Computed tomography and radiography in the diagnosis and followup of periprosthetic osteolysis after total ankle arthroplasty

Periprosthetic osteolysis is one of the most significant long-term complications after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). The exact pathogenesis of osteolysis is unclear. It is a biological process involving many factors, mechanical factors probably, as well. Osteolysis is a progressive phenomenon which may lead to component failure. Traditionally, patients with an ankle prosthesis are monitored only by radiography. In this study the incidence of periprosthetic osteolysis around TAAs was evaluated by radiographs and computed tomography (CT). These two methods were also compared for detection of osteolytic lesions around the prosthesis components. Acquisition parameters and positioning were studied for optimal imaging of total ankle prostheses on CT. TAAs were monitored by CT after bone grafting of osteolytic lesions and also the patients’ symptoms after bone grafting were evaluated. Early-onset TAA-associated periprosthetic osteolysis was common after arthroplasty. CT showed more and larger periprosthetic osteolytic lesions than radiographs around TAAs, especially around the talar component. CT proved to be a reliable imaging modality for studying periprosthetic lesions adjacent to ankle prostheses. Image artifacts on CT caused by the metal prosthesis components were small when acquisition parameters and, especially, orientation of the prosthesis in relation to the x-ray tube were optimal. Radiologically, progression of osteolysis continued in spite of bone grafting of periprosthetic osteolytic lesions around TAAs. We recommend adding ankle CT to the postoperative follow-up for patients with suspected or known periprosthetic osteolytic lesions on radiographs. CT is also useful when evaluating periprosthetic bone stock before a reoperation.Nilkan tekoniveleen liittyvän osteolyysin diagnostiikka ja seuranta tietokonetomografia- ja rtg-kuvauksella Tekonivelen ympärille ilmaantuva osteolyysi on merkittävimpiä nilkan tekonivelleikkauksen myöhäisvaiheen komplikaatioita. Osteolyysin patogeneesiä ei täysin tunneta. Se on monitekijäinen biologinen prosessi, johon myös mekaaniset tekijät vaikuttavat. Osteolyysi on etenevä prosessi, joka pahimmillaan johtaa tekonivelen irtoamiseen. Potilaita, joilla on nilkan tekonivel, on perinteisesti kuvannettu ainoastaan natiiviröntgenkuvilla. Tässä tutkimuksessa nilkan tekonivelen ympärillä esiintyvää osteolyysiä tutkittiin röntgen- ja tietokonetomografiakuvauksella (TT); näitä kuvantamismenetelmiä myös verrattiin toisiinsa osteolyysimuutosten havaitsemisessa. Sen lisäksi etsittiin optimaalisia kuvausparametreja ja -asentoa ajatellen nilkan tekonivelen TT-kuvausta. Nilkan tekoniveliä seurattiin TT-kuvauksella osteolyysimuutosten luusiirretäytön jälkeen. Lisäksi potilaiden kliinisiä oireita tarkasteltiin näiden uusintaleikkausten jälkeen. Nilkan tekonivelten ympärillä havaittiin runsaasti osteolyysiä jo varsin varhaisessa vaiheessa tekonivelleikkauksen jälkeen. TT-kuvaus havaitsi enemmän ja kookkaampia muutoksia kuin röntgenkuvaus. Erityisesti telaluussa olevien osteolyysimuutosten arvioinnissa TT-kuvaus osoittautui hyödylliseksi kuvantamismenetelmäksi. TT-kuvaus oli luotettava kuvattaessa tekonivelen ympärillä olevia osteolyysimuutoksia. Metalliosien aiheuttamat artefaktat TT-kuvissa jäivät vähäisiksi, kun kuvausparametrit ja erityisesti tekonivelen asento suhteessa kuvausputkeen olivat optimaaliset. Osteolyysimuutosten luusiirretäytön jälkeen osteolyysin radiologinen progressio oli tavallista. Nilkan tekonivelen TT-kuvaus on suositeltavaa potilaille, joiden röntgenkuvissa on todettu tai epäilty osteolyysiä tekonivelen ympärillä. TT-kuvaus on myös hyödyllinen arvioitaessa luurakennetta tekonivelen ympärillä ennen uusintaleikkausta.Siirretty Doriast

