Neurological autoimmunity in patients with non-pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms: clinical manifestations and neural autoantibody profiles

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Paraneoplastic neurological autoimmunity is well described with small-cell lung cancer, but information is limited for other neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).

METHODS

Adult patients with histopathologically confirmed non-pulmonary NENs, neurological autoimmunity within 5 years of NEN diagnosis, and neural antibody testing performed at the Mayo Clinic Neuroimmunology Laboratory (January 2008 to March 2023) were retrospectively identified. Control sera were available from patients with NENs without neurological autoimmunity (116).

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were identified (median age 68 years, range 31-87). The most common primary tumor sites were pancreas (nine), skin (Merkel cell, eight), small bowel/duodenum (seven), and unknown (seven). Five patients received immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy before symptom onset; symptoms preceded cancer diagnosis in 62.1% of non-ICI-treated patients. The most frequent neurological phenotypes (non-ICI-treated) were movement disorders (12; cerebellar ataxia in 10), dysautonomia (six), peripheral neuropathy (eight), encephalitis (four), and neuromuscular junction disorders (four). Neural antibodies were detected in 55.9% of patients studied (most common specificities: P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel [seven], muscle-type acetylcholine receptor [three], anti-neuronal nuclear antibody type 1 [three], and neuronal intermediate filaments [two]), but in only 6.9% of controls. Amongst patients receiving cancer or immunosuppressive therapy, 51.6% had partial or complete recovery. Outcomes were unfavorable in 48.3% (non-ICI-treated) and neural autoantibody positivity was associated with poor neurological outcome.

DISCUSSION

Neurological autoimmunity associated with non-pulmonary NENs is often multifocal and can be treatment responsive, underscoring the importance of rapid recognition and early treatment.

Management of giant retinal tears with vitrectomy and perfluorocarbon liquid postoperatively as a short-term tamponade

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to study outcomes after using perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) as a short-term postoperative vitreous substitute in eyes with retinal detachment from giant retinal tears (GRTs).Patients and methodsA retrospective consecutive case series of patients with retinal detachment from GRT, who underwent vitrectomy using PFCL as short-term postoperative retinal tamponade. PFCL was left in the eye for a mean of 6.7 days (range 7-8 days) and then replaced with gas or silicone oil (SO). The anatomical and functional outcomes and postoperative complications are reported.ResultsA total of 30 eyes of 29 patients with a follow-up of 26.8 months (range 9-55 months) were included. GRTs had a mean size of 150° (range 90°-270°) with 46.6% of eyes with a tear of >180°. Intraoperative retinal re-attachment was achieved in all cases. No cases of retinal slippage were recorded. Four eyes (13.3%) had re-detachment and further surgery required. At final review, 27 eyes (90.9%) had attached retinas, while the remaining 9.1% had SO in situ. The visual acuity improved in 70% of eyes with 41% improving at least 2 Snellen lines and 35% with visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Mild anterior uveitis developed in six eyes (20%), which resolved on topical steroids. Glaucoma developed in one eye and was controlled medically.ConclusionOur study supports the safety and efficacy of PFCL as a short-term postoperative tamponade in cases of GRTs. As it reduces retinal slippage, the use of SO as a primary tamponade decreased in significant proportion of cases.

Anatomical and Functional Results of Lamellar Macular Holes Surgery

PURPOSE

To determine the long-term surgical findings and outcomes after vitrectomy for symptomatic lamellar macular holes.

METHODS

We studied 28 patients with lamellar macular holes and central visual loss or distortion. All interventions were standard 25 G vitrectomy with membranectomy of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), peeling and gas tamponade with SF6 20 %. Operations were performed by a single experienced surgeon within the last 3 years. Best corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography appearance were determined preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS

Following the surgical procedure, all macular holes were closed; however, in 3 eyes, significant foveal thinning was associated with changes in the retinal pigment epithelium changes. The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved postoperatively in the majority of the patients (n: 21, mean 0.3 logMAR), stabilised in 4 patients and decreased in 3 patients (mean 0.4 logMAR). Spectral Domain-Optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed resolution of the lamellar lesion and improved macular contour in all cases.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated improvement in postoperative vision and the anatomical reconstruction of the anatomical contour of the fovea in most eyes with symptomatic lamellar holes. These findings indicate that vitrectomy, membranectomy and ILM peeling with gas tamponade is a beneficial treatment of symptomatic lamellar macular holes.

