Pontine hemorrhage accompanied by neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

The pathogenesis and treatment of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare disease characterized by reversible subcortical vasogenic brain edema. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a frequent neurological autoimmune disease that is rarely reported to complicate PRES.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we report a case of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) concurrent with PRES. A 50-year-old woman presented with severe impairment of her health visual acuity, with significantly worsening of the motor weakness in both lower limbs during methylprednisolone therapy after her diagnosis of NMO. MRI showed new-onset brain edematous lesions of the bilateral frontal, occipital, and parietal lobes. PRES was considered. Her vision impairment and weakness of the extremities were alleviated after antihypertensive treatment and dehydration. The edema lesions detected by MRI also completely disappeared.

CONCLUSIONS

We reviewed 14 cases of NMO with PRES and concluded that the etiology of NMOSD concurrent PRES may be multifactorial, involving pathogenic IgGs against aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) and immunotherapy treatment. Different underlying pathogeneses require different treatment approaches.

Risk of stroke in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorder: a Nationwide cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to develop stroke than those without. However, little is known about the association between neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and the risk of stroke. We aimed to estimate the risk of stroke in patients with MS and NMOSD in South Korea.

METHODS

Data from the Korean National Health Insurance between January 2010 and December 2017 were analysed. A total of 1541/1687 adult patients with MS/NMOSD, who were free of stroke were included. Matched controls were selected based on age, sex and the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia.

RESULTS

The risk of developing stroke was 2.78 times higher (adjusted HR (aHR), 95% CI 1.91 to 4.05) in patients with MS compared with controls matched by age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia. The risk of stroke in NMOSD was also higher than that in matched controls (aHR=1.69, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.61) and not statistically different from that of MS (p=0.216). The patients with MS had a higher risk for either of ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke (HR=2.63 and 2.93, respectively), whereas those with NMOSD had a higher risk for ischaemic stroke (HR=1.60) with marginal statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of stroke is increased in patients with MS and NMOSD and seemed comparable between the two conditions. This is the first study that estimates the risk of stroke in patients with MS and NMOSD within the same population.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica: Case Report with Literature Review for Possible Pathological Association

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system which is characterized by attacks of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. An association between NMO and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been rarely recognized, having been reported only 3 times before. Here we report on a patient with NMO who eventually developed subarachnoid hemorrhage, in order to emphasize that the association between NMO and ICH is mostly not incidental and that the pathological basis for this association should be investigated thoroughly.

Acute bilateral cerebral infarction in the presence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A case report

RATIONALE

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) are inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system; they are characterized by severe optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. Intravenous methylprednisolone pulse (IVMP) therapy is an effective treatment that is administered to patients in the acute phase of NMOSD; this therapy has achieved remarkable results in clinical practice. However, there are no reports on NMOSD patients who have experienced an acute bilateral cerebral infarction while undergoing IVMP treatment.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We report on a 62-yr-old woman who was undergoing IVMP therapy for the primary diagnosis of NMOSD. Unexpectedly, the patient's existing limb weakness worsened, and she developed motor aphasia on the second day of IVMP treatment. Additionally, brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute bilateral cerebral infarction.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient's clinical manifestations, medical imaging results, and laboratory test results were taken into consideration; the final diagnosis was acute bilateral cerebral infarction in the presence of NMOSD.

INTERVENTIONS

Subsequent to the onset of acute cerebral infarction, the patient was immediately treated with oral aspirin, atorvastatin, and intravenous butylphthalide. The hormone dose was adjusted to an oral 60-mg/d dose for maintenance; this was followed by immunoadsorption plasmapheresis for 3 days, and double-filtration plasmapheresis for 2 days.

OUTCOMES

Following treatment onset, the patient's ocular symptoms significantly improved, and her limb muscle strength gradually recovered. Two months after discharge, the patient's husband reported that she was able to walk with the help of others and take care of herself, and that there was no recurrence.

LESSONS

Medical professionals must be aware of the possibility of NMOSD patients with cerebrovascular risk factors suffering an acute cerebral infarction while undergoing high-dose IVMP therapy, as this therapy can exacerbate existing problems.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Complicated by Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome as an Initial Manifestation

A 25-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to tonic convulsion with severe headache after having experienced symptoms of nausea and vomiting for a month. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive symmetrical lesions in the cortical and subcortical areas of parieto-occipital lobes and basal ganglia, consistent with typical characteristics of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Furthermore, some residual lesions in the left side of dorsal medulla oblongata and central area of the cervical spinal cord along with the presence of serum anti-aquaporin-4 antibody yielded the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). We herein discuss the mechanism by which PRES may occur together with NMOSD.