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor- and chemotherapy-induced large-vessel vasculitis : six patient cases and a systematic literature review

Objective. Patients receiving chemotherapy are prone to neutropoenic infections, presenting with non-specific symptoms such as a high fever and elevated inflammatory parameters. Large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) may have a similar clinical presentation and should be included in differential diagnostics. A few published case reports and adverse event reports suggest a causal association between LVV and the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and chemotherapy. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between LVV, G-CSF and chemotherapy. Methods. Between 2016 and 2018, we identified six patients in Finland with probable drug-induced LVV associated with G-CSF and chemotherapy. All six patients had breast cancer. A systematic literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using comprehensive search terms for cancer, chemotherapy, G-CSF and LVV. Results. The literature search identified 18 similar published case reports, of which most were published after 2014. In all patients combined (n = 24), the time delay from the last drug administration to the LVV symptoms was on average 5 days with G-CSF (range = 1-8 days) and 9 days with chemotherapy (range = 1-21 days). Common symptoms were fever (88%), neck pain (50%) and chest pain (42%). Based on imaging, 17/24 (71%) had vascular inflammation in the thoracic aorta and supra-aortic vessels, but 5/24 (21%) reportedly had inflammation limited to the carotid area. Conclusion. This review suggests that LVV may be a possible serious adverse event associated with G-CSF and chemotherapy. Successful management of drug-induced LVV requires early identification, through diagnostic imaging, and discontinuation of the drug.Peer reviewe

Respiratory tract virus infections in the elderly with pneumonia

Background: In children suffering from severe lower airway illnesses, respiratory virus detection has given good prognostic information, but such reports in the elderly are scarce. Therefore, our aim was to study whether the detection of nasopharyngeal viral pathogens and conventional inflammatory markers in the frail elderly correlate to the presence, signs and symptoms or prognosis of radiographically-verified pneumonia. Methods: Consecutive episodes of hospital care of patients 65years and older with respiratory symptoms (N = 382) were prospectively studied as a cohort. Standard clinical questionnaire was filled by the study physician. Laboratory analyses included PCR diagnostics of nasopharyngeal swab samples for 14 respiratory viruses, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC). Chest radiographs were systematically analysed by a study radiologist. The length of hospital stay, hospital revisit and death at ward were used as clinical endpoints. Results: Median age of the patients was 83years (range 76-90). Pneumonia was diagnosed in 112/382 (29%) of the studied episodes. One or more respiratory viruses were detected in 141/382 (37%) episodes and in 34/112 (30%) episodes also diagnosed with pneumonia. Pneumonia was associated with a WBC over 15 x 10(9)/L (P = .006) and a CRP value over 80 mg/l (P <.05). A virus was detected in 30% of pneumonia episodes and in 40% of non-pneumonia episodes, but this difference was not significant (P = 0.09). The presence of a respiratory virus was associated with fewer revisits to the hospital (P <.05), whereas a CRP value over 100 mg/l was associated with death during hospital stay (P <.05). Respiratory virus detections did not correlate to WBC or CRP values, signs and symptoms or prognosis of radiographically-verified pneumonia episodes. Conclusion: Among the elderly with respiratory symptoms, respiratory virus detection was not associated with an increased risk of pneumonia or with a more severe clinical course of the illness. CRP and WBC remain important indicators of pneumonia, and according to our findings, pneumonia should be treated as a bacterial disease regardless of the virus findings. Our data does not support routine virus diagnostics for the elderly patients with pneumonia outside the epidemic seasons.Peer reviewe

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor- and chemotherapy-induced large-vessel vasculitis: six patient cases and a systematic literature review

