Mimics of Vasculitis: Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Masquerading as Polyarteritis Nodosa

The dysmorphic phenotype in vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome

The Ehlers Danlos syndromes are identified by their connective tissue features and are not rich in dysmorphic handles. Vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome (vEDS) however, is characterised by a recognisable phenotypic constellation of internal and external dysmorphology. This review charts the paediatric and adult phenotypes of vEDS due primarily to COL3A1 gene variants and the potential recognition of some other EDS subtypes, including COL1A1 and COL25A1 that can present with vEDS-like features, with certain dysmorphic handles as clues to the diagnosis and the adjunct of gene testing in patients presenting with vEDS features.

Case of a 21-Year-Old Man With Hemoptysis, Recurrent Pneumothorax, and Cavitary Lung Lesions

CASE PRESENTATION

A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with recurrent bilateral pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Three years earlier, he underwent coil embolization due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by an intracerebral aneurysm rupture. Two months after the coil embolization, he underwent an emergent total colectomy due to a massive infarction of the colon. One year after the colectomy, he started to have recurrent hemoptysis, and a few months later, multiple episodes of bilateral pneumothorax that required a chest tube placement began to occur. Notably, he had a history of easy bruising. He was taking Depakote and aspirin to prevent seizure and thromboembolic complications, respectively, both of which he began taking after the coil embolization. He denied the use of any illicit drugs. The histories of his parents and sister were not remarkable.

The Importance of Genetic Factors in the Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Purpose of Review

Spontaneous pneumothoraces can be the presenting phenotype in a variety of different syndromic genetic conditions. Respiratory physicians therefore have the opportunity to diagnose and manage these patients early to prevent serious complications associated with these syndromes.

Recent Findings

The genetic syndromes that present with pneumothoraces can be split broadly between those resulting from defective extracellular matrix formation and those caused by defective tumour-suppressor pathways. When connective tissues are weakened, lifelong surveillance for arterial dilatation can be life-saving as surgical intervention is effective. Long-term aggressive treatment of blood pressure can also commence, although some controversy surrounds which drugs are most effective and precisely how these drugs modify disease progression. Rational treatments of syndromes in which tumour suppressor function is lost are being developed and, in some instances, can already be offered.

Summary

Careful clinical assessment of spontaneous pneumothorax may identify an underlying causal condition and facilitate life-saving intervention. Respiratory physicians must therefore be aware of these diseases and their diagnostic criteria.

[Vasculitis mimics]

Vasculitis mimics need to be differentiated from primary and secondary vasculitides as described in the Chapel Hill nomenclature. The clinical symptomatology resembles that of vasculitis of small and medium, rarely also large vessels and hence imitates the classical vasculitic disorders. Pathogenetically, the causes are partly genetic mutations, embolization syndromes, infections and substance abuse. Also, B‑cell lymphomas can mimic vasculitis. The present manuscript summarizes the vasculitis mimics.

Familial pneumothorax: towards precision medicine

One in 10 patients suffering from primary spontaneous pneumothoraces has a family history of the disorder. Such familial pneumothoraces can occur in isolation, but can also be the presentation of serious genetic disorders with life-threatening vascular or cancerous complications. As the pneumothorax frequently precedes the more dangerous complications by many years, it provides an opportunity to intervene in a focused manner, permitting the practice of precision medicine. In this review, we will discuss the clinical manifestations and underlying biology of the genetic causes of familial pneumothorax.

Stroke in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Kyphoscoliotic Type: Dissection or Vasculitis?

BACKGROUND

Patients with the kyphoscoliotic type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have an increased risk of vascular complications such as aortic dissection and perforation. Cerebral ischemia has only rarely been documented.

PATIENT DESCRIPTION

This 13-year-old girl with the kyphoscoliotic type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome experienced a large right middle cerebral artery distribution infarction. Full intravenous heparinization was started in response to presumed arterial dissection. Magnetic resonance imaging studies including magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography, however, did not confirm dissection but suggested with cerebral vasculitis extending from the intradural right internal carotid artery to the M2 branches of the middle cerebral artery. Combined steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy was associated with clinical improvement. Two months later she died from hemorrhagic shock caused by a two-sided spontaneous rupture of the aortic artery.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebral vasculitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of vascular complications in kyphoscoliotic type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Treatment of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To provide the collected evidence from all literature reports.

BACKGROUND

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder with serious hemorrhagic consequences. Most experience on treatment is based on case reports and small case series.

METHOD

A systematic literature review was performed. PubMed and reference lists were scrutinized.

RESULTS

A total of 231 patients were identified with no gender preponderance. Aneurysms were present in 40%, often multiple. In 33%, there was an arterial rupture without an underlying aneurysm. Carotidocavernous fistula was seen in 18%. After open surgery the mortality was 30%; after endovascular procedures, it was 24%; in a group of miscellaneous cases, it was 60%; and the overall mortality was 39%. The median age of patients at death was 31 years. The median follow-up time was 12 months (5 days-7 years), but in 20% cases, it was not reported. In only 29 of the 119 recent patients (24%) the mutation was verified with molecular genetic testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Vascular EDS is a serious disorder with high mortality, which does not seem to have been influenced by new treatment methods. Invasive methods should be used only when necessary, primarily to save the patients' life. Whenever possible, the genetic molecular defect should be identified. The results of this review may be affected by publications bias. Ideally, a prospective registry should be created.

Sudden death due to polyarteritis nodosa

Classical polyarteritis nodosa (cPAN) refers to a rare, potentially fatal systemic transmural necrotizing vasculitis that usually affects medium-sized, and occasionally small, muscular arteries, primarily involves the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, skin, nervous system, joints, and muscles, and is rarely, if ever, expressed in the lungs. The incidence of mortality has significantly decreased with recently developed treatment modalities, in particular antiviral medications. Sudden death due to previously undiagnosed cPAN is rarely encountered. We report a case of a young man who had been evaluated on three occasions by medical personnel in the 3 weeks prior to his death. He had complained of nonspecific symptoms of abdominal and perineal/suprapubic pain, nausea, vomiting, sensation of chilling, and constipation. The spectrum of diagnoses included "gastroenteritis," enteric infection, and prostatitis. Found agonal at home and dying despite immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), he underwent a medicolegal autopsy, which revealed vasculitis of various organs, including heart (myocardium and epicardium) and extramural coronary arteries, liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, stomach and bowel, omentum, gallbladder, and pancreas. His sudden death was cardiac in nature due to PAN associated clinically with hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (hepatitis B virus-associated PAN [HBV-PAN]). A complete autopsy with thorough histopathological examination is necessary to diagnose this uncommon yet potentially fatal vasculitis.