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L Niccoli

Publications and source records attributed to L Niccoli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Pulmonary hypertension in primary Sjögren's syndrome: report of a case and review of the literature.

A 61-year-old female with a history of vaginal dryness, Raynaud's phenomenon, xerostomia and xerophthalmia presented with exertional dyspnoea and weakness. Laboratory and instrumental examinations enabled us to make the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome, while cardiologic and imaging investigations evidenced isolated pulmonary hypertension and ruled out pulmonary fibrosis. Oral anticoagulant and furosemide therapy induced a partial improvement of exertional dyspnoea and weakness.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2003

Encephalopathy associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: an additional case.

A 35-year-old female with a history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) presented with episodic dysphasia and a burst of axial jerks with abdominal muscle contraction and asymmetric blepharospasm as manifestations of encephalopathy associated with HT. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed scattered supratentorial white matter hyperintense T2 foci. Brain single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) demonstrated a cortical hypoperfusion in the upper frontal and parietal areas. Corticosteroid therapy induced a rapid improvement of the clinical picture.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Inflamed shoulder structures in polymyalgia rheumatica with normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inflammatory involvement of shoulder articular and extraarticular structures in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients with a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at diagnosis. METHODS: This was a case-control study. All consecutive, untreated new outpatients diagnosed as having PMR with a normal ESR (<40 mm/hour) during a 6-month period were included in the study (case patients). Controls were 12 consecutive, untreated PMR outpatients with an ESR of >40 mm/hour who were observed after the case patients. Before starting corticosteroid therapy, all case patients and controls underwent bilateral shoulder ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). US and MRI scans were evaluated independently by two radiologists who were blinded to the reciprocal results. RESULTS: Six case patients (4 men and 2 women) and 12 controls (4 men and 8 women) were studied. Both US and MRI demonstrated bilateral subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis in all 6 case patients and in 11 of the 12 (92%) controls (P not significant [NS]). One control had unilateral bursitis. Glenohumeral joint synovitis was found in 4 of 6 case patients (67%) by MRI and in 3 of 6 case patients (50%) by US (P NS), as well as in 8 of 12 controls (67%) by MRI and in 7 of 12 controls (58%) by US (P NS). Both MRI and US detected biceps tenosynovitis in 5 of 6 case patients (83%) and in 8 of 12 controls (67%) (P NS). The severity of bursitis did not differ significantly between the groups. US was as effective as MRI in detecting inflammatory changes of the shoulder. CONCLUSION: MRI and US studies showed that PMR patients with normal or high ESRs have similar inflammatory shoulder lesions. Moreover, bilateral subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis represents the imaging hallmark in PMR patients with a high or normal ESR. MRI or US of the shoulder may facilitate the proper diagnosis in patients with the typical proximal symptoms of PMR who also have normal ESRs.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Shoulder ultrasonography in the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis is the most frequent shoulder lesion in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We evaluated whether shoulder ultrasonography (US) was as effective as MRI in the detection of this lesion and assessed the sensitivity and specificity of bilateral subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis in the diagnosis of PMR. METHODS: A case-control study of 57 consecutive case patients with untreated PMR and 114 controls seen over a 6 month period in 3 secondary referral rheumatology centers. Control patients consisted of the next 2 consecutive patients with bilateral shoulder aching and stiffness observed after the case patient. In all case and control patients the glenohumeral joint space, bursae, and long head biceps tendon were assessed by bilateral shoulder US. The first 24 case patients were also examined by bilateral shoulder MRI. RESULTS: US showed subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis in 55/57 (96%) patients with PMR and in 25/114 (22%) controls (p < 0.001). The lesion was bilateral in 53/55 (96%) case patients and in 1/25 (4%) controls (p < 0.001). The frequency of glenohumeral joint synovitis and biceps tenosynovitis did not differ significantly between case patients and controls. In 100% of case patients MRI showed subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis confirming US findings. The sonographic evidence of bilateral bursitis had a sensitivity of 92.9%, specificity of 99. 