Patients receiving chemotherapy are prone to neutropoenic infections, presenting with non-specific symptoms such as a high fever and elevated inflammatory parameters. Large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) may have a similar clinical presentation and should be included in differential diagnostics. A few published case reports and adverse event reports suggest a causal association between LVV and the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and chemotherapy. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between LVV, G-CSF and chemotherapy.MethodsBetween 2016 and 2018, we identified six patients in Finland with probable drug-induced LVV associated with G-CSF and chemotherapy. All six patients had breast cancer. A systematic literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using comprehensive search terms for cancer, chemotherapy, G-CSF and LVV.ResultsThe literature search identified 18 similar published case reports, of which most were published after 2014. In all patients combined (n = 24), the time delay from the last drug administration to the LVV symptoms was on average 5 days with G-CSF (range = 1–8 days) and 9 days with chemotherapy (range = 1–21 days). Common symptoms were fever (88%), neck pain (50%) and chest pain (42%). Based on imaging, 17/24 (71%) had vascular inflammation in the thoracic aorta and supra-aortic vessels, but 5/24 (21%) reportedly had inflammation limited to the carotid area.ConclusionThis review suggests that LVV may be a possible serious adverse event associated with G-CSF and chemotherapy. Successful management of drug-induced LVV requires early identification, through diagnostic imaging, and discontinuation of the drug.</div

The long-term prognostic value of serum 25(OH)D, albumin, and LL-37 levels in acute respiratory diseases among older adults

Background Older adults are more susceptible to respiratory tract infection than healthy working age adults. The increased susceptibility of older adults is thought to be interlinked with vitamin D status, nourishment, and immunological state in general. Data are scarce whether these parameters could serve as prognostic markers. Aim To study whether serum 25(OH)D, albumin, and LL-37 level could give prognostic value of long-term survival in the older adults with multimorbidity and acute respiratory infection. Methods Consecutive episodes of hospital care of patients 65 years and older with respiratory symptoms were prospectively studied as a cohort. Standard clinical questionnaire was filled by the study physician. Laboratory markers included serum levels of 25(OH)D, albumin and LL-37, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC) and polymerase chain reaction diagnostics for 14 respiratory viruses. Pneumonia was confirmed by chest radiographs. Respiratory illness severity, death at ward, length of hospital stays, and 5-year survival were used as outcomes. Results In total, 289 older adult patients with mean age of 83 years were included in the study. Serum 25(OH)D deficiency (< 50 nmol/liter) was present in 59% and hypoalbuminemia (< 3.5 g/dL) in 55% of the study patients. Low serum albumin level was associated to one, two- and five-year mortality after hospital stay (all P < .05). In addition, it was associated with pneumonia, dyspnea, over 13-night long stay at ward and death at ward (all P < .05). No associations were seen between serum 25(OH)D and LL-37 levels and disease severity, short-term clinical outcome, or long-term survival. Associations between serum 25(OH)D, albumin, and LL-37 levels and respiratory virus presence were not seen. Conclusions Serum albumin level on admission seems to give valuable information about the patients' general health and recovery potential in treating older adults with respiratory symptoms. Serum 25(OH)D and LL-37 had no associations with disease severity or long- and short-term prognosis among older adults hospitalized with respiratory symptoms.Peer reviewe

Increased lesion depth, higher body mass index and older age are risk factors for osteoarthritis during long-term follow-up in patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the knee

Introduction To report on the long-term prognosis of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) patients regarding radiological and patient-reported outcomes and to analyze possible risk factors. Materials and methods All patients diagnosed with knee OCD between 2004 and 2014 with radiographic Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades 0-2 at the time of diagnoses, ability to understand the language of the interview, and willingness to participate in the study were retrospectively reviewed. Current knee radiographs and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire were prospectively collected between May 2020 and March 2021. The extent of osteoarthritis (OA) and KOOS questionnaire results were evaluated. Results 90 patients (103 knees) with a mean age of 21 years (range 6-60) were included. The mean follow-up time was 12 years (range 7-20). 24 knees (23%) were treated conservatively, and 79 knees (77%) operatively. At the time of diagnoses, 90% of the patients had K-L grades of 0-1; during the follow-up period, 45% of the patients showed radiological progression of OA. Patient body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.004; 95% CI 0.25-0.29), age (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.18-0.30), operative treatment (p = 0.0075; 95% CI 0.41-0.65) and lesion depth (p = 0.0007) were statistically significantly connected to K-L grade change. Patients with no progression in joint space narrowing had statistically significantly better overall KOOS scores (p = 0.03; 95% CI 0.77-0.88) than patients whose K-L grades worsened. Conclusions During the long-term follow-up of 12 years, patients with knee OCD had good clinical results. Lac of radiological progression of cartilage degeneration was noted in 55% of the patients, regardless of treatment method. Lesion depth, higher BMI and older age were associated with the progression of OA. The progression of OA was related to a worsening of functional scores.</p

