncertain whether IBD patients have increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or infected patients may have an increased risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Managing severe acute flare in ulcerative colitis during the Covid-19 pandemic is a challenge for clinicians and their patients. The results of the published studies mainly report on the role of the prior medication, but not how to treat severe acute flare of IBD patients with severe Covid-19 pneumonia. Case presentation We report the case of a 68-year-old patient with a long history of ulcerative colitis. He was initially admitted to an external hospital because of severe acute flare. The initiation of a high-dose oral cortisone therapy did not improve the clinical symptoms. During the inpatient treatment, he was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. At admission to our hospital the patient showed severe flare of his ulcerative colitis and increased Covid-19 symptoms. A cortisone-refractory course was noticed. After detailed multidisciplinary risk–benefit assessment, we initiated an intravenous tacrolimus therapy and dose of prednisolone was tapered gradually. After clinical response, the therapy was adjusted to infliximab. Additionally, the Covid-19 pneumonia was kept under control despite immunosuppression and the patient could be discharged in clinical remission. Conclusions This case suggest the use of tacrolimus as a bridging therapeutic option for severe acute, cortisone refractory ulcerative colitis in Covid-19 patients. Nevertheless, the best treatment strategy for IBD patients presenting a flare during the outbreak has yet to be defined. Further data for IBD patients under calcineurin inhibitor therapy are urgently needed.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1764-1764
Author(s):  
Matt Kalaycio ◽  
Brad Pohlman ◽  
Lisa Rybicki ◽  
Ronald Sobecks ◽  
Elizabeth Kuczkowski ◽  
...  

Abstract Many high-dose chemotherapy preparative regimens include agents known to cause pulmonary toxicity such as BCNU. Chemotherapy induced pulmonary toxicity may be fatal. From 1/1/93 to 12/31/04 we treated 533 NHL patients with oral busulfan 14mg/kg, VP-16 60 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg followed by ASCT. Busulfan levels were not measured. We have followed these patients for toxicity, survival, and cause of death (COD). Of these 533 patients, 214 have died, and 53 have died without relapse (15%). Most patients (n=329; 62%) had intermediate grade NHL by the IWF system. The median age was 50 years (range, 16–77) and 43% had a history of smoking. Radiotherapy was delivered to 27% and less than 3 chemotherapy regimens were administered to 75% of patients before ASCT. Sixteen patients (3%) died of non-relapse pulmonary complications. The median time to pulmonary mortality was 5 months (range, 2.5 – 21.4 months). We routinely screen patients with pulmonary function tests including DLCO before ASCT and most patients (n=490; 92%) were screened at a median of 45 days after ASCT (range, 7–90 days). For patients for whom data was available, there was no significant decrease in the median pre-ASCT and the post-ASCT DLCO in the either the whole cohort of patients or the patients dying of pulmonary complications. However, a lower baseline DLCO before ASCT predicted for pulmonary mortality after ASCT in univariable and multivariable analysis. Patients with a baseline DLCO <94% predicted, had an increased risk of pulmonary mortality compared to patients with a baseline DLCO ≥94% predicted (p=0.016). Other significant risk factors included older age, lower baseline FEV1, prior radiotherapy, and longer time from diagnosis to ASCT. A history of smoking and disease status at the time of ASCT did not predict for pulmonary mortality. Because patients died of pulmonary complications at other institutions, we could neither determine treatment, nor confirm chemotherapy induced pulmonary toxicity. However, the early onset of pulmonary mortality after ASCT suggests the possibility of a toxic insult. Busulfan is a known pulmonary toxin, but the dose in this series of patients is relatively low and we have not seen similar pulmonary complications in 95 patients (median age 52 years) with myeloma treated with the combination of busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 120mg/kg. Nonetheless, caution is warranted for older patients being treated with high-dose oral busulfan.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-88
Author(s):  
Thomas-Michael Schneider ◽  
Friederike Klenner ◽  
Franz Brettner