1%, and positive predictive value of 98. 1% for the diagnosis of PMR. CONCLUSION: US and MRI were equally effective in confirming bilateral subacromial and subdeltoid bursitis in PMR. This finding, in view of its high sensitivity and specificity, could be used as a new diagnostic criterion for PMR.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in the evaluation of disease activity and severity in polymyalgia rheumatica: a prospective follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and clinical features of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at diagnosis or during relapse/recurrence. To evaluate the usefulness of C-reactive protein (CRP) and ESR in the assessment of PMR activity. METHODS: A prospective follow-up study on 177 consecutive patients meeting the criteria for PMR diagnosed over a 5-year period was conducted in two Italian secondary referral centers of rheumatology. At diagnosis and during follow-up, ESR (Westergren method) and CRP (nephelometry) were measured in all patients. Phenotypic analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations was performed on 78 PMR patients at diagnosis. A two-color technique using the association of specific monoclonal antibodies was applied. A control group consisting of 18 healthy adults older than 60 years was matched for age and sex with the PMR patients. RESULTS: Ten of 177 (6%) patients had normal ESR values at diagnosis (< or = 30 mm/h). Patients with normal ESR were predominantly men and had lower CRP levels; systemic signs and symptoms were more frequent in patients with higher ESR. The percentages of circulating CD8+ cells were similar in the two groups. CRP values at diagnosis were normal in only 2 of 177 (1%) patients. CRP values were elevated in 9 of 10 patients with normal ESR at diagnosis. Twenty-five episodes of relapse/recurrence with normal ESR occurred in 17 patients. CRP was high in 62% of these episodes. Results of univariate analysis indicated that the 10th percentile for ESR (40 mm/h) and the 70th percentile for CRP (7.8 mg/dL) values at diagnosis were the best cutoff points that discriminate between patients with and without relapse/recurrence. Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that ESR greater than 40 mm/h and CRP greater than 7.8 mg/dL at diagnosis were the two variables that independently increased the risk of relapse/recurrence. However, the relative risk related to ESR was twice than that related to CRP (4.9 vs 2.1). CONCLUSION: PMR with a normal ESR at diagnosis was infrequent in our study compared with previous studies. ESR was a superior predictor of relapse than CRP. However, CRP was a more sensitive indicator of current disease activity.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Corticosteroid injections in polymyalgia rheumatica: a double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of shoulder corticosteroid injections in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients with active PMR were randomized into a 7 month, double blind, placebo controlled study. Patients received either bilateral shoulder injections of 40 mg of 6-methylprednisolone acetate or placebo (1 ml saline solution). Responders were treated weekly with the same regimen for a total of 4 bilateral injections and then followed for 6 months. Response was defined as a 70% reduction in visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain and for patient and physician global assessment, and duration of morning stiffness. Bilateral shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at different times to evaluate the response of lesions to therapy. RESULTS: All 10 corticosteroid treated patients responded to the first injection with a significant reduction in duration of morning stiffness, VAS pain scale, patient and physician global assessment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. Interleukin 6 serum levels were significantly reduced after the 2nd injection. In 5 patients, the response persisted throughout the followup period. The other 5 withdrew within 4 weeks after the 4th injection due to recurrence of symptoms. None of the 10 patients of the placebo group responded to the first injection. The difference between the 2 groups was significant (p = 0.03). No side effects were recorded. MRI showed marked improvement of shoulder lesions one week after first injection and an almost complete resolution one week after last injection in the responders. CONCLUSION: Shoulder corticosteroid injections seem to be an effective and safe therapy for PMR.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

