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Serra Smith C, Montero Reyes FJ, Contreras Chicote A, Martínez Barrio J, Vieru M, Herrera Herrera I, Arias F, Martínez Ginés M, García Domínguez JM. Rheumatoid meningitis: a case series report and review of modern therapeutic schemes and outcome. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07681-8. [PMID: 39009895 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07681-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid meningitis (RM) is an extremely rare extra-articular complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with approximately 165 cases reported world-wide. RM exhibits a broad range of symptoms, with stroke-like episodes and seizures being the most common manifestations. The primary differential diagnoses include vascular and infectious diseases. The influence of immunomodulatory medications on the pathophysiology of RM remains unclear. There are no consensus guidelines on therapeutic regimen. METHODS We present four patients with prior history of RA that developed different neurological syndromes in correlation to radiological leptomeningitis. Clinical presentations, comorbid conditions, supplementary diagnostic assessments, treatments, and prognosis are provided. A literature review of recent immunosuppressive management in RM patients was performed. RESULTS Three patients presented to hospital with recurrent focal seizures. Only two suffered meningism, reporting headache and fever. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed different grades of leptomeningitis across all cases. Notably, three cases demonstrated bilateral involvement extending to the pachymeninges. Two patients exhibited pronounced CSF mononuclear inflammation while extended microbiological evaluations yielded negative results. Two patients required biopsy for confirmation. The initiation of immunosuppressive therapy marked a turning point for three patients who previously exhibited progressive deterioration. Mortality was absent in all cases. CONCLUSIONS Our experience remarks the elusive nature of RM. Rigorous exclusionary diagnostics are imperative to differentiate RM from mimicking conditions. Clinical manifestations oscillate between transient episodes and progressive neurological impairments, punctuated by frequent epileptic seizures. In scenarios where clinical worsening persists or where clinical and radiological evaluations are inconclusive, aggressive immunosuppressive therapy is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Serra Smith
- Neurology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fernando José Montero Reyes
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Contreras Chicote
- Neurology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julia Martínez Barrio
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mihaela Vieru
- Anatomical Pathology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Herrera Herrera
- Neurorradiology Section, Radiology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Arias
- Anatomical Pathology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marisa Martínez Ginés
- Neurology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel García Domínguez
- Neurology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Doctor Esquerdo Street, 28007, Madrid, Spain
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Aktan Suzgun M, Erener N, Cavus GH, Ozdede A, Guner S, Ugurlu S, Comunoglu N, Kizilkilic O, Saip S. A review of rheumatoid meningitis with case studies. Mod Rheumatol Case Rep 2023; 7:340-346. [PMID: 36718604 DOI: 10.1093/mrcr/rxad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease involving synovial joints, and it is known that extra-articular manifestations that may affect the central and peripheral nervous systems may develop during its course. Rheumatoid meningitis is very rare among all neurological involvements. In this study, cases diagnosed as rheumatoid meningitis with clinical, imaging, laboratory, and histopathological features are presented, and the aim of the study is to present current approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid meningitis in the light of case studies and current literature. The data of the patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of rheumatoid meningitis in neurology clinic between 2017 and 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Three cases diagnosed with rheumatoid meningitis are presented in detail. In the first case, the diagnosis was reached by clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings as well as treatment response, while the diagnosis was made by histopathological verification in the second case. The third case shows that spontaneous remission can be observed in the course of rheumatoid meningitis. Rheumatoid meningitis, which is one of the rarest involvements in the course of RA, may present with headaches, focal neurological deficits, seizures, and altered consciousness. A meningeal biopsy is recommended when the differential diagnosis cannot be ruled out with imaging and laboratory findings. In the differential diagnosis Mucobacterium tuberculosis, syphilis, neuro-sarcoidosis, immunoglobulin G4-related disease, lymphoproliferative diseases, and systemic metastasis should be kept in mind. Aggressive RA management is recommended for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Aktan Suzgun
- Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nursena Erener
- Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gokce Hande Cavus
- Department of Pathology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayse Ozdede
- Department of Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sabriye Guner
- Department of Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serdal Ugurlu
- Department of Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nil Comunoglu
