Tumefactive multiple sclerosis.

Tumefactive multiple sclerosis (MS) is a subtype of atypical and rare MS that presents with tumor-like lesions in the central nervous system. The lesions may demonstrate a mass effect, edema, with ring enhancement. They can be mistaken for brain tumors or brain abscesses radiologically and clinically. Here we describe an instructive case of a 55-year-old woman with tumefactive MS who presented with occasional numbness in her right arm and leg, headache, thought confusion, and blurred vision for 2 years.

Coexistence of autoimmune diseases and autoantibodies in patients with myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we assessed 75 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) for coexistent autoimmune diseases (ADs) and for the characteristic autoantibodies that are associated with the most relevant forms of ADs. METHODS: The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. In all patients, thyroid function tests, thyroid autoantibodies, and other autoantibodies were studied. The diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) was made based on the clinical features, physical examination, and laboratory findings. The diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were made in accordance with the revised criteria of American College of Rheumatology. The presence of other ADs were also recorded which was based on whether or not the patient already had a diagnosis of ADs; or, whether it was detected during the period of the study based on clinical findings and/or laboratory abnormalities. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (52%) had autoantibody positivity in their sera. Thyroid autoantibodies and antinuclear antibodies were the main autoantibodies detected. In twenty one of these patients, a diagnosis of AD could not be confirmed. Eighteen patients (24%) had a confirmed diagnosis of a coexisting AD. These ADs included AITD (16%), RA (4%), SLE (2.6%), and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (1.3%). In ten patients, the diagnosis of ADs had been established before the development of MG; 8 of the patients included those who were newly diagnosed with ADs in the course of the management of MG. CONCLUSIONS: MG has an increased frequency of coexisting ADs. Autoantibodies that are characteristic for ADs can be found in the patients without the presence of any of the clinical findings of ADs. Clinical attention towards the management of ADs is especially needed during the follow-up of patients with MG.

Reversal of iron deficiency anemia-induced peripheral neuropathy by iron treatment in children with iron deficiency anemia.

The effects of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) on nerve conduction and efficiency of iron therapy were investigated by peripheral nerve-electrophysiological measurements. Eighteen children (10 boys, eight girls; mean age 31 +/- 1.3 months) with IDA and 12 healthy children (six boys, six girls; mean age 29 +/- 1.3 months) were enrolled into the study. Nerve conduction velocity was measured in the median and posterior tibial nerve. After nerve conduction values were determined in the patients and controls, 6 mg/kg/24 h ferrous sulphate was given orally to the patients for 3 months and nerve conduction velocity tests were performed again. Median/motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity and tibial/motor nerve distal-amplitute values of children with IDA were lower than for the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). With iron supplementation these values increased to the normal levels and even higher than control levels for some parameters. In correlation studies between whole blood parameters and nerve conduction velocity results, there was a correlation between median/sensory nerve conduction velocity values and serum iron levels. Additionally there was a correlation between some nerve conduction velocity values and age. In conclusion, the evidence from this preliminary study suggests that peripheral neuropathy may develop in children with IDA. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms in these patients may be improved by iron therapy.