Asymptomatic Pontine Lesion and Diabetic Amyotrophy after Rapid Improvement of Poor Glycemic Control in a Patient with Type 1 Diabetes

Relationship between sarcopenia and fatty liver in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and fatty liver in middle-aged and elderly patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to provide a theoretical foundation for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.

METHODS

A total of 282 patients diagnosed with T2DM aged 50 and older and were admitted to the Endocrinology Department of Xin Medical University First Affiliated Hospital between December 2021 and February 2023, were selected. Body mass index (BMI), and limb and trunk muscle mass of the patients were measured, and data were collected. Patients were grouped based on the sarcopenia diagnostic criteria. All study participants underwent the same physical examinations and laboratory tests. The relationship between the onset of sarcopenia and fatty liver in middle-aged and elderly patients diagnosed with T2DM was then investigated using statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Comparing the sarcopenia group to the non-sarcopenia group revealed statistically significant variations in gender, BMI, fatty liver prevalence rate, uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood glucose, blood lipid associated indicators, and limb skeletal muscle content. There were, however, no statistically significant differences in age, disease duration, hypertension, smoking, or alcohol intake. There was a positive correlation between BMI, UA, fasting c-peptide, and Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Index (ASMI). Higher levels of BMI, ASMI, and UA were identified as protective variables against sarcopenia by multifactorial logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Higher levels of BMI, ASMI, and UA can greatly reduce skeletal muscle atrophy in patients with T2DM. Patients with a fatty liver may be less vulnerable to sarcopenia. There is little evidence, however, that a fatty liver works as a preventive factor against sarcopenia.

Pontine lesion in hyperglycemic crises: Relevance to osmotic demyelination syndrome and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

We herein describe a case of type 1 diabetes that presented with a pontine lesion during two hyperglycemic crises accompanied by marked fluctuations in serum osmotic pressure and blood pressure. Magnetic resonance imaging showed swollen pons with osmotic demyelination syndrome characteristics accompanying cytotoxic edema at the first crisis. The involvement of vasogenic edema was also assumed in the second crisis. Neurological symptoms were milder than magnetic resonance imaging findings. The patient recovered after 7 days without sequelae in both crises. Based on these findings, a pontine lesion needs to be considered in patients with poorly controlled diabetes showing rapid metabolic and blood pressure changes, as observed in hyperglycemic crises. Cytotoxic edema leading to osmotic demyelination syndrome and vasogenic edema caused by vascular endothelial cell damage might both be involved in the pathogenesis of a pontine lesion.

Occurrence of osmotic demyelination syndrome in diabetes mellitus: A case report and literature review of various etiologies for osmotic demyelination syndrome

Osmotic demyelination syndrome is a rare condition reported mainly in the case of rapid correction of hyponatremia, but it can occur even in the case of complicated diabetes mellitus either during rapid correction of hyperglycemia or anytime during the complicated diabetes mellitus. We report a case of complicated diabetes mellitus developing osmotic demyelination syndrome. The patient had presented with altered sensorium and seizure, which was initially diagnosed as hyperglycemia, but during his treatment, the magnetic resonance imaging of brain revealed central pontine myelinolysis. Our search on the causes of osmotic demyelination syndrome other than rapid correction of hyponatremia has revealed several other causes like autoimmune liver disease, Sjogren’s syndrome and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in addition to diabetes mellitus.

Central pontine myelinolysis mimicking glioma in diabetes: A case report

BACKGROUND

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) usually occurs during rapid correction of serum osmolality, typically with brainstem lesions presenting uniform signals following enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report a case of CPM caused by diabetes, which was characterized by glioma-like imaging features and the patient responded well to corticosteroids.

CASE SUMMARY

A 49-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was admitted due to numbness and weakness for 6 mo with progressive aggravation for 2 wk. His complete blood count, serum electrolytes, renal and liver function parameters were within the normal range. MRI showed mass lesions in the brainstem, with unusually inhomogeneous signal intensity after contrast-enhanced scans. His symptoms worsened after hypoglycemic therapy. Due to his clinical history and examination results, CPM was considered the most likely diagnosis. Treatment with corticosteroids was administered with a methylprednisolone pulse in the acute phase followed by dose tapering. During the 8-mo follow-up period, his clinical symptoms and imaging features significantly improved.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes could rarely be accompanied by CPM, and patients who experience this neurological complication could benefit from corticosteroid treatment. Clinicians should recognize the special relationship between diabetes and CPM, and improve awareness of early identification and appropriate treatment.