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Biomedical subjects

A Donnet

Publications and source records attributed to A Donnet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Endovascular treatment of benign intracranial hypertension by stent placement in the transverse sinus. Therapeutic and pathophysiological considerations illustrated by a case report].

We report a case of benign intracranial hypertension in a 31-year-old man treated by endovascular stent placement in the right transverse sinus. The patient presented with a typical benign intracranial hypertension syndrome. Ophthalmologic findings showed bilateral papilledema with a 7/10 loss visual acuity loss in the right eye and 2/10 in the left eye. At lumbar puncture, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure was 40 mmHg. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed slit ventricles and dilatation of optic nerve sheaths. optiques. After failure of medical treatment, the patient was referred to our neurosurgical department for therapeutic decision. Direct retrograde cerebral venography showed predominant cerebral venous drainage via the right transverse sinus which exhibited stenosis in its proximal third. Mamometry revealed a 25 mmHg pressure gradient across the point of stenosis. Due to possible venogenic benign intracranial hypertension, endovascular stent placement was proposed and accepted by the patient. At 3 months follow-up, the patient was symptoms free, papilledema had disappeared and visual acuity was 10/10 on both eyes. CSF pressure on lumbar puncture was 11 mmHg. The pathophysiological aspects and therapeutic management of this pathology illustrated by this are discussed along with a careful and exhaustive review of the literature.

Adult↗

[Endoscopic treatment of a voluminous benign symptomatic cyst of the pineal region responsible for an obstructive hydrocephalus].

Asymptomatic non neoplastic cysts of the pineal region are common incidental findings in adults. On the contrary, voluminous and symptomatic cysts of the pineal region are rare and their management are not well defined. We present the case of a 32-year-old woman suffering who suffered from mild intracranial hypertension, gait disturbance and vertigo for one year. The neuroradiological workup showed a voluminous cyst of the pineal region responsible for an obstructive hydrocephalus. An endoscopic etiological treatment was decided. The operation consisted in a marsupialization of the cyst in the third ventricle with a stereotactic guidance system. A frozen section of the cyst wall failed to show tumoral cells. Immediate postoperative course was uneventful. Intracranial hypertension symptoms resolved in 24 hours. Clinical examination and neuropsychological testing were normal at two years postoperatively. The two years follow-up cerebral MRI demonstrated a remnant cystic cavity without mass effect and the patency of the aqueduct of Sylvius. Endoscopic treatment of symptomatic pineal cysts constitutes an interesting therapeutic alternative in the management of this pathology.

Adult↗

Gamma knife treatment for refractory cluster headache: prospective open trial.

BACKGROUND: Since the initial report of Ford et al in 1998 no further study has evaluated radiosurgery of the trigeminal nerve in chronic cluster headache (CCH). METHODS: We carried out a prospective open trial of neurosurgery and enrolled 10 patients (nine men, one woman; mean age 49.8 years, range 32-77) presenting with severe and drug resistant CCH (mean duration 9 years, range 2-33). The cisternal segment of the nerve was targeted with a single 4 mm collimator (80-85 Gy max). RESULTS: The mean follow up was 13.2 months. No improvement was observed in two patients and three patients had no further attacks. Three patients showed dramatic improvement with a few attacks per month or very few attacks over the last six months. Two patients were pain free for only one and two weeks and their headaches recurred with the same severity as before. Three patients developed paraesthesia with no hypoaesthesia, one developed hypoaesthesia, and one developed deafferentation pain. CONCLUSIONS: The rate and severity of trigeminal nerve injury appeared to be significantly higher than in trigeminal neuralgia, and this study does not support the positive results of the study of Ford et al. We consider the morbidity to be significant for the low rate of pain cessation, making this procedure less attractive even for the more severely affected subgroup of patients.

Adult↗

Differential patterns of cognitive impairment in patients with aqueductal stenosis and normal pressure hydrocephalus.

METHODS: We report a preoperative neuropsychological evaluation for ten adult patients with aqueductal stenosis, and compare the results of this group with a normal pressure hydrocephalus group. FINDINGS: For executive functions, aqueductal stenosis patients failed on isolated tests and results were heterogeneous; the normal pressure hydrocephalus group was more impaired, except for tasks which required memory processing. Memory deficits in aqueductal stenosis group are qualitatively dissimilar and more homogeneous and severe, despite the younger age, than in the normal pressure hydrocephalus group. INTERPRETATION: These findings indicate that neuropsychological deficits of patients with aqueductal stenosis are linked with fornix damage and frontal dysfunction. In the normal pressure hydrocephalus group, deficits could be linked with a prefrontal lobe disconnection.

Adult↗

Myositis in infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome: clinicopathological observations and treatment.

Diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS) is characterized by the presence of persistent circulating CD8 lymphocytosis and visceral CD8 lymphocytic infiltration, predominantly in the salivary glands and lungs in a subset of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. Myositis has been rarely documented in DILS. We report here the histopathological abnormalities and treatment response of an HIV patient with DILS associated myositis. Muscle biopsy revealed features of polymyositis but electron microscopy study showed intranuclear filamentous inclusions of 18 nm diameter, without intracytoplasmic inclusion. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobuline was useful.

Antigens, CD↗

[Central nervous tuberculosis in patients non-VIH: seven case reports].

PURPOSE: Tuberculosis involving the central nervous system (CNS) is rarely observed in non immuno-compromised hosts. We report herin the various clinical, biological and radiological manifestations observed in 7 patients with CNS tuberculosis. METHODS: Clinical and biological records of 7 patients with CNS tuberculosis were retrospectively studied. All patients had encephalic CT-scan and MRI in the course of the disease. RESULTS: 5 women and 2 men with a mean age of 38.4 years initially initially presented with headache (n = 6), fever (n = 5), meningeal irritation (n = 3), localizing neurological signs (n = 1). Lumbar punction revealed lymphocytic meningitis (n = 6/7). Mycobacterium tuberculosis or bovis was isolated in 3 patients only. Cerebral tomodensitography or magnetic resonance imaging were initially normal in most of cases (n = 4/7), but discovered in the course of disease basilar meningitis (n = 6), hydrocephalus (n = 6), abcess or tuberculoma (n = 4). In all the patients, initiation of the treatment was complicated by clinical and/or biological deterioration, called paradoxal reaction, leading in all cases to glucocorticoid adjunction, with various final results. Indeed, 4 patients developed neurological sequelae. No patient died. CONCLUSION: CNS tuberculosis is a rare disease in non immunocompromised patients whose diagnostic may be difficult due to the absence of specific clinical symptoms, negative initial radiological examination, as well as delayed and often negative bacterial isolation. Paradoxal reaction appeared to be frequent despite specific antibiotherapy and underlines the beneficial effects of addictive corticosteroids.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Primary leiomyosarcoma of the cavernous sinus associated with Epstein-Barr virus in a kidney graft].

Immunodeficient patients have an increased incidence of neoplasms, whether the immunodeficiency is due to genetic disorder, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or immunosuppressive therapy. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare neoplasm, even if its incidence has increased because of AIDS. Less than fifteen cases were described after organ transplantation. An intracranial localization is exceptional (five cases in the literature) and was never described after organ transplantation, to our knowledge. Our present report focuses on a 45-year-old immunocompromised patient, who received immunosuppressive therapy for renal transplantation. He suffered from atypical peri-orbital headaches six months after transplantation and a mass involving the cavernous sinus was identified. Surgical biopsy was performed. Histologic examination revealed a LMS. Epstein-Barr virus was identified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the LMS. Immunosuppression was reduced, the patient received adriamycin and protontherapy was realized. He died two years after the transplantation because of tumor progression and kidney failure.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

[Psychological and behavioral disorders with good outcome in neurosarcoidosis].

INTRODUCTION: Neurological involvement is observed in 5% of cases of sarcoidosis and includes impairment of the central nervous system, the meninges, and the cranial and peripheral nerves. Besides neurological defects, cognitive impairment may be encountered ranging from isolated memory defect to dementia. EXEGESIS: We report a case of neurosarcoidosis occurring in a 40-year-old woman, a native of Reunion Island, with initial meningeal and hypophyseal involvement. Three years later, while treated with low dose prednisolone and methotrexate, she presented a paranoid state associated with cognitive impairment of frontal type and severe behavioral disturbances. After 2 years of high dose steroid treatment associated with hydroxychloroquine, her behavioral status improved, allowing social and familial reinsertion. CONCLUSION: In our observation, sarcoidosis was revealed through a central neurological impairment, with chronic meningitis, facial nerve palsy, and, finally, through psychiatric symptoms and severe behavioral disturbances. A slow favorable outcome was obtained using high dose methylprednisolone and hydroxychloroquine with total regression of behavioral disturbances but with persisting cognitive alteration.

Adult↗

[Postural and locomotor evaluation of normal pressure hydrocephalus: a case report].

