{"title":"[Target organ connective tissue: the variability of systemic fibrosis].","authors":"Nils Schulz, Philipp Klemm, Ulf Müller-Ladner","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01868-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00108-025-01868-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The group of systemic fibrosing connective tissue diseases is remarkably diverse, comprising a wide spectrum of distinct entities. Central to their pathogenesis is the fibroblast, which, when activated by exogenous or endogenous triggers, can pathologically overproduce components of the extracellular matrix or exhibit uncontrolled proliferation. Systemic sclerosis, recognized as the prototype of systemic fibrosing diseases, belongs to the connective tissue diseases. Despite considerable advancements in the understanding of its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment over recent years, systemic sclerosis remains one of the most fatal conditions among inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Its hallmark features include vasculopathy, systemic fibrosis, and autoimmunity, with common organ involvement affecting the skin, lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and musculoskeletal system. Therapeutic strategies focus on improving perfusion, controlling inflammation, and implementing antifibrotic measures. Key differential diagnoses include eosinophilic fasciitis, mixed connective tissue disease, and other overlap syndromes, which often require immunomodulatory treatment. Innovative developments in the field suggest a potential paradigm shift in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, with cell-based therapies like CD19-depleting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy showing promising early outcomes. Other systemic fibrosing diseases include scleromyxedema and scleroedema adultorum Buschke, both of which belong to the mucinoses and contribute further to the complexity of this disease group.</p>","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"678-685"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143574964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Manuel Wallbach, Stephan von Haehling, Michael Koziolek
{"title":"[Cardiorenal syndrome: causes, diagnosis and treatment of congestive nephropathy].","authors":"Manuel Wallbach, Stephan von Haehling, Michael Koziolek","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01894-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00108-025-01894-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Congestive nephropathy (CN) is an entity of the cardiorenal syndrome that essentially arises from venous congestion and neurohormonal activation. The most common underlying causes include heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, isolated tricuspid valve insufficiency and congenital heart defects. Currently, there are no universally accepted diagnostic criteria; however, the most suitable method appears to be the recording of intrarenal venous blood flow using Doppler sonography. A distinction can be made between continuous venous flow (no congestion) and discontinuous flow patterns, categorized as pulsatile (mild), biphasic (moderate) and monophasic (severe congestion). The venous impedance index (VII) and the renal venous stasis index (RVSI) are additional Doppler sonographic criteria for detecting CN. Evidence supports the efficacy of loop diuretics and/or the administration of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in the management of venous congestion.</p>","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"712-727"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12254093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144113024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fabian Müller, Melanie Hagen, Georg Schett, Andreas Mackensen
{"title":"[CAR T cells in non-malignant diseases].","authors":"Fabian Müller, Melanie Hagen, Georg Schett, Andreas Mackensen","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01945-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-025-01945-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells specific for CD19 or B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) are now the standard treatment for relapsed/refractory B cell neoplasms. Because autoreactive B cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases (AID), it has been hypothesized that B cell-specific CAR-T cells eliminate autoreactive B cell clones via a deep depletion of B cells and lead to a reset of the immune system. Initial pilot studies with CAR T cells against CD19 in rheumatologic and neurologic AIDs have confirmed this hypothesis and led to sustained drug-free remission of the diseases.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this review article is to summarize and evaluate these novel developments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Initial case series and results of early clinical trials on the different entities and the current understanding of the underlying new treatment concepts are presented.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In a number of B cell-driven AIDs, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc) or idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM), B cell-specific CAR T cell treatment was able to induce deep and sustained remission and lead to clinical improvement of organ damage. Initial successes have also been recorded in other hematologic, neurologic and dermatologic B cell-mediated AIDs. In addition, there are promising CAR T cell-based concepts for combating chronic infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B, transplant rejection and type 1 diabetes mellitus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The use of CAR T cell treatment in severe forms of chronic non-malignant diseases represents a novelty in medicine and opens up groundbreaking new possibilities and concepts for treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144531440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Josef Mohammad, Niklas Görnitz, Willi Karaszewski, Ariane Thon-Markau, Oliver Müller, Christian von Heymann, Georg Brinkhaus, Rolf Otto Reiter, Carsten Büning
