Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0037315 (sleep apnea)
 8,000 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A case of paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis and subacute pandysautonomia associated with an occult atypical carcinoid tumour of the lung is described. The main clinical features were lethargy, impaired memory, constipation, and orthostatic hypotension. Neurological investigation was unremarkable except for mononuclear pleocytosis and increased protein level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Tests of autonomic function revealed a low plasma norepinephrine level, a marked drop of blood pressure (BP) to vertical tilt and Valsalva maneuver, and a marked rise of BP to dilute norepinephrine infusion. A few days prior to death, the patient became hypothermic and had repeated episodes of respiratory arrest associated with transient atrioventricular block on the electrocardiogram (ECG). A polysomnographic study confirmed a sleep apnea syndrome. Autopsy revealed an atypical carcinoid tumour in one tracheobronchial lymph node, widespread lymphocytic infiltrates and loss of neurons in the cerebral, cerebellar and brainstem grey matter, the spinal cord and roots, and the paravertebral sympathetic ganglia as well as microglial and astrocytic proliferation in the central nervous system.
 ...
PMID:Paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis and subacute dysautonomia due to an occult atypical carcinoid tumour of the lung. 220 90

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) appears to be an extremely rare complication of carcinoid syndrome and has not yet been reported in the literature. We describe a 75-year-old patient with a history of bronchial carcinoid who besides typical carcinoid syndrome symptoms developed sleep disturbance and day lethargy caused by massive facial and nasal tissue oedema. Sleep apnoea was confirmed by sleep study. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan showed the presence of multiple liver metastases. Because the patient did not respond to octreotide therapy, embolization of the hepatic artery was performed. After this procedure we observed dramatic improvement of the patient's life quality, and rapid disappearance of facial swelling and sleep apnoea symptoms. We conclude that hepatic artery embolization appeared to be an effective method of abolishing obstructive sleep apnoea associated with carcinoid syndrome.
 ...
PMID:Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) as a complication of carcinoid syndrome treated successfully by hepatic artery embolization. 905 39

The treacherous and deceptive nature of pheochromocytoma makes it crucial to detect and treat it promptly; otherwise it will almost certainly be fatal from cardiovascular complications or metastases. Hypertension occurring in patients with pheochromocytomas is sustained in about 50% and paroxysmal in the remainder; however, many patients remain normotensive. Hypertension attacks may be precipitated by physical activity, postural changes, anxiety, certain foods or wine, some drugs, operative procedures, etc. Cardinal manifestations are paroxysmal hypertension, headache, palpitations +/- tachycardia, inappropriate sweating; anxiety, tremulousness, pallor (rarely flushing), chest and abdominal pains; nausea and vomiting often occur. Hypercatecholaminemia manifestations are more common and pronounced when paroxysmal hypertension occurs, but persons with familial pheochromocytoma may be asymptomatic. Protean manifestations of pheochromocytoma may simulate many conditions, some of which may have elevated plasma and urine catecholamines and their metabolites. Baro-reflex failure, postural tachycardia syndrome, sleep apnea, carcinoid, renal failure, and pseudopheochromocytoma may be diagnostic challenges. The history, physical examination, biochemical testing (after eliminating interfering drugs, when possible) for plasma and urinary metanephrines can usually establish or exclude presence of pheochromocytomas. Occasionally a clonidine suppression test is needed to differentiate neurogenic from pheochromocytic hypertension. Manifestations suggesting hypercatecholaminemia without hypertension are highly atypical of pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytoma may present as panic attacks, pre-eclampsia, cardiomyopathy, infection with fever and leucocytosis, diabetes, migraine, shock, Cushing's syndrome, multiple organ failure with lactic acidosis, neurological manifestations, transitory electrocardiogram abnormalities, constipation, intestinal obstruction, visual impairment, convulsions, etc. The key to diagnosis is always to think of pheochromocytoma in the differential diagnosis of hypertension.
 ...
PMID:The protean manifestations of pheochromocytoma. 1924 99