ABSTRACT
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a syndrome with numerous neurological manifestations including altered mental status and seizures. At least 10% of the patients with TTP seen at our institution had nonconvulsive status epilepticus as a cause of or associated with their altered mental status. We propose that altered mental status secondary to nonconvulsive status epilepticus requiring electroencephalographic diagnosis and antiepileptic medication occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with TTP.
Subject(s)
Epilepsy/etiology , Mental Disorders/etiology , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/complications , Adult , Brain/physiopathology , Delta Rhythm , Epilepsy/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/diagnosis , Theta RhythmABSTRACT
We studied the long-term effects of two retrogradely transported fluorescent dyes on survival of dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGNs) and motoneurons (MNs). In adult female rats, we labeled DRGNs and MNs by soaking the cut sciatic nerve in Fluoro-Gold or True Blue. With True Blue, we found no difference in the number of labeled MNs or DRGNs in rats surviving 4 days or 20 weeks after nerve soak. With Fluoro-Gold, labeled DRGNs and MNs were decreased at 20 weeks compared with 4 days. Since there was no offsetting increase in unlabeled DRGNs at 20 weeks, Fluoro-Gold caused cell death.