{"title":"[Impaired consciousness and hemiparesis following CVC removal: a rare complication].","authors":"Josef Mohammad, Niklas Görnitz, Willi Karaszewski, Ariane Thon-Markau, Oliver Müller, Christian von Heymann, Georg Brinkhaus, Rolf Otto Reiter, Carsten Büning","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01936-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-025-01936-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144531441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristina Striepe, Sirka Nitschmann, Roland E Schmieder
{"title":"[Intensive blood pressure control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].","authors":"Kristina Striepe, Sirka Nitschmann, Roland E Schmieder","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01924-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-025-01924-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144512884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[CAR T cells in solid tumors: resistance mechanisms].","authors":"Markus Barden, Astrid Holzinger, Hinrich Abken","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01943-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-025-01943-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell treatment is based on the concept of specifically targeting the patient's cytolytic T cells against tumors using a synthetic receptor signaling molecule (CAR).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>While CAR T cells show unprecedented efficacy against hematological neoplasms, CAR T cell treatment of solid tumors has so far been largely disappointing, with causes still being only partially understood.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Presentation of the dominant mechanisms that prevent CAR T cell activation in solid tumors and strategies to overcome these obstacles.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Preclinical research on tumor models and clinical trials in recent years have shown that CAR T cell activation is effectively suppressed in many solid tumors by the prevention of T cell penetration into the tumor as well as active suppression of T cell functions and metabolic conditions that limit T cell survival within the tumor. To overcome these obstacles, various strategies are being tested experimentally and clinically, such as pretreatment of tumors, increasing T cell resistance to suppressive cytokines and metabolites as well as activation of resident immune cells by CAR-mediated release of therapeutically effective cytokines (T cells redirected for unrestricted cytokine-mediated killing, TRUCK).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is considerable developmental potential to make CAR T cell treatment effective against solid tumors. Novel strategies that use CAR T cells as \"biopharmaceutical factories\" (TRUCK) to selectively activate natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages in tumor tissues recently entered the clinical trial stage.</p>","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144487375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jan-Niklas Krohn, Christina Bermel, David Nisenbaum, Stefan Knop
{"title":"[Hemodynamically relevant cardiac relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].","authors":"Jan-Niklas Krohn, Christina Bermel, David Nisenbaum, Stefan Knop","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01937-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-025-01937-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 55-year-old female patient presented with a 1-week history of cough, dyspnea, pre-syncopal sensation and a history of asthma and long-lasting complete remission of diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma (LBCL). Imaging revealed a mass measuring 8 × 6.4 × 6.2 cm in the right ventricle and atrium, partially obstructing the cardiac valve plane. Biopsy was performed. With the onset of hemodynamic instability, ex juvantibus antineoplastic therapy was administered. After 36 h, echocardiography already showed a considerable size reduction to approximately 5 × 5 cm. Histology was consistent with relapsed LBCL. Staging showed no further manifestations and salvage therapy was initiated.</p>","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144478137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sabrina Uehlein, Reinhard Schneider, Klaus Stahl, Katharina Dechant
{"title":"[Caffeine intoxication with suicidal intent].","authors":"Sabrina Uehlein, Reinhard Schneider, Klaus Stahl, Katharina Dechant","doi":"10.1007/s00108-025-01938-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-025-01938-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following oral ingestion of 40 g of caffeine with suicidal intent, a 34-year-old male patient presented with worsening nausea, emesis and polyuria. The patient's lab results showed lactic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, hypokalemia and hypernatremia. Symptomatic treatment as well as fluid and electrolyte replacement were initiated. By means of hemodialysis, sufficient elimination of caffeine could be achieved. After stabilization, the patient was transferred to the department of psychiatry and psychotherapy for treatment of his depression.</p>","PeriodicalId":73385,"journal":{"name":"Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144478136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}