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Biomedical subjects

H S Swamy

Publications and source records attributed to H S Swamy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Wilson's disease: cranial MRI observations and clinical correlation.

INTRODUCTION: Study of MRI changes may be useful in diagnosis, prognosis and better understanding of the pathophysiology of Wilson's disease (WD). We aimed to describe and correlate the MRI abnormalities of the brain with clinical features in WD. METHODS: MRI evaluation was carried out in 100 patients (57 males, 43 females; mean age 19.3+/-8.9 years) using standard protocols. All but 18 patients were on de-coppering agents. Their history, clinical manifestations and scores for severity of disease were noted. RESULTS: The mean duration of illness and treatment were 8.3+/-10.8 years and 7.5+/-7.1 years respectively. MRI of the brain was abnormal in all the 93 symptomatic patients. The most conspicuous observations were atrophy of the cerebrum (70%), brainstem (66%) and cerebellum (52%). Signal abnormalities were also noted: putamen (72%), caudate (61%), thalami (58%), midbrain (49%), pons (20%), cerebral white matter (25%), cortex (9%), medulla (12%) and cerebellum (10%). The characteristic T2-W globus pallidal hypointensity (34%), "Face of giant panda" sign (12%), T1-W striatal hyperintensity (6%), central pontine myelinosis (7%), and bright claustral sign (4%) were also detected. MRI changes correlated with disease severity scores (P<0.001) but did not correlate with the duration of illness. CONCLUSION: MRI changes were universal but diverse and involved almost all the structures of the brain in symptomatic patients. A fair correlation between MRI observations and various clinical features provides an explanation for the protean manifestations of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Prognostic factors in patients presenting with severe neurological forms of Wilson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Wilson's disease (WD), a metabolic disorder, is believed to be potentially reversible, even in its severe form. However, some patients do not respond to treatment. AIM: To analyse prognostic factors in severe WD. DESIGN: Retrospective audit. METHODS: A total of 140 patients were regularly followed from February 2002 to May 2004. Twenty-nine (18 males, 11 females) had severe disease, as defined by Modified Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living score (MSEADL) of < or=50% or Chu stage of 3. We analysed their clinical, laboratory and MRI features with respect to prognosis. RESULTS: For the severe form, mean age at symptom onset was 11.5 +/- 6.4 years, and at diagnosis, 13.3 +/- 7.0 years. Mean Neurological Symptom Score (NSS), Chu stage, and MSEADL were 26.5 +/- 8.2, 2.7 +/- 0.5 and 24.8 +/- 17.4, respectively. Twenty-one patients underwent MRI; 14 had repeat MRI. Following treatment, 14 (group A) had progressive worsening, including death in two, while 15 (group B) had sustained clinical improvement. Baseline demographic, clinical and laboratory features and MRI scores did not significantly differ between the two groups. However, diffuse white-matter abnormalities were more extensive in group A. Full-dose initial penicillamine therapy could have contributed to worsening in four patients. Drug compliance was poor in both groups but resumption of treatment did not benefit patients in group A. Serial MRI showed regression of lesions only among patients with clinical improvement. DISCUSSION: Severe WD remains a therapeutic challenge, with early diagnosis and treatment are essential. Specific MRI observations, a 'start low-go slow' regimen for penicillamine, and compliance may have prognostic significance. In absence of clinical predictors, genetic attributes need to be explored.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Is low serum tocopherol in Wilson's disease a significant symptom?

