Meningoencephalitis-like onset of post-infectious AQP4-IgG-positive optic neuritis complicated by GM1-IgG-positive acute polyneuropathy.

Fifteen days after a respiratory infection, a 45-year-old woman presented with paresthesias in the hands and feet, bilateral loss of vision, fever, headache, and impairment of consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed predominant lesions in the optic tracts, optic chiasm, and hypothalamus. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed elevated protein level, and lymphocytic pleocytosis. Neurophysiological studies disclosed a demyelinating sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Serum anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae immunoglobulin (Ig)M, anti-GM1 IgG, and anti-AQP4 IgG were positive. This case, which is remarkable for post-infectious meningoencephalitis-like onset, MRI picture, and dysimmunity to central and peripheral nervous system autoantigens, underpins the pivotal diagnostic role of anti-AQP4-IgG, and expands the list of clinico-pathological findings that can associate with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Human mammaglobin transcript amplification for differential diagnosis in a breast cancer metastatic to dura mater.

BACKGROUND: In breast cancer (BC), metastases to the central nervous system usually arise in women with advanced disease. Diagnosis of leptomeningeal (LM) metastasis is based on neurological symptoms, imaging studies and cytological detection of malignant cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, often these approaches are not sensitive enough to recognize leptomeninges involvement and subsequently to make a diagnosis of LM carcinomatosis. This study investigated the employment of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the human mammaglobin (hMAM) gene in a case of BC with cerebral metastases in which the involvement of the leptomeninges was in doubt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Amplification of hMAM mRNA was performed from CSF cells by RT-PCR. RESULTS: No amplification of hMAM was obtained from the CSF cells. CONCLUSION: RT-PCR for human mammaglobin mRNA of the CSF in BC patients with brain metastases may aid clinical determination of LM involvement and consequently the choice of the most effective therapy regimens for affected patients.

Molecular detection of human mammaglobin in cerebrospinal fluid from breast cancer patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Leptomeningeal (LM) carcinomatosis is an increasing clinical complication in patients with advanced breast cancer (BC). The LM carcinomatosis diagnostic procedures rely mainly on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology, although both the amount of CSF and the number of malignant cells remain limiting factors. Therefore, efforts should be made to design new highly sensitive diagnostic tools to detect malignant cells in CSF of BC patients with LM carcinomatosis. In this study, the human Mammaglobin (hMAM) mRNA amplification by RT-PCR was employed to detect metastatic cells in CSF and thus, to diagnose LM carcinomatosis in a BC patient. Our data demonstrate that hMAM transcripts are expressed in the CSF of a BC patient with LM carcinomatosis, hence making RT-PCR for hMAM a potentially suitable test to identify occult BC cells in the brain.