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Autoimmune encephalitis is a rare but critical complication of COVID-19. The management of COVID-19-associated autoimmune encephalitis includes the use of steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis, and monoclonal antibody therapy. This study presented a patient with critical COVID-19 autoimmune encephalitis who rapidly recovered after the initiation of corticosteroids and IVIG therapy. This study reviewed the current literature on the pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, and management of COVID-19-associated autoimmune encephalitis.

Simultaneous bilateral femoral neck fractures (FNFs) are extremely rare and usually associated with an underlying condition affecting the bone quality and mineralization. Convulsions have also been described as a possible cause, mostly as a consequence of epilepsy, hyponatremia, and hypocalcemia. We present a 52-year-old female patient, with bilateral displaced FNFs due to a tonic-clonic seizure and high-dose steroid therapy related to a frontal lobe anaplastic oligodendroglioma brain tumor resection. Two days after admission, bilateral one-stage uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) under general anesthesia and through a posterolateral approach was performed using a metal-on-polyethylene bearing surface. Several risk factors can be identified in this unique case, such as the high-dose steroid therapy, the low-demand activity of the patient due to her functional sequelae, and finally, the convulsive episode. Surgeons should be aware of this uncommon injury to ensure early diagnosis and treatment in all patients with a previous history of seizures, chronic steroid use, severe hip pain, and inability to walk. For bone metabolic diseases, preventive measures should be indicated to avoid these complications. Bilateral one-stage uncemented THA represents an effective procedure with a low complication rate allowing early rehabilitation.

Purpose: We report the estimated incidence of, and risk factors for, recurrent anterior uveitis in patients with initial acute-onset Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease using survival analyses., Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with initial acute-onset VKH disease during 2003-2022 at two university hospitals were included. Recurrent anterior uveitis was defined as the first occurrence of the granulomatous anterior uveitis with anterior chamber cells and flare of 2+ or more by the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) Working Group grading scheme, after the disappearance of conspicuous uveitis and serous retinal detachment for at least 3 months, regardless of systemic or local treatment. The univariate log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed, including patients' demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, presence of prodromal symptoms, duration of visual symptoms, visual acuity, slit-lamp and fundus findings, and height of serous retinal detachment. The treatment method and response to treatment were also included., Results: The estimated incidence was 39.3% at 10 years. Fifteen of 55 patients (27.3%) had recurrent anterior uveitis during the mean follow-up of 4.5 years. The presence of focal posterior synechiae at the diagnosis increased the risk of recurrent anterior uveitis 6.97-fold compared to the absence of synechiae (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.20-22.11; p < 0.001). Use of systemic high-dose steroid therapy more than 7 days after the development of visual symptoms resulted in a hazard ratio of 4.55 (95% CI, 1.27-16.40; p = 0.020)., Conclusions: This study reports the estimated incidence and risk factors of recurrent anterior uveitis in VKH disease from survival analyses. However, because of the retrospective nature of this study, it is hard to confirm the consistency of the medical records regarding risk factors, thus, the presence of focal posterior synechiae can be inconclusive as a risk factor. Further studies are warranted.

Genotype/allele distributions of leptin promoter G−2548A polymorphism, serum leptin and insulin levels and body weight were not significantly different between 72 children (39 male/33 female; age range 1.08-16, median 6 years) with acute leukemia (56 acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]/16 acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia [ANLL]) at diagnosis and 70 age- and sex-matched controls ( p > 0.05). The − 2548GG genotype was associated with the highest leptin levels in controls and patients with acute leukemia after 7-day high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) therapy ( p < 0.05), while no significant association of genotype with leptin levels was detected in patients at diagnosis ( p > 0.05). One-week HDMP therapy in patients carrying the − 2548G allele caused a significant increase in leptin levels and body weight ( p < 0.001), whereas increases in those carrying the − 2548AA genotype were insignificant ( p > 0.05). Decreases in white blood cell counts of patients after therapy were insignificant in − 2548GG ( p > 0.05) yet significant in − 2548GA and − 2548AA ( p < 0.05) genotypes. These results revealed no association of leptin genotype with the etiology of childhood acute leukemia but a possible association with leptin levels and effects of HDMP therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phenytoin, one of the most common antiepileptic drugs, is a major cause of antiepileptic drug hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS), which is a rare but potentially fatal complication. We herein report a 5-year-old boy who developed unexpected agranulocytosis with fever approximately one week after recovering from the typical symptoms of AHS, characterized by fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, and hepatitis, but lacking eosinophilia or lymphocytosis. High-dose steroid therapy for the former symptoms of AHS, and immunoglobulin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and cefepime for the latter agranulocytosis were successfully performed. This unexpected progression from AHS to agranulocytosis shortly after recovering from the former should be recognized as another risk of AHS, possibly leading to a life-threatening condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Riluzole (RZ)-induced interstitial lung disease (RZ-ILD) is a rare and potentially life-threatening adverse event in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, which is rarely reported. Therefore, the optimal treatment for RZ-ILD is unclear. We describe herein three Japanese cases of ALS complicated with RZ-ILD, of which two were successfully treated with high-dose steroid therapy. In our all ALS cases with RZ-ILD, the duration of RZ exposure until RZ-ILD onset was within 2 months. All three cases showed respiratory symptoms, dorsal predominant ground-glass opacities by imaging analysis, and abnormal laboratory findings associated with interstitial lung diseases, such as Krebs von den Lungen-6 and surfactant protein-D. Intravenous high-dose steroid therapy together with the discontinuation of RZ in two cases with respiratory symptoms markedly ameliorated their symptoms and abnormal findings of RZ-ILD. One case showed mild respiratory symptoms compared with the others and recovered after the withdrawal of RZ only. According to previous case reports and our cases, RZ-ILD may develop 2 months after initiating RZ and exacerbate respiratory symptoms rapidly in ALS patients with severe respiratory muscle involvement or complicating aspiration pneumonia. Transient high-dose steroid therapy in addition to discontinuation of RZ might be a good therapeutic option for RZ-ILD. • Riluzole-induced interstitial lung disease (RZ-ILD) is a serious adverse event. • RZ-ILD may develop within two months after initiating riluzole treatment. • Transient high-dose steroid therapy might be a good therapeutic option for RZ-ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 43-year-old woman who had four recurrences of acute transverse myelitis (ATM) at the fifth thoracic vertebral level in 7 years is reported. Her haematological and immunological abnormalities included antibodies to DNA and nRNP and markedly reduced serum complement during the course of the disease. These findings suggest systemic lupus erythematosus although she had no symptoms other than those of ATM. Methylprednisolone and prednisolone were effective in treating the ATM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]