One-year outcome in multivessel coronary disease patients undergoing coronary stenting.

The purpose of this study was to assess 1-year clinical outcome of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary stenting and were prospectively enrolled in the Registro Impianto Stent Endocoronarico (RISE). Of 939 consecutive patients included in the registry, 377 patients with angiographic evidence of multivessel CAD had a 1-year clinical follow-up. All patients underwent PTCA and single or multiple stenting in at least one vessel. Angiographic optimization was usually performed by using high-pressure balloon dilation. After the procedure, continuation of aspirin (at least 250 mg/day) was recommended, whereas the use of anticoagulation or ticlopidine was determined by the physician in charge of the patient in the various centers. Major adverse cardiac events were defined as death, Q-wave or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization. Mean age of patients (311 men, 66 women) was 60 +/- 10 years. Globally, there were 596 stents implanted (72% Palmaz-Schatz stents) in 434 vessels. In about 75% of the procedures, an inflation pressure > 12 atm was used. Angiographic success rate was 98.5%. After stenting, 77% of patients received antiplatelet treatment with ticlopidine and aspirin. During hospitalization, there were 34 major adverse cardiac events in 24 patients. At 1-year follow-up, 309 patients were alive and event-free; cumulative incidence of death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization were 2.9%, 4.7%, and 10.8%, respectively. By Cox regression analysis, multiple stents implantation (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1-2.97), left anterior descending artery revascularization (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.01-3.42), use of inflation pressure > 12 atm (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.97), ticlopidine therapy (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23-0.74), and stent length (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05) were associated with 1-year major cardiac events. In patients with multivessel CAD undergoing stent implantation in at least one vessel, 1-year follow-up is favorable and the need for repeat revascularization procedures, based on clinical data, is lower than previously reported for conventional PTCA. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:343-349, 1999.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE) syndrome: a prospective follow up and magnetic resonance imaging study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics of patients with "pure" remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE) syndrome, and to investigate its relation with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to describe the anatomical structures affected by inflammation in pure RS3PE syndrome. METHODS: A prospective follow up study of 23 consecutive patients with pure RS3PE syndrome and 177 consecutive patients with PMR diagnosed over a five year period in two Italian secondary referral centres of rheumatology. Hands or feet MRI, or both, was performed at diagnosis in 7 of 23 patients. RESULTS: At inspection evidence of hand and/or foot tenosynovitis was present in all the 23 patients with pure RS3PE syndrome. Twenty one (12%) patients with PMR associated distal extremity swelling with pitting oedema. No significant differences in the sex, age at onset of disease, acute phase reactant values at diagnosis, frequency of peripheral synovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome and frequency of HLA-B7 antigen were present between patients with pure RS3PE and PMR. In both conditions no patient under 50 was observed, the disease frequency increased significantly with age and the highest frequency was present in the age group 70-79 years. Clinical symptoms for both conditions responded promptly to corticosteroids and no patient developed rheumatoid arthritis during the follow up. However, the patients with pure RS3PE syndrome were characterised by shorter duration of treatment, lower cumulative corticosteroid dose and lower frequency of systemic signs/symptoms and relapse/recurrence. Hands and feet MRI showed evidence of tenosynovitis in five patients and joint synovitis in three patients. CONCLUSION: The similarities of demographic, clinical, and MRI findings between RS3PE syndrome and PMR and the concurrence of the two syndromes suggest that these conditions may be part of the same disease and that the diagnostic labels of PMR and RS3PE syndrome may not indicate a real difference. The presence of distal oedema seems to indicate a better prognosis.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1999

Distal extremity swelling with pitting edema in psoriatic arthritis: evidence of 2 pathological mechanisms.

Distal extremity swelling with pitting edema due to altered lymphatic drainage has been reported in some patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The edema usually affected the upper limbs in an asymmetric pattern and was resistant to therapy. We describe 2 additional cases. The distal swelling and pitting edema responded promptly and completely to corticosteroids in the first patient but persisted in the second. Lymphoscintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a predominant tenosynovitis in the hand without lymphedema in the first patient, and impaired lymphatic drainage without tenosynovial sheath involvement in the second. We conclude that 2 different mechanisms, characterized by a different response to therapy, may be associated with the same clinical picture of distal swelling with pitting edema in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Lymphoscintigraphy and MRI are useful in defining the structures involved and in predicting the prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Randomized multicenter comparison of conventional anticoagulation versus antiplatelet therapy in unplanned and elective coronary stenting. The full anticoagulation versus aspirin and ticlopidine (fantastic) study.

