Academic literature on the topic 'Syringomyelia Immunology'

Objective. To explore the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of Chiari malformation type I (CMI) in patients with dysphagia. Methods. Adult patients diagnosed with CMI were retrospectively and consecutively reviewed from January 2013 to December 2016. Symptoms and medical characteristics were recorded. According to the clinical manifestations, we divided the patients into two groups. The first group had 21 patients with symptoms of dysphagia and the second group had 71 patients with nondysphagia symptoms. Various length or angle measurements of the posterior cranial fossa (PCF), syringomyelia, and degree of cerebellar tonsillar herniation were investigated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Univariate, correlation, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to compare and analyze the data of the two groups. Results. The mean length of the clivus, height of PCF, and slope inclination angle of clivus significantly decreased in the dysphagia group compared to the nondysphagia group. The mean cranial spinal angle (CSA) and degree of cerebellar tonsillar herniation were significantly larger in the dysphagia group. There were no correlations between the age, sex, disease duration, and the length of cerebellar tonsillar herniation or CSA. There was a positive correlation between dysphagia level and CSA (r=-0.50; p=0.021). Among CSA, age, sex, the degree of tonsillar herniation, syringomyelia, and disease duration, CSA was the individual sign that correlated significantly with dysphagia (OR: 1.447; 95% CI: 1.182-1.698; P<0.001). Interactions between CSA and the degree of cerebellar tonsillar herniation, syringomyelia, and dysphagia existed (OR: 1.104; 95% CI: 1.042-1.170; P=0.001 and OR: 1.081; 95% CI: 1.023-1.142; P=0.006, respectively). Conclusions. The CMI patients with dysphagia were more likely to have a large CSA on MRI compared with CMI patients without dysphagia. An increased probability with syringomyelia or length of cerebellar tonsillar herniation can enhance the contribution of CSA to dysphagia in patients with CMI.

This study aimed to summarize the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of Chiari malformation type I- (CM-1-) associated syringobulbia. We performed a literature review of CM-1-associated syringobulbia in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. Our concerns were the clinical features, radiologic presentations, treatment therapies, and prognoses of CM-1-associated syringobulbia. This review identified 23 articles with 53 cases. Symptoms included headache, neck pain, cranial nerve palsy, limb weakness/dysesthesia, Horner syndrome, ataxia, and respiratory disorders. The most frequently involved area was the medulla. Most of the patients also had syringomyelia. Surgical procedures performed included posterior fossa decompression, foramen magnum decompression, cervical laminectomy, duraplasty, and syringobulbic cavity shunt. Most patients experienced symptom alleviation or resolution postoperatively. A syringobulbic cavity shunt provided good results in refractory cases. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of syringobulbia in CM-1 patients, especially those with symptoms of sudden-onset brain-stem involvement. The diagnosis relies on the disorder’s specific symptomatology and magnetic resonance imaging. Our review suggests that the initial therapy should be posterior fossa decomposition with or without duraplasty. In refractory cases, additional syringobulbic cavity shunt is the preferred option.

