Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP) is a rare disease involving localized inflammatory thickening of the intracranial or spinal dura mater without an identified cause. Seizure is a very unusual presentation of IHP. We present a 58-year-old-female patient with seizures caused by IHP. This case indicates that although IHP is rare, it has the potential to cause seizures.
Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (ICHP) is diffuse inflammatory process of the dura mater. ICHP can produce similar presentation with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) if it involves cavernous sinus. A-29-year old male with persistent headache and no definite neurologic dysfunction was noted. Two weeks later, he complained of ophthalmoplegia, and his symptoms were thought to be manifestations of THS. Brain magnetic resonance images revealed diffuse thickened, enhanced pachymeninges in left tentorium. The patient was diagnosed with IHCP. We report a IHCP patient who showed very similar presentation as THS.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) meningitis primarily develops during or following a primary genital HSV2 infection that was acquired from sexual contact or through the birth canal during delivery from mother. We describe a 15 year old virgin without history of previous herpes simplex infection who developed 2 episodes of HSV2 meningitis. Although recurrent meningitis due to HSV is primarily seen in young or sexually active adults. HSV2 meningitis should be in the differential diagnosis of recurrent meningitis in adolescent patients.
Background Viruses can cause either meningitis or encephalitis. It is unclear why some people suffer from aseptic meningitis, and others acquire aseptic encephalitis when infected with the same viral pathogens. The aim of this study was to compare demographic and laboratory factors between patients with aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. Methods: The demographic and laboratory differences were analyzed according to age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, C-reactive protein in the blood, white blood cell and protein in the cerebrospinal fluid, and glucose ratio (cerebrospinal fluid/blood). Additionally, we analyzed the nation-wide differencesin age between the patients with aseptic meningitis and those with encephalitis in Korea. Results: The patients with aseptic encephalitis were older, more likely to have hypertension, and had higher levels of C-reactive protein than did the patients with aseptic meningitis. However, the numbers of white blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid were significantly higher in the patients with meningitis than in the patients with encephalitis. Multivariable analysis revealed that age >49 years, hypertension and a C-reactive protein level >5.81 mg/dL were independent and significant variables in the prediction of aseptic encephalitis. Additionally, the patients with aseptic encephalitis were older than those with aseptic meningitis in the nation-wide Korean database. Conclusions: Older age, hypertension, and higher levels of C-reactive protein are useful factors for the prediction of aseptic encephalitis.
We encountered a case of pituitary apoplexy who presented with isolated headache and vomiting without visual disturbance or ophthalmoplegia. The cerebrospinal fluid examination was compatible with aseptic meningitis. A computed tomography revealed slightly high density in the pituitary fossa and suprasella area, but the signal change was very faint. Our case suggests that clinicians should take into account the possibility of pituitary apoplexy without visual disturbance or ophthalmoplegia, when aseptic meningitis is suspected.
Neurologic sequelac of tuberculous meningitis include hemiparesis, pararesis, quadriparesis, aphasia, developmental delay, dementia, blindness, visual field defect, deafness, cranial nerve palsies, epilepsy, and hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction. But cervical epidural abscess and cervical spondylitis are rare. A 64-year-old woman who was diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis presented a severe nerck pain and stiffness after 3 weeks of anti-tuberculous medication. Electromyopgraphy and cervical X-ray showed a cervical spondylosis with polyradiculopathy. Bur cervical MRI showed an acute cervical epidural abscess and mild cervical improvement. But about 1month of anti-tuberculous therapy, she presented a more aggravation of neck pain, neck stiffness, radicular pain, and neck motion limitation. Follow-up cervical MRI showed an more advanced cervical sondylitis. After then she has recovered slowly by cervical laminectomy with posterior stabilization and continuous anti-tuberculous medication.
Tuberculous radiculomyelitis (TBRM) is a complication of tuberculous meningitis (TBM), which has been reported rarely in the modern medical literature. We describe a case of TBRM, which developed during the treatment of TBM. A 28-year-old man suddenly developed lower back pain, flaccid paraparesis, urinary incontinence, while the TBM was improving with the treatment at 9th day after admission. Spinal MRI revealed leptomeningeal enhancement along with thoracolumbar spinal canal, thickening of nerve roots, spinal meninges and intramedullary high signal lesion in T2 level.
Biclonal gammopathy is characterized by the presence of two different monoclonal immunoglobulins, and the clinical findings of biclonal gammopathy are similar to those of monoclonal gammopathy. An association between biclonal gammopathy and tsutsugamushi meningitis has not been reported previously. Here, we report a case of a 55-year-old man presented with fever and decreased mentality. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test and an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test for Orientia tsutsugamushi revealed tsutsugamushi meningitis. CSF and serum immunofixation electrophoresis revealed biclonal gammopathy (IgG-