Multiple back fractures as a result of the first seizure.

Non-traumatic fractures due to seizures are an overlooked diagnostic group. It is well known that patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures have an increased trauma risk. However, the cause of fracture is rarely due to the violent forces of muscle contractions. Usually, the primary patient examination focuses on the aetiology of the seizure, which sometimes delays the diagnosis of fractures. This is a case report of a 19-year-old woman who sustained three compression fractures of the thoracic spine due to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, and a discussion of the diagnostic challenges in such a rare case.

Transurethral resection of the prostate syndrome:a case report / Síndrome pós ressecção transuretral da próstata: caso clínico

Transurethral resection of the prostate syndrome is a systemic complication caused by excessive absorption of hypotonic electrolyte-free irrigation fluids, that results in hypervolemia, acute dilutional hyponatremia and consequent neurologic and cardiovascular disturbances, that can range from nausea, vomiting, altered mental status and hypertension, to convulsions, visual disturbances, hypotension, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, coma and death. It may occur as early as 15 minutes after resection starts or as late as 24 hours after surgery. The majority of cases published describe the occurrence of the syndrome during surgery, in patients under general anesthesia, being the neurologic manifestations masked and the cardiovascular signs predominant. We describe a case diagnosed in the emergency room, that occurred several hours after surgery and presented mostly with neurologic signs. Immediate and aggressive treatment of acute hyponatremia is a major cornerstone of this syndrome management

O síndrome pós-ressecção transuretral da próstata é uma complicação sistémica deste procedimento, secundário à absorção excessiva de fluidos de irrigação hipotónicos utilizados, com desenvolvimento consequente de hipervolémia e hiponatrémia dilucional aguda que, por sua vez, conduzem a distúrbios neurológicos e cardiovasculares: desde náuseas, vómitos, alterações da consciência e hipertensão arterial, até convulsões, alterações visuais, hipotensão, edema pulmonar agudo, paragem cardio-respiratória, coma e morte. Pode desenvolver-se logo após os primeiros 15 minutos da cirurgia ou até 24 horas da mesma. A maioria dos casos publicados descrevem a ocorrência do síndrome ainda durante a cirurgia, em doentes anestesiados, motivo pelo qual se verifica um predomínio da clínica cardiovascular, estando os sintomas neurológicos mascarados. Os autores descrevem um caso diagnosticado no serviço de urgência, que ocorreu diversas horas após a cirurgia e com manifestações predominantemente neurológicas. O tratamento imediato e agressivo da hiponatrémia aguda é primordial na abordagem deste síndrome

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Crisis epiléptica por neumoencéfalo como primera manifestación de un osteoma etmoido-frontal / Epileptic crisis by pneumoencephalon as the first manifestation of an ethmoid-frontal osteoma

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Congenital Cirsoid aneurysm communicating with the sagittal sinus and supplied by extra and intracranial arteries.

We describe the unique case of a 6-year old boy who presented with recalcitrant generalized tonic-clonic seizures and clinicoradiological features of congenital Cirsoid aneurysm. The lesion was supplied by occipital arteries and a large right parietal parasagittal intracranial feeding artery in a Yokouchi type C pattern. The venous drainage was communicating with the posterior part of the superior sagittal sinus. Six months after successful ligation of the feeding arteries and complete surgical excision of the lesion, the patient remains seizure free.

Clinical spectrum of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome in the adult: an atypical presentation and review of literature.

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome (DDMS) is a rare condition usually diagnosed in paediatric patients with clinical features of hemiparesis, seizures, mental retardation and contralateral cerebral hemiatrophy on neuroimaging. This report follows the case of a 22-year-old man presenting with seizures and hemiatrophy and hemiparesis. On review of cases the most common neuroimaging findings were cerebral hemiatrophy (100%) followed by hemicalvarial thickening (71.4%) and hyperpneumatisation of sinuses (71.4%). Apart from our patient, all nine cases with data on epilepsy control had drug-resistant epilepsy. The onset of seizures in adulthood, block vertebra, short stature, absence of mental retardation and well-controlled epilepsy on monotherapy makes our case exceptional-even bringing to mind the possibility of a DDMS variant. This report exhaustively reviews the wide range of clinical and radiological manifestations of DDMS in the adult, thereby adding to the literature on an unusual syndrome that causes significant neurological morbidity.

[Neurological manifestations in atypical Kawasaki disease]. / Manifestaciones neurológicas en la enfermedad de Kawasaki atípica.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a type of systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Atypical Kawasaki disease is defined as that where there are signs and symptoms not corresponding to the classical criteria for this nosological entity. Children with atypical Kawasaki disease may present with acute abdominal symptoms, meningeal irritation, pneumonia or renal failure. CLINICAL CASES: We describe 4 children with ages ranging from 2 to 12 years who had atypical Kawasaki disease, with neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms as part of the systemic presentation of the disease. Treatment consisted of immunoglobulin and corticosteroids with good evolution. CONCLUSIONS: KD is a systemic vasculitis that can involve many territories. Atypical manifestations can mislead the clinician and delay diagnosis. Pediatricians and sub-specialists should be aware of these neurological manifestations in order to provide adequate and opportune treatment.