BACKGROUND: Free radical mediated injury is increasingly recognized in many metabolic diseases including Wilson's disease (WD). Use of antioxidants as an adjunctive therapy in WD may have therapeutic significance. AIM: The aim of the study was to correlate serum levels of tocopherols with serum copper and ceruloplasmin and clinical status of these patients. METHODS: Serum levels of tocopherol of were measured spectrophotometrically using the Emmerie-Engel reaction in 34 patients from a large cohort of WD being followed up at a tertiary care center. RESULTS: Majority of patients were male (M/F=23:11). The mean serum copper was 43.6+/-26.2 microg/dl (range=10-121 microg/dl) and serum ceruloplasmin was 5.6+/-5.5 mg/dl (range=0-30 mg/dl). The mean serum tocopherol level was 0.68+/-0.18 mg/dl (range=0.23-1.14 mg/dl) and compared to the control (1.07+/-0.17 mg/dl), nearly 59% of patients had decreased levels (p<0.001). No significant correlation was noted between low serum tocopherol levels and serum copper levels, Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores and CHU staging. However, serum tocopherol levels were lower in patients with relatively short duration of treatment (7.8 years vs. 12.4 years). CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of serum tocopherol were detected in 59% of patients compared to controls. However, low tocopherol levels did not correlate with clinical status or biochemical parameters of WD, except for relatively shorter duration of treatment. Further studies, especially in newly diagnosed patients, need to be done to validate the role of low tocopherol levels in Wilson's disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Successful pregnancies and abortions in symptomatic and asymptomatic Wilson's disease.

BACKGROUND: There are only a few reports regarding the fertility and outcome of pregnancy in Wilson's disease (WD) and none from India. The authors in this study discuss various aspects of fertility in 16 women with WD. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of data from a large cohort of WD, being followed at a tertiary care center. RESULTS: Sixteen patients had conceived on 59 occasions with 30 successful pregnancies, 24 spontaneous abortions, 2 medical terminations of pregnancy and 3 still births. Diagnosis of WD was established after conception in 10 presymptomatic patients while six patients were already on treatment. Among these 16 patients, 9 had history of spontaneous abortions and 12 had successful pregnancies. None of the clinical features of WD changed during pregnancy, with or without treatment. All the 30 babies were full-term and delivered healthy. CONCLUSION: Recurrent abortions are common especially in women with untreated Wilson's disease. However, successful pregnancies and uneventful full-term delivery may occur in mothers of WD on treatment and in undiagnosed, undetected presymptomatic patients. Pregnancy does not seem to have adverse effect on the clinical course of Wilson's disease. Teratogenecity was not seen in the present series with low-dose penicillamine and zinc sulphate.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2004

Wilson's disease: diagnostic errors and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic outcome of Wilson's disease (WD) significantly depends upon its early recognition. However, because of its rarity in community and protean manifestations, the diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. AIM: To ascertain diagnostic errors at initial evaluation in these patients. METHODS: Analysis of medical records of 307 patients of WD registered over 30 years was done regarding presenting manifestations, initial diagnostic omissions, and interval between onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: Of the 307 patients of WD diagnostic errors by referring doctors from different specialties of health care were detected in 192 patients. These were diverse and multiple and included schizophrenia, juvenile polyarthritis, rheumatic chorea, nephrotic syndrome, metachromatic leucodystrophy, congenital myopathies, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, neurodegenerative disease among others. The mean (SD) delay was two (three) years (range: 0.08-30 years). Some of the interventions before establishment of correct diagnosis were electroconvulsive therapy, thalamotomy, antipsychotics, and surgical correction for bony deformity. While 98 patients were referred with correct diagnosis, only 16 were given specific treatment. CONCLUSION: Awareness among health professionals about varied presenting features of WD and high index of suspicion may have prognostic implications.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Spectrum of epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis.

