1/17. Autonomic dysfunction associated with multiple pelvic ganglioneuromas.We describe the case of a 59-year-old male in which several symptoms of autonomic dysfunction resulted associated with the presence of multiple ganglioneuromas in the adrenal glands and in paravertebral spaces. In a 2-year period, the patient developed sexual dysfunctions, micturitional disturbances and severe orthostatic hypotension and was erroneously diagnosed as having primary autonomic failure. However, the examination of all the autonomic functions showed that papillary function and cardiovascular reflexes were normal. CT scan of the abdomen revealed the presence of several small masses in the adrenal glands and along the lumbar sympathetic chain. Cytologic examination of the adrenal glands showed clusters of ganglionlike cells interspersed with schwann cells, leading to the diagnosis of ganglioneuromas. patients with signs and symptoms of autonomic dysfunction need an extensive clinical and laboratory examination of all the autonomic functions in order to exclude secondary causes of the symptomatology.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/17. Triple-A syndrome with prominent ophthalmic features and a novel mutation in the AAAS gene: a case report.BACKGROUND: Triple-A syndrome (Allgrove syndrome) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by adrenal insufficiency, alacrima, achalasia, and - occasionally - autonomic instability. Mutations have been found in the AAAS gene on 12q13. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 12 year-old boy with classic systemic features of triple-A syndrome and several prominent ophthalmic features, including: accommodative spasm, dry eye, superficial punctate keratopathy, and pupillary hypersensitivity to dilute pilocarpine. MRI showed small lacrimal glands bilaterally. dna sequencing of PCR-amplified fragments from the 16 exons of the AAAS gene revealed compound heterozygosity for a new, out-of-frame 5-bp deletion in exon 15, c1368-1372delGCTCA, and a previously-described nonsense mutation in exon 9, c938C>T, R286X. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to known ophthalmic manifestations, triple-A syndrome can present with accommodative dysregulation and ocular signs of autonomic dysfunction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/17. QSART in idiopathic pure sudomotor failure.QSART (quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing) was performed in a patient with idiopathic pure sudomotor failure. Generalized reduction in thermoregulatory sweating and complete absence of axon reflex sweating were observed, suggesting a deficit of sweat gland cholinergic synaptic transmission or receptors. QSART responded promptly to treatment. Putative pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/17. Cold-induced sweating syndrome: a report of two cases and demonstration of genetic heterogeneity.OBJECTIVES: To characterize the specific autonomic disturbances underlying the cold-induced sweating syndrome (CISS), and to describe a novel genetic variant of this rare recessive disorder. The two not previously reported patients had similar dysmorphic features: abnormal facial appearance, high arched palate, low set rotated ears, flexion deformities of elbows and fingers and scoliosis. Most noticeable were their paradoxical sweat responses: cold ambient temperature induced a profuse sweating over the face, arms and trunk but not over the lower limbs; while in the heat very little sweating occurred primarily on the legs. Testing of autonomic functions demonstrated normal cardiovascular reflexes and postganglionic sympathetic efferent functions. sural nerve morphology and number of unmyelinated fibers was normal and skin biopsies showed normal appearing eccrine sweat glands. MRI scans revealed no structural brain abnormalities. Oral clonidine, prescribed in one patient, completely suppressed cold-induced sweating. Observed clinical features matched those of two sisters reported from israel and of two brothers reported from norway. All six cases presented a similar phenotype. The Norwegian, Israeli and Canadian cases were homozygous or compound heterozygous, respectively, for mutations in the CRLF1 gene on chromosome 19p12 (CISS1). The Australian case, however, had no pathogenic sequence variants in the CRLF1 gene, but was compound heterozygous for mutations in the CLCF1 gene on chromosome 11q13.3 (CISS2). CONCLUSION: The rare cold-induced sweating syndrome is genetically heterogeneous and is probably caused by central and peripheral impairment of sudomotor functions. This is the first detailed report on the clinical consequences of mutations in the CLCF1 gene in humans. Directions for medical therapies are outlined to achieve long term symptom control.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/17. Hemicrania with massive autonomic manifestations and circumscribed eyelid erythema.OBJECTIVES: To describe a unilateral headache that in addition to the typical shortlasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection, tearing, sweating and rhinorrhea (SUNCT) syndrome - traits with excessive and ipsilateral autonomic phenomena - had circumscribed eyelid erythema and adjacent ocular redness. OBSERVATIONS: A 60-year-old female had excessive, right-sided lacrimation and local pain at 15 years of age. Due to steadily increasing discomfort, with lacrimation and swelling over the outer part of the upper eyelid, the right lacrimal gland was removed at 20 years of age, with a suspicion of lacrimal gland adenoma. Preoperatively, symptomatic side mild-degree eyelid erythema/rhinorrhea were integral parts of the attack. After years with minor complaints, she, in the mid-twenties, experienced more long-lasting pain attacks, and pain soon became the main problem. A marked, distinct erythema on the lateral part of the right-sided eyelids and marked, localized 'eye redness' in the adjacent area were main ingredients of the attacks together with eyelid edema and viscous rhinorrhea. There were visible vessels below the eye, and telangiectasia of the upper eyelid. CONCLUSIONS: This headache has many similarities with SUNCT - but has several, grossly deviating traits: the temporal aspects, excruciatingly intense pain attacks, and above all marked, lateral eye-lid erythema, and adjacent, massive ocular reddening. This constellation probably alienates it from SUNCT.