ABSTRACT
Dropped head syndrome (DHS) is an uncommon clinical syndrome, which requires complex diagnostic evaluation. A variety of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disease can produce weakness of head extensor muscles and consequently lead to head drop. Inflammatory myopathy has been described as a cause of DHS, however head drop has only exceptionally been reported as being the presenting symptom of this disorder. We describe an original case of DHS as an initial and predominant manifestation of inflammatory myopathy with histopathological features of polymyositis, with an excellent response to immunosuppressive treatment.
Subject(s)
Muscular Diseases , Myositis , Neurodegenerative Diseases , Head , Humans , Muscle Weakness/etiology , Myositis/diagnosis , Myositis/drug therapy , Neck Muscles/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of perampanel (PER) when administered as a first add-on therapy to patients with focal epilepsy or idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) taking one other antiseizure drug (ASD). METHODS: This multicentre, retrospective, one-year observational study collected data from patients (≥12 years) who initiated treatment with PER as first add-on therapy. Patients had to be experiencing inadequate seizure control on ASD monotherapy and tried ≤3 ASD monotherapies before initiating PER. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, adjusted for the number and type of previous seizures, duration and aetiology of epilepsy. RESULTS: Of the 149 patients included in the study (mean age 41 years; 54.4 % male), 118 (79.2 %) were still receiving PER as first add-on treatment after 12 months. Mean PER dose was 6.2 mg/day. At 12 months, 45.6 % were seizure-free and 84.6 % responders. A significant difference in seizure freedom rate was found between patients with IGE and patients with focal epilepsy, but not in responders. Reduced seizure control was observed when PER was administered with strong enzyme-inducing ASDs; conversely, increased seizure control was seen when the same dose of PER was combined with enzyme-inhibiting ASDs. The most frequent adverse events were dizziness (15.4 %), irritability (14.1 %) and drowsiness (14.1 %); no differences in tolerance were observed among different combinations. CONCLUSION: PER demonstrated a good efficacy and safety profile when used as a first add-on therapy in patients who did not respond to monotherapy. PER dose adjustments may optimize seizure control when combined with strong enzyme-inducing or enzyme-inhibiting ASDs.
Subject(s)
Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Pyridones/therapeutic use , Seizures/drug therapy , Adult , Anticonvulsants/administration & dosage , Epilepsies, Partial/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nitriles , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Pyridones/administration & dosage , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
AIM: To assess potential predictors for burden and depression among caregivers of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients in Spain. Family functioning and social support were also assessed. PATIENTS & METHODS: Multicenter and cross-sectional study in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis adult patients and their respective informal caregivers (n = 180). Assessment performed: Zarit Scale (Burden), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-7 Scale (depression), Family APGAR (Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, Resolve) Questionnaire (family functioning) and Duke UNC-11 Functional Social Support Questionnaire (social support). Multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed burden and depression predictors among caregivers. RESULTS: Caregivers suffered burden (19.4%) and depression (20.6%) and perceived poor social support (9.4%) and family dysfunction (10.6%). Burden predictors were patient's degree of disability, caregiver time and number of medications administered to patient. Depression predictors were patient's age and daily caregiving time. CONCLUSION: The factors reported here could help clinicians to identify caregiver groups particularly at risk of burden and depression for timely intervention.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Depressive Disorder/etiology , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/nursing , Adult , Cost of Illness , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Disability Evaluation , Emotions , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/economics , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/epidemiology , Predictive Value of Tests , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Quality of Life , Retrospective Studies , Spain/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Introducción. Las patologías relacionadas con la infiltración de linfocitos y células inflamatorias se clasifican, según su topografía, en patología orbitaria idiopática, paquimeningitis hipertrófica idiopática, síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt e hipofisitis linfocitaria. Presentamos a una paciente que comenzó con una hipofisitis linfocitaria hace ocho años y ha presentado varios episodios de paquimeningitis hipertrófica variables en su localización. Caso clínico. Mujer de 55 años, en seguimiento por cefalea de dos meses de evolución, que ingresó por empeoramiento clínico con parálisis del III par derecho completo, lagrimeo y rinorrea. Se realizó una resonancia