Dr. David D’Cruz’s research attempts to help patients make sense of chronic nightmares, an understudied symptom of lupus.
Insights from a Neuro-Rheumatology Clinic
Neuro-rheumatology is a fast-growing field. Better testing and imaging have increased recognition of once-infrequent diagnoses, such as neuro-sarcoidosis and amyloid beta-related angiitis. Concurrently, the rapid expansion of immunotherapy options to treat cancer and their untoward neurological side effects have increased the frequency of referrals to both neurologists and rheumatologists. Identifying and treating neurologic manifestations of…
Intronic Polymorphism Associated with Risk of Neurological Disorders in SLE
Patients who develop neuropsychiatric symptoms of SLE have a small nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in an intron in a Ca++ ion channel gene that influences some, but not all, events regulated by Ca++. The SNP appears to influence activation induced apoptosis rates and cytokine production, specifically IL-4, in a disease- and genotype-specific manner…
What Our Colleagues Should Know: Neurologists & Rheumatologists Must Communicate
Neurologists and rheumatologists focus on atypical diseases, and their treatments often require insights from both specialties. Philip Seo, MD, MHS, says communication between specialists is key to diagnosis and treatment…
Immunotherapy May Be Effective for Some Patients with Autoimmune Cerebellar Ataxia
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Immunotherapy appears to yield neurological improvements in some patients with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia, especially those with nonparaneoplastic disorders, researchers report. “I was surprised that so many patients responded to immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), and plasma exchange) and remained ambulatory,” Dr. Andrew McKeon from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., told Reuters Health…
Small Fiber Function May Be Linked to Fibromyalgia
Researchers show, for the first time, that small fiber function and morphology is impaired in patients with fibromyalgia. (posted June 18, 2013)
Lupus in the Child’s Mind
Unique neuropsychiatric problems require a unique approach