Systemic sclerosis induced by CNS stimulants for ADHD: A case series and review of the literature

Raynaud Syndrome Associated with Medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Raynaud syndrome (RS) is a peripheral vasculopathy characterised be impaired acral perfusion typically manifesting as skin discolouration with pallor, cyanosis and/or erythema, and increased sensitivity to cold. RS may be primary or secondary to systemic disease, lifestyle and environmental factors or medication. RS has been reported with medication to treat ADHD, but we found no recent comprehensive overview of the literature. The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence in the published literature for Raynaud syndrome associated with medication for ADHD.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Embase from inception to 12 June 2024 for articles published in English describing cases of RS in individuals treated with stimulant medication, atomoxetine, guanfacine or clonidine. Identified cases were assessed against the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Scale criteria to determine the probability of a causal relationship with the medication.

RESULTS

The initial search identified 197 articles. A total of 61 cases were identified from 15 case reports, 5 case series, 1 retrospective case-control study, and 1 retrospective cohort study. No randomised, controlled studies were identified. Implicated medications included methylphenidate, (dex)amfetamine and, more rarely, atomoxetine. Most cases were mild and resolved within weeks of discontinuation, dose reduction or switch to an alternative medication. A few cases associated with systemic disease were reported, leading to ulceration, gangrene and the need for amputation or revascularisation in some individuals. Assessment of 28 cases using the Naranjo criteria suggested a 'possible' causative role of ADHD medication in 13 cases, a 'probable' role in 13 cases and a 'definite' role in two cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the uncontrolled nature of all but one of the available studies, a causal relationship between medication for ADHD and RS could not be determined reliably. However, in view of the possibility of severe sequelae, albeit in rare cases, routine monitoring for signs of RS is recommended in individuals treated with CNS stimulants or atomoxetine, especially when initiating treatment or increasing the dose. Large database studies in which individuals act as their own controls should be conducted to clarify any association between treatment with these medications and RS, controlling for confounding factors.

Environmental Risks for Systemic Sclerosis

There is an increasing body of literature suggesting a relationship between environmental factors and the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc). These include occupational exposures, chemical materials, medications, alterations in the microbiome, and dysbiosis. Environmental exposures may impact epigenetic regulation thereby triggering an aberrant immune response resulting in the clinical and serologic phenotype that we diagnose as SSc. Screening and studying putative triggers will not only improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of SSc but also inform the institution for protective measures.

Dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu olan bir ergende modifiye salımlı metilfenidat kaynaklı Raynaud fenomeni

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder commencing before the age of 12 years and characterized by developmentally inappropriate inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity symptoms. Stimulants such as methylphenidate (MPH) are used as first-line therapy for children with ADHD. Psychostimulants may be associated with vascular problems. Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a peripheral vasculopathy potentially associated with connective tissue diseases characterized by recurring reversible vasospasm attacks triggered by cold and emotional stress. Several cases have been published involving RP observed with MPH. The present report discusses a 14-year-old girl with ADHD who experienced RP with the addition of 10 mg modified-release MPH during 27 mg osmotic release (OROS)-MPH therapy, but not during 36 mg OROS-MPH therapy.

Personalization of pharmacological treatments for ADHD: Why it is advisable and possible options to achieve it

Abstract:

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed primarily in children, although it is also present in adults. Patients present inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity symptoms that create difficulties in their daily lives. Pharmacological treatment with stimulants or non-stimulants is used most commonly to reduce ADHD symptoms. Although generally effective and safe, pharmacological treatments have different effects among patients, including lack of response and adverse reactions. The reasons for these differences are not fully understood, but they may derive from the highly diverse etiology of ADHD. Strategies to guide optimal pharmacological treatment selection on the basis of individual patients’ physiological markers are being developed. In this review, we describe the main pharmacological ADHD treatments used and their main drawbacks. We present alternatives under study that would allow the customization of pharmacological treatments to overcome these drawbacks and achieve more reliable improvement of ADHD symptoms.