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is an autosomal dominant disease that affects the brain, skin, eye, heart and kidney. The diagnostic criteria for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) have recently been revised. There are relatively few Indian studies on this disorder. Twenty-six patients diagnosed as having TS over a period of 18 years are being reported. The onset of seizures ranged from infancy to adolescence. The patterns of epilepsy encountered were generalized tonic clonic seizures (13), complex partial seizures (10), simple partial seizures (9) and myoclonic jerks (4) including infantile spasms (3). Patients often had more than one seizure type. Nineteen patients were mentally subnormal. Cutaneous manifestations were facial angiofibroma i.e. adenoma sebaceum (20), shagreen patches (7), hypopigmented macules (6), ash leaf spots (4), café-au-lait spots (2), facial hypoplasia (2) and periungual fibromas (1). One patient each had retinal phakoma and renal angiomyolipoma. CT scan revealed sub-ependymal calcifications (12), parenchymal tubers (3), cerebral edema (3) and cortical atrophy (1). One patient had enhancement of peri-ventricular sub-ependymal lesions on MRI. Anticonvulsants prescribed were phenobarbitone (20), diphenyl hydantoin (14), carbamazepine (8), sodium valproate (4), benzodiazepines (4), ACTH (2), prednisone (1), mysoline (1) and vigabatrin (1). Most patients were on combinations of anti-convulsants and response to therapy was usually not very satisfactory. However, the child treated with vigabatrin did well.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Cardiac involvement in Wilson's disease--an electrocardiographic observation.

BACKGROUND: Wilson's disease is known for its protean manifestations; however electrocardiographic abnormalities have not received much attention. AIM: To evaluate the various electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in patients with Wilson's disease. METHOD: The resting ECGs of 50 patients with Wilson's disease were systematically analyzed independently by three observers after excluding other causes that could induce ECG abnormalities. RESULT: Fifteen patients had at least one abnormality in the ECG. Sinus tachycardia was seen in eight and sinus bradycardia in six. Other abnormalities included: bifid P wave (1), ST elevation (2), ST depression (2), T inversion (4), ventricular premature contraction - VPC (1) and prominent U waves (1). QRS axis, PR interval, QRS complex, R/S amplitude ratio and QT interval were normal in all. Ventricular premature beats were not recorded in any. None had features of ventricular hypertrophy. There was no statistically significant difference in ECG abnormalities with reference to age, gender, duration of illness or treatment, serum copper or ceruloplasmin, and severity of neurological impairment. CONCLUSION: ECG abnormalities are not uncommon in Wilson's disease and are presumably related to an underlying cardiomyopathy due to deposition of copper in heart.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Hemiplegia: an initial manifestation of Japanese encephalitis.

A 7-year-old boy from an area endemic to Japanese encephalitis (JE) manifested with acute febrile illness, left hemiplegia and preserved consciousness during the prodromal phase of illness. The child developed features of encephalitis 48 hours after the onset of hemiplegia. IgM MAC ELISA for JE virus revealed high titers in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid suggestive of JE. MRI of the brain showed asymmetrical bilateral thalamic hyperintense lesions on T2 weighted image, considered diagnostic of JE. Hemiplegia during the prodromal phase or as an initial symptom of JE is rather unusual.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Autonomic dysfunction in Wilson's disease --a clinical and electrophysiological study.

Wilson's disease is known for its protean manifestations; however involvement of the autonomic nervous system has not received much attention. Fifty patients with varying duration and severity of illness were evaluated for autonomic dysfunction clinically and electrophysiologically, using sympathetic skin response (SSR) and RR interval variability (RRIV) on deep breathing. The change in heart rate (AHR) was calculated from RRIV. Five patients had at least one autonomic symptom and one asymptomatic patient had significant postural hypotension. Absent SSR and abnormal AHR were noted in seven patients each. Overall, 13 patients had electrophysiological dysautonomia and an additional six had clinical dysautonomia. All had normal peripheral conductions and all but one had normal hepatic functions. Dysautonomia was more common among patients with neurological presentation (12/32) than non-neurological (1/18) (p = .012). Dysautonomia, often subclinical is common in Wilson's disease and is probably of central origin. It is more frequent among those with neurological presentation. Sympathetic and parasympathetic functions are equally affected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Palatal tremor, progressive multiple cranial nerve palsies, and cerebellar ataxia: a case report and review of literature of palatal tremors in neurodegenerative disease.

