[A case of Alice in Wonderland syndrome after Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis: a mimicry of focal epileptic seizure].

A 30-year-old man who received infliximab for treatment of Crohn's disease developed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis, which responded well to therapy; however, he had left lower visual field loss following treatment. The patient noticed peculiar symptoms 9 months after recovery from encephalitis; objects in his view appeared smaller or larger than their actual size (micropsia/macropsia). Moreover, it appeared that objects outside moved faster or slower than their actual speed of movements and moving objects appeared as a series of many consecutive snap shots. His vision was blurred, and he had visual difficulties and a sensation that his body was floating. These symptoms mainly appeared following fatigue and persisted over approximately 10 years. Based on cerebrospinal fluid analysis, brain MRI, N-isopropyl-p-123I-iodoamphetamine with single photon emission computed tomography, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, and electroencephalography, we excluded both recurrent encephalitis and focal epileptic seizures. By taking all symptoms and other evaluation findings into account, the patient most likely suffered from "Alice in Wonderland syndrome" which is primarily associated with cortical dysfunction in the right temporo-parieto-occipital area as the consequence of previous acute EBV encephalitis.

Síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas secundario a consumo de montelukast. Presentación de caso / Alice in wonderland syndrome secondary to medication with montelukast. Case presentation

RESUMEN La condición neurológica definida por la aparición de alteraciones en la percepción, usualmente interpretada como fenómenos extraños de metamorfosis y despersonalización, se reconoce como síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas. Se presenta el caso de una paciente femenina de 9 años de edad, con el diagnóstico de síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas secundario a medicación crónica con montelukast. El diagnóstico del síndrome psiquiátrico se realizó teniendo en consideración los antecedentes patológicos personales y el examen físico. El síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas tiene un carácter benigno, sumamente infrecuente, y aunque su etiología no es del todo conocida, su aparición como reacción adversa a medicamentos es una opción que debe ser siempre considerada por el médico actuante (AU).

ABSTRACT The neurological condition defined by the appearance of alterations in perception usually interpreted as strange phenomena of metamorphosis and depersonalization is recognized as Alice in wonderland syndrome. The case of a 9-year-old female patient is presented, with the diagnosis of Alice in Wonderland syndrome secondary to chronic medication with montelukast. The diagnosis of the psychiatric syndrome was made taking into account personal pathological history and physical examination. Alice in Wonderland syndrome has a benign, extremely rare character and although its etiology is not fully known, its appearance, as an adverse reaction to medications, is an option that should always be considered by the acting physician (AU).

Alice in Wonderland syndrome: "Who in the world am I?" / Síndrome de Alice no País das Maravilhas: "Quem sou eu no mundo?"

ABSTRACT Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a paroxysmal, perceptual, visual and somesthetic disorder that can be found in patients with migraine, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease or infections. The condition is relatively rare and unique in its hallucinatory characteristics. Objective: To discuss the potential pathways involved in AIWS. Interest in this subject arose from a patient seen at our service, in which dysmetropsia of body image was reported by the patient, when she saw it in her son. Methods: We reviewed and discussed the medical literature on reported patients with AIWS, possible anatomical pathways involved and functional imaging studies. Results: A complex neural network including the right temporoparietal junction, secondary somatosensory cortex, premotor cortex, right posterior insula, and primary and extrastriate visual cortical regions seem to be involved in AIWS to varying degrees. Conclusions: AIWS is a very complex condition that typically has been described as isolated cases or series of cases.

RESUMO Síndrome de Alice no País das Maravilhas (SAPM) é uma condição paroxística visual perceptiva e somestésica que pode ser encontrada em pacientes com enxaqueca, epilepsia, doença cerebrovascular ou infecções. A condição é relativamente rara e tem características alucinatórias peculiares. Objetivo: Discutir as potenciais vias envolvidas na SAPM. O interesse pelo assunto surgiu com um caso de nosso serviço, onde a distropsia da imagem corporal foi relatada pela paciente, que via isto em seu filho. Métodos: Os autores revisaram e discutiram a literatura médica de casos relatados de SAPM, possíveis vias anatômicas envolvidas e estudos de imagem funcional. Resultados: Uma complexa rede neural incluindo junção temporoparietal direita, córtex somatossensitivo secundário, córtex pré-motor, região posterior da ínsula direita, e regiões do córtex visual primário e extra-estriatal têm diferentes graus de envolvimento na SAPM. Conclusão: SAPM é uma condição complexa que tipicamente foi descrita apenas com casos isolados ou séries de casos.