Abstract Background: Newly approved immunotherapeutic agents, like CTLA-4 inhibitors and antibodies against PD-1, are a promising therapeutic option in cancer therapy. Case presentation: A 74-year-old man, with a history of advanced stage melanoma and treatment with ipilimumab, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, was admitted to the hospital due to respiratory failure with hypoxemia and dyspnoea. He rapidly developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which required treatment in the intensive care unit which included mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Computed tomographic imaging (CT) showed signs of a pneumonitis, with an ARDS pattern related to the use of PD-1 antibodies. Treating the patient with high-dose immunosuppressive steroids led to an overall improvement. He was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital and subsequently to his home. Discussion and conclusion: This is a unique case report of a patient suffering a grade 4 adverse event under nivolumab who survived having been treated with ECMO. It highlights the possibility of associated adverse reactions as well as the use of ECMO in palliative care patients. ECMO can be of great success even in patients with malignancies, but careful decision making should be done on a case by case basis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kemp W. Bundy ◽  
Laura Y. McGirt ◽  
Lora G. Bankova ◽  
Andreas Wollenberg ◽  
Lisa A. Beck ◽  
...  

Background. Eczema herpeticum (EH) is a potentially serious, systemic complication in subjects with atopic dermatitis (AD) caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). The innate immune dysregulation that predisposes these subjects to cutaneous viral infections is not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that defects in mannan-binding lectin (MBL) may be associated with an increased risk of EH.Methods. We evaluated serum MBL levels and functional activity in 13 AD subjects with a history of EH (EH+) and 21 AD subjects with no history of EH (EH−). MBL levels were detected by enzyme immunoassay. MBL pathway functional activity was evaluated by determining MBL C4b deposition capacity.Results. We found no statistical difference in MBL serum levels or function between EH+ and EH− groups.Conclusion. Considering the limitations of this study (e.g., small samples size) our findings suggest that MBL defects do not play a role in EH.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Athina Nikolarakou ◽  
Dana Dumitriu ◽  
Pierre-Louis Docquier

Primary arthritis of chondrosternal joint is very rare and occurs in infants less than 18 months of age. Presentation is most often subacute but may be acute. Child presents with a parasternal mass with history of fever and/or local signs of infection. Clinical symptoms vary from a painless noninflammatory to a painful mass with local tenderness and swelling, while fever may be absent. Laboratory data show low or marginally raised levels of white blood cells and C-reactive protein, reflecting, respectively, the subacute or acute character of the infection. It is a self-limiting affection due to the adequate immune response of the patient. Evolution is generally good without antibiotherapy with a progressive spontaneous healing. A wait-and-see approach with close follow-up in the first weeks is the best therapeutic option.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S368-S369
Author(s):  
J Estorninho ◽  
P Freire ◽  
S Lopes ◽  
M Ferreira ◽  
M Ferreira ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) has been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Although dye spray chromoendoscopy showed superiority to standard colonoscopy in surveillance studies, with the availability of higher-resolution colonoscopes, the utility of chromoendoscopy (CE) has been questioned. We aimed to evaluate the risk of intraepithelial neoplasia (IN) after a high-quality screening colonoscopy (making use of CE or random biopsies (RB) and removing all detected lesions) in a population with longstanding UC and to identify potential risk factors for dysplasia incidence. Methods In a previous study, 145 patients with clinically and endoscopic longstanding (≥8 yr) distal/extensive UC without primary sclerosing cholangitis and/or history of IN were prospectively randomised to undergo CE or RB. In this study, after a median follow-up of 5 additional years, we evaluated subsequent IN incidence in these patients, submitted to surveillance colonoscopy. Patients without high-quality surveillance colonoscopy (with good bowel preparation and cecum intubation) using high-definition were excluded. Results One hundred and twenty-one patients were included. Nine had removed adenomas with low-grade dysplasia in the index colonoscopy. Now, in surveillance colonoscopy, we detected 9 (7.4%) IN: low-grade dysplasia was found in 8 (6.6%) patients and a colorectal adenocarcinoma in 1 (0.008%) patient. After multivariate analysis, IN was significantly associated with older age (68 vs. 52 years, p < 0.05) and higher disease duration (26 vs. 20 years, p < 0.05). No association was found between IN and previous detection of IN in screening colonoscopy sex, the CE or RB use in index colonoscopy, extent of disease, The presence of pseudopolyps, smoking habits, familial history of CRC or maintenance therapy for UC. Conclusion In this study, older patients and higher disease duration were associated with a higher risk of IN in surveillance colonoscopy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (37) ◽  
pp. 66-69
Author(s):  
Ryan Dean ◽  
Monisha Narayanan ◽  
Evan Nix ◽  
Kinsley Stepka ◽  
Raphael Mattamal

