Cogan's syndrome: present and future directions

A Case of Bilateral Retinal Vasculitis in Atypical Cogan Syndrome

Cogan syndrome (CS) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease characterized by ocular and inner ear inflammation. Well-known ocular manifestations include non-syphilitic interstitial keratitis (IK); however, some cases are not associated with IK. Inner ear symptoms include sensorineural hearing loss, rotatory vertigo, and tinnitus, which can become irreversible without timely treatment. Therefore, early and appropriate diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are important. However, due to its rarity, few physicians have encountered CS and early diagnosis is difficult. In this report, we present the details of the diagnosis and treatment of an atypical CS. The patient was a 44-year-old Japanese woman who was admitted to the Department of Immunology and Allergy at Itami City Hospital (Itami City, Hyogo, Japan) due to a persistent fever of approximately 40°C for nine days. Multiple erythematous lesions appeared on both lower legs, and she experienced decreased vision in her left eye. Uveitis with retinal vasculitis was observed in both eyes and the optic nerve head showed remarkable swelling in the left eye. Hearing tests revealed impaired hearing in both ears. Based on these findings, we diagnosed atypical CS and initiated systemic and topical steroid therapy. Approximately two weeks later, visual acuity and hearing levels improved. Fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed a non-perfusion area in both eyes, and retinal photocoagulation was performed using a pattern-scanning laser. Eighteen months after the laser irradiation, retinal neovascularization (RNV) was observed in the area where the laser was applied to the left eye; therefore, an additional laser was applied. Combination therapy with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs was continued until the patient's last visit three years later and she did not experience any recurrence of uveitis or hearing loss. In this case, a pattern-scanning laser was used for retinal photocoagulation to prevent RNV; however, RNV occurred within the area of the laser spots. In such cases of retinal capillary occlusion due to vasculitis, it may be better to close the spacing or use a conventional laser system. In the presence of retinal vasculitis with systemic inflammation, CS should be suspected, and a hearing test should be performed, even in the absence of subjective symptoms. Early treatment and prevention of irreversible hearing loss should be necessary. Careful follow-up in collaboration with other departments is important for CS cases.

Association of human gut microbiota with rare diseases: A close peep through

The human body harbors approximately 1014 cells belonging to a diverse group of microorganisms. Bacteria outnumbers protozoa, fungi and viruses inhabiting our gastrointestinal tract (GIT), commonly referred to as the "human gut microbiome". Dysbiosis occurs when the balanced relationship between the host and the gut microbiota is disrupted, altering the usual microbial population there. This increases the susceptibility of the host to pathogens, and chances of its morbidity. It is due to the fact that the gut microbiome plays an important role in human health; it influences the progression of conditions varying from colorectal cancer to GIT disorders linked with the nervous system, autoimmunity, metabolism and inheritance. A rare disease is a lethal and persistent condition affecting 2-3 people per 5,000 populaces. This review article intends to discuss such rare neurological, autoimmune, cardio-metabolic and genetic disorders of man, focusing on the fundamental mechanism that links them with their gut microbiome. Ten rare diseases, including Pediatric Crohn's disease (PCD), Lichen planus (LP), Hypophosphatasia (HPP), Discitis, Cogan's syndrome, Chancroid disease, Sennetsu fever, Acute cholecystitis (AC), Grave's disease (GD) and Tropical sprue (TS) stands to highlight as key examples, along with personalized therapeutics meant for them. This medicinal approach addresses the individual's genetic and genomic pathography, and tackles the illness with specific and effective treatments.

Systemic vasculitides and the role of multitechnique imaging in the diagnosis

Vasculitis, a systemic disease characterised by inflammation of the blood vessels, remains challenging to diagnose and manage. Vessel size has been the basis for classifying systemic vasculitides. Imaging plays a vital role in diagnosing this challenging disease. This review article aims (a) to summarise up-to-date literature in this field, as well as include classification updates and (b) to review available imaging techniques, recent advances, and emphasis on imaging findings to diagnose large vessel vasculitides.

Aortic valve perforation in the setting of Cogan's syndrome

Cogan's syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the coexistence of ocular and audio-vestibular manifestations. Systemic manifestations are quite unusual with pan-vasculitis and cardiac involvement reported in the form of aortitis with aortic aneurysm, dissection, or extremely rare aortic valve perforation. Hereby, we report a case of a 56-year-old woman presented with ocular, audio-vestibular, and systemic manifestations with medium-sized vasculitis in the form of multiple splenic artery aneurysms, superior mesenteric artery thrombosis, and cardiovascular involvement in the form of aortic regurgitation due to noncoronary cusp perforation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case to report aortic perforation in the setting of Cogan's syndrome.