Choroidoretinal granuloma in a young female patient

A 16-year-old Brazilian female patient presented with blurring of vision in the right eye. Corrected visual acuity was OD 2/20, OS 20/20. Afferent pupillary defect was absent and anterior segment examination revealed anterior uveitis. Fundus examination showed light vitritis and a raised grey-white granuloma located at posterior pole with focal serous retinal detachment on optical coherence. Indocyacnine green angiography disclosed a complete mask effect in granuloma's area. Differential diagnoses were infectious (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasites) diseases, systemic inflammatory diseases, tumours. Blood serologies (HIV, toxoplasma, Borrelia, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), rubeola) showed positive results for IgM and IgG for toxoplasma, and anterior chamber tap (PCR for toxoplasma, CMV, HSV, VZV) revealed toxoplasma DNA. Anti-toxoplasma therapy, pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine and calcium folinate, was administered immediately. On follow-up granuloma regression was observed, with complete visual restoration. This case demonstrates a clinically challenging posterior pole granuloma.

Long-term results of the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab on the retinal arteriolar diameter in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE

To study the effect of intravitreal (IVT) ranibizumab on the retinal arteriolar diameter in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS

Ten eyes of 10 patients with previously untreated neovascular AMD were included. All eyes had three monthly IVT injections of ranibizumab and then were retreated as needed, based on visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) criteria. The diameter of the retinal arterioles was measured in vivo with a retinal vessel analyser (RVA) before the first IVT injection, 7 and 30 days after the first, the second and the third injection, and at month 12 of follow-up.

RESULTS

  A significant vasoconstriction of the retinal arterioles was observed following each one of the first three IVT injections of ranibizumab. Thirty days following the first, second and third injection, there was a mean decrease of 8.4 ± 3.2%, 11.9 ± 4.5% and 18.5 ± 7.2%, respectively, of the retinal arteriolar diameter compared with baseline (p < 0.01). At month 12, the vasoconstriction was still present with a mean decrease of 19.1 ± 8.3% of the retinal arteriolar diameter compared with baseline (p < 0.01). Median number of ranibizumab injections was 4 (range 3-10). There was no correlation between the number of injections and percentage diameter decrease at month 12 (r = -0.54, p > 0.1). There was no significant change in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the period of follow-up (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

  These results suggest that IVT ranibizumab induces sustained retinal arteriolar vasoconstriction in eyes with neovascular AMD.

WITHDRAWN: One Year Results of the Effect of Intravitreal Ranibizumab on the Retinal Arteriolar Diameter in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Withdrawn at the request of the author.

Vasomotor effect of intravitreal juxta-arteriolar injection of L-lactate on the retinal arterioles after acute branch retinal vein occlusion in minipigs

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of L-lactate on retinal arteriolar diameter after acute branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in minipigs.

METHODS

Thirteen eyes of 13 minipigs were evaluated, with the animals under general anesthesia. BRVO was induced by a standard method of argon laser endophotocoagulation. Two hours after BRVO, an intravitreal, juxta-arteriolar microinjection of 50 μL L-lactate 0.5 M (pH 7.4) was performed in nine eyes. Four eyes received a microinjection of 50 μL of the solvent (pH 7.4) that was used to prepare the solution of L-lactate and served as controls. Retinal arteriolar diameter changes were measured using a retinal vessel analyzer.

