[Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: case report with spinal cord involvement]. / Doença de Creutzfeldt-Jakob: a propósito de um caso com comprometimento medular.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is the most common subacute transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Approximately 85% of the cases are sporadic. The remaining 15% consist of genetic and iatrogenic forms. We report a sporadic form of CJD with spinal cord involvement and a clinical manifestation characterized by dementia and cerebellar syndrome, myofasciculation with absent reflexes and seizures. The two last manifestations are rare. The clinical hypothesis was probable CJD which was confirmed with autopsy and immunohistochemistry. We conclude that CJD should always be suspected when rapidly progressive dementia occurs and the absence of pyramidal or extrapyramidal signs suggest a spinal cord and/or peripheral nerve involvement.

Sumatriptan blocks spreading depression in isolated chick retina.

Spreading depression is a neurohumoral phenomenon that has been related to the pathophysiology of migraine. The recently introduced 5HT1D agonist anti-migraine compound sumatriptan blocks neurogenic extravasation and induces cerebral vasoconstriction, but the actual mechanism of action against migraine remains obscure. Retinal spreading depression (RSD) velocity has been measured in isolated chick retinas in the presence of 0.05-2.00 mM sumatriptan. This drug reversibly blocks RSD in a concentration-dependent manner. Since the preparation is blood-vessel free, this effect must be related to the nervous tissue.

Multiple sclerosis or multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis? A new question about an old problem. Case report.

A 42 year-old woman developed paraplegia that resolved in six months, followed by sudden right hemiparesis and dysphasia two years later. The clinical work-up, including CT and MR scans, visual evoked potential, CSF examination and cerebral biopsy suggested the possibility of either multiple sclerosis or multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis. The differential diagnosis between both conditions is discussed.

Horner's syndrome and brachial paresis as a complication of lumbar sympathetic block: a case report.

An unusual case of Horner's syndrome secondary to a sympathetic block in a patient with chronic adhesive arachnoiditis (CAA) is described. The patient, a 40-year-old white woman, presented with spastic paraplegia, hyperreflexia, bilateral Babinski sign, superficial and deep sensitive hypoaesthesia at the T4 level, in addition to bladder and rectal dysfunction since she was 32. At age of 38 she complained of excessive daily sweating below the T4 level, mostly at night. A 4mL 0.5% bupivacaine lumbar sympathetic block was performed. Within 15 min a right brachial paresis and an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome were noted. Speculatively, an abnormal cephalic spread of the anaesthesic due to a putative erratic space secondary to the CAA may justify the clinical picture even using a relatively small amount of anaesthesic (4 mL).

Horner's syndrome and brachial paresis as a complication of lumbar sympathetic block: a case report

Os autores descrevem o caso de uma mulher branca de 40 anos de idade, com paraplegia espástica, hiperreflexia, sinal de Babinski bilateral, hipoestesi superficial e profunda em T4, além de incontinência fecal e urinária, desde os 32 anos decorrente de aracnoidite crônica adesiva (CAA). Aos 38 anos passou apresentar sudorese excessiva com limite superior em T4, diária, com intensificaçao noturna. Um bloqueio simpático lombar foi efetuado com 4mL de bupivacaina 0.5 por cento. Quinze minutos depois a paciente apresentou monoparesia braquial direita e síndrome de Horner ipsolateral. Devido provavelmente a um espaço peridural estreito e errático, secundário à CAA, pode-se justificar o quadro clínico como secundário à ascensao cranial do anestésico, mesmo utilizado em reduzida quantidade (4mL).

Fulminant form of multiple sclerosis simulating brain tumor: a case with parkinsonian features and pathologic study.

We describe the case of a 48 year-old man in whom the clinical features, CT and MR scans were suggestive of a brain tumor but, posteriorly, another MRI study, CSF examination and brain biopsy supported the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Interestingly, this patient presented parkinsonian features, probably in connection with the underlying disease.

[Syringomyelia: review of the literature and report of a case]. / Siringomielia: revisão da literatura e relato de caso.

A thorough review of history, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of syringomyelia is presented by the authors, followed by a case report in which the diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging.