Experience with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a single referral center in Mexico. Case series.

INTRODUCTION: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive and fatal central nervous system disease caused by prions. OBJECTIVE: To present the main clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with probable CJD in a referral center of Latin America. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with rapidly progressive dementia between 2014 and 2019. Clinical, demographic, electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, and 14-3-3 protein characteristics were included, as well as positron-emission tomography (PET) data when available. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients met the criteria for sporadic CJD (75% were women). Mean age was 59.29 ± 11.67 years, while mean disease duration from symptom onset to hospital admission was 7.41 ± 6.54 months. The most common first symptom was behavioral changes (41.7%). Delta wave complexes prevailed (54.2%) on electroencephalogram, cortical hyperintensity (83.3%) on magnetic resonance and frontal hypometabolism (37.5%) on PET. Seven cases showed positive total Tau; five, positive 14-3-3 protein; and three, positive phosphorylated tau on cerebrospinal fluid analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant clinical heterogeneity regarding initial symptoms. Auxiliary test findings were consistent with those of other series.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad de Creutzfeldt-Jakob (ECJ) es una enfermedad del sistema nervioso central rápidamente progresiva y mortal causada por priones. OBJETIVO: Presentar las principales características clínicas y paraclínicas de pacientes con probable ECJ en un centro de referencia de América Latina. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes diagnosticados con demencia rápidamente progresiva entre 2014 y 2019. Se incluyeron características clínicas, demográficas, del electroencefalograma, imágenes por resonancia magnética, proteína 14-3-3 y tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET), cuando estaba disponible. RESULTADOS: Veinticuatro pacientes cumplieron con los criterios de ECJ esporádica (75 % mujeres), la edad media fue de 59.29 ± 11.67 años, la duración de la enfermedad desde el inicio de los síntomas hasta el ingreso hospitalario fue de 7.41 ± 6.54 meses y las primeras manifestaciones más comunes fueron las alteraciones del comportamiento (41.7 %). Los complejos de ondas delta prevalecieron en el electroencefalograma (54.2 %), la hiperintensidad cortical en la resonancia magnética (83.3 %) y el hipometabolismo frontal en la PET (37.5 %). En el análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo, siete casos mostraron proteína tau total positiva; cinco, proteína 14-3-3 positiva; y tres, proteína tau hiperfosforilada positiva. CONCLUSIONES: Existe importante heterogeneidad clínica en cuanto a los síntomas iniciales. Los hallazgos de las pruebas auxiliares coincidieron con los de otras series.

A Metabolic Brain Pattern Associated With Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis.

BACKGROUND: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis causes substantial neurological disability. Autoantibodies causing encephalitis directed against the neuronal cell surface or synapse are of diagnostic importance giving the possibility of successful immunotherapy. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to provide supporting evidence that brain 18F-FDG-PET may be helpful in identifying likely patterns of regional brain glucose metabolism. METHODS: Thirty-three patients (18 men and 15 women; age range of 17-55 y) with positive NMDA receptor antibody encephalitis that underwent an 18F-FDG-PET imaging examination were prospectively selected and compared with a reference group of 14 brain 18F-FDG-PET scans from healthy volunteers using voxel-based statistical analysis. Clusters of hyper- and hypo-metabolism were reported for the whole sample of patients (FWE-corrected P < 0.05), and uncorrected at P < 0.005 for a group of relapsed patients. RESULTS: Mixed metabolic patterns (focal/bilateral hypermetabolism in the temporal lobe, insula, and cerebellum; associated with severe bilateral hypometabolism in the occipital and parietal lobes) were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that 18F-FDG-PET should be included as an imaging tool when assessing affected patients in the clinical workup to rule out anti-NMDA encephalitis and help determine the most effective treatment.

FDG-PET in Cotard syndrome before and after treatment: can functional brain imaging support a two-factor hypothesis of nihilistic delusions?

Introduction: Cotard syndrome is a neuropsychiatric entity recognised by the presence of nihilistic delusions. Although different models have been proposed for the development of monothematic delusions, including Cotard syndrome, functional neuroanatomical models are lacking.Methods: A case report of a 19-year old male with autoimmune encephalitis and Cotard syndrome, in whom Positron Emission Tomography (18F-FDG-PET) scans were performed before and after successful treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is presented. Literature review on brain imaging is provided to discuss a functional neuroanatomical model of Cotard syndrome, in accordance with the two-factor theory of delusions.Results: The patient's 18F-FDG-PET showed marked insular and prefrontal metabolic abnormalities. Except for insular hypometabolism, metabolic abnormalities improved after ECT. Previously reported structural neuroimaging studies in Cotard syndrome showed a predominance of right hemisphere lesions, in which frontal lobes were more frequently involved, followed by parietal and temporal lesions. Functional neuroimaging studies reported abnormalities in frontoparietal circuits as well as midline structures included in the "default mode network".Conclusions: Abnormalities in the functioning of the insular cortex and the prefrontal cortex could be related to the development of nihilistic delusions when a two-factor theory of delusions is considered.

Diagnostic Utility of [11C]DTBZ Positron Emission Tomography In Clinically Uncertain Parkinsonism: Experience of a Single Tertiary Center.