magnética cerebral que demostró la presencia de una lesión sellar compatible con hipofisitis linfocitaria. Se inició tratamiento con corticoides con mejoría inicial, pero, tras dos años, la paciente presentó empeoramiento clínico con cefalea y parestesias perioculares derechas. Se repitió la resonancia, donde se observaron varias lesiones extraaxiales, siendo el resto de estudios normales, por lo que se diagnosticó paquimeningitis hipertrófica idiopática y se inició tratamiento de nuevo con corticoides. En el seguimiento posterior, la paciente presentó nuevas lesiones en diferentes localizaciones y mal control álgico, por lo que se añadió tratamiento inmunomodulador. Ante la asociación de hipofisitis linfocitaria y paquimeningitis hipertrófica, se completó el estudio con determinación de la IgG4 en el suero, que resultó negativa. Conclusiones. La asociación de hipofisitis linfocitaria y paquimeningitis hipertrófica con las patologías relacionadas con la IgG4 se ha descrito recientemente. A pesar de que en nuestra paciente no se ha confirmado el diagnóstico, se debe considerar esta relación en aquellos casos idiopáticos y, sobre todo, si se asocian otras manifestaciones sistémicas
Introduction. Pathologies related to lymphocyte infiltration and inflammatory cells are classified, according to their topography, into idiopathic orbital pathology, idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis, Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and lymphocytic hypophysitis. Here we review the case of a female patient who began with lymphocytic hypophysitis eight years ago and has since presented several episodes of hypertrophic pachymeningitis in a variety of locations. Case report. Our study involves a 55-year-old female, being monitored owing to a two-month history of headaches, who was admitted to hospital as the result of a deterioration of her clinical signs and symptoms with paralysis of the whole right-side third cranial nerve, watery eyes and rhinorrhea. A magnetic resonance brain scan revealed the presence of a sellar lesion consistent with lymphocytic hypophysitis. Treatment was established with corticoids with an improvement at first, but two years later the patients clinical features worsened, with headaches and periocular paraesthesias on the right-hand side. Another MRI scan was performed and several extra-axial lesions were observed, the results of the other studies being normal. Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis was therefore diagnosed and treatment with corticoids was started again. In the ensuing follow-up the patient presented new lesions in different locations and poor pain control, and so immunomodulator treatment was thus added. Given the association between lymphocytic hypophysitis and hypertrophic pachymeningitis, the study was completed with determination of the IgG4 in serum, which was negative. Conclusions. The association of lymphocytic hypophysitis and hypertrophic pachymeningitis with IgG4-related pathologies have recently been reported. Although the diagnosis has not been confirmed in our patient, this relationship must be taken into account in these idiopathic cases and, above all, if they are associated with other systemic manifestations
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Meningitis/immunology , Paraproteinemias/complications , Autoimmune Hypophysitis/immunology , Meningitis/pathology , HypertrophyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Pathologies related to lymphocyte infiltration and inflammatory cells are classified, according to their topography, into idiopathic orbital pathology, idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis, Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and lymphocytic hypophysitis. Here we review the case of a female patient who began with lymphocytic hypophysitis eight years ago and has since presented several episodes of hypertrophic pachymeningitis in a variety of locations. CASE REPORT: Our study involves a 55-year-old female, being monitored owing to a two-month history of headaches, who was admitted to hospital as the result of a deterioration of her clinical signs and symptoms with paralysis of the whole right-side third cranial nerve, watery eyes and rhinorrhea. A magnetic resonance brain scan revealed the presence of a sellar lesion consistent with lymphocytic hypophysitis. Treatment was established with corticoids with an improvement at first, but two years later the patient's clinical features worsened, with headaches and periocular paraesthesias on the right-hand side. Another MRI scan was performed and several extra-axial lesions were observed, the results of the other studies being normal. Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis was therefore diagnosed and treatment with corticoids was started again. In the ensuing follow-up the patient presented new lesions in different locations and poor pain control, and so immunomodulator treatment was thus added. Given the association between lymphocytic hypophysitis and hypertrophic pachymeningitis, the study was completed with determination of the IgG4 in serum, which was negative. CONCLUSIONS: The association of lymphocytic hypophysitis and hypertrophic pachymeningitis with IgG4-related pathologies have recently been reported. Although the diagnosis has not been confirmed in our patient, this relationship must be taken into account in these idiopathic cases and, above all, if they are associated with other systemic manifestations.