BACKGROUND: Dual therapy with ticlopidine and aspirin has been shown to be as effective as or more effective than conventional anticoagulation in patients with an optimal result after implantation of intracoronary metallic stents. However, the safety and efficacy of antiplatelet therapy alone in an unselected population has not been evaluated. METHODS: Patients were randomized to conventional anticoagulation or to treatment with antiplatelet therapy alone. Indications for stenting were classified as elective (decided before the procedure) or unplanned (to salvage failed angioplasty or to optimize the results of balloon angioplasty). After stenting, patients received aspirin and either ticlopidine or conventional anticoagulation (heparin or oral anticoagulant). The primary end point was the occurrence of bleeding or peripheral vascular complications; secondary end points were cardiac events (death, infarction, or stent occlusion) and duration of hospitalization. RESULTS: In 13 centers, 236 patients were randomized to anticoagulation and 249 to antiplatelet therapy. Stenting was elective in 58% of patients and unplanned in 42%. Stent implantation was successfully achieved in 99% of patients. A primary end point occurred in 33 patients (13.5%) in the antiplatelet group and 48 patients (21%) in the anticoagulation group (odds ratio=0.6 [95% CI 0.36 to 0.98], P=0.03). Major cardiac-related events in electively stented patients were less common (odds ratio=0.23 [95% CI 0.05 to 0.91], P=0.01) in the antiplatelet group (3 of 123, 2.4%) than the anticoagulation group (11 of 111, 9.9%). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the antiplatelet group (4.3+/-3.6 versus 6. 4+/-3.7 days, P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Antiplatelet therapy after coronary stenting significantly reduced rates of bleeding and subacute stent occlusion compared with conventional anticoagulation.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

Distal musculoskeletal manifestations in polymyalgia rheumatica: a prospective followup study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and the characteristics of distal musculoskeletal manifestations in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). METHODS: Prospective followup study of 177 consecutive patients meeting clinical criteria for PMR, diagnosed over a 5-year period in 2 rheumatology secondary referral centers in Italy. RESULTS: Seventy-nine of the 177 patients (45%) had distal musculoskeletal manifestations. Peripheral arthritis occurred in 45 patients (25%), carpal tunnel syndrome in 24 (14%), distal extremity swelling with pitting edema in 21 (12%), and distal tenosynovitis in 5 (3%). These manifestations were usually associated with PMR proximal symptoms (69%); however, 31% of the episodes represented isolated relapse/recurrence at distal sites. Distal symptoms responded promptly to corticosteroids. No evidence of joint deformities, erosions, or development of rheumatoid arthritis was observed during the followup. The group of patients with peripheral arthritis included a higher proportion of females, had a longer duration of therapy, and had more relapses/ recurrences. Patients who had distal extremity swelling with pitting edema had a higher age at disease onset, a shorter duration of therapy, and lower initial and cumulative prednisone doses. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory involvement of distal articular and/or tenosynovial structures occurs in approximately half of the cases of PMR. Peripheral arthritis is associated with more severe disease, while distal extremity swelling with pitting edema appears to identify a more benign disease subset.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Stent implantation versus balloon angioplasty in chronic coronary occlusions: results from the GISSOC trial. Gruppo Italiano di Studio sullo Stent nelle Occlusioni Coronariche.

OBJECTIVES: In this multicenter, randomized trial we evaluated whether stent implantation after successful recanalization of a chronic coronary occlusion reduced the incidence of restenosis. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in chronic total occlusions is associated with a higher rate of angiographic restenosis and reocclusion than PTCA in subtotal stenoses. Preliminary reports have suggested a decreased restenosis rate after stent implantation in coronary total occlusions. METHODS: We randomly assigned 110 patients with recanalized total occlusion to Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation, followed by 1 month of anticoagulant therapy versus no other treatment. The primary end point was the minimal lumen diameter (MLD) of the treated segment at follow-up, as determined by quantitative angiography at a core laboratory. RESULTS: Repeat coronary angiography was performed 9 months after the procedure in 88% of patients. The MLD (mean +/- SD) at follow-up was 1.74 +/- 0.88 mm in patients assigned to stent implantation and 0.85 +/- .75 mm in patients assigned to PTCA (p < 0.001). Stent implantation was associated with a lower incidence of restenosis (defined as diameter stenosis > or =50% at follow-up) (32% vs. 68%, p < 0.001) and reocclusion (8% vs. 34%, p = 0.003) than balloon PTCA. Likewise, stent-treated patients had less recurrent ischemia (14% vs. 46%, p = 0.002) and target lesion revascularization (5.3% vs. 22%, p = 0.038), but experienced a longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation after successful balloon PTCA of chronic total occlusions improves the midterm angiographic and clinical outcome and could be the preferred treatment option in selected patients with occluded vessels.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Possible association between eosinophilic fasciitis and subcutaneous heparin use.