BACKGROUND: The use of single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography (PET) has proven to be helpful in differentiating Parkinson's disease (PD) from other movement disorders with a sensitivity of up to 95%. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of [11C]DTBZ PET imaging in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonism from a tertiary referral center in Mexico City. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent [11C]DTBZ PET brain scan due to clinically uncertain parkinsonism where divided into two groups: PD or non-PD. A scan was considered positive when visual assessment revealed a decrease in [11C]DTBZ uptake typical for PD; a scan was considered negative when visual assessment showed no decrease in [11C]DTBZ uptake or showed a decrease in tracer uptake in a non-PD pattern. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated using a 2 × 2 table, with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients were included in the study. 14 PET studies were deemed positive and 25 PET studies were deemed negative; 12 true positives and 23 true negatives were found. This yielded a sensitivity of 92.9% (95% CI, 66.1-99.8), specificity of 92% (95% CI, 74-99), PPV of 86.7% (95% CI, 63.1-96.1), and NPV of 95.8% (95% CI, 79.1-98.4). CONCLUSIONS: The [11C]DTBZ PET has an excellent accuracy for differentiating idiopathic PD from other disorders.

Visual hallucinations of autobiographic memory and asomatognosia: a case of epilepsy due to brain cysticercosis.

The current study describes the case of a woman with symptomatic epilepsy due to brain cysticercosis acquired during childhood. During her adolescence, she developed seizures characterized by metamorphopsia, hallucinations of autobiographic memory and, finally, asomatognosia. Magnetic brain imaging showed a calcified lesion in the right occipitotemporal cortex, and positron emission tomography imaging confirmed the presence of interictal hypometabolism in two regions: the right parietal cortex and the right lateral and posterior temporal cortex. We discuss the link between these brain areas and the symptoms described under the concepts of epileptogenic lesion, epileptogenic zone, functional deficit zone, and symptomatogenic zone.

[National guidelines of diagnosis and treatment of the non-Hodgkin lymphoma]. / Guías nacionales de diagnóstico y tratamiento de linfoma no Hodgkin.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma comprises a heterogeneous group of haematological malignancies, classified according to their clinic, anatomic-pathological features and, lately, to their molecular biomarkers. Despite the therapeutic advances, nearly half of the patients will die because of this disease. The new diagnostic tools have been the cornerstone to design recent therapy targets, which must be included in the current treatment guidelines of this sort of neoplasms by means of clinical trials and evidence-based medicine. In the face of poor diagnoses devices in most of the Mexican hospitals, we recommend the present diagnose stratification, and treatment guidelines for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, based on evidence. They include the latest and most innovative therapeutic approaches, as well as specific recommendations for hospitals with limited framework and therapy resources.

Experiencia con la enfermedad de Creutzfeldt-Jakob de un único centro de referencia en México. Análisis de una serie de casos / Experience with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a single referral center in Mexico. Case series

Resumen Introducción: La enfermedad de Creutzfeldt-Jakob (ECJ) es una enfermedad del sistema nervioso central rápidamente progresiva y mortal causada por priones. Objetivo: Presentar las principales características clínicas y paraclínicas de pacientes con probable ECJ en un centro de referencia de América Latina. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes diagnosticados con demencia rápidamente progresiva entre 2014 y 2019. Se incluyeron características clínicas, demográficas, del electroencefalograma, imágenes por resonancia magnética, proteína 14-3-3 y tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET), cuando estaba disponible. Resultados: Veinticuatro pacientes cumplieron con los criterios de ECJ esporádica (75 % mujeres), la edad media fue de 59.29 ± 11.67 años, la duración de la enfermedad desde el inicio de los síntomas hasta el ingreso hospitalario fue de 7.41 ± 6.54 meses y las primeras manifestaciones más comunes fueron las alteraciones del comportamiento (41.7 %). Los complejos de ondas delta prevalecieron en el electroencefalograma (54.2 %), la hiperintensidad cortical en la resonancia magnética (83.3 %) y el hipometabolismo frontal en la PET (37.5 %). En el análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo, siete casos mostraron proteína tau total positiva; cinco, proteína 14-3-3 positiva; y tres, proteína tau hiperfosforilada positiva. Conclusiones: Existe importante heterogeneidad clínica en cuanto a los síntomas iniciales. Los hallazgos de las pruebas auxiliares coincidieron con los de otras series.

Abstract Introduction: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive and fatal central nervous system disease caused by prions. Objective: To present the main clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with probable CJD in a referral center of Latin America. Methods: Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with rapidly progressive dementia between 2014 and 2019. Clinical, demographic, electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, and 14-3-3 protein characteristics were included, as well as positron-emission tomography (PET) data when available. Results: Twenty-four patients met the criteria for sporadic CJD (75% were women). Mean age was 59.29 ± 11.67 years, while mean disease duration from symptom onset to hospital admission was 7.41 ± 6.54 months. The most common first symptom was behavioral changes (41.7%). Delta wave complexes prevailed (54.2%) on electroencephalogram, cortical hyperintensity (83.3%) on magnetic resonance and frontal hypometabolism (37.5%) on PET. Seven cases showed positive total Tau; five, positive 14-3-3 protein; and three, positive phosphorylated tau on cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Conclusions: There is significant clinical heterogeneity regarding initial symptoms. Auxiliary test findings were consistent with those of other series.