[Alice in Wonderland-syndrome may be confused with anxiety].

This case report describes a seven-year-old girl with autism and nightly "anxiety" attacks. A diagnosis of Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) presumably associated to migraine was made, and the girl was successfully treated with lamotrigine. Effective treatment of the AIWS depends on correct diagnosis. Symptoms are bizarre and affect the senses of vision, sensation, touch and hearing, as well as one's own body image. AIWS is associated with epilepsy, migraine, certain infectious diseases and rarely cerebral tumours.

Síndrome de Alice no país das maravilhas e reativação de infeção por Epstein-Barr / Alice in wonderland syndrome and reactivation of infection by Epstein-Barr

INTRODUÇÃO: O síndrome de Alice no País das Maravilhas (SAPM) é uma entidade rara que pode ocorre no contexto de várias condições clínicas, sendo a infeção por vírus Epstein-barr (EBV) a mais comum nas causas infeciosas. Apresenta-se um caso de SAPM associado a infeção a EBV alertando para a necessidade de investigação etiológica destes casos. RELATO DE CASO: Criança de 8 anos, com síndrome de Asperger que, no contexto de amigdalite aguda e febre, surgiu com episódios paroxísticos de alguns minutos de metamorfopsias (macro e micropsia), distorção da perceção das vozes e sensação de medo. A ressonância magnética e o eletroencefalograma foram normais, e o exame citoquímico do líquor foi normal mas a polimerase chain reaction (PCR) foi positiva para vírus EBV. As serologias para EBV, repetidas 3 e 10 semanas após a avaliação inicial, confirmaram uma reativação da infeção por este agente. O doente ficou assintomático após 2 semanas e não houve recidivas. CONCLUSÕES: A investigação de metamorfopsias ou síndrome de SAPM é mandatória pois podem indiciar patologia grave, nomeadamente lesão cerebral ou epilepsia focal. Embora a doença seja rara a etiologia infecciosa deve ser excluída mesmo em doentes com perturbação prévia do comportamento.

INTRODUCTION: Alice in wonderland syndrome (AWS) is a rare condition which may occur as a sign of multiple conditions, with the most frequent infectious etiology being Epstein-barr virus (EBV) infection. We present a case of an AWS caused by EBV infection to alert for the need to investigate these cases. CASE REPORT: 8-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome who developed, in the context of tonsillitis and fever, brief paroxystic episodes of metamorfopsias (macro and micropsia), with voice perception distortion and fear. Physical exam was otherwise normal. Brian magnetic resonance and electroencephalogram were normal, liquor cytochemical exam was normal but Epstein-barr virus (EBV) polimerase chain reaction was positive. EBV blood serologies, repeated 3 and 10 weeks after the initial evaluation, confirmed the reactivation of this agent's infection. Symptoms succumbed 2 weeks after its beginning, with no relapses. CONCLUSIONS: Metamorfopsias or AWS impose etiological investigation because they may occur due to severe disease, namely cerebral lesion or focal epilepsy. Although it is a rare disease, infectious causes should be excluded, even in patients with previous disturbed behavior.

Aura sin migraña o síndrome de Alicia en el País de las Maravillas: Caso clínico pediátrico / Aura without migraine or Alice in Wonderland syndrome: Pediatric clinical case

La migraña con aura en pacientes pediátricos es reportada con frecuencia; el aura típica sin migraña, en raras ocasiones, y el aura persistente asociada al denominado síndrome de Alicia en el País de las Maravillas, excepcionalmente. El objetivo de este reporte es presentar un caso clínico correspondiente a la última variedad mencionada. Se trata de una paciente de 6 años de edad, quien tuvo, al menos, dos episodios con estas características antes de presentar un cuadro clínico completo de aura y, consecutivamente, cefalea con más frecuencia. Los estudios complementarios practicados de manera sistemática a la paciente fueron normales, con mejoría clínica con el tratamiento convencional. Se debe sospechar el síndrome en todo paciente que se presente con las características descritas a fin de aproximarse al diagnóstico de aura sin migraña, descartar patologías orgánicas o de otra naturaleza e instaurar la terapéutica adecuada.