Abstract Abstract 1968 Two previous studies have reported that multiple myeloma (MM) patients (pts) with t(4;14), identified by FISH cytogenetics, experience a median progression-free survival (PFS) of only 8–9 mos and median overall survival (OS) of 18 mos when treated with a single ASCT (Chang H, et al. Bone Marrow Transplant 2005; 36: 793; Gertz M, et al. Blood 2005; 106: 2837). On the other hand, the novel agent bortezomib is efficacious in relapsed myeloma pts with t(4;14). Based on these observations, we designed a phase II protocol for newly diagnosed MM pts with t(4;14) that consists of induction with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, bortezomib and dexamethasone (DBD) × 4 cycles, followed by post-induction therapy with oral cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 days 1,8 15, 22 with bortezomib 1.5 mg/m2 days 1,8,15 and prednisone 100 mg q 2 days of a 28-day cycle (CyBor-P) × 8 additional cycles. Maintenance therapy with dexamethasone (dex) 40 mg/month was then administered until progression. Although elective stem cell collection was recommended after induction, routine ASCT was not performed in the absence of disease progression. Between February 2008-July 2010, the bone marrows of 201 newly diagnosed MM pts were screened for t(4;14) in 7 Canadian centers, and 31 (15.4%) were found to be positive by FISH. Five pts did not meet the criteria for symptomatic MM, 4 had received ≥ 2 mos of prior therapy, 1 refused treatment and 2 were ineligible due to peripheral neuropathy or renal failure. Nineteen pts have been entered onto study. One of these was later determined to have a variant abnormality of chromosome 4 but not t(4;14) and underwent ASCT after induction; this pt is included in the safety analysis only. The median age was 60 yrs (45-69) and 53% were male. The median percent nuclei positive for t(4;14) was 26% (3-44%), serum β2-microglobulin was 318 nmol/L (43-1695) and albumin was 36 g/L (28-48); 6 pts had ISS stage 1, 6 had stage 2 and 5 had stage 3 MM. Immunoglobulin subtype included IgGκ (5), IgGλ (4), IgAκ (3), IgAλ (4), λ LC (1) and nonsecretory (1). To date, 15 pts have commenced DBD induction (57 total cycles administered), 12 have started post-induction CyBor-P (67 total cycles) and 6 are on maintenance dex (35 total cycles). Using modified Uniform criteria, the best response in 15 evaluable pts includes: sCR in 3 (20%), CR in 3 (20%), VGPR in 6 (40%), PR in 1 (6.7%) and stable disease in 2 (13.3%). Four have progressed a median of 3 mos (1-11) after commencing induction; one who progressed through DBD remains in nCR 1.5 yrs after salvage D-PACE followed by ASCT and lenalidomide maintenance. Fourteen SAEs occurred, of which 11 were grade 3 and 0 were grade 4; 5 pts developed grade 2 peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling) during induction with DBD. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was seen in 2/0 pts, and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia in 2/1 pts, respectively. Two pts have died, due to MM progression in 1 and complex medical problems including syringomyelia with progressive weakness/ruptured diverticuli/depression in another who withdrew consent despite achieving VGPR with induction. Median follow-up (F/U) is 9.4 mos (1-23). Actuarial PFS is 66% (95% CI 42–100%) and overall survival is 92% (95%CI 79–100%) at 1 year. We conclude: 1) the incidence of t(4;14) by FISH in newly diagnosed MM pts is 15.4% as expected; 2) 26% of newly diagnosed pts with this entity have asymptomatic MM; 3) this bortezomib-based regimen is well-tolerated; 4) the overall response rate (sCR + CR + VGPR + PR) is 87%; 5) preliminarily, the 1-year PFS and OS with this approach compare favorably with reports of single ASCT in t(4;14) positive MM, although longer follow-up is required. Disclosures: Reece: Ortho Biotech: Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Bortezomib as first line therapy in myeloma. Chen:Ortho Biotech: Honoraria. Kukreti:Ortho Biotech: Honoraria. Anglin:Ortho Biotech: Honoraria. Trudel:Ortho Biotech: Honoraria.

The authors discuss the association of papilledema with Chiari I malformation (CMI) and syringomyelia on the basis of a clinical case studied by radiology, immunology and biochemistry methods. In the presence of normal haematology, blood immunology and biochemistry, clinical signs of headache and papilledema associated to hemifacial asymmetry, blind neck fistulas, malformed ears and spinal abnormalities (symptoms of oculo-auricolo- vertebral spectrum - OAVS), were observed. Magnetic resonance images and computed tomography demonstrated the occurrence of lowered cerebellar tonsils, but with values lower than those typical of the CMI syndrome and syringomyelia. The authors concluded for a minor form (benign ectopia) in the CMI syndrome, associated to papilledema and syringomyelia, and hypothesize an unique pathogenetic mechanism for this complex, connected to neural crest cell development and to OAVS, as extension of this spectrum. The authors underline the relevance of the facial/neck lateral signs for the diagnosis of OAVS associated to brain stem pathology and CMI.