Scorpion bite and multiple cerebral infarcts.

Multiple cerebral infarcts, bilateral optic neuropathy with limb ischemia, following scorpion bite is documented. Vasospasm and autonomic storm due to envenomation is a plausible explanation for this symptom complex.

Peripheral nerve abscess in leprosy: report of twenty cases.

During the year 1994-1995, 20 of the 67 leprosy patients attending the dermatology department with any kind of nerve involvement were found to be having nerve abscess. These abscesses occurred in all types of leprosy (except the Indeterminate) and a variety of nerve trunks and cutaneous nerves. In none of the instances the abscess was associated with reaction. All the patients were surgically treated, without any steroid therapy. All cases showed significant improvement whenever there was nerve function deficit. Similarly, pain was relieved in all cases, when it was present.

Non-traumatic coma--profile and prognosis.

Two hundred consecutive patients of non-traumatic coma, were investigated to establish its aetiology. Neurologic profile of these patients included assessment of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and evaluation of brainstem reflexes. 102 patients died and only 54 patients could make good recovery. Cerebrovascular diseases (33%), CNS infections (21%), and hepatic encephalopathy (18%) were the frequent causes of non-traumatic coma, with the first two carrying relatively poor prognosis. Poor outcome was also associated with low GCS score and absence of brainstem reflexes specially absent pupillary, oculocephalic and oculovestibular responses and decerebrate posture.

Disappearing CT lesion in a nonepileptic patient.

Despite its high incidence, the exact cause of disappearing CT lesions in patients with epilepsy is not clear. We document a non-epileptic patient, whose clinical picture simulated idiopathic intracranial hypertension, but CT showed a spontaneously resolving ring enhancing lesion.

Clinical and computed tomography analysis of intracerebral haemorrhage.

The clinical records and computed tomography scans of 50 consecutive patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) were analysed. Putaminal (48%) and thalamic (16%) ICH comprised the largest group, followed by cerebellar haemorrhage (12%). Intraventricular haemorrhage was observed in 14 cases, a majority being secondary to parenchymal haemorrhage. Hypertension remained the most important risk factor, occurring in 64% of the whole group and 83% of those with putaminal ICH. No predisposing factors for the haemorrhage were identified in 28% of patients. Twenty-seven patients were comatose; the incidence of coma in association with intraventricular haemorrhage was 79%. At the third week, 13 patients had died, a mortality rate of 26%.

Conjugal motor neurone disease.

The occurrence of motor neurone disease (MND) in a Libyan couple who lived together for 40 years and in whom the disease developed within a 15-month period is reported. This is believed to be the second documentation of conjugal MND in the English literature.