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66666666666667keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/17. aldosterone-secreting adenoma and dysautonomic failure: the challenging association of 2 extreme conditions.This is the first published report describing the association between primary aldosteronism and chronic idiopathic orthostatic hypotension. The clinical history of a 57 year old man with incapacitating postural hypotension and severely symptomatic supine hypertension, is described. A possible occupational etiology of postural hypotension, with regard to a prolonged exposure to cutting oils, is considered. The intriguing pathophysiologic aspects of this unique association are discussed. The Authors suggest that, although supine hypertension is common in chronic idiopathic orthostatic hypotension, a careful examination of the adrenal glands is advisable in these patients, to rule out the presence of an associated adrenal adenoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/17. Gastrointestinal motor dysfunction in acquired selective cholinergic dysautonomia associated with infectious mononucleosis.This report documents the disturbance in gastrointestinal motor function in a patient with selective cholinergic dysautonomia that occurred following acute infectious mononucleosis. Apart from the gut, other organs affected included the pupils, sweat glands, lacrimal and salivary glands, and urinary bladder. Autonomic function tests showed the preservation of sympathetic adrenergic functions in contrast to the generalized involvement of postganglionic parasympathetic and sympathetic cholinergic nerves, including denervation hypersensitivity of the pupil and urinary bladder to exogenous cholinergic agonists. Cardiac and abdominal vagal responses were abnormal. colon myenteric plexus ganglion cells were normal by morphological and immunohistochemical studies, suggesting that the selective cholinergic dysautonomia was the most likely pathophysiologic process responsible for the observed motility disorder. This study documents the occurrence of selective cholinergic dysautonomia following a viral illness, the importance of the extrinsic neural control on the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract, and the usefulness of combined motility and autonomic function testing in the evaluation of patients with symptoms suggestive of gut dysmotility.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66666666666667keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/17. Local autonomic failure affecting a limb.Three patients are described who presented with autonomic failure affecting predominantly one limb. Physiological studies revealed that there was sweating loss in the limb which appeared to be due to a preganglionic autonomic lesion and not to a sweat gland abnormality. In all three patients there was also evidence of failure of vasomotor control. There was no evidence of more generalised autonomic failure or neurological deficit. In two patients the condition appeared to be static and, according to the patients' accounts was life long. In the third the sweating loss was present for three years prior to pain loss becoming evident from C2/3 to T1 on the same side as the sweating loss. These patients, together with two recent case reports, indicate that isolated local autonomic failure, probably from a discrete cord lesion, can be a cause of presenting symptoms related to sweating loss or to change in temperature in a limb.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/17. Congenital sensory neuropathy with anhydrosis-a case report and investigation of autonomic nervous system abnormalities.A review of the clinical profile of congenital sensory neuropathy with anhydrosis is presented. It is stressed that major diagnostic criteria of this recessively inherited condition should be limited to insensitivity to pain with normal tactile perception, anhydrosis, recurrent unexplained fever, self-mutilation, mental retardation, hypotonia, histologically normal sweat glands and variable autonomic abnormality. A case conforming to this description is reported and compared with 13 published cases. Special investigations of the autonomic nervous system through measurement of urinary catecholamine metabolites and psychophysiologic variables were conducted on this patient. Based on the analysis of 5 X 24-hour urine, values of metabolites of dopamine and epinephrine were normal. Metabolites of norepinephrine, such as 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenylglycol and normetanephrine, however, were significantly low when compared with those of four controls, suggesting decreased peripheral and central norepinephrine activity. Polygraph recording and evaluation of some orienting response components revealed no obvious signs of autonomic perturbation and, specifically, no phasic electrodermal activity. These two findings (biochemical and electrodermal) strongly suggest an autonomic imbalance, specifically component, both central and peripheral. It is suggested that autonomic disorder is an integral part of the syndrome and may be demonstrated by special investigations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/17. Anhidrosis with anisocoria: clinical and autonomic evaluation.Four patients with anhidrosis associated with normal sweat glands at skin biopsy are reported. One patient had a positive family history. All of them had pupillary asymmetry. Pharmacologic tests evinced evidence of parasympathetic denervation of the pupil in three and sympathetic denervation in the other patient. Autonomic function tests revealed intact cardiovascular reflexes. Restricted involvement of functionally and geographically distant population of autonomic neurons suggests their possible ontogenetic or biochemical similarities.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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