[Pseudomigraine with CSF pleocytosis: intermittent measurement of the intracranial pressure. Case report]. / Pseudomigrânea com pleocitose liquórica: monitorização intermitente da pressão intracraniana. Relato de caso.

Pseudomigraine with pleocytosis is a self-limited and rather benign disorder, characterized by recurrent bouts of migrainous headaches, associated to focal neurological symptoms and to cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities. We have submitted an individual with pseudomigraine to three lumbar punctures. The first and the third lumbar punctures, carried out during symptomatic periods, revealed a cerebrospinal fluid with aseptic lymphomonocytic pleocytosis, and an opening pressure of 400 and 440 mmH2O, respectively. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure measured during an asymptomatic period was normal (190 mmH20). Although the underlying mechanisms of this disorder remain elusive, there is some evidence that suggests an involvement of autoimmune mechanisms leading to a reduction of the cerebral blood flow, similar to that seen in the cortical spreading depression. In this report, we raise the possibility of a contributory role to be played by the elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure on the pathophysiology of this disorder.

[Change in the biological pattern of migraine with aura after the use of tetrabenazine: case report]. / Mudança no padrão biológico da migrânea com aura após a utilização da tetrabenazina: relato de caso.

The influence of the dopaminergic system on the pathophysiology of migraine has been suggested as a result of recent genetic discoveries. A possible hyper-reactivity of the dopaminergic receptors DRD2 reinforced the evidence regarding this. We describe a 31 years-old male patient affected by a generalized dystonia secondary to perinatal hypoxia. At age 16, the patient started having headache crises that met the criteria for migraine with aura. After three years of treatment for dystonia with tetrabenazine, a clear reduction in the frequency, intensity and duration of the crises was perceived. During two periods longer than two months, the interruption of the treatment with tetrabenazine brought about an aggravation of the migraine crises. We present this case as being the first description in the literature showing the beneficial effects of tetrabenazine, a blocker of dopaminergic receptors, on the behavior of migraine with aura.

Neurofibromatosis, stroke and basilar impression. Case report.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) can virtually affect any organ, presenting most frequently with "cafe au lait" spots and neurofibromas. Vasculopathy is a known complication of NF1, but cerebrovascular disease is rare. We report the case of a 51-year-old man admitted to the hospital with a history of stroke four months before admission. On physical examination, he presented various "cafe au lait" spots and cutaneous neurofibromas. Neurologic examination demonstrated right-sided facial paralysis, right-sided hemiplegia, and aphasia. Computed tomography scan of head showed hypodense areas in the basal ganglia and centrum semiovale. Radiographs of cranium and cervical spine showed basilar impression. Angiography revealed complete occlusion of both vertebral and left internal carotid arteries, and partial stenosis of the right internal carotid artery. A large network of collateral vessels was present (moyamoya syndrome). It is an uncommon case of occlusive cerebrovascular disease associated with NF1, since most cases described in the literature are in young people, and tend to spare the posterior cerebral circulation. Basilar impression associated with this case may be considered a pure coincidence, but rare cases of basilar impression and NF1 have been described.

[Headache in patients with pheochromocytoma. Influence of arterial hypertension]. / Cefaléia em pacientes com feocromocitoma. Influência da hipertensão arterial.

Headache is an important diagnostic element in pheochromocytoma and it may characterize a body reaction to pathological hormonal oscillations. We observed the pheochromocytoma instability in 20 patients during arterial hypertension and tried to correlate with headache. We found that isolate hypertension is not the only factor in headache pathogenesis. It is possible that changes in catecholamines, adrenomedullin and other neuropeptides may cause some of these symptoms.