Hypertrophic pachymeningitis in rheumatoid arthritis after adalimumab administration.

Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) inhibition, used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is associated with central nervous system (CNS) events including new onset and/or exacerbations of pre-existing demyelinating neurological diseases. We describe a patient with refractory RA where adalimumab, a fully humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody against TNF-a, may have contributed to the development of meningoencephalitis, with brain biopsy suggestive of hypertrophic pachymeningitis, a rare complication of this disease. The patient had recurrence of neurological symptoms upon repeated administration of adalimumab, and resolution of symptoms after withdrawal.

Role for the epidermal growth factor receptor in neurofibromatosis-related peripheral nerve tumorigenesis.

Benign neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are serious complications of neurofibromatosis type 1. The epidermal growth factor receptor is not expressed by normal Schwann cells, yet is overexpressed in subpopulations of Nf1 mutant Schwann cells. We evaluated the role of EGFR in Schwann cell tumorigenesis.

Dexamethasone decreases neurological sequelae and caspase activity.

Objective: To evaluate the use of dexamethasone in a model of meningitis-induced brain injury. Changes in neurobehavioral performance were the primary outcome variables. Changes in caspase activation and markers of neuronal injury were the secondary outcome variables.

West Nile virus encephalitis with myositis and orchitis.

This report documents the hospital course and autopsy findings of a 43-year-old man with a renal allograft who died of West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis. Central nervous system (CNS) findings were those of severe necrotizing and hemorrhagic encephalitis affecting gray matter regions limited to the diencepahlon, rhombencephalon, spinal cord, and limbic system. The bilateral process exhibited preferential involvement of motor neurons.