A Case of Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome associated with Tuberculous Meningitis / 대한내분비학회지

Hyponatremia in patients with central nervous system disorders is suggestive of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), and volume restriction is recommended for its correction. However, if volume depletion is present in a situation otherwise compatible with SIADH, cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS) should be considered as the cause of the hyponatremia to avoid hypovolemic shock that may be induced by the standard management of SIADH, i.e. volume restriction. We present a case of a 17-year-old male patient with CSWS associated with tuberculous meningitis. The clinical feature of the patient comprised hyponatremia, excessive natriuresis, polyuria, and hypovolemia. Following the administration of saline and fludrocortisone, natriuresis and polyuria were decreased, and the hyponatremia improved

Newly Onset Seizures in the Elderly: A Hospital-based Study

BACKGROUND: Increasing incidences of epilepsy in the elderly are well-known. However, the causes of newly onset seizures in the elderly have rarely been described in Korea. METHODS: We selected 160 cases of individuals who had their first seizure at over the age of 60 (male : female = 1.5 : 1 ; mean age : 69.1 years), who were admitted to Hallym University Hospital from July 1, 1994 to June 31, 1998. We analyzed the etiology, type of seizures, EEG, neuro-imag-ing, morbidity and mortality of the patients. RESULTS: The etiologies of seizures were remote symptomatic in 87 (54.3%), acute symptomatic in 38 (23.8%), progressive encephalopathy in 21 (13.1%), and idiopathic in 14 (8.8%). Status epilepticus occurred in 34 cases, including 8 cases of multifocal myoclonic status after hypoxic brain damage. The most common single cause of seizure was old stroke (35%, infarction in 41 and hemorrhage in 15 cases). Partial seizure was more common in patients with remote symptomatic than with other causes. Newly developed neurological deficits were present in 30 of the 151 who survived, including 15 acute symptomatic, 9 remote symptomatic, and 6 pro-gressive encephalopathy cases. Morbidity and mortality were highest in the acute symptomatic group (P<0.05) and tend to be low in the idiopathic group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that newly onset seizures in the elderly requiring hospitalization occur mainly with acute and remote symptomatic neurological insults. Acute symptomatic neurological insults are associated with a significant morbidity and mortality, while the morbidity is low in the absence of any asso-ciated neurological insults.

The 30-day mortality rate and the causes of death following acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Most stroke-related deaths occur shortly after the onset of symptoms. Analysis of early deaths after stroke is important, since some deaths may be preventable. It also helps to improve the quality of stroke management. We investigated the early mortality and the causes of death in acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of six hundred fifty-one consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients who admitted to HLMC (Hallym University Medical Center) between January 1993 and December 1996. The 30-day mortality rate and the cause of death in each case were assessed. RESULTS: Fifty patients (mean age, 67.7 years, male : female=1 : 1.3) of total 651 patients (mean age, 65.4 years, male : female=1:0.78) died within 30 days (7.7%). Thirty-three (7%) patients of the 471 patients who had supratentorial lesion and sixteen (10.5%) of the 151 patients who had infratentorial lesion died within 30 days. The 30-day mortality rate according to each stroke subtype were 8.2% in large-artery atherosclerosis (n=21), 26.4% in cardioembolism (n=14), 1.2% in small-vessel occlusion (n=3), 33.3% in strokes with other determined etiology (n=1), 12.1% in strokes with undetermined etiology (n=11). Twenty-eight patients (56%) died due to direct stroke-related causes such as herniation, evolving stroke and massive hemorrhagic transformation. Twenty-two patients (44%) died from indirect stroke-complicated causes such as sepsis (n=7, 14%), heart disease (n=6, 12%), pneumonia (n=5, 10%), massive bleeding at tracheostomy site (n=1, 2%), pulmonary edema (n=1, 2%) and unknown cause (n=2, 4%). Forty patients (80%) died in the first 10 days and the main causes of death were herniation and evolving stroke. After the first 10 days, ten patients (20%) died of relative immobility (pneumonia, sepsis, pulmonary embolism). CONCLUSION: To reduce the early mortality within the first 10 days after the onset, aggressive control of IICP with the amelioration of brain edema must be emphasized. Whilst, to reduce the early mortality after the first 10 days, vigorous efforts to prevent and treat complications, such as pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and sepsis should be done.

Unilateral isolated trochlear nerve palsy due to bilateral dural carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas

Pulsating exophthalmos, bruit, episcleral venous distention, conjunctival and (eye)lid edema, ophthalmoplegia, and ocular pain have long been regarded as the classic symptoms and signs of idiopathic dural carotid cavernous sinus fistula(CCF). We experienced a 39-year-old woman who presented with headache and cyclovertical diplopia. On neurologic examination, we found isolated left trochlear nerve palsy only. The past medical history was not remarkable. Intracranial magnetic resonance angiography revealed abnormal signals around the carotid siphon on both sides. Conventional angiography confirmed bilateral dural CCFs, leaking predominantly from the left side. Diplopia and headache had improved spontaneously over 3 weeks after the onset. Occasionally, isolated oculomotor or abducens nerve palsy has been reported as the sole clinical finding of symptomatic dural CCF. But isolated trochlear nerve palsy with dural CCF is extremely rare. Although the exact mechanisms of isolated trochlear nerve palsy by dural CCF is unclear, various mechanisms have been proposed, including compression of trochlear nerve by venous congestion or direct shunted flow in cavernous sinus, vascular steel phenomenon, and venous thrombosis.

Transient mesial temporal abnormalities associated with partial seizures of temporal lobe origin

Seizure induced transient brain CT or MRI abnormalities following status epilepticus have previously been reported. However, focal transient imaging abnormalities involving hippocampus or mesial temporal lobe as a consequence of seizure are rare findings. We report 2 patients with transient mesial temporal abnormalities on MRI associated with partial seizure of temporal lobe origin. A 59-year-old man with a 4-month history of occasional epigastric rising sensation had developed frequent olfactory hallucination 7 days prior to presentation. On brain MRI, T2 signal was increased in the right mesial temporal region, and the lesion showed mild mass effects and partial enhancement after gadolinium injection. Interictal spikes were noted from right nasopharyngeal electrode, but there was no clinical or electrical evidence of status epilepticus during prolonged scalp/sphenoidal EEG monitoring. His seizures were successfully controlled by phenytoin. T2 high signal was markedly decreased and prior enhancement was no longer seen on brain MRI done 5 weeks later. A 33-year old woman with a 6 month history of occasional vacant staring and oral automatism with amnesia complained progressive memory impairment. Right amygdala and hippocampal head was enlarged and showed T2 high signal without contrast enhancement. EEG with sphenoidal electrodes showed right sphenoidal spikes. Her seizures were controlled by carbamazepine and brain MRI became unremarkable 6 weeks later. Suggested mechanisms and significance of the transient imaging abnormalities following seizures will be briefly reviewed.

Acute Myelitis after hepatitis B vaccination

We report a case of myelitis after plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccination. The patient was a 31-year-old man who presented with progressive sensory symptoms in extremities that developed 2 weeks after a third vaccination. MRI of the cervicothoracic region revealed swelling and T2 high signal at the level of C4 to C5 cord, and isolated enhancement in the posterior columns between C4 and C5 cord. The significance of MRI findings and HLA haplotype of the patient will be briefly discussed.

Clinical Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Patients with Cerebellar and/or Brainstem Infarction

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance angiography is helpful noninvasive evaluation of intracranial arteries and, in some patients, may spare invasive angiography which has potentially serious complication. However, it's diagnostic value in vertebrobasilar artery disease has not yet been evaluated. METHODS: MRA and axial brain MRI of 47 patients with acute cerebellar and/or brainstem ischemia, 26 patients with middle cerebral artery territory infarction, and 40 age matched normal controls were reviewed. Patients wit potential risks of cardiac embolization were excluded. MR Angiography was performed by three dimensional time-of-flight gradient-echo technique. Th diagnosis of vessel stenosis was made only when the lumen diameter was reduced by less than 50% on 3-D images to avoid overestimation of MR angiography. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients had cerebellar and/or brainstem infarction: with signal hyperintensities in T2-weighted MRI sequences. Pons was the most common infarcted site(28/47), followed by medulla (17/47), and cerebellum (11/47). The sensitivity of MR angiography in detecting vascular occlusive lesions of vertebrobasilar artery was 57.5% (28/47) in cerebellar and/or brainstem infarction patients, while 7 of 26 (26.9%) in middle cerebral artery territory infarction, and 2 of 40 (5%) in age matched control subjects showed occlusion or stenosis. MR angiography detected vascular occlusive lesions more frequently on vertebral arteries (25/47, 53.2%) than basilar artery (13/47, 27.7%). And occlusive or stenotic lesions of vertebral arteries were ipsilateral to ischemic lesion sites in 12 of 17 patients(70.6%), There was no difference between deep small lacunar stroke and perforator occlusion in pons. Absence of flow void on axial T2W imaging was seen only in 9 of 47 patients (19.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The results in this present study suggest that MR angiography is moderately sensitive diagnostic tool in vertebrobasilar occlusive disease although it has limitation in detection of smaller branches occlusion. Except vertebral arteries occlusion, absence of flow void in axial MR imaging is not a reliable findings.

A Case of Steroid Myopathy in Istrogenic Cushing Syndrome

Steroid myopathy is one of the most common drug-induced myopathy. We report a case of iatrogenic steroid myopathy in a 61-year-old female who had taken herb medication more than 2 months. She presented a slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness and wasting with typical features of cushing syndrome. Needle EMG showed typical myopathic patterns. The muscle biopsy revealed a pronounced muscle fiber atrophy and fatty degenerative change without inflammation. In addition, there was a selective type 2 fiber depletion on ATPase staining in pH 9.4 buffer. Her muscle powers and bulks were slowly improved after discontinuation of herb medication with phenytoin and physical therapy.