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Miller A, Park JC, Penney A, Geraghty JJ, Lui F. An Unusual Case of Limbic Encephalitis Caused by Whipple Disease. Cureus 2024; 16:e65385. [PMID: 39071075 PMCID: PMC11283316 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Whipple disease (WD), a multisystemic infectious disorder caused by Tropheryma whipplei (T. whipplei), typically presents with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, GI bleeding, and weight loss. Uncommonly, it can also involve the central nervous system (CNS) and may present with a range of symptoms, including personality changes, dementia, and rhombencephalitis. Prompt antibiotic treatment and careful follow-up are crucial for favorable patient outcomes and a reduction in morbidity and mortality. In this case, we describe a 46-year-old male with primary CNS-WD and discuss the symptomatic manifestations, diagnostic findings, differential diagnosis, and management. This patient initially presented with arthritic complaints and, over a five-year period, developed progressive neurocognitive symptoms, including anxiety, panic attacks, retrograde amnesia, personality changes, aphasia, anhedonia, dysarthria, and rapidly progressive dementia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed symmetric T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) hyperintensities in the bilateral medial temporal lobes, hippocampi, and hypothalamus. A lumbar puncture (LP) showed mild pleocytosis and elevated protein, with no autoimmune or paraneoplastic causes. Temporal lobe biopsy revealed rod-like structures, and T. whipplei DNA was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This case underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for WD in patients presenting with atypical symptoms with rapidly progressive dementia, as early detection and management are key to circumventing irreversible neurological damage and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Miller
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, USA
| | - Johann C Park
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, USA
| | - Angela Penney
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, USA
| | - John J Geraghty
- Department of Neurology, Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, USA
| | - Forshing Lui
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, USA
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Saft C, Burgunder JM, Dose M, Jung HH, Katzenschlager R, Priller J, Nguyen HP, Reetz K, Reilmann R, Seppi K, Landwehrmeyer GB. Differential diagnosis of chorea (guidelines of the German Neurological Society). Neurol Res Pract 2023; 5:63. [PMID: 37993913 PMCID: PMC10666412 DOI: 10.1186/s42466-023-00292-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Choreiform movement disorders are characterized by involuntary, rapid, irregular, and unpredictable movements of the limbs, face, neck, and trunk. These movements often initially go unnoticed by the affected individuals and may blend together with seemingly intended, random motions. Choreiform movements can occur both at rest and during voluntary movements. They typically increase in intensity with stress and physical activity and essentially cease during deep sleep stages. In particularly in advanced stages of Huntington disease (HD), choreiform hyperkinesia occurs alongside with dystonic postures of the limbs or trunk before they typically decrease in intensity. The differential diagnosis of HD can be complex. Here, the authors aim to provide guidance for the diagnostic process. This guidance was prepared for the German Neurological Society (DGN) for German-speaking countries. RECOMMENDATIONS Hereditary (inherited) and non-hereditary (non-inherited) forms of chorea can be distinguished. Therefore, the family history is crucial. However, even in conditions with autosomal-dominant transmission such as HD, unremarkable family histories do not necessarily rule out a hereditary form (e.g., in cases of early deceased or unknown parents, uncertainties in familial relationships, as well as in offspring of parents with CAG repeats in the expandable range (27-35 CAG repeats) which may display expansions into the pathogenic range). CONCLUSIONS The differential diagnosis of chorea can be challenging. This guidance prepared for the German Neurological Society (DGN) reflects the state of the art as of 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Saft
- Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Huntington-Zentrum NRW, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Jean-Marc Burgunder
- Department of Neurology, Schweizerisches Huntington-Zentrum, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Dose
- Kbo-Isar-Amper-Klinikum Taufkirchen/München-Ost, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Heinrich Jung
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Regina Katzenschlager
- Department of Neurology, Karl Landsteiner Institute for Neuroimmunological and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Klinik Donaustadt, Vienna, Austria
| | - Josef Priller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Neuropsychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Department of Human Genetics, Huntington-Zentrum NRW, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology, Euregional Huntington Centre Aachen, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Reilmann
- George-Huntington-Institute, Muenster, Germany
- Department of Radiology, Universitaetsklinikum Muenster (UKM), Westfaelische Wilhelms-University, Muenster, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Klaus Seppi
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Krzosek P, Madetko N, Migda A, Migda B, Jaguś D, Alster P. Differential Diagnosis of Rare Subtypes of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and PSP-Like Syndromes—Infrequent Manifestations of the Most Common Form of Atypical Parkinsonism. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:804385. [PMID: 35221993 PMCID: PMC8864174 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.804385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Presently, there is increasing interest in rare PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) variants, including PSP-PGF (PSP-progressive gait freezing), PSP-PI (PSP-postural instability), PSP-OM (PSP-ocular motor dysfunction), PSP-C (PSP-predominant cerebellar ataxia), PSP-CBS (PSP-corticobasal syndrome), PSP-SL (PSP-speech/language disorders), and PSP-PLS (PSP-primary lateral sclerosis). Diagnosis of these subtypes is usually based on clinical symptoms, thus thorough examination with anamnesis remains a major challenge for clinicians. The individual phenotypes often show great similarity to various neurodegenerative diseases and other genetic, autoimmune, or infectious disorders, manifesting as PSP-mimicking syndromes. At the current stage of knowledge, it is not possible to isolate a specific marker to make a definite ante-mortem diagnosis. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent developments in rare PSP phenotypes and PSP-like syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Krzosek
- Students’ Scientific Association of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- *Correspondence: Patrycja Krzosek,
| | - Natalia Madetko
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Migda
- Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Migda
- Diagnostic Ultrasound Lab, Department of Pediatric Radiology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dominika Jaguś
- Diagnostic Ultrasound Lab, Department of Pediatric Radiology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Alster
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Rapidly progressive dementia and intractable diarrhea: a teaching case report and a systematic review of cognitive impairment in Whipple’s disease. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:907-926. [PMID: 34981284 PMCID: PMC8722651 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05844-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Objective Methods Results Conclusions Supplementary Information
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