1/48. genetic heterogeneity in Italian families with familial hemiplegic migraine.OBJECTIVE: To verify linkage to chromosome 19p13, to detect mutations in the CACNA1A gene, and to correlate genetic results to their clinical phenotypes in Italian families with familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM). BACKGROUND: FHM is an autosomal dominant disease, classified as a subtype of migraine with aura. Only a proportion of FHM patients have been associated with chromosome 19p13. Among these, four missense mutations within the CACNA1A gene in five unrelated families have been described. methods: A linkage study was performed in 19 patients affected by FHM from five families by studying microsatellite markers associated with the 19p13 region. All familial and seven additional sporadic patients with FHM were analyzed to search for mutations within the CACNA1A gene by applying the double gradient-denaturant gradient electrophoresis technique. RESULTS: lod score values did not establish significantly linkage to chromosome 19. However, seven new genetic variants were detected: six were new polymorphisms. The seventh was a missense mutation present in family 1, and it was associated with a hemiplegic migraine phenotype without unconsciousness and cerebellar ataxia. Because this missense mutation is absent in the general population and cosegregates with the disease, it may be a pathologic mutation. CONCLUSIONS: genetic heterogeneity of FHM has been shown in familial and sporadic FHM patients of Italian origin. The new missense mutation-G4644T-is associated with milder clinical features compared with typical FHM.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = variant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/48. radiation-induced rhombencephalopathy.We report the case of a patient who underwent radiotherapy of the neck because of an epidermoid carcinoma in Rosenmuller's fossa. Eleven months later, T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a bulbo-pontine lesion, and the clinical course and sequential MRI results led to a diagnosis of radionecrosis-induced rhombencephalopathy. At a distance of more than three years, the lesion is no longer visible on MRI images but the severe neurological deficits remain. The clinical picture has not been improved by treatment with prednisone, hyperbaric oxygen, symptomatic therapies or anticoagulants.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 142.82225272187keywords = encephalopathy (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/48. New variant of familial cerebellar ataxia with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and sensorineural deafness.cerebellar ataxia and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism comprise a rare and presumably heterogeneous association. Inheritance in most cases appears to be autosomal recessive, and associated features include deafness, intellectual impairment, and neuropathy. Typically, onset of ataxia is in the first decade and hypogonadism results in primary amenorrhoea in females. We describe two sisters with a previously undescribed pattern of adult onset progressive cerebellar ataxia and secondary amenorrhoea due to hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Sensorineural deafness with vestibular hypofunction and peripheral sensory impairment were also present, and intellect was normal. Onset of neurological symptoms was in the third decade, with secondary amenorrhoea occurring at the ages of 16 and 32 years, respectively. The association of ataxia and hypergonadotropic hypergonadism has been classified both as a variant of Holmes type ataxia and as a variant of Perrault syndrome, but we suggest the use of a separate category of ataxia with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. copyright Wiley-Liss. Inc.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = variant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/48. Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system: a 70-year-old man with ataxia, depression and visual deficits.BACKGROUND: Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSNS) is caused by cerebral, cerebellar and spinal cord tissue deposition of hemosiderin, often related to repeated episodes of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Typical symptoms include ataxia, sensorineural deafness and dementia. methods AND RESULTS: An elderly patient with SSNS presenting with ataxia, depression and severe visual impairment was admitted to the Unit of geriatrics of the University Hospital of Perugia, italy. Late diagnosis and the association of symptoms with SSNS prevented the possible surgical treatment of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of uncommon clinical variants may facilitate early diagnosis of SSNS and improve therapeutic results.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = variant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/48. Nephritis and cerebellar ataxia: rare presenting features of enteric fever.Enteric fever is a common infectious disease of the tropical world, about 80% of these cases occur in Asian countries. Enteric fever presenting with isolated cerebellar ataxia or nephritis is rare. We report three cases of enteric fever that presented with these complications. Isolated cerebellar ataxia usually occurs in the second week, whereas in our cases it presented within first four days of fever. The common complications of enteric fever related to the urinary tract are cystitis, pyelitis, and pyelonephritis. glomerulonephritis is uncommon. Most patients with enteric glomerulonephritis present with acute renal failure, hypertensive encephalopathy, or nephritic syndrome. In comparison, our case had milder manifestations. All three patients were treated with parenteral ceftriaxone and showed a prompt recovery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 28.564450544374keywords = encephalopathy (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/48. