Thalamic Pain Syndrome Due to Cytomegalovirus Vasculitis in an HIV- Positive Child.

Dejerine-Roussy syndrome, also known as the ‘thalamic pain syndrome’ is a condition in which the body becomes hypersensitive to pain as a result of damage to the thalamus, a part of the brain that affects sensation. Association of this syndrome with HIV is rare with few case reports described in adults. We report a 10-year-old male child who was HIV positive and had developed this syndrome due to cytomegalovirus vasculitis.

Dysphagia in acute stroke: correlation with stroke subtype, vascular territory and in-hospital respiratory morbidity and mortality.

AIMS: The study aimed at correlation of post-stroke dysphagia with area and volume of infarct/ bleed, and with subsequent in-hospital respiratory morbidity and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 patients of acute stroke were serially recruited. Standard Staff swallowing assessment was performed within 24 hours of admission along with pulse oximetry. Ischemic strokes were classified as per OCPS registry. In-hospital respiratory morbidity and mortality, mode of nutrition and disability status at discharge were noted. RESULTS: 21/50 (42%) patients had post-stroke dysphagia during their hospital course. Among infarcts, Total Anterior Circulation Infarcts (TACI) had 100% incidence of dysphagia, followed by Partial Anterior Circulation Infarcts (PACI-36%), Posterior Circulation infarcts (POCI-33%), and Lacunar infarcts (LACI-18%). 67% of hemorrhages had post-stroke dysphagia. Staff swallowing assessment had a sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 73% respy., for predicting respiratory morbidity. The corresponding figures for Pulse oximetry were 79% and 91%.

Etiopathogenesis and predictors of in-hospital morbidity and mortality in posterior circulation strokes--a 2 year registry with concordant comparison with anterior circulation strokes.

AIMS: To determine etiopathogenetic factors, predictors of in-hospital morbidity and mortality, and discharge status in a serially recruited cohort of PCS patients at a tertiary care hospital. Comparison of data between ACS and PCS groups was also done. METHODS: Seventy six cases of PCS and 108 cases of ACS were serially recruited, within 48 hrs of stroke onset, over a 2 year period. Vascular territory determination, stroke subtype and classification, risk factor profile and outcome measures were determined. RESULTS: 77.6% of PCS strokes were ischemic in origin. A cardioembolic source was seen in 12/29 (42%) PCS cases. Intraarterial cause was seen in 5/29 (17.2%) PCS cases. 22.3% of PCS and 24% of ACS patients developed dysphagia. Pneumonia developed in 70% and 65% of dysphagic patients in PCS and ACS groups respectively. Mortality in PCS group was 14/76 (18%) and in ACS group 17/108 (15.7%). The principal contributory factors to mortality in PCS were low Glasgow coma score at presentation, development of respiratory morbidity, and vascular lesions in 'middle plus distal' territory. At discharge, 62% PCS patients were in group 2-3 of modified Rankin scale and 64% of ACS patients were in group 3-4. CONCLUSIONS: A cardiac source of distal territory infarct was significantly commoner in PCS as compared to ACS. Incidence of post-stroke complications, viz. dysphagia, pneumonia, deep venous thrombosis, bed-sores and urinary infection, was comparable in the two groups. Dysphagia, seen in 22% PCS and 24% of ACS, was the principal causation of pneumonia. Mortality and disability status at discharge were comparable in the 2 groups.

Neuromuscular respiratory failure in Guillain-Barre Syndrome: evaluation of clinical and electrodiagnostic predictors.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has an unpredictable clinical course with up to 30% of patients requiring assisted ventilation during the course of their illness. Successful management mandates anticipation, prompt recognition and optimal treatment of neuromuscular respiratory failure in GBS. AIMS: To identify clinical and electrodiagnostic predictors of neuromuscular respiratory paralysis in GBS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty six patients of GBS were studied over a 6 year period, the study being 2 year retrospective and 4 year prospective. Clinical and electrodiagnostic data were compared between ventilated (28) and non-ventilated (18) patients. The clinical parameters assessed were median age, gender, antecedent infection, prior lung disease, time to peak disability, bifacial weakness, upper limb weakness, bulbar paralysis, neck weakness and autonomic dysfunction. Electrodiagnostic studies included motor nerve conduction studies in 11 ventilated and 13 non-ventilated patients, done prior to maximum disability in each group. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to compare the two groups. RESULTS: Comparing the clinical data in the ventilated and non-ventilated groups, 'early peak disability', autonomic dysfunction and bulbar weakness predicted the onset of respiratory paralysis. Age, gender, neck or bifacial weakness, upper limb paralysis, or preceding infection did not influence the development of neuromuscular respiratory weakness. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed abnormal H reflex and F waves to be the commonest abnormality in either group. Although data was not sufficient for statistical analysis, the presence of markedly attenuated Compound Muscle Action Potentials inexcitable motor nerves and denervation changes on the electromyography, was commoner in the ventilated group. Thirty six patients received treatment with either plasmapheresis (12) or intravenous immunoglobulin (24). Overall mortality was 5, all 5 patients being on assisted ventilation. CONCLUSION: Early progression to peak disability, bulbar dysfunction and autonomic instability predicted the development of neuromuscular respiratory paralysis in GBS. Early electrodiagnostic studies in this series suggest axonopathic GBS as a predictor of respiratory paralysis, a finding that needs to be evaluated with sufficient data to permit statistical analysis.