Carotid web: the challenging diagnosis of an under-recognized entity

Journal of Neurology - Determining the cause of acute ischemic stroke is crucial for patient management, particularly for preventing future stroke. In recent years, carotid web (CW), a...     

Unilateral calf atrophy secondary to a de novo mutation of the caveolin-3 gene

A 23-year-old man was evaluated for atrophy of the left calf. He had a myopathic pattern on electromyography. Light microscopy showed dystrophic changes and reduced immunostaining for dysferlin and caveolin-3. The subsarcolemmal space was enlarged, and abnormal vesicles were visible with electron microscopy. A genetic study showed a heterozygous A45T mutation at exon 2 of the caveolin-3 gene. Such a mutation has been reported previously with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1C and rippling muscle disease phenotypes.     

Amitriptyline for post-COVID headache: effectiveness,tolerability, and response predictors

Journal of Neurology - Headache is one of the most frequently reported symptoms in post-COVID patients. The clinical phenotype of COVID-19 headache combines phenotypic features of both tension-type...     

Recurrent leukoencephalopathy with microhemorrhages: gradient-echo MRI study diagnostic value in CNS primary angiitis

Diagnosis of primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is difficult in relation to variability in its clinical manifestations and absence of specific signs in neuroimaging. A young patient presented with a recurrent encephalopathic clinical course. T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-magnetic resonance imaging (FLAIR-MRI) showed hyperintense lesions in the cerebral white matter suggesting demyelination. Those lesions decreased or even disappeared after treatment with steroids and immunoglobulins. In echo gradient MRI (T2*-MRI), there were permanent cortical-subcortical petechial hypointense lesions (microhemorrhages). Definite diagnosis was established after cerebral biopsy. Intravenous cyclophosphamide was administrated with no new relapses in more than 18 months of follow-up. In a compatible clinical course, the finding of petechial hemorrhages in T2*-WI could play an important role in early diagnosis of PACNS.     

Widespread brainstem abscess resolved with medical therapy

The brainstem is an uncommon site of a brain abscess. Such lesions, which were invariably fatal, changed with the arrival of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These not only helped in the diagnosis but also in treatment management. A 51-year old patient was diagnosed of widespread pontomesencephalic abscess. He was admitted with a clinical picture of dizziness, headache and involvement of multiple cranial nerves with near complete ophthalmoplegia and cerebellar syndrome in the side of the lesion and contralateral hemiplegia. Microbiologic investigations were negative and the medical management decided was broad spectrum antibiotic and periodic MRI controls. The length of the lesion decreased (from 4 cm in diameter to 0.5 cm) with progressive improvement of the neurological deficits. Treatment of large brainstem abscesses includes primary antibiotic therapy combined with stereotaxic drainage, but in individual cases empirical medical therapy can be effective. Sequential MRI examinations are very important for monitoring treatment efficacy.     

Brachial plexitis and myelitis and herpes-zoster lumbar plexus disorder in patient treated with infliximab

Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody, is a TNF-a inhibitor approved for use in refractory rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn s disease. We present the case of a patient affected by severe rheumatoid arthritis who was successfully treated with infliximab. She suffered diverse neurological complications: brachial plexitis, asymptomatic thoracic myelitis with extensive lesions in MRI study, and herpes zoster lumbar plexitis. We review the neurological adverse effects of infliximab (aseptic meningitis, opportunistic germs infections, disseminated herpes zoster) and focus in their potential adverse effect to induce central and peripheral nervous system demyelination.