Migraine with aura in children is often reported, typical aura without headache is reported sometimes, but persistent aura and Alice in Wonderland syndrome is exceptionally reported. We present a case corresponding to the last one mentioned in a 6-year-old patient who had at least two episodes with the typical characteristics of aura without migraine before developing more frequently the complete clinical picture of aura and subsequently headache. The complementary studies systematically done to the patient were normal and she improved with conventional therapy. It is important to emphasize that the syndrome should be suspected in any patient who presents the described manifestations in order to approach to the diagnosis of aura without migraine, to discard either organic pathology or another cause and to indicate adequate therapeutic measures.

Transient Episode of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome After Ventriculoatrial Shunt Revision.

BACKGROUND: Visual misperceptions as a result of neurosurgical disorders are well documented. Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AWS) typically is reported in neurologic and psychiatric disorders. We present a patient who developed symptoms of AWS postoperatively. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 48-year-old man presented in shunt failure, attributed to a proximal catheter occlusion. Operative revision with replacement of the proximal catheter was performed without incident. Postoperatively, he complained of visual disturbances, including the perception that people had small heads on full-sized bodies. Symptoms resolved postoperatively. The patient's symptoms were diagnosed as a transient episode of AWS. This was attributed to manipulation of the parieto-occipital cortex during the revision. The local inflammatory response from manipulation of that area is thought to have caused our patient's symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Visual disturbances caused by lesions along the optic radiations are common findings for neurosurgery patients, although AWS after surgical intervention has not been reported previously.

Temporal-occipital glioblastoma presenting with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome in a patient with a long-time history of migraine without aura.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is a rare perceptual disorder characterized by an erroneous perception of the body or the surrounding space. AIWS may be caused by different pathologies, ranging from infections to migraine. We present the case of a 54-year-old man, with a long-time history of migraine without aura, diagnosed with AIWS due to a glioblastoma located in the left temporal-occipital junction. To date, this is the first case of AIWS caused by glioblastoma. This case suggests that to exclude aura-mimic phenomena, a careful diagnostic workup should always be performed even in patients with a long-time history of migraine.

Breve historia del síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas: perspectiva / Brief history of Alice in wonderland syndrome: A perspective

El síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas se caracteriza por alteraciones en la percepción somatomorfa y de los objetos del entorno. Su etiología no está plenamente esclarecida y existe un número significativo de condiciones médicas asociadas1,2. C.W. Lippman publicó en 1952 siete casos de pacientes con características clínicas del síndrome. Algunos de ellos presentaban distorsiones de su imagen corporal, asociadas principalmente con ataques migranosos, otros micropsias e incluso uno de ellos tenía la impresión de que su oreja izquierda había aumentado de tamaño 15 cm 1,3. En 1953 publicó otros casos en los cuales los pacientes experimentaban la impresión de tener 2 cuerpos. La denominación del síndrome fue acunada por John Todd en 1955, el cual bautizó «síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas¼, atribuyéndole como significado «un grupo singular de síntomas estrechamente asociados con migraña y síndromes epilépticos como sus síntomas principales, pero no exclusivos¼. Lo nombró así en honor al escritor y matemático inglés Charles Ludvig Johnson (1832-1898) cuyo seudónimo era Lewis Carrol, mejor conocido como el autor de la obra literaria publicada en 1865, caracterizada por las alteraciones en la concepción de su cuerpo y realidad que sufre la protagonista, quien, a su vez, experimenta la impresión de no saber bien lo que está pasando a su alrededor en cuanto al tiempo e incluso sobre su propia personalidad. Cabe resaltar que antes de que Todd acunara este nombre para reconocer la enfermedad, muchos de los casos de este síndrome eran reportados en la literatura como parte de otras entidades, entre las que se encuentran la histeria, casos de neurología general y soldados de la primera y segunda guerra mundial con lesiones de lóbulo occipital.

