Asymmetric sensory ganglionopathy: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: Sensory ganglionopathies are uncommon but potentially very disabling. They have heterogeneous etiologies including autoimmune, paraneoplastic, toxic, and inflammatory although many remain idiopathic despite intensive investigation. Asymmetric sensory loss is relatively common at the onset, but with time, symptoms usually spread to involve all limbs symmetrically. METHODS: We report 6 patients with a persistent strikingly asymmetrical sensory ganglionopathy with acute or subacute onset and slow progression. RESULTS: Peripheral nerve biopsies in 5 patients showed axonal loss without significant inflammation; a dorsal root ganglion biopsy in 1 patient showed neuronal loss and inflammatory infiltrate. Four patients received immunomodulatory treatment, but overall the response to treatment was poor. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetrical sensory ganglionopathies may have an inflammatory basis. Immunomodulatory therapy may be considered early in the disease course, although in this series there was a limited response to treatment.

Optic neuropathy in superficial intracranial siderosis.

Superficial intracranial siderosis is a degenerative condition secondary to recurrent occult subarachnoid hemorrhage. Progressive sensorineural deafness, cerebellar ataxia, and pyramidal signs are well-documented clinical manifestations, but optic neuropathy is not a recognized feature. We describe 2 patients with clinical and electrophysiological evidence of optic nerve/chiasm dysfunction and MRI signal abnormalities consistent with hemosiderin staining of the anterior visual pathway. In a third case, neuropathological examination of the optic chiasm showed demyelination attributed to hemosiderin deposition. We suggest that anterior visual pathway damage may be underrecognized in this condition.

Arsenical peripheral neuropathy.

A 49-year-old white man returned urgently to the UK after spending 3 months in Goa. He had a several week history of vomiting, weight loss, a widespread desquamating skin rash, and symptoms and signs of a progressive painful sensorimotor neuropathy. He had a mild normocytic anaemia and lymphopenia. Nerve conduction studies revealed a severe predominantly axonal large fibre sensorimotor neuropathy, confirmed on subsequent sural nerve biopsy. Once he had left Goa most of his symptoms started to rapidly settle although the neuropathic symptoms remained severe. Arsenic poisoning was suspected. A spot urine arsenic concentration was 300 microg/l, confirming the diagnosis. He was treated with chelation therapy. Deliberate arsenic poisoning was highly likely.