[Herpes simplex encephalitis complicated with cerebral salt wasting syndrome: a case study].

A 78-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a 4-day history of fever and confusion. Physical examination revealed oral dryness and decreased skin turgor. Blood tests showed hyponatremia (121.5 |mEq/l), and cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed positivity for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) via polymerase chain reaction. He was diagnosed with herpes simplex encephalitis and initiated acyclovir treatment. The hyponatremia was diagnosed as cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS) and treated with hypertonic saline infusion and fludrocortisone. The cerebrospinal fluid HSV-1 DNA became negative, and the serum sodium levels normalized. Hyponatremia complicated with encephalitis is often caused by the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), whereas CSWS is rare, mostly observed in tuberculous meningitis. Differentiating between the SIADH and CSWS is important as they require distinct therapeutic strategies.

Delayed Superior Orbital Fissure Syndrome Arising More than One Month after Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus and Meningitis.

A 79-year-old woman developed herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) with a vesicular rash on the nasal root, which developed soon after intravenous acyclovir therapy. Although varicella zoster virus DNA was undetectable in the cerebrospinal fluid, she presented with ophthalmoplegia without optic nerve dysfunction 32 days after the onset of HZO. We diagnosed the patient with superior orbital fissure syndrome and administered intravenous immunoglobulin and systemic corticosteroids. Ophthalmoplegia did not immediately respond to these therapies but resolved 4 months later. We should be aware that ophthalmoplegia can occur, even after HZO and meningitis are completely treated.

Unusual Presentation of Double-seronegative Myasthenia Gravis with Positive Anti-LRP4 Antibody: Diagnostic Utility of a Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study.

An 86-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with cryptogenic progressive dyspnea and dysphagia following a tracheostomy procedure 4 months prior to presentation. She exhibited fluctuating diplopia, bilateral vocal fold paralysis, normal nerve test results, negative findings for serum anti-acetylcholine receptor and anti-muscle-specific kinase antibodies, and positive findings for anti-LDL-receptor related protein 4 (LRP4). A videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) with edrophonium revealed an improvement in bulbar paralysis. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with double-seronegative myasthenia gravis (DSN-MG) and began immunomodulatory therapy. This case emphasizes the diagnostic challenges of bulbar-type DSN-MG and underscores the value of a VFSS with edrophonium for diagnosing this condition.

Pembrolizumab-induced Myopathy with Anti-striated Muscle Antibodies Successfully Treated by Plasma Exchange.

A 70-year-old woman with advanced endometrial cancer developed right ptosis and muscle weakness in the right quadriceps after pembrolizumab administration. Serum creatine kinase (CK) levels were elevated, and anti-striated muscle antibodies were positive. On magnetic resonance imaging, the right vastus lateral muscle showed an abnormal signal. She was diagnosed with pembrolizumab-induced myopathy. We initiated plasma exchange (PE), and the ptosis immediately resolved. We then introduced oral corticosteroids, which improved her muscle weakness. We were able to rapidly diagnose her with ocular symptoms and serum CK level elevation. The early initiation of PE might prevent the exacerbation of pembrolizumab-induced myopathy.

Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome without Headache That Was Initially Suspected of Being Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System.

A 48-year-old man had convulsions, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed diffuse constriction of the cerebral arteries. He was suspected of having primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) and treated with steroid for three days. The MRA abnormality disappeared after a week. After 69 days, he developed dizziness, and MRA revealed recurrence of cerebral artery stenosis. Nevertheless, the symptoms and abnormal MRA findings recovered promptly without treatment. He was diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) without headache. This case suggests that RCVS should be a differential diagnosis in patients without headache whose MRA findings show multiple cerebral artery stenosis.

Acute pancreatitis is a very rare comorbidity of acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Although acute pancreatitis is listed among the exclusion criteria for the administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator according to the Japanese Guideline for the Management of Stroke, the co-occurrence of acute pancreatitis and acute ischemic stroke has not been investigated. The present study aimed to assess the incidence rate of acute pancreatitis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This study consecutively enrolled all patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, JA Toride Medical Center between April 2014 and March 2016. Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made according to the revised Atlanta Classification of Acute Pancreatitis. We retrospectively analyzed serum amylase activity and the frequency of acute pancreatitis as a comorbidity of ischemic stroke. Results: A total of 411 ischemic stroke patients were included. Serum amylase activity was measured for 364 patients, 27 of whom presented with amylase activity exceeding the upper limit of normal. In two patients with serum amylase activity greater than three times-fold the upper limit of normal, computed tomography or transabdominal ultrasonography showed no characteristic findings of acute pancreatitis. No patient in the cohort met the diagnostic criteria for acute pancreatitis. Conclusions: Acute pancreatitis is a very rare comorbidity of acute ischemic stroke.