[Cortical blindness associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome: a complication of dysautonomia?]

[Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome during intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in Guillain-Barré syndrome]

A 63-year-old woman was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy was initiated. On the second day of IVIg therapy, she became less alert (JCS III-200) and had hyponatremia. Brain MRI showed vasogenic edema in bilateral occipital lobes, which disappeared afterwards. Her clinical course and MRI findings were consistent with those of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). As a result of considering the timing of the onset of GBS and PRES and the degree of hyponatremia and hypertension in some documented patients, the cause of PRES onset in this case is considered to be IVIg therapy itself and IVIg therapy-induced hyponatremia.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in mesenteric leiomyosarcoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a syndrome characterized by headache, confusion, visual loss and seizures. Many factors influence the appearance of this syndrome, predominantly eclampsia, certain medical treatments and malignant hypertension. Diagnosed by typical transient lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of mesenteric leiomyosarcoma in a 52 year old woman, who had severe headache, abdominal heaviness, and hypertension. Investigations revealed a mesenteric mass and a Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome features on brain MRI, suggesting renin secretion by the tumor, causing the patient's symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Patient's symptoms disappeared after resection of the tumor, suggesting a renin production cessation.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome as a revealing manifestation of Guillain-Barré syndrome

We report a patient with a Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) revealed by a posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). The PRES is typically associated with bilateral parieto-occipital T2 and FLAIR hyperintense MRI lesions and observed in various etiologic conditions leading to acute arterial hypertension. PRES results from a breakdown of the circulatory autoregulation, many in the posterior cerebral territories. GBS can be considered as an independent risk factor of PRES, due to acute dysautonomia and pain with consecutive arterial hypertension, as well as to cytokine production changing capillary permability. Such patients with PRES-revealed GBS may be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy only after exclusion of any ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebral complications, and after control of the blood pressure and of the encephalopathic signs and symptoms.

Reversible cortical blindness following successful surgical repair of two stab wounds in the heart

This report describes a case of cortical blindness that followed successful surgical repair of two stab wounds in the heart in a 29-year old Libyan man. The patient presented in a state of pre cardiac arrest (shock and low cardiac output status), following multiple chest stab wounds. Chest tube was immediately inserted. Surgery was urgently performed suturing the two wounds; in the root of the aorta and in the left ventricle, and haemostasis was secured. Cardiac arrest was successfully prevented. The patient recovered smoothly, but 24 hours later he declared total blindness. Ophtalmic and neurological examinations and investigations that included fundoscopy, Electroencephalograms (EEGs) and Computed Tomography Scans revealed no abnormalities, apart from absence of alpha waves in the EEGs. We diagnosed the case as cortical blindness and continued caring for the patient conservatively. Three days later, the patient regained his vision gradually and was discharged on the 7^th postoperative day without any remarks.