Research focusing on COVID-19-associated complications has become a growing area of importance. One such complication is multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a rare immune-mediated condition that most commonly presents with Kawasaki-like symptoms in the pediatric population. Potential complications include myocarditis, renal impairment, and cytokine storm. Here we describe the first reported case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in the West Texas region, presenting in a Hispanic 5-year-old female with a recent history of COVID-19. The patient arrived to the hospital with a 4 day history of high fever, a 2 day history of diffuse maculopapular rash, and complaints of fatigue, generalized body aches, decreased appetite, headache, and abdominal pain. Further physical exam revealed hepatosplenomegaly and cervical lymphadenopathy, while labs revealed elevated inflammatory markers, lymphopenia, left shift with bandemia and immature cells, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and transaminitis. The patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with a suspected Kawasaki-like illness and started on high dose aspirin and IV immunoglobulin. She was placed on methylprednisolone, albumin, and acetaminophen on hospital day 3. By hospital day 4, the patient defervesced, inflammatory markers decreased, and clinical symptoms improved. The patient was discharged on hospital day 10 with absent fever and improvement of clinical symptoms for 6 consecutive days. No complications were detected upon follow-up 2 weeks later. A low threshold of suspicion for this illness is required in any child with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as the presentation is vague and early identification is necessary to prevent further complications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-210
Author(s):  
Helen E. Baxendale ◽  
David Wells ◽  
Jessica Gronlund ◽  
Angalee Nadesalingham ◽  
Mina Paloniemi ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: In early 2020, at first surge of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many health care workers (HCW) were re-deployed to critical care environments to support intensive care teams looking after patients with severe COVID-19. There was considerable anxiety of increased risk of COVID-19 for these staff. To determine whether critical care HCW were at increased risk of hospital acquired infection, we explored the relationship between workplace, patient facing role and evidence of immune exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within a quaternary hospital providing a regional critical care response. Routine viral surveillance was not available at this time. Methods: We screened over 500 HCW (25% of the total workforce) for history of clinical symptoms of possible COVID19, assigning a symptom severity score, and quantified SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies as evidence of immune exposure to the virus. Results: Whilst 45% of the cohort reported symptoms that they consider may have represented COVID-19, 14% had evidence of immune exposure. Staffs in patient facing critical care roles were least likely to be seropositive (9%) and staff working in non-patient facing roles most likely to be seropositive (22%). Anosmia and fever were the most discriminating symptoms for seropositive status. Older males presented with more severe symptoms. Of the 12 staff screened positive by nasal swab (10 symptomatic), 3 showed no evidence of seroconversion in convalescence. Conclusions: Patient facing staff working in critical care do not appear to be at increased risk of hospital acquired infection however the risk of nosocomial infection from non-patient facing staff may be more significant than previous recognised. Most symptoms ascribed to possible COVID-19 were found to have no evidence of immune exposure however seroprevalence may underrepresent infection frequency. Older male staff were at the greatest risk of more severe symptoms.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (7) ◽  
pp. 2158-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Meloni ◽  
R Foa ◽  
M Vignetti ◽  
A Guarini ◽  
S Fenu ◽  
...  