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease : report of 10 cases from North india.Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is increasingly being reported over the last three decades as a result of heightened awareness of the disease. Various studies have reported annual incidence of 0.5-1.5 cases of CJD per million of general population. In india, the disease is still under reported. Over the period spanning from 1968-1997, National Institute of mental health and neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore recorded 69 cases of CJD from different parts of india in the CJD registry. This paper describes the clinical experience with cases of CJD managed at the Department of neurology, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi from 1990-1998. In this series, the mean age of the patients was 53.80 ( /- 7.32) years and there were 5 females and 5 males. myoclonus was present in all the cases and abnormal behaviour with or without other features was the presenting complaint in 7 of the 10 patients, while one patient of CJD had cerebellar ataxia as the presenting feature. One patient with occipital variant of CJD presented with acute onset cortical blindness and myoclonic jerks. One of the patients had acute psychosis precipitated by emotional stress at the onset. Extrapyramidal features were noted in 7 of the 10 patients before death. The mean duration of symptoms from the onset of disease to death was 6.6 ( /- 6.11) months. Classical EEG changes were observed in all the patients, except in one possible case of occipital variant of CJD, where we did not have access to EEG record. Brain biopsy could be undertaken in 3 patients, and in 2 patients the features of subacute spongiform encephalopathy (SSE) were noted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 749.93289639336keywords = spongiform, encephalopathy, variant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/48. Posterior-variant alien hand syndrome: clinical features and response to rehabilitation.PURPOSE: This case highlights the clinical features and course of recovery of a patient presenting to the rehabilitation service with posterior-variant alien hand syndrome (AHS) following thalamic stroke. methods: Single case report. RESULTS: Clinical signs and symptoms included mild hemiparesis, dyspraxia, dysmetria, primary sensory loss and hemispatial neglect. Autonomous movements and personification of the affected extremity which were ego-syntonic in nature were characteristic of posterior-variant AHS. The associated neurological impairments resolved early during the course of rehabilitation and the patient made excellent functional gains. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the distinguishing features differentiating posterior-variant AHS from more classical AHS and underscores the excellent prognosis of this variant.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = variant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/48. cerebellar ataxia and leukoencephalopathy associated with cobalamin deficiency.We report a patient who presented progressive cerebellar ataxia associated with vitamin B(12) deficiency. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a diffuse leukoencephalopathy. Six months after the initiation of methylcobalamin therapy, there were clinical improvement and reduction in the MRI abnormalities.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 142.82225272187keywords = encephalopathy (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/48. Ataxic variant of adrenoleukodystrophy: MRI and CT findings.A 28-year-old man developed slowly progressive dysarthria and gait disturbance over 7 years. Neurological examination revealed marked ataxia of articulation and gait, mild ataxia and spasticity of all four limbs without intellectual, visual, auditory, sensory or sphincter dysfunction. No physical signs of adrenal hypofunction were found. However, analysis of fatty acid of plasma sphingomyelin showed an increase in very long chain fatty acids, compatible with the diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy. Computed tomography disclosed marked atrophy of the cerebellum and pons, and bilateral low-density lesions in the deep while matter of the cerebellum. magnetic resonance imaging showed these lesions more clearly, as well as other lesions in the middle and superior cerebellar peduncles, despite the absence of cerebral white matter involvement at the time of presentation. This is a rare case of adrenoleukodystrophy presenting as spinocerebellar degeneration and showing marked atrophy and several parenchymatous lesions of the cerebellum and brain stem.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = variant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/48. L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria and brain malignant tumors: a predisposing condition?L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria is a rare metabolic encephalopathy displaying a subcortical leukoencephalopathy on MRI. Diagnosis rests on detection of an abnormal accumulation of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in body fluids. The authors report on four patients who developed a malignant brain tumor during the course of the disease. This association points to a possible role of L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria in predisposing to brain tumorigenesis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 57.128901088749keywords = encephalopathy (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |