RESUMEN
Apraxic agraphia can be caused by left hemispheric cerebral lesions in the area that contains the spatial representations of the movements required to write, from a lesion in, or connections to, the frontal premotor cortex that converts these spatial representations to motor programs (Exner's area). A right-handed woman with Marchiafava Bignami disease and lesions of the genu and splenium of her corpus callosum had apraxic agraphia without ideomotor apraxia of her left. A disconnection of Exner's area in the left hemisphere from the right hemisphere's premotor and motor areas may have led to her inability to write with her left hand.
Asunto(s)
Agrafia/etiología , Apraxias/etiología , Cuerpo Calloso/patología , Lateralidad Funcional , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/complicaciones , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/patología , Adulto , Agrafia/diagnóstico por imagen , Apraxias/diagnóstico por imagen , Femenino , Ácido Fólico/sangre , Ácido Fólico/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Homocisteína/sangre , Homocisteína/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/sangre , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/líquido cefalorraquídeo , Vitamina B 12/sangre , Vitamina B 12/líquido cefalorraquídeoRESUMEN
Ethanol is an important risk factor for the occurrence of several brain disorders that depend on the amount, period and frequency of its consumption. Chronic use of ethanol often leads to the development of neurodegenerative syndromes, which cause morphological and functional impairments such as foetal alcohol syndrome in newborns exposed to ethanol during pregnancy, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and, more rarely, Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD). MBD is characterized by primary degeneration of the corpus callosum, without inflammation and is associated with oxidative stress and hypovitaminosis, as well as altered mental status, to mention dementia, seizures, depression and so on. This review discusses MBD and poor nutrition as a risk factor for the development of such alcoholic syndrome, with focus on diagnosis, pathogenic aspects, signs and symptoms, as well as therapeutic perspectives. On the basis of the inclusion/exclusion criteria adopted, the performed search in scientific databases (Pubmed, Scielo and Google Scholar) resulted in 100 studies that are being presented and discussed in the present work. Review, case-control and cohort studies on alcoholism-associated hypovitaminosis, oxidative stress, MBD and ethanol metabolism pathways were admitted as relevant. We highlight that MBD is a poorly described, diagnosed, insidious and progressive condition, for which evidence suggests a synergism between ethanol-induced neurotoxic effects and hypovitaminosis B. Present treatment consists of vitamin B1(thiamine) supplementation. Nonetheless, other strategies such as the inclusion of antidepressants or steroidal anti-inflammatories as add-on therapies have been employed as an attempt to improve the damage. Indeed, both the diagnosis and treatment are difficult, and death occurs within few years.
Asunto(s)
Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/efectos adversos , Alcoholismo/sangre , Etanol/efectos adversos , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/sangre , Deficiencia de Tiamina/sangre , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/sangre , Alcoholismo/complicaciones , Alcoholismo/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/etiología , Síndromes de Neurotoxicidad/sangre , Síndromes de Neurotoxicidad/tratamiento farmacológico , Síndromes de Neurotoxicidad/etiología , Estrés Oxidativo , Tiamina/farmacología , Deficiencia de Tiamina/complicaciones , Deficiencia de Tiamina/tratamiento farmacológico , Complejo Vitamínico B/farmacologíaAsunto(s)
Cuerpo Calloso/patología , Hipernatremia/etiología , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/sangre , Enfermedad Aguda , Alcoholismo/complicaciones , Terapia Combinada , Urgencias Médicas , Femenino , Fluidoterapia , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/rehabilitación , Enfermedad de Marchiafava-Bignami/terapia , Metilprednisolona/uso terapéutico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Nutrición Parenteral , Tiamina/uso terapéutico , Tortícolis/etiologíaRESUMEN
Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare alcohol-associated disorder characterized by demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum. We herein present the case of a 56-year-old man with chronic alcoholism who was admitted to our hospital in a coma without focal or lateralizing neurological signs. MRI revealed a callosal lesion consistent with MBD and additional bifrontal linear cortical lesions. The callosal lesion completely disappeared with intravenous administration of high-dose multivitamins and corticosteroids, although the patient remained in a vegetative state. This case further supports the notion that cortical involvement in patients with MBD is a predictor of a poor prognosis.