Neurological complications of miliary tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: The symptomatic central nervous system involvement is often seen in patients with miliary tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we evaluated 60 consecutive miliary tuberculosis patients, who presented with some neurological manifestations. Evaluation included neurological examination, a battery of blood tests, HIV serology, sputum examination, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination along with imaging of the brain and spinal cord. The patients were followed up after completion of 6 months of antituberculous treatment. RESULTS: Patients ranged between 14 and 53 years in age. Three patients tested HIV positive. Forty-eight (80%) patients had tuberculous meningitis. In 12 (20%) patients, the CSF examination was normal. In 27 patients with tuberculous meningitis, neuroimaging revealed intracerebral tuberculoma. Fourteen patients showed multiple tuberculomas, while 7 had a solitary tuberculoma. In six patients, the tuberculomas were small and numerous. In two patients, neuroimaging revealed a spinal tuberculoma. For three patients with tuberculous brain masses, the CSF was normal. Nine (15%) patients presented with myelopathy. Three patients exhibited Pott's paraplegia. Three patients had transverse myelitis (with normal neuroimaging). In three patients, the spinal MRI revealed an intramedullary tuberculoma. On follow-up, 15 (25%) patients expired. Thirty-one (52%) patients showed significant improvement. Eight patients (13%) showed nil or partial recovery. Six of the patients with no improvement developed vision loss. Six (10%) patients were lost to follow up. CONCLUSION: A variety of neurological complications were noted in military tuberculosis patients, tuberculous meningitis and cerebral tuberculomas being the most frequent complications. However, a majority of patients improved following antituberculous treatment.

Multiple ring enhancing brain lesions on computed tomography: an Indian perspective.

BACKGROUND: Multiple enhancing computed tomography (CT) brain lesions are common neuroimaging abnormalities in India. Several published case reports suggest that multiple enhancing lesions of the brain can occur with a wide variety of infective and non-infective etiologies. METHODS: In this prospective follow up study, 110 consecutive patients with two or more than two enhancing brain lesions were subjected to a clinical evaluation and a battery of common investigative tests. RESULTS: Infective pathologies were the most common etiology for multiple enhancing lesions of the brain. Tuberculosis was the commonest infective pathology, followed by neurocysticercosis. Neoplastic diseases were common non-infective causes. In majority, brain lesions were metastatic manifestation of a systemic neoplastic disorder. Lung carcinoma was the commonest primary malignancy. One patient each had multiple brain abscesses, Behcet's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Among 4 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, one had toxoplasmosis and two patients were diagnosed to have cryptococcal meningitis. In 45 patients, after initial work up, etiological diagnosis could not be ascertained. These undiagnosed patients were empirically treated with antituberculous drugs and corticosteroids. Six undiagnosed patients showed pulmonary metastasis on repeat X-ray chest. In 10 patients CT lesions completely disappeared. In 5 patients number of CT lesions decreased. Six patients died. However, in majority of the undiagnosed patients follow up CT scans of brain remained unaltered. CONCLUSION: A large number of infectious and non-infectious diseases can cause multiple enhancing lesions of the brain. The work up of these patients should include clinical evaluation, imaging and a battery of laboratory tests. The specific diagnosis may remain a challenge in several cases.

Prednisolone-responsive headache in patients with solitary cysticercus granuloma and seizures.

BACKGROUND: Solitary cysticercus granuloma is the commonest imaging abnormality in Indian patients with new-onset seizures. Few patients, in addition, complain of disabling headache. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of 16 patients with new-onset headache, seizures, and solitary cysticercus granuloma. METHODS: Sixteen consecutive patients, who had moderate to severe new-onset headache and fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of solitary cysticercus granuloma, were included in the study. The inclusion criteria were: occurrence of seizures, minimal or no neurologic deficit, absence of papilledema, no evidence of any systemic disorder, and computed tomography showing a single ring/disk-enhancing lesion of <20 mm in diameter. Patients received antiepileptic monotherapy, oral analgesics, and prednisolone (1.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days). Prednisolone was then tapered over the next 7 days. Patients were followed for 6 months. Follow-up computed tomography was performed after 2 months; in all 16 patients, the scans showed complete disappearance of the lesion. RESULTS: After 14 days (at first follow-up), all patients reported significant improvement in headache. Follow-up after 2 months revealed that all patients were headache-free. None of the patients reported any recurrence of headache. CONCLUSION: This open-label study suggests the effectiveness of prednisolone for disabling headache in Indian patients with solitary cysticercus granuloma and seizures. There is a need, however, for more scientifically rigorous studies for further confirmation of our results.

Short course of prednisolone in Indian patients with solitary cysticercus granuloma and new-onset seizures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of a short course of oral corticosteroids in Indian patients with solitary cysticercus granuloma with seizures. METHODS: In this open-label, randomized, prospective follow-up study, 97 patients with new-onset seizures and a single enhancing computed tomography (CT)-detected lesion of cysticercosis were randomly divided in two groups to receive either antiepileptic monotherapy alone (n = 48) or antiepileptic monotherapy with prednisolone (n = 49). The patients in the latter group received prednisolone, 1 mg/kg/day for 10 days, followed by tapering over next 4 days. The patients were followed up for 6 months. Repeated CT scans were performed after 1 and 6 months. RESULTS: The majority of patients were young. Simple partial seizure, with or without secondary generalization, was the commonest seizure type encountered. Follow-up CT scans at 1 and 6 months demonstrated a significantly better response for prednisolone as far as complete resolution of CT lesion was concerned. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested significantly less probability of seizure recurrence for prednisolone-treated patients. At 6 months, Kaplan-Meier estimated risk of seizure after first seizure was 2% in prednisolone-treated patients in comparison to 13% for those who were not given prednisolone. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term prednisolone therapy helps in rapid resolution of solitary cysticercus granuloma in Indian patients with new-onset seizures. Resolution of lesions is associated with improved seizure-related prognosis.

Refractory epilepsy: diagnosis and management.

Persistence of seizures despite appropriate medical treatment is called refractory epilepsy. Persistent seizures have enormous psychosocial, behavioural and cognitive effects in addition to effects on mortality. Almost 2,40,000 to 3,20,000 patients of refractory epilepsy in India are potential candidates for epilepsy surgery. Causes of refractory or intractable epilepsy are inadequate anti-epileptic treatment, difficulty in treating some epileptic syndromes and difficulty in controlling seizures due to structural brain diseases. Careful evaluation of historical details, especially based on an eyewitness account is the most important aspect in establishing the diagnosis of epilepsy. Raised serum prolactin level helps in differentiating convulsive seizures from non-epileptic convulsions. Video electroencephalographic monitoring is proved effective and efficient mean to establish the rightful diagnosis. Recent developments in neuro-imaging have revolutionised the diagnosis of underlying pathology in patients with refractory epilepsies. Patients with refractory epilepsy should be referred to a specialised epilepsy centre where facilities for epilepsy surgery are available. When medical therapy fails, other options are helpful like use of newer anti-epileptic drugs, vagus nerve stimulation or consideration of epilepsy surgery.