Guillain-Barré syndrome as only manifestation of COVID-19 infection.

Post-infectious/immune mediated effects of COVID-19 infection include descriptions of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in patients usually with respiratory failure and after 1-2 weeks from the onset of viral illness. Asymptomatic cases for COVID-19 infection were rarely described. Herein, we studied a 62-year-old patient with progressive weakness of lower extremities, rapidly evolving to a severe, flaccid tetraplegia and dysphagia. Neurological symptoms weren't preceded by fever or pulmonary symptoms. Because of laboratory test abnormalities (thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, high inflammation indexes), the patient underwent to nasopharyngeal swab, resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR assay; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was negative for SARS-CoV-2. The clinical (severe symmetric distal upper and lower limbs weakness, grade 0/5; decreased proprioceptive sensitivity and hypoesthesia involving the four limbs; loss of deep tendon reflexes), electrophysiological (prevailing axonal polyradiculoneuritis) and CSF features (albumino-cytological dissociation) disclosed the GBS diagnosis (level 1 of diagnostic certainty according to the Brighton criteria). The patient received plasma exchange and immunoglobulin, and, at 4 weeks after treatment and physical therapy, the patient had moderate improvement (weakness at lower and upper extremities was grade 2/5 and 3/5, respectively). Neurologists and clinicians should be aware of the possible link between neurological symptoms and COVID-19 infection, not only after viral prodrome and pulmonary symptoms, but also without COVID-19 symptoms.

The TANDEM investigation: efficacy and tolerability of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel in (LCIG) advanced Parkinson's disease patients.

The TANDEM investigation was carried out in 17 Italian Movement Disorder centers on behalf of a joint initiative of neurologist members of the Italian Academy for Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders (LIMPE-DISMOV Academy) and gastroenterologist members of the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED) to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) in routine medical care. Motor scores in "ON" and OFF" state (UPDRS-III), complications of therapy (UPDRS-IV), activities of daily living, sleep disorders and quality of life were evaluated at baseline and at two follow-up assessments (FUV1 and FUV2) within the initial 12-month LCIG treatment. In 159 patients (55% males) with a mean age of 69.1 ± 6.6 years and a diagnosis of PD since 13.6 ± 5.5 years, the UPDRS-III total score (in "OFF") decreased from baseline (45.8 ± 13.2) to FUV1 (41.0 ± 17.4; p < 0.001) and FUV2 (40.5 ± 15.5; p < 0.001), the UPDRS-IV total score decreased from baseline (8.8 ± 2.9) to FUV1 (5.1 ± 3.4; p < 0.001) and FUV2 (5.5 ± 3.2; p < 0.001). The percentage of patients exhibiting freezing, dystonia, gait/walking disturbances, falls, pain and sleep disorders was significantly reduced. Twenty-eight device complications were reported and 11 (6.9%) patients prematurely terminated the study. LCIG after 12-month treatment led to sustained improvement of time spent in "OFF", complications of therapy, PD-associated symptoms and sleep disorders. LCIG tolerability was consistent with the established safety profile of LCIG.

Wernicke's encephalopathy following reduced food intake due to depressive disorders.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an unexpected common neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency often due to alcohol abuse, but WE-not alcohol related is also frequent. A prolonged reduction of food intake can cause WE. This condition can arise in depression disorders, especially in the early stages of these psychiatric syndromes. WE is characterized by the triad of signs: ataxia, ocular dysfunctions and confusional state. However, they rarely appear together and this makes the diagnosis particularly difficult, especially when there is not a history of alcohol abuse. Electroencephalography, since in the early stage of the disease, can be helpful in detecting pattern of metabolic encephalopathy. We describe three cases of thiamine deficiency responsible of WE, caused by a decrease in appetite and food intake due to the onset of a depressive disorder. In our series, the most frequent symptom observed at the onset of the disease was the motor incoordination. We recommend to perform quickly thiamine infusion in all depressed patients with a history of reduced food intake, presenting to Emergency Department with recent onset of motor incoordination, with or without alterations in eyes' movements and confusional state, after exclusion of other neurological conditions.

Weight loss and decubitus duodenal ulcer in Parkinson's disease treated with levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion.

Apparently, unexplained weight loss is a common symptom experienced by patients affected by Parkinson's disease, especially in those treated by levodopa-carbidopa infusion gel (LCIG) with a poor control of dyskinesias. Weight loss is considered part of gastrointestinal dysfunction seen in patients affected by Parkinson's disease, along with gastroparesis and reduced bowel peristalsis. In patients treated with LCIG, weight loss needs to be accurately evaluated, because of possible underlying life-threatening adverse events, like duodenum decubitus ulcer.