[Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis or multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis?]. / Sclérose en plaques rémittente ou encéphalomyélite multiphasique disséminée?

INTRODUCTION: The imaging presentation of some forms of multiple sclerosis may be misleading. In patients with a history of recent infection or vaccination, especially for adolescents or young adults, the differential diagnosis with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis can be difficult. CASE REPORT: We report an unusual clinical and radiological presentation of multiple sclerosis, mimicking acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. We discuss clinical and radiological differential diagnosis, and the outcome after immunosuppressive treatment. CONCLUSION: Distinguishing between acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and the first relapse of multiple sclerosis can be difficult. Brain imaging is a precious tool for differentiating between the two diseases.

[Intravenous immunoglobulins for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis after failure of treatment with other immuno-modulators]. / Evaluation du traitement par immunoglobulines intraveineuses dans la sclérose en plaques progressive après échappement aux autres traitements immunomodulateurs.

Intravenous immunoglobulins are used in the treatment of different autoimmune diseases. Recent trials suggest their efficacy in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. We report the results of an efficacy and safety trial using monthly intravenous injections of immunoglobulins for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Eighteen patients in clinical progression, who have been previously treated with immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive drugs, were given monthly intravenous immunoglobulin infusions (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 days). At the beginning, the mean EDSS score was 6.77. At the end of the study, an improvement of EDSS was noted in 61.1 p. cent of patients, with less than 1 and 0.75 for secondary and primary progressive diseases respectively. No worsening was reported. Surprisingly, some patients had partial improvement of neurological functions which were considered as sequelae. Indications for intravenous immunoglobulins in the treatment of the multiple sclerosis need to be evaluated.

[Acute polyradiculoneuritis and dysautonomia: contribution of assaying catecholamines and their methoxylated metabolites]. / Polyradiculonévrites aiguës et dysautonomie: pertinence du dosage des catécholamines et des dérivés méthoxylés.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute demyelinating polyradiculoneuritis usually evolving with rapid, functional recovery. In severely paralysed patients, cranial nerve palsy and autonomic nervous system dysfunctions are common. Lesions of the spinal roots predominate but segmentary demyelination of peripheral nervous system reflects various clinical subtypes. Twelve patients (42,8 p. cent) had clinical dysautonomia. Ten had an increase of urinary methoxylated metabolites. Patients exempt of dysautonomia had normal biological parameters. The elevated level of urinary methoxylated metabolites is statistically correlated to clinical dysautonomia and can be used as a biological marker to monitoring demyelinating polyradiculoneuritis.