Cogan’s syndrome: new therapeutic approaches in the biological era

Tocilizumab Successfully Treating Refractory Hearing Impairment in a Patient With Cogan Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cogan syndrome (CS) is a rare systemic vasculitis characterized primarily by nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and vestibular and auditory dysfunction. In this article, we report the case of a 31-year-old male diagnosed with CS for 1 year. He was admitted to the hospital with fever, dizziness, headache, tinnitus, and hearing loss. After being treated with glucocorticoids, cellular immunosuppressants, and infliximab therapy, his symptoms were greatly relieved except for hearing loss. Then, he attempted to use tocilizumab (TCZ) which was ultimately effective in controlling the auditory dysfunction. In addition, we found 4 cases of TCZ for CS through a literature review and compared them with our patient. Although glucocorticoids are still the first-line treatment for CS, TCZ therapy provides fresh hope for patients who have refractory hearing impairment with hormone resistance, or whose hormone dosages cannot be lowered to maintenance levels.

[Behçet's and Cogan's syndromes - The Variable Vessel Vasculitides]

Behçet's syndrome and Cogan's syndrome constitute the group of variable vessel vasculitides in the Chapel-Hill Nomenclature. They involve arteries and veins of all sizes. As reflected in the name "syndrome", both diseases can manifest with different individual symptoms. Both formally are rare diseases, but the Cogan syndrome is much rarer than Behçet`s. For the latter, there are diagnosis and classification criteria as well as European (EULAR, European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) treatment recommendations. The symptomatology, diagnostic measures and treatment as well as some considerations about pathogenesis will be discussed in this article.

Behçet- und Cogan-Syndrom

Das Behçet- und das Cogan-Syndrom bilden zusammen die Gruppe der Vaskulitiden der variablen Gefäße nach der Chapel-Hill Nomenklatur. Sie können Arterien und Venen jeder Größe betreffen. Wie die Bezeichnung „Syndrom“ bei beiden Krankheitsbildern bereits widerspiegelt, können beide individuell sehr unterschiedliche Symptome bieten. Beide zählen formal zu den seltenen Erkrankungen, wobei das Cogan-Syndrom mit der Beschreibung von lediglich einigen hundert Fällen weltweit deutlich seltener als das Behςet-Syndrom ist. Für letzteres gibt es Diagnose- und Klassifikationskriterien, und auch europäische (EULAR, European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) Therapieempfehlungen. Symptomatologie, Diagnostik und Therapie, aber auch einige Überlegungen zur Pathogenese dieser beiden Vaskulitiden werden im Folgenden beleuchtet.

Autoimmune Vestibulopathy—A Case Series

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is a rare clinical entity. Its pathogenicity, heterogenous clinical presentation in the context of secondary systemic autoimmune disease and optimal treatment avenues remain poorly understood. Vestibular impairment occurring in the context of AIED is rarely subject to detailed investigation given that the auditory symptoms and their responsiveness to immunosuppression are the focus of the few proposed diagnostic criteria for AIED. We present three cases of vestibulopathy occurring in the context of autoimmune inner ear conditions, including the first known report of autoimmune inner ear pathology arising with a temporal association to administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV2 vaccination. We review the available literature pertinent to each case and summarise the key learning points, highlighting the variable presentation of vestibular impairment in AIED.

Hearing restoration and the stria vascularis: evidence for the role of the immune system in hearing restoration

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the current literature regarding the pathogenesis of immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss, utilizes previously published single-nucleus transcriptional profiles to characterize cytokine and cytokine receptor expression in the adult stria vascularis cell types to support immune system interaction with the stria vascularis and reviews the current literature on immunomodulatory agents currently being used for hearing-restoration treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

The literature review highlights recent studies that elucidate many cytokines and immune markers, which have been linked to various immune-mediated disease processes that have been observed with sensorineural hearing loss within the stria vascularis and highlights recent publications studying therapeutic targets for these pathways.

SUMMARY

This review highlights the current literature regarding the pathogenesis of immune-mediated hearing loss. The role of cochlear structures in human temporal bones from patients with immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss are highlighted, and we review cytokine signalling pathways relevant to immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss and localize genes encoding both cytokine and cytokine receptors involved in these pathways. Finally, we review immunomodulatory therapeutics in light of these findings and point to opportunities for the application of novel therapeutics by targeting these signalling pathways.

Rare Diseases of the Orbit

This article provides an overview of rare orbital diseases. Congenital malformations, inflammatory diseases, benign and malignant neoplasias are described. Although it represents a relatively small area of the body the orbit contains multiple different tissues. Therefore, a great variety of diseases can be found within the orbital space. That is the reason, why both the completeness and the level of detail in the description of particular diseases must be somewhat limited. Nevertheless, clinical manifestations, important aspects of diagnosis, treatment strategies, and, when specific data are available, the prognosis are described. The authors tried to highlight the most characteristic aspects of the different diseases to describe their relevant aspects in spite of the brevity of the subsections.

Cogan's Syndrome: Clinical Presentations and Update on Treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cogan's syndrome (CS) is a rare systemic vasculitis that can severely affect vision and hearing, which may also have significant systemic effects. Early recognition of this autoimmune disorder and intervention can minimize disabling and irreversible damage.

RECENT FINDINGS

This article will review the varying clinical presentations of CS and emerging information of systemic disease associated with CS. We will also review recently published promising treatment outcomes using immune modulating medications. As our framework for recognizing the markers of CS and the associated systemic disorders expands, more effective guidelines and treatment options may emerge.

Orbital Vasculitides-Differential Diagnosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The orbit is subject to a variety of vascular insults that manifest with both specific and nonspecific patterns of vision compromise. The aim of the following review is to highlight the ophthalmic clinical features of systemic vasculitides that most frequently involve the orbit and differentiate them from the most common non-vasculitic orbital disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

New studies continue to explore the autoimmune nature of vasculitic disease and seek to determine optimal use of newer therapies such as biologic agents. The pattern of ocular involvement in the context of clinical history allows the knowledgeable physician to distill a differential diagnosis into a specific or likely cause. Establishing a diagnosis in a timely fashion allows for a custom-tailored approach to therapy.