RESULTS

Overall (n = 13), 2 hours after BRVO, there was a 9.0% ± 1.4% decrease in the retinal arteriolar diameter in the affected ares compared to baseline (P < 0.001). An increase of 26.2% ± 8.2% (P = 0.004) of the arteriolar diameter was evidenced 5 minutes after L-lactate juxta-arteriolar microinjection (n = 9) compared with the diameter before L-lactate microinjection. Thereafter, the vasodilatory effect of L-lactate persisted and remained significant until the end of the study period (27.7% ± 7.8% at 30 minutes) compared with the diameter before L-lactate microinjection (P = 0.002). Microinjection of the solvent alone (n = 4) did not produce any significant effect on the retinal arterioles, which remained constricted at all time-points (P > 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate a significant arteriolar vasodilation after intravitreal juxta-arteriolar L-lactate microinjection in eyes with experimental BRVO in the affected areas. L-lactate microinjection can reverse the arteriolar vasoconstriction that occurs in acute experimental BRVO.

Intravitreal ranibizumab may induce retinal arteriolar vasoconstriction in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of intravitreal (IVT) ranibizumab (Lucentis; Genentech, Inc, San Francisco, CA) on the retinal arteriolar diameter in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

DESIGN

Prospective consecutive interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Eleven eyes of eleven patients with previously untreated neovascular AMD.

METHODS

All eyes had 3 monthly IVT injections of ranibizumab. The diameter of the retinal arterioles was measured in vivo with a retinal vessel analyzer (RVA) before the first IVT injection and then 7 and 30 days after the first, second, and third injections.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary end points were changes in retinal arteriolar diameter and mean arterial pressure (MAP) after IVT ranibizumab. Secondary end points were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness, and intraocular pressure after IVT ranibizumab, and appearance of adverse events during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

A significant decrease of the retinal arteriolar diameter was observed after each IVT injection of ranibizumab. Thirty days after the first, second, and third injections, there was a mean decrease of 8.1+/-3.2%, 11.5+/-4.4%, and 17.6+/-7.4%, respectively, of the retinal arteriolar diameter compared with baseline values (P<0.01). There was no significant change in MAP during the period of follow-up (P>0.05). Thirty days after the third IVT injection of ranibizumab, mean BCVA improved by 6.5+/-4.9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters, and central retinal thickness decreased by 91+/-122 microm (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that IVT ranibizumab may induce retinal arteriolar vasoconstriction in patients with neovascular AMD after IVT ranibizumab. Further studies evaluating larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these results and potential adverse effects on the retinal circulation in patients with AMD and retinal vascular diseases.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Lactate-induced retinal arteriolar vasodilation implicates neuronal nitric oxide synthesis in minipigs

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in the retinal vasodilatory response to lactate in minipigs.

METHODS

Thirteen eyes of 13 minipigs were evaluated. Ten eyes received an intravenous infusion of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). After 1 hour, the same eyes received an intravitreous juxta-arteriolar microinjection of 30 microL of L-lactate 0.5 M (pH 7.4) through a micropipette. Ten minutes later, 9 of 10 eyes received an intravitreous juxta-arteriolar microinjection of 30 microL of L-NAME 0.01 M (pH 7.4), and 1 received physiologic saline solution (PSS). The remaining three eyes received a microinjection of 30 microL of L-lactate 0.5 M (pH 7.4), without intravenous or intravitreous L-NAME.

RESULTS

The three eyes that received juxta-arteriolar injection of L-lactate only showed a reproducible increase in retinal arteriolar diameter that persisted during the entire study period (maximum effect at 20 minutes, 40.9% +/- 3.2%). Retinal arteriolar diameter decreased by 4.1% 1 hour after intravenous L-NAME when compared with baseline but the difference did not reach significance. The juxta-arteriolar injection of L-lactate induced a significant increase in retinal arteriolar diameter (22.7% and 28.7% at 5 and 10 minutes, respectively; P < 0.01), followed by a significant decrease (8.6%; P < 0.01) 10 minutes after juxta-arteriolar injection of L-NAME. Injection of PSS had no effect on retinal arteriolar diameter.

CONCLUSIONS

Juxta-arteriolar administration of L-lactate induced vasodilation, which was also observed with continuous intravenous infusion of L-NAME. Moreover, juxta-arteriolar L-NAME microinjection significantly suppressed the vasodilatory effect of L-lactate. These data suggest that neuronal-derived NO is an important mediator of lactate-induced vasodilation in minipigs.