Association between central nervous system stimulants used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Raynaud's phenomenon: A scoping review

The association between central nervous (CNS) stimulants used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) has received little attention to date. Our aim was to map the existing literature on aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation and management of peripheral vasculopathy, with a focus on RP, secondary to drug therapy for ADHD. We searched the PubMed® database (01/11/1951 to 01/08/2020) and included articles written in English, which focussed on CNS stimulants used to treat ADHD and RP. The search identified 150 articles 9 of which were eligible for inclusion (70 patients). The majority of studies (n = 6) related to children or adolescents; however, adult cases were also identified. Peripheral vascular manifestations included attacks of RP (new and worsening) and cold sensitivity (acrocyanosis and perniosis). Irreversible ischaemic complications including digital autoamputation and lower limb critical digital ischaemia have also been reported. The implicated causative CNS stimulants were Methylphenidate (n = 5), Dextroamphetamine (n = 4), Atomoxetine (n = 2), and Lisdexamphetamine (n = 2). Complete resolution of RP symptoms was observed in half (n = 5) of studies upon drug cessation. Other therapeutic strategies have included dose reduction and switching to an alternative drug therapy. A potential autoimmune association has also been postulated including drug-induced autoimmunity and new cases of systemic sclerosis which have been potentially attributed to treatment. Future research is required to understand the association between CNS stimulant drug therapies for ADHD and peripheral vascular manifestations, including RP.

Persistent Raynaud's Phenomenon Following Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a medical condition characterized by vasospasm of the digital vessels in the fingers and toes. The prevalence of RP in the general population is estimated at 3-5% and can vary based on climate. It is classified into primary and secondary RP based on causality. RP has been reported in some cases diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. We report the case of a 14-year-old Caucasian female who presented during the pandemic with chief complaints of suicidal ideations and attempted suicide and had a history of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and persistent RP after a stimulant trial. After an initial failure of treatment with lisdexamfetamine, she was switched to methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH). Within two months of starting MPH, the patient noticed skin discoloration of the lower legs and feet along with numbness. The discoloration of skin was mainly limited to her feet and gradually moved up her legs. She was advised to discontinue the MPH, but her symptoms persisted for four more months until her admission. Other etiologies were ruled out by multi-specialties and during her hospitalization. She was started on atomoxetine and buspirone with appropriate dose titration. Post-discharge from the hospital, no improvement was observed in the patient's RP at an outpatient follow-up performed within a month. The development of RP following MPH treatment and its persistence after stopping MPH is a fascinating event. Clinicians should be aware of the potential rare side effects of stimulants and stimulant-like medications, including vascular, hematological, and dermatological effects. Adolescents with ADHD may be particularly distressed by the COVID-19 pandemic and display increased behavioral issues. Stress can be a trigger for RP; therefore, minimizing stress in at-risk patients is essential.

Autoimmunity in 2019

Based on the PubMed data, we have been performing a yearly evaluation of the publications related to autoimmune diseases and immunology to ascertain the relative weight of the former in the scientific literature. It is particularly intriguing to observe that despite the numerous new avenues of immune-related mechanisms, such as cancer immunotherapy, the proportion of immunology manuscripts related to autoimmunity continues to increase and has been approaching 20% in 2019. As in the previous 13 years, we performed an arbitrary selection of the peer-reviewed articles published by the major dedicated Journals and discussed the common themes which continue to outnumber peculiarites in autoimmune diseases. The investigated areas included systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), autoantibodies (autoAbs), and common therapeutic avenues and novel pathogenic mechanisms for autoimmune conditions. Some examples include new pathogenetic evidence which is well represented by IL21 or P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) in SLE or the application of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), mass cytometry, bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and flow cytometry for the analysis of different cellular populations in RA. Cumulatively and of interest to the clinicians, a large number of findings continue to underline the importance of a strict relationship between basic and clinical science to define new pathogenetic and therapeutic developments. The therapeutic pipeline in autoimmunity continues to grow and maintain a constant flow of new molecules, as well illustrated in RA and PsA, and this is most certainly derived from the new basic evidence and the high-throughput tools applied to autoimmune diseases.

