Neurosarcoidosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
G. R. Ramazanov ◽  
E. V. Shevchenko ◽  
L. I. Idilova ◽  
V. N. Stepanov ◽  
E. V. Nugaeva ◽  
...  

The article represents the discussion of sarcoidosis involving the cranial nerves and meninges. It’s a rare disease difficult to diagnose. This form of the disease is a progressive lesion of the nervous system, characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the membranes and /or tissue of cerebrum or spinal cord, cranial and /or peripheral nerves. Clinical signs of the nervous system disorder found in sarcoidosis, are detected only in 5–15% of patients. They are often represented by symptoms of cranial nerve damage, meningeal syndrome and epileptic seizures. X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain do not reveal specific changes, however, they allow to exclude other structural lesions of the central nervous system and to identify neuroimaging signs, most common in the course of this disease. Diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis is possible in the presence of neurological symptoms, signs of multisystem lesions, and histological confirmation of non-caseous granulomatous inflammation in one or more organs. The article also represents a clinical observation of a patient with neurosarcoidosis, manifested by acute bilateral neuropathy of the facial nerves, unilateral neuropathy of the trigeminal nerve and meningism syndrome. The neuroimaging signs, often found in this disease, were revealed: the accumulation of contrast agent by the membranes of the brain and the tissue of cavum Meckeli. The course of the disease and diagnostic search, which made it possible to detect signs of multisystem lesion, are described. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination of the biopsy material of the intrathoracic lymph node. The results of neurosarcoidosis anti-inflammatory therapy are presented. The peculiarities influencing the choice of this type of treatment terms, are indicated.

Author(s):  
Michael J. Aminoff

In 1811, Bell had printed privately a monograph titled Idea of a New Anatomy of the Brain. In it, Bell correctly showed that the anterior but not the posterior roots had motor functions. François Magendie subsequently showed that the anterior roots were motor, and the posterior roots were sensory. This led to a dispute about priority during which Bell republished some of his early work with textual alterations to support his claims. Bell was involved in a similar dispute with Herbert Mayo concerning the separate functions of the fifth (sensory) and seventh (motor) cranial nerves, and Mayo today is a forgotten man. In both instances, Bell deserves credit for the concepts and initial experimental approach, and Magendie and Mayo deserve credit for obtaining and correctly interpreting the definitive experimental findings.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisangela de Oliveira ◽  
Elisa Teruya Oshiro ◽  
Rebeca Vieira Pinto ◽  
Bruna Corrêa de Castro ◽  
Karla Borges Daniel ◽  
...  

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe chronic disease caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi. Better knowledge on the effects caused by this disease can help develop adequate clinical management and treatment. Parasitological and immunohistochemical studies were performed golden hamsters Mesocricetus auratus infected with bone marrow from individuals with VL in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, central-west Brazil. The effects of parasitism in the spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and brain of the animals were examined. Eighteen hamsters were inoculated intraperitoneally, and six healthy animals were used as negative controls. The animals were kept in the animal house and checked for clinical signs. Specimens of each organ were examined for the presence of amastigotes. Immunohistochemical technique was performed in all brain specimens and organs negative on the direct examination of parasites. Direct examination of amastigotes was positive in the spleen and liver of all infected animals; 33.3% showed the parasite in the kidneys and lungs, and 16.7% in the heart. Parasitic forms were seen in 83.3% (15/18) of the brain examined. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the results of the direct examination, except in two specimens of lung tissue and in the brain specimens. Other studies are needed to further clarify the effect of the parasite in the central nervous system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e13083-e13083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Avinash Pophali ◽  
Gita Thanarajasingam ◽  
Jose Pulido ◽  
Patrick B. Johnston ◽  
Ronald S. Go

e13083 Background: CNS involvement from low grade B-cell NHL is rare and has only been reported as case series. The distribution, demographics and outcomes of patients with low grade B-cell CNS NHLs have not been well characterized. Methods: The NCDB represents ~70% of cancer cases in the United States. Using the 2004-2013 NCDB extranodal NHL database, we identified all CNS B-cell NHLs based on ICD-O-3 site and histology codes. Primary or secondary CNS involvement could not be determined. Results: Out of 9435 CNS NHL cases, 475 [5.03%] had low grade histologies. In this group, the median age at diagnosis was 58 years [range 19-89]. Majority of the cases were female [56%], White, non-Hispanic [72%], privately insured [53%], with no comorbidities [74%] and treated in academic/research programs [38%]. Site of CNS disease was not specified in 22%. HIV status was known in 318 cases (6.3% positive). The brain [44%] was the most common site of involvement followed by spinal cord [19%] and meninges [15%]. Follicular lymphoma (FL) [48%] was the most common histology overall followed by marginal zone (MZL) [37%], small lymphocytic (SLL) [8%] and lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas (LPL) [7%]. MZL was the most common histology in the brain [44%] and meninges [61%] while FL was most common in the spinal cord [77%] and nervous system, NOS [69%]. Cranial nerves and eye (retina/optic nerve) involvement was very rare [2 and 1 case each- both MZL]. The overall survival (OS) of CNS B-cell NHL was significantly better if histology was low grade vs other [5-year OS 74% vs 32%, P < 0.0001]. Among CNS low grade B-cell NHLs, 5-year OS varied by histology [MZL 83%, FL 75%, LPL 56% and SLL 50%, P = 0.0003] and site of disease [spinal cord 89%, meninges 78% and brain 63%, P = 0.03] in addition to age at diagnosis and co-morbidities on both uni- and multivariate analysis. Survival was not influenced by sex, race, insurance, year of diagnosis, facility type or location. Conclusions: CNS involvement with low grade B-cell NHL is rare but has a relatively good outcome with most patients surviving beyond 5 years. FL and MZL are the more common low grade histologies. Both histology and disease site are important factors affecting survival.


