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BACKGROUND: Inflammatory cardiomyopathy (infl-CMP) is characterized by increased cardiac inflammation in the absence of viruses, ischemia, valvular disease, or other apparent causes. Studies addressing the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with infl-CMP are sparse. This study retrospectively investigates whether immunosuppressive agents on top of heart failure therapy according to current guidelines improves cardiac function and long-term outcome in patients with infl-CMP. METHODS AND RESULTS: Within the Innsbruck and Maastricht Cardiomyopathy Registry, a total of 209 patients fulfilled the criteria for infl-CMP using endomyocardial biopsy (≥14 infiltrating inflammatory cells/mm2). A total of 110 (53%) patients received immunosuppressive therapy and 99 (47%) did not. To correct for potential selection bias, 1:1 propensity score matching was used on all significant baseline parameters, resulting in a total of 90 patients per group. Baseline characteristics did not significantly differ between both patient groups, reflecting optimal propensity score matching. After a median follow-up of 31 (15--47) months, immunosuppressive therapy resulted in an improved long-term outcome (eg, heart transplantation--free survival) as compared with standard heart failure therapy alone (Log-rank P=0.043; hazard ratio, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.17--0.92]) and in a significant larger increase of left ventricular ejection fraction after a mean of 12 months follow-up, as compared with patients receiving standard heart failure treatment only (12.2% versus 7.3%, respectively; P=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, this study suggests that immunosuppressive therapy in infl-CMP patients results in an improved heart transplantation-- free survival as compared with standard heart failure therapy alone, underscoring the urgent need for a large prospective multicenter trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 76-year-old woman, who had a history of type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, was admitted to the dermatology outpatient clinic for the appearance of asymptomatic symmetrical skin-coloured fiat papules of 2-3 m m diameter arranged in a linear pattern on the extensor surface of all fingers and the back of both ear helices. Histopathological analysis of skin biopsy samples revealed it to be scleromyxedema.

Meningioma accounts for approximately one-third of primary central nervous system tumors. Most meningiomas are benign, although up to one third are classified as atypical or malignant. We describe a 63-year Caucasian male presenting with pleural metastases from an intracranial meningioma. Distant metastases from meningiomas are infrequently found in clinical practice and mostly are associated with atypical or malignant meningiomas. There is no standard treatment; however surgical resection of both the primary and metastatic lesions is the safest therapy. The overall prognosis of atypical meningiomas is poor. Our patient died one week after discharge from our hospital.