TITLE: Hipofisitis linfocitaria y paquimeningitis hipertrofica: descripcion de un posible caso asociado a las patologias IgG4.Introduccion. Las patologias relacionadas con la infiltracion de linfocitos y celulas inflamatorias se clasifican, segun su topografia, en patologia orbitaria idiopatica, paquimeningitis hipertrofica idiopatica, sindrome de Tolosa-Hunt e hipofisitis linfocitaria. Presentamos a una paciente que comenzo con una hipofisitis linfocitaria hace ocho años y ha presentado varios episodios de paquimeningitis hipertrofica variables en su localizacion. Caso clinico. Mujer de 55 años, en seguimiento por cefalea de dos meses de evolucion, que ingreso por empeoramiento clinico con paralisis del III par derecho completo, lagrimeo y rinorrea. Se realizo una resonancia magnetica cerebral que demostro la presencia de una lesion sellar compatible con hipofisitis linfocitaria. Se inicio tratamiento con corticoides con mejoria inicial, pero, tras dos años, la paciente presento empeoramiento clinico con cefalea y parestesias perioculares derechas. Se repitio la resonancia, donde se observaron varias lesiones extraaxiales, siendo el resto de estudios normales, por lo que se diagnostico paquimeningitis hipertrofica idiopatica y se inicio tratamiento de nuevo con corticoides. En el seguimiento posterior, la paciente presento nuevas lesiones en diferentes localizaciones y mal control algico, por lo que se añadio tratamiento inmunomodulador. Ante la asociacion de hipofisitis linfocitaria y paquimeningitis hipertrofica, se completo el estudio con determinacion de la IgG4 en el suero, que resulto negativa. Conclusiones. La asociacion de hipofisitis linfocitaria y paquimeningitis hipertrofica con las patologias relacionadas con la IgG4 se ha descrito recientemente. A pesar de que en nuestra paciente no se ha confirmado el diagnostico, se debe considerar esta relacion en aquellos casos idiopaticos y, sobre todo, si se asocian otras manifestaciones sistemicas.
Subject(s)
Autoimmune Hypophysitis/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Meningitis/immunology , Paraproteinemias/complications , Female , Humans , Hypertrophy , Meningitis/pathology , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Reactivity against terminal NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal, common to several gangliosides such as GD1a, GT1b and GM3, has rarely been reported. The authors recently described a patient with a clinical picture of acute relapsing sensory ataxic neuropathy and bulbar involvement in whom they demonstrated concomitant reactivity against NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal and disialosyl epitopes. The authors suggested a correlation between NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal reactivity and bulbar involvement. AIM: To determine the frequency of reactivity against terminal NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal in acute and chronic immune-mediated disorders, and its possible correlation with bulbar involvement. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed reactivity in the serum of more than 3000 consecutive patients with acute and chronic disorders in which antiganglioside antibodies were studied. The authors selected those patients who were simultaneously positive, by ELISA or thin-layer chromatography, for IgG or IgM antibodies anti-GM3, GD1a and GT1b, and reviewed their clinical features. RESULTS: Reactivity against NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal, shared by GM3, GD1a and GT1b gangliosides, was detected in 10 patients: isolated in one patient, and concomitant with reactivity against other gangliosides in the remaining patients. Reactivity against NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal was frequently associated (8/10) with symptoms suggestive of bulbar involvement, such as dysphagia, dysarthria or dysphonia. Severe respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation was observed in four patients. CONCLUSIONS: Reactivity against the NeuNAc(alpha2-3)Gal epitope is rare and is generally found in association with reactivity against the disialosyl epitope. It can be detected in patients with acute or chronic disorders and could be a serological marker of clinical bulbar involvement and, to a lesser extent, associated with the development of severe respiratory failure.
