Gut Microbiome Changes in Patients With Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome is a complex system within the human gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria play a significant role in human health, and some can promote inflammation and pathologic processes through chemical interactions or metabolites. Gut microbiome dysbiosis has been linked to some neurological and other diseases. Here we aimed to examine microbiome differences between patients with a progressive neurological disorder, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), compared with healthy controls (CO). METHODS: We recruited 37 neurologically healthy CO and 10 patients with shunted iNPH. We evaluated these participants' cognition using the CERAD-NB test battery and CDR test, and collected a variety of information, including about dietary habits and health. We also collected fecal samples, which were subjected to 16S amplicon sequencing to analyze differences in gut microbiome composition. RESULTS: We found that the iNPH group exhibited significantly different abundances of 10 bacterial genera compared with the CO group. The Escherichia/Shigella and Anaeromassilibacillus genera were most remarkably increased. Other increased genera were Butyrivibrio , Duncaniella , and an unidentified genus. The decreased genera were Agathobaculum , Paramuribaculum , Catenibacterium , and 2 unidentified genera. CONCLUSIONS: Here we report the first identified microbiome differences in iNPH patients compared with healthy controls.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus secondary to Lyme disease, a case report and review of seven reported cases.

BACKGROUND: Infection with tick borne Borrelia Burgdorferi (Lyme disease) can without treatment rarely develop into a chronic phase. Secondary Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (sNPH) based on chronic infection with Borrelia Burgdorferi (Bb) is an even rarer entity, that with the right treatment is potentially curable. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old male with a slow onset of progressive balance problems, also presented unspecified dizziness, urge feeling, neck soreness and discrete cognitive complaints. An MRI scan revealed an enlarged ventricular system compatible with NPH. After further liquor dynamic procedures, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analysed with the surprising results of lymphocytic pleocytosis, and signs of increased antibody production. Microbiology revealed chronic neuroborreliosis and the patient was treated with antibiotics accordingly. At the one-year follow-up no symptoms remained and the ventricular system almost normalized. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the 7th published case of sNPH secondary to chronic Borreliosis in a previous healthy adult. Existing published literature has been reviewed and previous cases showed similarly nearly full clinical recovery. Primary/idiopathic NPH (iNPH) is treated with the surgical intervention of ventriculoperitoneal shunt and can be mistaken for a sNPH. The awareness of rare causes of sNPH like chronic Borreliosis is important as it is easily treated non surgically.