Toward Understanding of Environmental Risk Factors in Systemic Sclerosis

IMPORTANCE

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe, chronic, and incurable autoimmune fibrotic skin disease with significant extracutaneous involvement. Low concordance rate in twin studies and unequal geographic distribution of SSc argues for importance of environment in disease initiation and progression.

OBJECTIVE

In this manuscript we provide a summary of all investigated potential external risk factors for SSc.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search in PubMed and EMBASE database was performed for studies published until January 1, 2020 by 2 reviewers (EN and LO) independently.

FINDINGS

Occupational and/or environmental exposures to silica and organic solvents are associated with increased incidence and severity of SSc. Exposure to epoxy resins, asbestos, and particulate air pollution favors increased risk of SSc, but data are based on limited number of observational studies. There is insufficient evidence to conclude an association between SSc development and other occupational (eg, welding fumes) or personal exposures (eg, smoking, vitamin D deficiency). Association of SSc with silicone breast implants has been disproven. Infectious pathogens (eg, Helicobacter pylori and angiotropic viruses) and dysbiosis seem to play a role in SSc development and severity, but their role remains to be clarified.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

It may be prudent to counsel our patients with SSc (or those at risk of SSc) to avoid occupations with exposure to silica, organic solvents, asbestos and epoxy resins; restraint from smoking, using cocaine or drugs with pro-fibrotic potential. While the association between low vitamin D and SSc remains to be confirmed, we believe that SSc patients should be encouraged to maintain healthy vitamin D levels as benefits outweigh the risks.

ADHD: Reviewing the Causes and Evaluating Solutions

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which patients present inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The etiology of this condition is diverse, including environmental factors and the presence of variants of some genes. However, a great diversity exists among patients regarding the presence of these ADHD-associated factors. Moreover, there are variations in the reported neurophysiological correlates of ADHD. ADHD is often treated pharmacologically, producing an improvement in symptomatology, albeit there are patients who are refractory to the main pharmacological treatments or present side effects to these drugs, highlighting the importance of developing other therapeutic options. Different non-pharmacological treatments are in this review addressed, finding diverse results regarding efficacy. Altogether, ADHD is associated with different etiologies, all of them producing changes in brain development, leading to the characteristic symptomatology of this condition. Given the heterogeneous etiology of ADHD, discussion is presented about the convenience of personalizing ADHD treatment, whether pharmacological or non-pharmacological, to reach an optimum effect in the majority of patients. Approaches to personalizing both pharmacological therapy and neurofeedback are presented.

Antinuclear Autoantibodies in Health: Autoimmunity Is Not a Synonym of Autoimmune Disease

The incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing is a critical tool for their diagnosis. However, ANA prevalence in healthy persons has increased over the last decades, especially among young people. ANA in health occurs in low concentrations, with a prevalence up to 50% in some populations, which demands a cutoff revision. This review deals with the origin and probable physiological or compensatory function of ANA in health, according to the concept of immunological clearance, theory of autoimmune regulation of cell functions, and the concept of functional autoantibodies. Considering ANA titers ≤1:320 as a serological marker of autoimmune diseases seems inappropriate. The role of anti-DFS70/LEDGFp75 autoantibodies is highlighted as a possible anti-risk biomarker for autoimmune rheumatic disorders. ANA prevalence in health is different in various regions due to several underlying causes discussed in the review, all influencing additive combinations according to the concept of the mosaic of autoimmunity. Not only are titers, but also HEp-2 IFA) staining patterns, such as AC-2, important. Accepting autoantibodies as a kind of bioregulator, not only the upper, but also the lower borders of their normal range should be determined; not only their excess, but also a lack of them or "autoimmunodeficiency" could be the reason for disorders.