Pediatric stiff limb syndrome with polyautoimmunity of anti-GAD-65, anti-islet cell, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies: A case report and review of literature.

We report an early childhood onset Stiff Limb Syndrome (SLS) in association with unusual polyautoimmunity of GAD-65, anti-islet cell, and Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) autoantibodies, who has achieved a nearly complete neurological recovery following combined immunotherapy, symptomatic and physical therapy. The patient had normal MRIs of the brain and spinal cord and a negative paraneoplastic work-up. Subsequently, she developed hypothyroidism requiring levothyroxine supplementation. We then conducted an extensive review of literature and identified 52 previously reported pediatric Stiff Man Syndrome (SMS)/Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) or SLS cases, which has demonstrated a common association with other systemic autoimmune conditions. In the available literature, screening for concurrent autoimmunity has only been reported infrequently. We found that a paraneoplastic process is extremely rare in pediatric cases. Timely diagnosis and initiation of immunotherapy are critical to a favorable outcome. Therefore, we recommend to include SMS/SPS or SLS as an important differential diagnosis for MRI-negative myelopathy. Further clinical and research efforts should be focused on understanding the role of both genetic predisposition and environmental insults in the autoimmunity of pediatric SMS/SPS or SLS.

Aggressive MOGAD with bilateral corticospinal tract lesions following infection with Jamestown Canyon virus.

We present a case of a rare viral encephalitis due to Jamestown Canyon virus precipitating a severe phenotype of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) with novel neuroimaging findings.

Short- and long-term opioid use in survivors of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Opioids are frequently used for analgesia in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to a high prevalence of headache and neck pain. However, it is unclear if this practice may pose a risk for opioid dependence, as long-term opioid use in this population remains unknown. We sought to determine the prevalence of opioid use in SAH survivors, and to identify potential risk factors for opioid utilization. METHODS: We analyzed a cohort of consecutive patients admitted with non-traumatic and suspected aneurysmal SAH to an academic referral center. We included patients who survived hospitalization and excluded those who were not opioid-naïve. Potential risk factors for opioid prescription at discharge, 3 and 12 months post-discharge were assessed. RESULTS: Of 240 SAH patients who met our inclusion criteria (mean age 58.4 years [SD 14.8], 58% women), 233 (97%) received opioids during hospitalization and 152 (63%) received opioid prescription at discharge. Twenty-eight patients (12%) still continued to use opioids at 3 months post-discharge, and 13 patients (6%) at 12-month follow up. Although patients with poor Hunt and Hess grades (odds ratio 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.57) and those with intraventricular hemorrhage (odds ratio 0.38, 95% CI 0.18-0.87) were less likely to receive opioid prescriptions at discharge, we did not find significant differences between patients who had long-term opioid use and those who did not. CONCLUSION: Opioids are regularly used in both the acute SAH setting and immediately after discharge. A considerable number of patients also continue to use opioids in the long-term. Opioid-sparing pain control strategies should be explored in the future.