Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Multiple Myeloma Associated With Lenalidomide Treatment: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A Neurocritical Case Study of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Unveiling Multiple Myeloma Through the Lens of Hickam's Dictum

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, often leading to various end-organ damages. Here, we report the case of a 73-year-old previously healthy woman who was initially diagnosed with an intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to a potential hypertensive emergency. However, further evaluation revealed a diagnosis of MM. This case points out the importance of comprehensive evaluations in neurocritical care and challenges the notion of simplistic diagnostic explanations, illustrating the relevance of Hickam's dictum in clinical practice. It highlights the need for clinicians to consider a broad range of potential etiologies in similar cases, ultimately leading to tailored management strategies and improved patient outcomes.

Cerebral venous thrombosis in patients with autoimmune disease, hematonosis or coronavirus disease 2019: Many familiar faces and some strangers

BACKGROUND

Cerebral venous thrombosis, a rare stroke, is characterized by neurological dysfunction caused by bleeding and/or infarction resulting from venous sinus thrombosis, the so-called venous stroke. Current guidelines recommend anticoagulants as first-line therapy in the treatment of venous stroke. With complicated causes of cerebral venous thrombosis, treatment is difficult, especially when combined with autoimmune diseases, blood diseases, and even COVID-19.

AIMS

This review summarizes the pathophysiological mechanisms, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical prognosis of cerebral venous thrombosis combined with autoimmune diseases, blood diseases, or infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

A systematic understanding of particular risk factors that should not be neglected when unconventional cerebral venous thrombosis occurs and for a scientific understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical diagnosis, and treatment, thus contributing to knowledge on special types of venous stroke.

Stroke and cancer

Association between stroke and cancer is well-established and has led to a growing literature over the past decades. Risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke is increased among patients with newly diagnosed cancer and 5-10% of stroke patients bear an active cancer. All cancers are concerned, but hematological malignancy in childhood and adenocarcinoma from lung, digestive tract and pancreas in adults are most usually identified. Unique stroke mechanisms are dominated by hypercoagulation, a condition that may lead to both arterial and venous cerebral thromboembolism. Direct tumor effects, infections and therapies may also play some active role in stroke happening. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is helpful in: i) detecting typical patterns of ischemic stroke in cancer patients (i.e. concomitant strokes in multiple arterial territories); ii) distinguishing spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage from tumor bleeding. Recent literature suggests that acute treatment using intravenous thrombolysis is safe in non-metastatic cancer patients. First results from endovascular procedures are reassuring, although arterial reobstruction is more frequent than in cancer-free patients. Prognosis is worse in patients with compared to those without cancer and mostly depends upon several predictors such as the initial stroke severity and the presence of metastasis. In the present review, we aim to provide some practical responses to neurologists about the stroke-cancer association, including prevalence, stroke mechanisms, biomarkers indicative for an occult cancer, influence of neoplasia on acute and long-term stroke treatments, and prognosis.

Cerebrovascular manifestations in hematological diseases: an update

Patients with hematological diseases often experience cerebrovascular complications including ischemic stroke, intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage, microbleeds, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and dural sinus and cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT). In this update, we will review recent advances in the management of cerebrovascular diseases in the context of myeloproliferative neoplasms, leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, POEMS, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and sickle-cell disease. In acute ischemic stroke associated with hematological diseases, thrombectomy can in general be applied if there is a large vessel occlusion. Intravenous thrombolysis can be used in myeloproliferative neoplasms and sickle-cell anemia, but in other diseases, a case-by-case evaluation of the bleeding risks is mandatory. Patients with sickle-cell disease and acute stroke need very often to be transfused. In PNH, acute ischemic stroke patients must be anticoagulated. Most patients with CVT can be treated with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) acutely, even those with leukemias. Prevention of recurrence of cerebral thrombotic events depends on the control of the underlying disease, combined in some conditions with antithrombotic drugs. The recent introduction of specific monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of PHN and TTP has dramatically reduced the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis.

Missed diagnosis of POEMS syndrome with onset of progressive fatigue and numbness: a case report

POEMS syndrome is a rare multisystem disease associated with an underlying plasma cell disorder. Its name is an acronym for peripheral neuropathy (P), endocrinopathy (E), organomegaly (O), monoclonal plasma cell proliferative disorder (M), and skin changes (S). This case report describes a patient with POEMS syndrome who presented with progressive fatigue and numbness in the lower extremities. Initially, the patient was erroneously diagnosed with diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy because of the endocrinopathy associated with POEMS syndrome. After a second hospitalization, the patient was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome and recovered with alkylator therapy and a peripheral blood stem cell transplant. The patient’s overall condition was improved at the 1-year follow-up. POEMS syndrome should be considered if a patient presents with endocrinopathy and unexplained peripheral neuropathy.

Neuroinflammation as a Factor of Neurodegenerative Disease: Thalidomide Analogs as Treatments

Neuroinflammation is initiated when glial cells, mainly microglia, are activated by threats to the neural environment, such as pathogen infiltration or neuronal injury. Although neuroinflammation serves to combat these threats and reinstate brain homeostasis, chronic inflammation can result in excessive cytokine production and cell death if the cause of inflammation remains. Overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine with a central role in microglial activation, has been associated with neuronal excitotoxicity, synapse loss, and propagation of the inflammatory state. Thalidomide and its derivatives, termed immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs), are a class of drugs that target the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of TNF-α mRNA, inhibiting TNF-α production. Due to their multi-potent effects, several IMiDs, including thalidomide, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide, have been repurposed as drug treatments for diseases such as multiple myeloma and psoriatic arthritis. Preclinical studies of currently marketed IMiDs, as well as novel IMiDs such as 3,6'-dithiothalidomide and adamantyl thalidomide derivatives, support the development of IMiDs as therapeutics for neurological disease. IMiDs have a competitive edge compared to similar anti-inflammatory drugs due to their blood-brain barrier permeability and high bioavailability, with the potential to alleviate symptoms of neurodegenerative disease and slow disease progression. In this review, we evaluate the role of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing specifically on the role of TNF-α in neuroinflammation, as well as appraise current research on the potential of IMiDs as treatments for neurological disorders.