Interstitial keratitis diagnosis and treatment

Interstitial keratitis is a non-ulcerative, non-suppurative, more or less vascularized inflammation of the corneal stroma. The corneal lesions result from the host response to bacterial, viral (40% of cases) or parasitic antigens, or from an autoimmune response (1% of cases) without active corneal infection. The natural history of the disease is divided into two phases: acute and cicatricial. This type of keratitis is less common than ulcerative bacterial keratitis, but it is a non-negligible cause of visual loss. It is associated with systemic or infectious disease and requires early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to optimize visual prognosis and avoid other complications.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in atypical Cogan's syndrome: A case report

The Cogan's syndrome (CS) is a very uncommon inflammatory condition that appears in young adults without a gender predisposition. It can be presented as typical, with interstitial non-syphilitic keratitis and Ménière-like audiovestibular manifestations. An atypical form of CS involves uveitis, scleritis, episcleritis, and systemic vascuitis symptoms. This is a case of a 41-year old male who reported eye redness, photophobia, and gait instability. His condition progressed to a sudden sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and constant vertigo accompanied by cephalea. He was evaluated by the Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, and Neurology departments giving rise to CS, Ménière's syndrome, acoustic neuroma, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and meningioma as differential diagnoses. The patient was prescribed with oral and intravenous steroids, ophthalmic antibiotics and steroids, as well as oral omeprazole. The patient was discharged, without his eye manifestations, and for his clinical progress and underwent conventional and speech audiometry, otoacoustic emissions, nystagmography, tympanometry, and auditory steady-state response, that showed a vestibular disfunction and a severe sensorineural hearing loss. His follow-up, six months later resulted with a normal vestibular function and an improvement from severe to mild sensorineural hearing loss. The Cogan's syndrome is a rare condition which can leave the patient with permanent incapacitating secuelae including profound hearing loss. Effective treatment is necessary to avoid complications and improve the patient's condition and life quality.

Optimal management of Cogan's syndrome: a multidisciplinary approach

Cogan's syndrome (CS) is a rare disorder characterized by nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis (IK) and audio-vestibular symptoms. CS affects mainly young Caucasian adults, mostly during their first three decades of age, and may develop into typical and atypical variants. Typical CS manifests primarily with IK and hearing loss, whereas atypical CS usually presents with inflammatory ocular manifestations in association with audio-vestibular symptoms but mostly different Ménière-like symptoms and, more frequently, with systemic inflammation (70%), of which vasculitis is the pathogenic mechanism. CS is considered as an autoimmune- or immune-mediated disease supported mainly by the beneficial response to corticosteroids. Using well-developed assays, antibodies to inner ear antigens, anti-Hsp70, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were found to be associated with CS. Corticosteroids represent the first line of treatment, and multiple immunosuppressive drugs have been tried with variable degrees of success. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers and other biological agents are a recent novel therapeutic option in CS. Cochlear implantation is a valuable rescue surgical strategy in cases with severe sensorineural hearing loss unresponsive to intensive and/or innovative immunosuppressive regimens.

Cogan's syndrome – A rare aortitis, difficult to diagnose but with therapeutic potential

Summary The inflammation of aortic wall, named aortitis, is a rare condition that can be caused by a number of pathologies, mainly inflammatory or infectious in nature. In this context, the occurrence of combined audiovestibular and/or ocular manifestations eventually led to the diagnosis of Cogan's syndrome, making it the rare case, but susceptible to adequate immunosuppressive treatment and satisfactory disease control.

Interstitial keratitis and sensorineural hearing loss as a manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis: clinical lessons from a rare complication

Cogan's syndrome or non-syphilitic interstitial keratitis with vestibule-auditory dysfunction is a serious and under-recognised complication of rheumatoid arthritis. It is an autoimmune condition characterised by inflammatory infiltrates on the cornea and extensive vestibulocochlear damage. If left untreated, patients progress to develop profound hearing loss. We present a case that was incorrectly diagnosed and treated as conjunctivitis by several emergency departments prior to being correctly recognised as Cogan's syndrome.

Rituximab ameliorated severe hearing loss in Cogan's syndrome: a case report

Background

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody inducing depletion of B lymphocytes and presently approved for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis. Here is the first report of the use of this drug in a case of Cogan's syndrome (CS).

Case Presentation

a 25-year-old Italian woman was referred with conjunctival hyperaemia, interstitial keratitis, moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by tinnitus, dizziness, nausea and vertigo, poorly responsive to oral and topical steroidal therapy. Diagnosis of typical CS was made. The administration of a combined immunosuppressive treatment resolved ocular inflammation, dizziness, nausea, and vertigo but gave little results in controlling progressive hearing loss. A noticeable improvement in hearing function was documented by pure tone audiometry after infusion of Rituximab.

Discussion

in CS, hearing function is often the most difficult parameter to control with therapy. A positive effect of Rituximab on was observed in our case. The drug also allowed to significantly reduce the number of adjuvant immunosuppressive medications.