Pooja Raibagkar

Antibiotic-associated encephalopathy.

Delirium is a common and costly complication of hospitalization. Although medications are a known cause of delirium, antibiotics are an underrecognized class of medications associated with delirium. In this article, we comprehensively review the clinical, radiologic, and electrophysiologic features of antibiotic-associated encephalopathy (AAE). AAE can be divided into 3 unique clinical phenotypes: encephalopathy commonly accompanied by seizures or myoclonus arising within days after antibiotic administration (caused by cephalosporins and penicillin); encephalopathy characterized by psychosis arising within days of antibiotic administration (caused by quinolones, macrolides, and procaine penicillin); and encephalopathy accompanied by cerebellar signs and MRI abnormalities emerging weeks after initiation of antibiotics (caused by metronidazole). We correlate these 3 clinical phenotypes with underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of antibiotic neurotoxicity. Familiarity with these types of antibiotic toxicity can improve timely diagnosis of AAE and prompt antibiotic discontinuation, reducing the time patients spend in the delirious state.

Neurologic manifestations of the neglected tropical diseases

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization has identified 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that disproportionately affect the worlds poorest populations. The neurologic aspects of many of these NTDs have received relatively little attention. METHODS A review was performed in PubMed (MedLine) for each NTD by disease name, name of its causative organism, and neurology, neurosurgery, neurologist, brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, muscle, nervous system, encephalitis, meningitis, encephalopathy, stroke, neuropathy, and myopathy (1968-Sept. 2013). The Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine guidelines were used to determine the level of evidence of neurological involvement and treatment based on the reports identified. RESULTS Neurologic manifestations were reported for all NTDs except yaws. Neurologic involvement was described in systematic reviews for four NTDs (Chagas disease, echinococcosis, rabies, cysticercosis) (levels 2a-3a), retrospective cohort studies for six (dengue, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis) (levels 2b-3b), case series for one (foodborne trematodiasis) (level 4), and case reports for five (Buruli ulcer, dracunculiasis, filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthes, and trachoma). Level 1 evidence for treatment of neurologic manifestations of NTDs was found for human African trypanosomiasis, leprosy, and cysticercosis and level 2 evidence exists for treatment of neurologic involvement in Chagas disease. For the remaining NTDs, treatment of neurologic complications is described in case series and case reports only. CONCLUSIONS Neurologic manifestations of NTDs cause significant morbidity and mortality, although limited evidence exists on how best to treat these neurologic complications. Increased awareness of neurologic manifestations of the NTDs can increase their early identification and treatment, contributing to ongoing elimination and eradication campaigns.

Is MuSK myasthenia gravis linked to IgG4-related disease?

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition that affects a wide variety of sites, including the nervous system, where it can involve the meninges or the pituitary gland, and cause perineural mass lesions. A large subset of acetylcholine receptor antibody (Ab)-negative myasthenia gravis (MG) patients has muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) Abs, generally of the IgG4 subclass. There has not been any association found between IgG4-RD and MuSK MG yet. We report the first case of MuSK MG associated with lymphadenopathy with histopathology consistent with IgG4-RD. A 54-year-old woman with MuSK MG developed eight compression fractures related to steroid therapy. Eighteen months after initial presentation she was found to have retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy with biopsy findings consistent with IgG4-RD. She was started on rituximab with clinical improvement and ability to taper immunomodulatory agents for the first time. Our case raises number of questions regarding a potential link between MuSK MG and IgG4-RD which may shed further light on the pathophysiology and management of these diseases.

Imaging in Neurologic Infections I: Bacterial and Parasitic Diseases

Often presenting as medical emergencies, nervous system infections can be diagnostically challenging. Knowledgeable utilization of neuroimaging modalities and the understanding of characteristic imaging findings facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. In the first part of this two-part review, we address common and unique diagnostic imaging features of bacterial and parasitic nervous system infections.

The Many Faces of Neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic disease of the central nervous system, and one of the most common causes of epilepsy worldwide. The radiologic appearance of neurocysticercosis varies depending on the stage of the disease, and the stage of the disease determines the appropriate treatment. In this article, we review key neuroimaging characteristics of the stages of NCC (vesicular, colloidal, granular, and calcified) and treatment principles for these different stages of the disease.

Imaging in Neurologic Infections II: Fungal and Viral Diseases

Infections of the nervous system have a significant impact on global mortality and morbidity. These infections are medical emergencies that are frequently diagnostically challenging. Incorporation of neuroimaging can be essential for early diagnosis and initiation of proper treatment. In this second part of this two-part review, we focus on diagnostic imaging features of selected fungal and viral nervous system infections.