Abstract The administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) may induce complete remissions in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients with a low proportion of residual bone marrow (BM) blasts. To confirm this preliminary observation, we treated 14 AML patients with advanced disease and with a residual BM blastosis that ranged between 7% and 24% with repeated 5-day cycles of high-dose recombinant IL-2 administered by daily continuous intravenous infusion. Patients who responded have been subsequently submitted to a monthly maintenance scheme with subcutaneous IL-2 at lower doses. While using this schedule and closely monitoring clinical and laboratory conditions, side effects were acceptable and no toxic deaths recorded. Eight of the 14 patients treated with high-dose IL-2 obtained a complete remission (CR). Five remain in persistent CR (four in third CR and one in fourth CR) after a median follow-up time of 32 months (14, 30, 32, 33, and 68 months, respectively). In all five patients, the IL-2-induced remission is the longest in the natural history of the disease. These findings show that IL-2 displays an antileukemic effect in AML with limited residual disease, and suggest that IL-2 should be considered a therapeutic option for resistant or relapsed AML patients.


2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 889-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Chao ◽  
Laurence Katznelson

Fibrous dysplasia of the bone in adults is a rare anomaly of skeletal development caused by a defect in differentiation of osteoblasts. This condition is associated with bone pain, bone deformity, and an increased incidence of fracture. Involvement of the skull is associated with headache along with dysmorphic features. Until recently, the principal treatment has been resection or fracture repair, although the latter is often palliative at best. However, new insight into the molecular mechanism of fibrous dysplasia has led to the use of bisphosphonates to treat this disease. The authors examined the effects of high-dose oral alendronate (40 mg daily) for 6 months on 3 adult patients with intractable headache due to fibrous dysplasia of the skull. Each patient had disease processes not amenable to surgery. The patients underwent clinical follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months. Their pain levels were documented at each visit by using a visual analog scale. All 3 patients demonstrated a significant decrease in pain levels and became independent of scheduled analgesics. Tumor bulk did not progress during this interval in any patient. Overall, alendronate was tolerated well, although in 1 patient it was discontinued early due to esophagitis. High-dose oral bisphosphonate therapy is an alternative therapeutic option for the palliative treatment of patients with fibrous dysplasia of the skull.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5329
Author(s):  
Alexandra Wetzel ◽  
Bettina Scholtka ◽  
Fabian Schumacher ◽  
Harshadrai Rawel ◽  
Birte Geisendörfer ◽  
...  

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a severe chronic disease with unclear etiology that is associated with increased risk for colorectal cancer, is accompanied by dysregulation of cytokines. Epstein–Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) encodes a subunit in the unique heterodimeric IL-12 cytokine family of either pro- or anti-inflammatory function. After having recently demonstrated that upregulation of EBI3 by histone acetylation alleviates disease symptoms in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mouse model of chronic colitis, we now aimed to examine a possible further epigenetic regulation of EBI3 by DNA methylation under inflammatory conditions. Treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) decitabine (DAC) and TNFα led to synergistic upregulation of EBI3 in human colon epithelial cells (HCEC). Use of different signaling pathway inhibitors indicated NFκB signaling was necessary and proportional to the synergistic EBI3 induction. MALDI-TOF/MS and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of DAC/TNFα-treated HCEC identified IL-12p35 as the most probable binding partner to form a functional protein. EBI3/IL-12p35 heterodimers (IL-35) induce their own gene upregulation, something that was indeed observed in HCEC cultured with media from previously DAC/TNFα-treated HCEC. These results suggest that under inflammatory and demethylating conditions the upregulation of EBI3 results in the formation of anti-inflammatory IL-35, which might be considered as a therapeutic target in colitis.


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