Antecedentes: La enfermedad de Kawasaki es una vasculitis sistémica de etiología desconocida. La modalidad atípica se define como aquella en la cual hay signos y síntomas que no corresponden a los criterios clásicos de esta entidad nosológica. Los niños con enfermedad de Kawasaki atípica pueden presentar síntomas abdominales agudos, irritación meníngea, neumonía o falla renal. Casos clínicos: Describimos 4 niños con edades que oscilaron entre los 2 y 12 años que presentaron enfermedad de Kawasaki atípica, con síntomas neurológicos y gastroinstetinales como parte de la presentación sistémica de la enfermedad. El tratamiento se llevó a cabo con corticosteroides e inmunoglobulina, con los cuales los pacientes evolucionaron satisfactoriamente. Conclusiones: La enfermedad de Kawasaki es una vasculitis sistémica que puede involucrar numerosos aspectos. Las manifestaciones atípicas pueden confundir al clínico y retrasar el diagnóstico. Los pediatras y subespecialistas deben estar conscientes de estas manifestaciones neurológicas, con el fin de proporcionar tratamiento adecuado y oportuno.

Neuroendocrine tumour metastatic brain disease during immunosuppressive treatment for paraneoplastic GABAB receptor antibodies encephalitis: Is immunosuppression always beneficial?

BACKGROUND: Limbic autoimmune encephalitis (LE) should be considered in any patient with acute or subacute neuropsychiatric manifestations, without other common causes of encephalitis. Y-Aminobutyric-acid-B-receptor (anti-GABABR) antibodies are rarely encountered in association with LE. CASE REPORT: A 74-year-old patient presented with a progressive cognitive degradation and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, with positive anti-GABABR. He declined under immunosuppression treatment. Control magnetic resonance revealed brain lesions, which became positive for pulmonary neuroendocrine tumour metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of diversified neurological manifestations of an underling tumour is difficult to manage. We speculate if in some cases, immunosuppression can itself facilitate tumour progression.

Hemorragia intracerebral por cavernoma frontal / Intracerebral hemorrhage caused by frontal cavernoma

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Can syncope cause convulsive seizures in adults?

PURPOSE: Convulsive epileptic seizures triggered by transient cerebral hypoperfusion 'reflex anoxic seizures' are well-described in children but are not commonly recognized in adults. METHODS: We report a case series of 12 adults who presented acutely after generalized tonic-clonic seizures with a clear syncopal phase before the convulsion. We describe the aetiology, semiology and natural history of these events. RESULTS: Four patients (33.3%) had relevant risk factors for development of seizures/active epilepsy. Five patients (41.7%) had recurrent events prior to initial review by an epileptologist, but when anti-syncope measures were instituted there were no seizure recurrences over a median follow-up period of 34.5 (interquartile range 29.3-41.8) months. CONCLUSIONS: Syncope may be an under-recognized trigger for convulsive acute symptomatic seizures. Avoidance of syncope may be more effective than anti-seizure medications in preventing reflex anoxic seizures.

Ivabradine attenuates the anticonvulsant potency of lamotrigine, but not that of lacosamide, pregabalin and topiramate in the tonic-clonic seizure model in mice.

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are involved not only in synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability under physiological conditions, but also in seizure activity. To determine the influence of ivabradine (an HCN channel inhibitor) on the anticonvulsant potency of four novel antiepileptic drugs (AEDs: lacosamide, lamotrigine, pregabalin and topiramate) in the mouse maximal electroshock-induced seizure (MES) model. Adult male albino Swiss mice were challenged with maximal electroconvulsions (electric current of 25mA delivered via auricular electrodes). Total brain concentrations of AEDs were measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography. Ivabradine (10mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the anticonvulsant potency of lamotrigine by elevating the ED50 value of the AED from 7.48 (6.15-9.11) to 10.07 (8.85-11.45) mg/kg (P<0.05) in the mouse MES model. In contrast, ivabradine (10mg/kg, i.p.) did not significantly affect the anticonvulsant potency of lacosamide, pregabalin or topiramate in the mouse MES model. Additionally, ivabradine had no impact on total brain concentrations of all the studied AEDs in mice. A special caution is advised when combining ivabradine with lamotrigine in epilepsy patients due to the possible pharmacodynamic reduction of the anticonvulsant action of the later drug. The combinations of ivabradine with lacosamide, pregabalin and topiramate seem to be pharmacodynamic and neutral from a preclinical viewpoint.

[Unexpected Complications in the Withdrawal Treatment of the Research Chemical AH-7921]. / Unerwartete Komplikationen während des Entzugs vom Research Chemical AH-7921.

We describe the case of a young male patient who had consumed the morphine-like substance AH-7921 which is available via the internet. He was initially admitted to hospital because of obstipation and presented within a day of inpatient treatment for the first time with a generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizure with subsequent urinary retention. Within a few hours, the patient then also developed bradycardia, while at the same time describing symptoms of physical opioid withdrawal which gradually deteriorated within the following hours. We initiated a treatment with buprenorphine which resulted in a considerable reduction of withdrawal symptoms, so the patient could be discharged from hospital.

Cambios en la neuroimagen en paciente con síndrome de encefalopatía posterior reversible por porfiria aguda intermitente / Neuroimaging abnormalities in a patient with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome due to acute intermittent porphyria

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