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
HF Petereit ◽  
A Rubbert-Roth

Background Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against the B-cell-specific surface protein CD20, is being evaluated for treatment of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica. Both diseases are restricted to the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Whereas the ability of rituximab to deplete B cells in peripheral blood and tissue is well known, little information is available about the ability of rituximab to penetrate the barriers separating brain and CSF from the serum compartment. Objective To measure rituximab levels in serum and CSF of rituximab-treated patients and correlate them with CSF and response markers. Methods Fourteen paired serum/CSF samples of patients with autoimmune nervous system disorder were analyzed for up to 43 weeks after rituximab application. Results Rituximab remains detectable within the CSF after i.v. application for up to 24 weeks. Furthermore, levels of rituximab in CSF correlate significantly with the integrity of the blood CSF barrier.


2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aura Silva ◽  
Luis Antunes

Objective measurements of physiological parameters controlled by the autonomic nervous system such as blood pressure, heart rate and respiration are easily obtained nowadays during anaesthesia by the use of monitors: oscillometers, pulseoximeters, electrocardiograms and capnographs are available for laboratory animals. However, the effect-site of hypnotic drugs that cause general anaesthesia is the central nervous system (the brain). In the present, the adjustment of hypnotic drugs in veterinary anaesthesia is performed according to subjective evaluation of clinical signs which are not direct reflexes of anaesthetic effects on the brain, making depth of anaesthesia (DoA) assessment a complicated task. The difficulties in assessing the real anaesthetic state of a laboratory animal may not only result in welfare-threatening situations, such as awareness and pain sensation during surgery, but also in a lack of standardization of experimental conditions, as it is not easy to keep all animals from an experiment in the same DoA without a measure of anaesthetic effect. A direct measure of this dose–effect relationship, although highly necessary, is still missing in the veterinary market. Meanwhile, research has been intense in this subject and methods based on the brain electrical activity (electroencephalogram) have been explored in laboratory animal species. The objective of this review is to explain the achievements made in this topic and clarify how far we are from an objective measure of DoA for animals.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 121-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Douglas Miles ◽  
Laurie McWilliams ◽  
Wendy Liu ◽  
David C. Preston

AbstractWegener granulomatosis (WG) is an uncommon, idiopathic disorder that is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract, disseminated vasculitis involving small and medium-sized vessels, and focal segmental glomerulonephritis. Approximately 25% to 50% of patients have nervous system involvement. The brain is less frequently involved. We report a case of a 74 year-old previously well woman who presented with rapidly progressing WG that culminated in subarachnoid hemorrhage. Only six cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the setting of WG have previously been reported. We review the common presenting signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and complications of WG.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1128-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Rene Galarneau ◽  
Emily K. Meseck ◽  
Robert L. Hall ◽  
Wenkui Li ◽  
Margaret L. Weaver

Naphthoquine phosphate (NP) was considered as a partner drug with a promising antimalarial drug candidate. Here we report unexpected adverse clinical signs and microscopic findings in a canine pilot toxicology study with NP. Male and female dogs were dosed daily by oral gavage with NP at 2, 10, or 50 mg/kg/day for a maximum of 14 days. NP was not tolerated at ≥10 mg/kg/day; several animals were sacrificed in moribund condition and marked neurological clinical signs were noted at 50 mg/kg/day. The main microscopic observation was central nervous system vasculocentric inflammation (mainly lymphocytes and macrophages) in the white and gray matter of various regions of the brain at ≥2 mg/kg/day and at lower incidence in the spinal cord at ≥10 mg/kg/day. Vasculocentric microscopic changes predominantly centered on the centrilobular vein were also observed in the liver at ≥2 mg/kg/day. Females were more sensitive than males with comparable NP plasma exposure. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, the administration of NP to dogs via daily oral gavage for up to 2 weeks was not tolerated causing moribundity, marked neurological clinical signs, and vasculocentric microscopic changes in the central nervous system and the liver.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei He ◽  
Pei-Jing Rong ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Hui Ben ◽  
Bing Zhu ◽  
...  

Auricular acupuncture is a diagnostic and treatment system based on normalizing the body's dysfunction. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that auricular acupuncture has a significant effect on inducing parasympathetic tone. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder consisting of recurrent seizures resulting from excessive, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. Autonomic imbalance demonstrating an increased sympathetic activity and a reduced parasympathetic activation is involved in the development and progress of epileptic seizures. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system such as vagus nerve stimulation has been used for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Here, we propose that auricular acupuncture may suppress epileptic seizures via activating the parasympathetic nervous system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-241
Author(s):  
Ioana Cociasu ◽  
◽  
Irene Davidescu ◽  
Ioan Buraga ◽  
Bogdan O. Popescu ◽  
...  

The most common tumours of the central nervous system, meningiomas are frequently diagnosed by accident when patients undergo imaging studies of the brain for other reasons. Most patients lack symptoms and thus can live their whole lives without knowing they have a brain tumour. Less fortunate patients seek medical advice for troubling symptoms – like seizures or disturbances of the cranial nerves – get surgery for the excision of the tumour and years later fi nd out their tumour has come back. We are presenting the case of such a patient with a recurrent parietal meningioma.


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