- Department of Pathology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Osman Kizilkilic
- Department of Radiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sabahattin Saip
- Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
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Rubeli S, Conen A, Diepers M, Bernasconi L, Hasler P, Mueller RB. Successful Treatment of Rheumatoid Meningitis Associated With a Decrease of ACPA Antibody Index. J Clin Rheumatol 2022; 28:e667-e669. [PMID: 35041360 DOI: 10.1097/rhu.0000000000001718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Villa E, Sarquis T, de Grazia J, Núñez R, Alarcón P, Villegas R, Guevara C. Rheumatoid meningitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:3201-3210. [PMID: 33966315 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Rheumatoid meningitis (RM) is a neurological complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Current evidence is based on case reports and partial reviews. METHODS This is a systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA statement. The aim is to describe the characteristics of the disease, including clinical, imaging and laboratory findings, treatment, outcomes and prognosis reported in the literature. RESULTS In all, 103 studies with 130 cases were included. RM affected adults with an average age of 62 years, with or without a previous RA diagnosis. RA activity and time with the disease were associated with a worse prognosis. Most common clinical manifestations were transient focal neurological signs (64.6%), systemic symptoms (51.3%), episodic headache (50.4%) and neuropsychiatric alterations (47.7%). Joint manifestations were present in only 27.4% of cases. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed unilateral or bilateral involvement, predominantly frontoparietal. Both pachymeninges and leptomeninges were affected, the latter more frequently (82.88%). The laboratory findings included increased levels of rheumatoid factor (89.71%), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (89.47%), C-reactive protein (82.54%) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (81.81%). Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed an increase in the protein level (76.14%), with pleocytosis (85.19%) of mononuclear predominance (89.19%). Biopsy was performed in 72.52% of the patients. Corticosteroid pulse therapy was the main induction therapy. Disease relapse occurred in 31.17% of patients, whilst 54.54% had a full recovery. CONCLUSIONS Rheumatoid meningitis must be considered in adult patients with or without RA diagnosis, high-dose corticosteroid induction therapy should be installed and maintenance therapy plays a key role. It is not recommended to use anti-TNF as an induction therapy. Nowadays, RM has a significantly better outcome. These findings may aid clinicians in timely RM diagnosis and treatment, thus improving its outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Villa
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Teresita Sarquis
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José de Grazia
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - René Núñez
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Alarcón
- Genetic Section, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Villegas
- Program in Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Guevara
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Rodriguez Alvarez M, Rodríguez Valencia LM, Seidman R, Acharya A, Espina N, Ravindran N, Mishan D, Mesa CJ, Espinoza LR, McFarlane IM. Rheumatoid meningitis and infection in absence of rheumatoid arthritis history: review of 31 cases. Clin Rheumatol 2020; 39:3833-3845. [PMID: 32519051 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-020-05221-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A 62-year-old healthy male presents with leg weakness and fever. Imaging revealed leptomeningeal enhancement (LE). After cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures were negative, he was discharged with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, but was readmitted due to worsening symptoms. Brain biopsy suggested rheumatoid leptomeningitis associated with elevated serum rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA). Following discharge, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) reported a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on CSF and brain DNA consistent with Naegleria fowleri (NF). After dramatic improvement on steroids, the patient declined antimicrobial treatment. Upon prednisone taper, symptoms recurred which responded to rituximab (RTX). This case highlights a possible association between rheumatoid leptomeningitis (RM) onset and infection, in a patient without a history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our goal is to assess whether this association is present in 69 RM cases reported since 2000. We also describe diagnosis and treatment of 31 new cases (January 2017 to March 2020). We did not identify evidence of active/latent infection in patients with RM and previous RA; however, patients without RA history appeared to have a significantly higher rate. This finding could demonstrate the necessity of evaluating for infection in de novo RM cases without antecedent RA history. We also describe characteristic clinical patterns for each group. More studies are needed to corroborate these results and expand into a possible distinct natural history of RM in each group, which might have an impact upon the clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Rodriguez Alvarez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Health & Hospitals Kings County, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA. .,School of Graduate Studies, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA.
| | | | - Roberta Seidman
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Ajita Acharya
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Health & Hospitals Kings County, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Noel Espina
- Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, New York State, Albany, NY, 12237, USA
| | - Nadish Ravindran
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Health & Hospitals Kings County, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Daniel Mishan
- School of Graduate Studies, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA
| | - Christopher J Mesa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70006, USA
| | - Luis R Espinoza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70006, USA
| | - Isabel M McFarlane
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Health & Hospitals Kings County, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
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Rheumatoid arthritis with pachymeningitis - a case presentation and review of the literature. Reumatologia 2020; 58:116-122. [PMID: 32476685 PMCID: PMC7249520 DOI: 10.5114/reum.2020.95368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid meningitis (RM) is a rare central nervous system (CNS) manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a wide spectrum of symptoms. We present a review of the literature with a rare illustrative case of a 61-year-old man with a history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who presented headaches, stroke-like symptoms and seizures. MRI revealed the leptomeningeal enhancement in the right hemisphere. As cerebromeningeal fluid showed increased level of protein and was positive for Candida mannan, the initial clinical diagnosis was fungal meningitis. Despite the antifungal treatment the patient’s clinical condition did not improve. Detailed laboratory, radiologic and histopathological diagnostics enabled the diagnosis of RM. In conclusion is worth to highlight that presentation of RM is variable and complex, diagnosing it is a big dilemma which is why it must be considered in the differential in a patient with long-standing seropositive RA.
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Nissen MS, Nilsson AC, Forsberg J, Milthers J, Wirenfeldt M, Bonde C, Byg KE, Ellingsen T, Blaabjerg M. Use of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Diagnosis and Monitoring of Rheumatoid Meningitis. Front Neurol 2019; 10:666. [PMID: 31293505 PMCID: PMC6606769 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid meningitis is a rare extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, often with non-specific symptoms. In most cases brain MRI shows a patchy lepto- and pachymeningeal enhancement, but the diagnosis currently relies on examination of a meningeal biopsy with presence of plasma cells and rheumatoid noduli. Presence of IgM rheumatic factor (RF) has been found in several cases and recently four cases have shown high titer anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) in CSF, suggesting this as a potential marker for rheumatoid meningitis. We present a 62 year-old woman with sero-positive (IgM RF and anti-CCP) rheumatoid arthritis, presenting with headache and gait impairment. Brain MRI revealed the classical patchy meningeal enhancement and the diagnosis of rheumatoid meningitis was confirmed by neuropathological examination of a meningeal biopsy. Analysis of the CSF revealed positive IgM RF (92.7 IU/mL) and strongly positive anti-CCP (19,600 IU/mL) and CXCL-13 (>500 ng/L). After treatment with high-dose steroid and Rituximab the clinical symptoms resolved. A 6 month follow-up analysis of CSF showed a dramatic decrease in all these markers with negative IgM RF and a decrease in both anti-CCP (64 IU/mL) and CXCL-13 (<10 ng/L). Our case further underlines the potential use of CSF anti-CCP and IgM RF in the diagnosis of RM and the use of these markers and CXCL-13 in evaluation of treatment response. A case review of 48 cases of rheumatoid meningitis published since 2010, including, symptoms, serum, and CSF findings, treatment, and outcome is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Scheller Nissen
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Jonatan Forsberg
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jesper Milthers
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Martin Wirenfeldt
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christian Bonde
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Neurosurgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Keld-Erik Byg
- The Rheumatology Research Unit, Department of Rheumatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Torkell Ellingsen
- The Rheumatology Research Unit, Department of Rheumatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten Blaabjerg
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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