150 years of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland": some considerations about the Cheshire cat and neuropsychiatric phenomena / 150 anos de "Alice no País das Maravilhas": algumas considerações sobre o gato de Cheshire e fenômenos neuropsiquiátricos

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is a psychedelic dream tale apparently made for amusement. But, many speculations may be raised about its characters and phenomena created by a devout, learned and imaginative mathematician/logistician. Some issues based on the Cheshire cat due to its vanishing apparitions and its clever arguments are considered. The interpretation of the visual perception may include the "binding problem" issue. Regarding the cat's thought about inquiry, fundamental for researchers, this represents similar reasoning to that of Claude Bernard. Secondarily, some neurological and psychopathological speculations are also focused.

As aventuras de Alice no País das Maravilhas por Lewis Carroll, pseudônimo de Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, é um conto de sonho psicodélico, aparentemente feito para diversão. Mas muitas especulações podem ser levantadas sobre seus personagens e fenômenos criados por um devoto, erudito e criativo matemático/especialista em logística. São feitas algumas considerações sobre o gato de Cheshire devido suas aparições evanescentes e seus argumentos inteligentes. A interpretação sobre a percepção visual pode incluir a questão do "binding problem". Em relação ao pensamento do gato sobre a investigação, fundamental para os pesquisadores, isso representa raciocínio similar ao de Claude Bernard. Secundariamente, algumas especulações neurológicas e psicopatológicas também são apresentadas.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome associated with a temporo-parietal cavernoma.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is characterized by a rare constellation of perceptual disturbances including distorted body image, metamorphopsia, and visual hallucinations. In this report, we relate a unique case of AIWS in a woman with a right temporo-parietal cavernoma. AIWS in this patient may be secondary to epileptiform activity associated with the cavernoma and improved with anti-epileptic treatment.

Arterial surgery for sporadic hemiplegic migraine: preliminary results.

My aim was to report for the first time (to my knowledge) the successful treatment of 3 patients with sporadic hemiplegic migraine by surgical cautery of terminal branches of the external carotid artery under conscious sedation. Since the operations (between 1 and 2 years) none of the patients have had further attacks of migraine or hemiplegia. This preliminary report suggests that for patients with sporadic hemiplegic migraine with a confirmed arterial component, surgical cautery of selected terminal branches of the external carotid artery may be effective treatment.

[The Alice in Wonderland syndrome]. / Het 'Alice in Wonderland'-syndroom.

BACKGROUND: Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is characterised by abnormal perception, such as metamorphopsia, macropsia, micropsia, teleopsia and pelopsia. Although brief and transient, these episodes of visual distortion may lead to great anxiety, especially in children. AIWS seems to be associated with specific viral infections, epilepsy, migraine, and brain tumours. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old boy had episodes of seeing persons further away than they actually were (teleopsia). These perceptual distortions occurred when he was about to go to sleep. The episodes never exceeded 10 minutes. He was referred to a paediatrician and an ophthalmologist, who found no abnormalities. Serological tests showed a positive IgG for both Epstein-Barr and varicella zoster virus. CONCLUSION: The cause of AIWS is unclear. When occurring in the young patient, parents often become worried. In most cases no serious pathological cause is found. Usually, reassurance is sufficient. Therefore, general practitioners should be able to recognise the symptoms.

[Alice in Wonderland syndrome]. / Síndrome de Alicia en el país de las maravillas.

CASE REPORT: A case of Alice in Wonderland syndrome is described as the only sign of Epstein-Barr virus infection. DISCUSSION: Epstein-Barr virus infection may include visual symptoms as the first or only signs of disease. All patients presenting with a clinical picture consistent with the Alice in Wonderland syndrome should undergo serological testing for Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Robin Hood caught in Wonderland: brain SPECT findings.

We present the case of a 53-year-old woman presenting several episodes of body image distortions, ground deformation illusions, and problems assessing distance in the orthostatic position corresponding to the Alice in Wonderland syndrome. No symptoms were reported when sitting or lying down. She had uncontrolled hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and a history of head trauma. Her condition had been diagnosed with left internal carotid artery dissection 2 years earlier. Brain SPECT with 99mTc-ECD performed after i.v. injection of the radiotracer in supine and in standing positions showed hypoperfusion in the healthy contralateral frontoparietal operculum (Robin Hood syndrome), deteriorating when standing up.