Respiratory tract virus infections in the elderly with pneumonia

Abstract Background In children suffering from severe lower airway illnesses, respiratory virus detection has given good prognostic information, but such reports in the elderly are scarce. Therefore, our aim was to study whether the detection of nasopharyngeal viral pathogens and conventional inflammatory markers in the frail elderly correlate to the presence, signs and symptoms or prognosis of radiographically-verified pneumonia. Methods Consecutive episodes of hospital care of patients 65 years and older with respiratory symptoms (N = 382) were prospectively studied as a cohort. Standard clinical questionnaire was filled by the study physician. Laboratory analyses included PCR diagnostics of nasopharyngeal swab samples for 14 respiratory viruses, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC). Chest radiographs were systematically analysed by a study radiologist. The length of hospital stay, hospital revisit and death at ward were used as clinical endpoints. Results Median age of the patients was 83 years (range 76–90). Pneumonia was diagnosed in 112/382 (29%) of the studied episodes. One or more respiratory viruses were detected in 141/382 (37%) episodes and in 34/112 (30%) episodes also diagnosed with pneumonia. Pneumonia was associated with a WBC over 15 × 109/L (P = .006) and a CRP value over 80 mg/l (P < .05). A virus was detected in 30% of pneumonia episodes and in 40% of non-pneumonia episodes, but this difference was not significant (P = 0.09). The presence of a respiratory virus was associated with fewer revisits to the hospital (P < .05), whereas a CRP value over 100 mg/l was associated with death during hospital stay (P < .05). Respiratory virus detections did not correlate to WBC or CRP values, signs and symptoms or prognosis of radiographically-verified pneumonia episodes. Conclusion Among the elderly with respiratory symptoms, respiratory virus detection was not associated with an increased risk of pneumonia or with a more severe clinical course of the illness. CRP and WBC remain important indicators of pneumonia, and according to our findings, pneumonia should be treated as a bacterial disease regardless of the virus findings. Our data does not support routine virus diagnostics for the elderly patients with pneumonia outside the epidemic seasons

First-in-Human Study of 68 Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9, PET Ligand Targeting Vascular Adhesion Protein 1

Sialic acid-binding immunoglubulin-like lectin 9 (Siglec-9) is a ligand of vascular adhesion protein 1 (VAP-1). A gallium 68-labeled peptide of Siglec-9, 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9, holds promise as a novel PET tracer for imaging of inflammation. This first-in-human study investigated the safety, tolerability, biodistribution, and radiation dosimetry of this radiopharmaceutical. Methods: Six healthy males underwent dynamic whole-body PET/CT. Serial venous blood samples were drawn from 1-240 min after intravenous injection of 162 ± 4 MBq of 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9. In addition to gamma counting, the plasma samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography to detect intact tracer and radioactive metabolites. Radiation doses were calculated using the OLINDA/EXM 2.2 software. In addition, a patient with early rheumatoid arthritis was studied with both 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 and 18F-FDG PET/CT to determine the ability of the new tracer to detect arthritis. Results: 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 was well tolerated by all subjects. 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 was rapidly cleared from blood circulation and several radioactive metabolites were detected. The organs with the highest absorbed doses were the urinary bladder wall (0.38 mSv/MBq) and kidneys (0.054 mSv/MBq). The mean effective dose was 0.022 mSv/MBq (range 0.020-0.024 mSv/MBq). Most importantly, however, 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 was able to detect arthritis comparable to 18F-FDG. Conclusion: Intravenous injection of 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 was safe and biodistribution is favorable for testing of the tracer in larger group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis planned in the next phase of clinical trials. The effective radiation dose of 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 was within the same range as those of other 68Ga-labeled tracers. Injection of 150 MBq of 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 would expose a subject to 3.3 mSv. These findings support the possible repeated clinical use of 68Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9, e.g., in trials aiming to elucidate the treatment efficacy of novel drug candidates