Recurrent nonconvulsive status epilepticus in a patient with progressive left hemispheric leukoencephalopathy after a remote viral meningoencephalitis.

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), defined as changes in behavior and/or mental processes from baseline with continuous epileptiform discharges, remains a diagnostic and treatment challenge. Here, we present a 68-year-old female who developed 3 episodes of NCSE 10 years after a viral meningoencephalitis which gradually progressed to left hemispheric leukoencephalopathy. In this case, we hypothesize that immune-mediated mechanisms and perhaps genetic predisposition played a role in epileptogenesis, and these will be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Status Epilepticus".

The prescribing patterns of antithrombotic agents for prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Antithrombotic agents are effective in the secondary prevention of ischemic strokes. In the present study, we sought to determine the antithrombotic prescribing patterns of neurologists in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke and also to identify the factors influencing the choice of a specific agent and what changes are made when a recurrent stroke occurs in these patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of neurology patients who were diagnosed with first-ever ischemic stroke and were antithrombotic naive from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000. Patients' antithrombotic agents at discharge and during the follow-up period were reviewed to identify factors affecting the choice of antithrombotic agents. RESULTS: A total of 376 patients experienced non-fatal first-ever ischemic stroke. Of these, 351 were prescribed antithrombotic agents at discharge, while the remaining 25 were not on antithrombotic treatment. Low-dose aspirin was the most commonly prescribed agent (65%). The most important determinant for the choice of other antiplatelet agents was aspirin intolerance. Not surprisingly, only 36% of the patients with atrial fibrillation were treated with oral anticoagulants at the time of hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: Aspirin remains the most commonly used antithrombotic agent for the prevention of recurrent stroke among antithrombotic naive patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke in our institution. Our results demonstrate that current recommendations find their way into clinical practice, but to a limited extent. We aim that all patients discharged from our hospital after strokes must receive appropriate antithrombotic drugs for prevention of recurrent strokes provided if there are no contraindications to therapy.

Persistent Klüver-Bucy syndrome after bilateral temporal lobe infarction.

Klüver-Bucy (KBS) syndrome is a rare and complicated neurobehavioral syndrome in humans resulting from damage of bilateral anterior temporal portion, especially the amygdala. It can be seen in association with a variety of etiologies. Stroke is a rarely reported. Here we present a 50-year-old right handed man who developed persistent KBS after cardioembolic stroke involving bilateral lateral temporal lobes. He exhibited all clinical features of KBS including visual agnosia, hypersexuality, placidity, hyperorality and hypermetamorphosis. The anatomical basis of pathophysiolgy, clinical course and possible treatment are discussed.

The syndrome of bilateral basal ganglia lesions in diabetic uremic patients presenting with a relapsing and remitting course: a case report.

The syndrome of acute bilateral basal ganglia lesions presents with parkinsonism, altered mental status, dysarthria, and dysphagia in association with specific imaging findings in the basal ganglia. It is an uncommon syndrome seen almost exclusively in patients with diabetes mellitus and renal failure. Previously reported cases have all run a monophasic course, but we report a patient with a relapsing, remitting course. This 64-year-old diabetic man with uremia on hemodialysis had an acute episode of disordered sensorium. Brain computed tomography showed the classic findings of hypointensity of bilateral basal ganglia. He recovered from the episode, but had another with parkinsonian symptoms about 18 months later. Sequential brain images demonstrated encephalomalacia of the basal ganglia. His condition waxed and waned several times, but he eventually died of unknown causes less than 2 years after the first event. This syndrome, therefore, may not be limited to just one episode.

Acute neurological deficits caused by cefipime: a case report and review of literature.

Cefepime (Maxipime) is a fourth-generation cephalosporin commonly used to treat a variety of infections. Its controversial side effect profile is not well appreciated by first-line practitioners. We report a case of urinary tract infection treated with cefepime in a 91-year-old woman. The acute onset of conscuous disturbance was noted on the 9th day of cefepime treatment. Computed tomogram and magnetic resonance image of the brain showed no specific findings. The neurological symptoms and signs such us conscious disturbance, ocular bobbing, asterexis disappeared after discontinuation of cefepime. We suggest that physicians should cefepime as a possible cause of reversible neurological deficits.

A case of bow hunter's stroke caused by non-dominant vertebral artery.

Rotational movements in the territory of vertebrobasilar artery of the head and neck can induce vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) or infarction. The term "bow hunter's stroke" or "rotational VBI" has been used to describe this clinical syndrome. In most cases, symptoms were provoked because of involvement of a dominant vertebral artery (VA) with hypoplasia or occlusion of the contralateral VA. The author presented a case in which bow hunter's stroke was caused by occlusion of a non-dominant VA ending in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). Diagnosis of rotational VBI was based on stereotypical clinical symptoms related to head rotation and hemodynamic study of the effects of head rotation. VA compression was documented in dynamic ultrasonography including the disappearance of end-diastolic flow in extracranial portion of VA and marked reduction in blood flow velocity (more than 50%) in the intracranial portion of VA upon head rotation. We emphasize that rotational occlusion of this anatomical variation is an important cause of VBI. This may cause permanent neurological deficits if left undiagnosed.

Low back pain in a pregnant woman.

Low back pain is very common and often considered a part of normal pregnancy. Because the pain is always attributed to pregnancy, referral to a specialist is often delayed. We describe a young woman who developed low back pain and signs of progressive spinal cord compression at 33 weeks' gestation of her second pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine showed a collapsed T11 vertebral body and a large paraspinal and intraspinal tumor compressing on the spinal cord from the right. Emergent surgical decompression and removal of the tumor mass was done. Pathological examination revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma and subsequently, a palpable nodule was found in the left breast, which, on biopsy, proved to be an invasive lobular carcinoma.