Moyamoya disease with Sjogren disease and autoimmune thyroiditis presenting with left intracranial hemorrhage after messenger RNA-1273 vaccination: A case report

Circulating Inflammatory Cytokine Associated with Poor Prognosis in Moyamoya Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study

Inflammation is a key factor in the development of moyamoya disease. However, the cytokine distribution in moyamoya disease and its impact on prognosis remain unclear. A total of 204 patients with moyamoya disease were enrolled in this study. The peripheral blood was analyzed for baseline data and cytokines, which included IL-6, IL-1β, IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α. Patients with the RNF213 mutation and those without the mutation were compared in terms of their differences in cytokines. A mRS score ≥2 was defined as a poor prognosis, and a mRS score <2 was described as a good prognosis, and differences in cytokines were compared between the two groups. Regression analysis was performed to identify markers affecting prognosis. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were higher in the group without the RNF213 mutation compared to the mutation group. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis indicated that the G3 subgroup of IL-6 and the G4 subgroup of TNF-α were the independent risk factors for adverse prognosis in adults with moyamoya disease (OR 3.678, 95% CI [1.491, 9.074], p = 0.005; OR 2.996, 95% CI [1.180, 7.610], p = 0.021). IL-6 and TNF-α were associated with poor prognosis in adult patients with moyamoya disease.

Clinical value of the systemic immune-inflammation index in moyamoya disease

Background

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder with unknown etiology. The underlying pathophysiological mechanism of moyamoya disease remains to be elucidated, but recent studies have increasingly highlighted that abnormal immune response may be a potential trigger for MMD. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) are inflammatory markers that can reflect the immune-inflammation state of the disease.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate SII, NLR, and PLR in patients with moyamoya disease.

Methods

A total of 154 patients with moyamoya disease (MMD group) and 321 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (control group) were included in this retrospective case-control study. Complete blood count parameters were assayed to calculate the SII, NLR, and PLR values.

Results

The SII, NLR, and PLR values in the moyamoya disease group were significantly higher than those in the control group [754 ± 499 vs. 411 ± 205 (P < 0.001), 2.83 ± 1.98 vs. 1.81 ± 0.72 (P < 0.001), and 152 ± 64 vs. 120 ± 42 (P < 0.001), respectively]. The SII in the medium-moyamoya vessels of moyamoya disease was higher than that in the high-moyamoya vessels and low-moyamoya vessels (P = 0.005). Using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to predict MMD, the highest area under the curve (AUC) was determined for SII (0.76 for SII, 0.69 for NLR, and 0.66 for PLR).

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, patients with moyamoya disease admitted for inpatient care due to acute or chronic stroke have significantly higher SII, NLR, and PLR when compared to blood samples drawn from completely healthy controls in a non-emergent outpatient setting. While the findings may suggest that inflammation plays a role in moyamoya disease, further studies are warranted to corroborate such an association. In the middle stage of moyamoya disease, there may be a more intense imbalance of immune inflammation. Further studies are needed to determine whether the SII index contributes to the diagnosis or serves as a potential marker of an inflammatory response in patients with moyamoya disease.

What Should We Do after the COVID-19 Vaccination? Vaccine-Associated Diseases and Precautionary Measures against Adverse Reactions

COVID-19 vaccines have been used to counteract the global COVID-19 pandemic. While these are effective, adverse reactions have been reported, such as injection-site pain, muscle ache, fever, palpitation, and chest discomfort. The release of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, is a potential mechanism for post-vaccine side-effects. Chest discomfort after the vaccination, including myocarditis and acute coronary syndrome, is a particularly serious adverse reaction. It is important to be familiar with the differential diagnoses of chest discomfort and organ-specific diseases associated with COVID-19 vaccines as the preparation for booster shots and vaccinations among children aged 5–11 years begins. High-intensity exercise, alcohol, tobacco smoking, and baths promote inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, which may exacerbate the adverse reactions after vaccination. Japanese data show that deaths during baths are the most common for several days after mRNA vaccination. Additionally, alcohol and tobacco smoking were identified as predictive factors of lower antibody titers after vaccination. In this review, we aimed to provide a few recommendations to prevent vaccine-associated disease.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Temporally after COVID-19 Vaccination

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most dramatic pandemic of the new millennium. To counter it, specific vaccines have been launched in record time under emergency use authorization or conditional marketing authorization and have been subjected to additional monitoring. The European Medicines Agency recommend reporting any suspected adverse reactions during this additional monitoring phase. For the first time in the available medical literature, we report a left cubital tunnel syndrome in a 28-year-old right-handed healthy male after seven days from the first dose of Spikevax^® (formerly Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine). Histochemistry for Alcian Blue performed on the tissue harvested from the cubital site reveals myxoid degeneration of the small nerve collaterals, a clear sign of nerve injury. It still remains unclear why the syndrome occurs in a localized and not generalized form to all osteofibrous tunnels. Today, modified messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines as Spikevax^® represent an avantgarde technological platform with a lot of potential, but one which needs careful monitoring in order to identify in advance those patients who may experience adverse events after their administration.