Generally, the diagnosis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is raised in elderly patients with an association of gait disturbances, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence and widening of the ventricles. Gait disturbances appear as the predominant clinical symptom of NPH, and may precede other symptoms. The main objectives of this study were to determine the effect of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) on gait and to compare the results obtained in HPN with those obtained in Parkinson's disease (PD). The performance of a patient with NPH on specific postural and locomotion tasks was analyzed during three successive experimental sessions: the first one before VPS, the second one week after VPS and the third three months after VPS. The patient was instructed to walk at his natural speed and also to maintain postural control for one minute. Four gait parameters (mean velocity, stride length, cadency and step width) were calculated for each session to assess the subject's performance. In this NPH patient there was a significant improvement in gait performance before and after VPS. This improvement concerned mean velocity, stride length and step cadency but did not involve the width component which remained unchanged. Before VPS, the NPH patient walked slower and with a shorter stride length than a group of patients with PD. After VPS his performance was better than the PD group except for cadency. Step width remained longer for the HPH patient than in PD patients for all three sessions. From this study, it appears that gait in idiopathic NPH exhibits a specific temporospatial pattern distinct from that in PD or normal age-matched controls. Changes in gait can be evaluated shortly after treatment of NPH. Gait disorders, excepting dynamic balance, may normalize as soon as one week after surgery.

Aged↗

Intracranial pseudolymphoma.

Intracranial pseudolymphoma is a rare tumor of the central nervous system. A 35-year-old woman presented with a frontal subcutaneous tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left frontal meningeal tumor involving subcutaneous tissue without bone involvement. The mass was completely removed and the histological aspect of all tumor sections was that of a lymphoid hyperplasia with polyclonal proliferation. These findings were characteristic of pseudolymphoma defined as a hyperplasia of follicular and diffuse lymphoid type with assessment of its polyclonality by immunophenotyping on frozen sections, completed by molecular biology techniques.

Adult↗

[Pharmaco-epidemiological study on the prophylactic treatment of migraine. National inquiry on attitude to prescription practices by primary care physicians and neurologists in Franceø].

A pharmacoepidemiological survey was conducted in order to understand the pattern of migraine prophylactic drug utilization by French physicians. Neurologists and primary care physicians completed a phone-mail-phone questionnaire which inquired about migraine prophylactic treatment. French neurologists and PCP made the same use of migraine prophylaxis in terms of indication, time interval between treatment onset and evaluation, and duration. The two most commonly chosen migraine prophylactic agents were dihydroergotamine and beta-blockers. This study also showed the importance of considering quality of life to evaluate efficacy of migraine prophylaxis.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Neuropsychological follow-up of twenty two adult patients after surgery for craniopharyngioma.

The optimal management of craniopharyngioma today remains an unconcluded debate. This prospective study examines the cognitive status and quality of life of 22 patients one year after surgery for craniopharyngioma. Pterional approach (5 left, 15 right) was used in 20 patients (90%), whereas two were operated on using a rhinoseptal approach. Neuropsychological examination was performed twelve months after the operation. For twelve patients, neuropsychological examination was performed before operation. The preoperative evaluation revealed that six patients had impaired neuropsychological testing with memory and frontal dysfunction. Four of these patients have no postoperative neuropsychological defect. After surgery, there were 5 patients in whom abnormalities could be detected on the extended psychometric assessment: two were severe (a Korsakoff's syndrome and a memory defect associated with an intellectual deterioration), and three moderate (recent memory defects with frontal dysfunction, isolated learning defects). Four patients of the 22 were not able to return to their pre-illness activity. The present evaluation emphasizes that a good quality of life and neuropsychological performance were maintained in the majority of patients. Preoperative frontal dysfunction is probably correlated to tumour location, and precisely to the interruption of the direct efferent projections from the frontal cortex to the hypothalamus. Postoperative alterations of neuropsychological function were noticed only in patients with pterional approach. These patients had a poor surgical outcome, preoperative neuropsychological defects or treatment combined with radiotherapy. The two patients who were operated on using a rhinoseptal approach had no neuropsychological deficit. But this surgical approach is best reserved for patients with smaller intrasellar tumours. Further studies are needed to evaluate the neuropsychological advantage of these different approaches.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Development of focal chronic epilepsy following focal status epilepticus in adult patients.

In several experimental models, status epilepticus (SE) leads to secondary brain hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis. In humans, such phenomena have been rarely demonstrated, particularly in cases of SE involving the neocortical structures. We report a 36 year old woman that presented partial SE in May 1991 involving the right cerebral hemisphere. The patient was then treated in the intensive care unit with artificial ventilation and anesthesia by pentobarbital and clometiazole. MRI showed transient right parietal and temporal posterior cortical hyperintensity. The cause of SE was not determined. Three months later, the patient developed partial complex seizures with aura characterized by vertigo, nausea and auditory hallucination. Ictal video/EEG recording showed a clear right temporal posterior onset of the discharges. We speculate that status epilepticus created the lesions which subsequently caused the focal chronic epilepsy.

Adult↗