Osmotic demyelination syndrome: novel risk factors and proposed pathophysiology

BACKGROUND

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is non-inflammatory demyelination in response to an osmotic challenge. It can be pontine or extrapontine in presentation.

AIMS

To retrospectively review cases involving ODS and define the spectrum of causes, risk factors, clinical and radiological presentations, and functional outcomes.

RESULTS

The study utilised data from 15 patients with a mean age of 53.6 years. Malnutrition (9; 60%) and chronic alcoholism (10; 66.7%) were the most common associated disorders. Two (13.3%) patients had severe hyponatraemia (<120 mmol/L). The average highest single-day change was 5.1 mmol/L. Radiologically, 14 (93.3%) had pontine and 6 (40%) had extra-pontine lesions. Hypokalaemia (14; 93.3%) and hypophosphataemia (9; 60%) were commonly associated. Common clinical manifestations include altered consciousness/encephalopathy (9; 60%), dysphagia (4; 26.7%) and limb weakness (4; 26.7%). At 3 months, two (14.3%) had died and six (40%) were functionally independent (modified Rankin scale 0-2).

CONCLUSION

We found that ODS occurred despite appropriate correction rates of hyponatraemia. Factors such as malnutrition, chronic alcoholism, hypokalaemia and hypophosphataemia are thought to play a role in its pathogenesis. Approximately half of the patients survived and became functionally independent.

Adult hemiconvulsive hemiatrophy syndrome: a novel clinicoradiologic disorder in adults

The association of focal motor seizures with cerebral hemiatrophy is a recognised rare paediatric syndrome known as 'hemiconvulsion, hemiatrophy and epilepsy' (HHE). To date, HHE has not been reported in adults. We present four adult patients with striking similarities to HHE, following alcohol withdrawal in chronic alcoholics. We document the imaging findings in the acute and subacute phases, discuss the underlying mechanisms and present a hypothesis regarding the pathophysiology.

Nivolumab-associated myositis myocarditis and myasthenia and anti-striated muscle antibodies

An 82-year-old man was treated with neo-adjuvant nivolumab (programmed cell death protein 1 or PD-1 inhibitor) for local recurrence of melanoma developed myositis, myocarditis and a myasthenic-like syndrome with a fatal outcome. The occurrence of these three conditions may constitute a new immune checkpoint-induced syndrome. The relevance of the clinical features and the immunology is discussed. This case highlights the special role of anti-striated muscle antibodies as a predictor of mortality.

Checkpoint inhibitor myasthenia-like syndrome and myositis associated with extraocular muscle atrophy

A patient with metastatic melanoma developed myasthenia-like syndrome and paraspinal myositis with subsequent extraocular muscle atrophy associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. MRI scan of the ocular muscles on admission was normal, however 3 months later revealed significant extraocular muscle atrophy.

“Until there is a cure, there is care”: A person-centered approach to supporting the wellbeing of people with Motor Neurone Disease and their family carers

Background: There is a lack of interventional studies to support the psychosocial wellbeing of people with MND (PwMND) and their family carers. Moreover, their experiences with the models of care already provided by ALS/MND voluntary organisations have not been well investigated.Objectives: To report on a person-centered model of care, the MND Advisory Service, designed to support the needs of PwMND and their family carers, to explore their experiences with the service they received and to identify which aspects of this service were most needed and valued by the service users.Methods: Participants were recruited from the MND Association in Western Australia. PwMND and carers were invited to separately complete anonymous postal surveys (2015-17), using a mixed method design comprising quantitative and open-ended questions.Results: The average response rate across the 3 years was 38% (138 patients and 117 carers); 84-89% of both groups felt more supported and cared for as a result of the service and 79-82% felt they were able to make more informed decisions to manage their health and wellbeing. Ninety percent of both groups found the MND Advisory Service of high value practically and emotionally, especially the personal contact and time dedicated to the visit, with 86-88% stating that the service had met their expectations.Conclusions: Two unique features of this service, not provided by other services to the same extent, are the emotional benefit to both groups and the particular focus on the family carers’ needs.  Until such person-centered models of care are properly investigated through the experiences of their users, erratic changes in care funding will pose a threat to their effective operation and even viability. The drive to find a cure should not detract from the fact that PwMND and their families still need to be supported physically and psychologically until then.

Leflunomide-induced peripheral neuropathy

Two cases of leflunomide-induced peripheral neuropathy are described; in a 60-year-old woman with sero-negative polyarthralgia-myalgia syndrome and a 65-year-old man with sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, both treated with leflunomide at 20mg/day. Nerve conduction studies and electromyogram showed sensorimotor axonal neuropathy in both cases. An alternative cause for the axonal neuropathy was excluded by extensive investigations, including cerebrospinal fluid examination and nerve biopsy in the second patient. Both patients stabilized symptomatically and electrophysiologically upon cessation of leflunomide. It is possible that leflunomide-induced peripheral neuropathy has been under-reported and under-recognized.

Synovialectomy and reconstruction of the retinaculum flexorum in median nerve decompression: technique and early results

450 wrists in 362 patients underwent release of carpal tunnel compression combined with synovialectomy and reconstruction of the retinaculum flexorum between 1981 and 1989. To reconstruct the retinaculum flexorum, a "flap" of the antebrachial fascia continuous with the retinaculum flexorum, based radially and distally, was elevated and sutured to the hook of the hamate. This technique provides for carpal tunnel decompression while preserving the biomechanical role of the retinaculum flexorum and the normal anatomic relationship between the flexor tendons and the axial skeleton. The patients in this study appeared to recover function faster and more completely than those undergoing division of the retinaculum flexorum alone. No secondary procedures for recurrent carpal tunnel compression were necessary.

Treatment of Reye's syndrome at Sumber Waras Hospital

Since 1974 we have seen 320 cases of Reye's syndrome in our department. There were 163 boys and 157 girls of a mean age of 20 months. While the number of Reye's syndrome patients admitted increased from 1979 to 1982, it has declined since 1984. Two different approaches to management were used. Prior to 1976 only simple supportive measures were given: Intravenous 10% dextrose solution and electrolytes (Darrow-glucose solution) in equal amounts at a rate of 50-100 ml/kg/day with or without dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg/day). From 1976, in addition, measures were taken to lower the intracranial pressure by infusing mannitol 1-2 gm and glycerol 1 g/kg given at a frequency related to the severity of the illness, i.e., for grade II, the above combination was given 8 hourly, for grade III 6 hourly, and for grades IV and V 4 hourly, while for grade I only fluid and electrolytes were given. In all cases, clinical progress was closely followed. Intravenous dexamethasone was also given at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day. The fatality rate was 50 to 60% prior to 1976 and has fallen to around 20% at present. In contrast to reports from Western countries, we observed more convulsions, respiratory infections and gastrointestinal disorders but less vomiting and no chicken-pox.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever accompanied by encephalopathy in Jakarta

Forty one cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, confirmed by viral isolation, accompanied by neurological signs compatible to the diagnosis of acute encephalopathy were observed in 3 University Hospitals in Jakarta during the period November 1975 to December 1977. Two of these children showed typical signs and symptoms of Reye's syndrome confirmed by liver biopsy.

Dipyridamole in the treatment of dengue haemorrhagic fever

Clinical studies in the treatment of 54 children suffering from DHF with a combination of dipyridamole and ASA as an adjuvant of our standard therapy consisted of fluid, electrolytes, blood, plasma and plasma expanders were evaluated. Heparin was administered in cases of DIC. It appeared that dipyridamole and ASA did not change the mortality significantly, but it prevented the progress of the severity of the disease from grade I and II to grade III and IV.