The association between the onset of eosinophilic fasciitis and exposure to a drug or a toxin has occasionally been reported. We describe 3 patients who developed eosinophilic fasciitis a few months after they received subcutaneous calcium heparin. In 2 patients, clinical manifestations and eosinophilia improved after interruption of the therapy. Although spontaneous occurrence of eosinophilic fasciitis cannot be excluded in our patients, the temporal relationship with the beginning of subcutaneous heparin therapy raises the possibility that the syndrome might be precipitated by the drug.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Behçet's disease with unusual cutaneous lesions.

A variety of cutaneous lesions may occur in Behçet's disease (BD) both at presentation and over the course of the disease. Skin involvement of the hands and feet has been infrequently observed. We describe a patient with BD with recurrent, multiple, papulonodular cutaneous lesions affecting the palm and fingers of both hands, occurring simultaneously with aphthous stomatitis. The lesions consisted of roundish, erythematous, painful, bluish-red nodules, 0.5-1 cm in diameter, with a "pernio-like" aspect. Histologic examination revealed perivascular neutrophilic infiltrates. We suggest that cutaneous lesions with a pernio-like aspect as observed in our patient may be included in the spectrum of the cutaneous manifestations of Behçet's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Predictors of major in-hospital ischemic complications and length of hospital stay after coronary stenting.

Although recent data show that coronary stenting reduces procedural complications and late restenosis, major concern has been expressed about the greater hospital cost associated with the use of this device as compared to conventional coronary angioplasty. Since length of hospital stay after surgical procedures is a major determinant of resource use, the identification of variables associated with an excessively long hospital stay after intracoronary stent placement may have important practical consequences. The purpose of this study was to assess factors responsible for the occurrence of in-hospital complications and prolonged hospital stay after coronary stenting in 939 consecutive patients enrolled in the Registro Impianto Stent Endocoronarico (RISE Study Group). Consecutive patients undergoing coronary stent implantation at 16 medical centers in Italy were prospectively enrolled in the Registry. Clinical data, qualitative and quantitative angiographic findings were obtained from data collected in case report forms at each investigator site. Major ischemic complications were considered death, Q-wave myocardial infarction, emergency bypass surgery and emergency repeat angioplasty. The study group consisted of 939 patients (781 men, 158 women with a mean age of 59 years) in whom 1392 stents were implanted in 1006 lesions and expanded at a maximal inflation pressure of 14.7 +/- 3 atmospheres. The great majority of patients (92%) received only antiplatelet drugs after coronary stenting. During hospitalization, there were 45 major ischemic complications in 39 patients (4.2%): 13 events were related to acute or subacute thrombosis (1.4%). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following factors were predictive of in-hospital complications: increasing age (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.18-4.07), unplanned stenting (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.65-7.23) and maximal inflation pressure (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.93). Mean hospital stay after stent implantation was 4.1 +/- 4.4 days and was related, by multivariate regression analysis, to female sex (p = 0.0001), prior bypass surgery (p = 0.03), non-elective stenting (p = 0.0001), use of anticoagulation (p = 0.0001) and development of major ischemic complications (p = 0.0001). This Registry shows that in an unselected population of patients undergoing coronary stenting, major ischemic complications occur at a relatively low rate (4.2%) and thrombotic events can be kept at 1.4%, despite the omission of anticoagulation in the great majority of patients. Length of hospital stay was affected by the occurrence of major ischemic complications, unplanned stenting, use of anticoagulation, female sex and prior bypass surgery. Accumulating experience, further reduction in complications and complete omission of anticoagulation may decrease length of hospital stay, thus reducing the use of resources after coronary stenting.

Adult↗