We describe a patient with an unusual clinical presentation of progressive multiple cranial nerve palsies, cerebellar ataxia, and palatal tremor (PT) resulting from an unknown etiology. Magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of hypertrophy of the inferior olivary nuclei, brain stem atrophy, and marked cerebellar atrophy. This combination of progressive multiple cranial nerve palsies, cerebellar ataxia, and PT has never been reported in the literature. We have also reviewed the literature of PT secondary to neurodegenerative causes. In a total of 23 patients, the common causes are sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA; 22%), Alexander's disease (22%), unknown etiology (43.4%), and occasionally progressive supranuclear palsy (4.3%) and spinocerebellar degeneration (4.3%). Most patients present with progressive cerebellar ataxia and approximately two thirds of them have rhythmic tremors elsewhere. Ear clicks are observed in 13% and evidence of hypertrophy of the inferior olivary nucleus in 25% of the patients. The common neurodegenerative causes of PT are OPCA/multiple system atrophy, Alexander's disease, and, in most of them, the result of an unknown cause.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Non-traumatic acute rhabdomyolysis.

A boy developed sudden severe generalized muscle stiffness, bulbar weakness and passed dark coloured urine. Laboratory tests revealed marked elevation of creatinine kinase(CK) levels and myoglobinuria. Histopathology of quadriceps muscle showed features of acute rhabdomyolysis. Patient made complete clinical recovery over a period of three weeks and CK returned to normal level. The possible aetiologies of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis are discussed and the relevant literature reviewed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

CT in simple partial seizures in children: a clinical and computed tomography study.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic relevance of computed tomography (CT) in children with simple partial seizures (SPS) is reported to be remarkably low (1-2%). There are not studies, however, from the developing countries where neuroinfections are among important causes of seizures. The present study from India is aimed at evaluating the significance of CT in the management of SPS in children and to determine the difference in clinical features of children with and without focal brain lesions in CT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CT scans of all patients aged 15 years of younger with SPS, seen over a period of 15 months, were reviewed. The clinical features of the patients with focal lesions in the CT were compared with those of children without focal abnormalities. RESULTS: Focal structural lesions were present in 117 (59.09%) of 198 children. These included: solitary contrast enhancing CT lesion-16.16%, focal calcification-12.12%, cysticerosis-10.10%, focal atrophy-9.59%, tuberculoma-6.56% and infarction-6.06%. Neuroinfections or their sequelae were responsible for seizures in 89 children (44.94%). There were no statistically significant differences in clinical features of patients with and without focal lesions in CT. CONCLUSIONS: CT study in children with SPS in developing countries has significant therapeutic relevance. It is not possible to clinically differentiate children with focal lesions from those without focal lesions in CT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Sympathetic skin response in acute sensory ataxic neuropathy.

Sympathetic skin response (SSR) is a recently described objective method of studying sudomotor sympathetic nerve function and has been studied in a variety of peripheral neuropathies. We report SSR changes in nine patients with acute sensory ataxic neuropathy (ASAN). All had severe sensory and mild motor nerve conduction abnormalities; five had dysautonomia. SSR, elicited by electric shock and cough stimuli, was absent in three patients. Latency was normal in all when SSR was present. Two patients had SSR amplitude of 0.2 mV or less. Absence of SSR did not correlate with dysautonomia, absence of sensory nerve action potential or motor nerve conduction abnormalities. Follow up SSR studies revealed return of absent SSR in one patient over a period of 3 months, despite persistence of ataxia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SSR changes in ASAN.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1995

Recurrent Guillain Barre' Syndrome: a clinical, electrophysiological and morphological study.

Of the 220 patients of acute idiopathic demyelinating polyneuritis (AIDP/GBS) seen over a seven year period, 15 patients (M:F:11:4) had a relapsing course (6.8%). Their ages ranged from 8 yrs to 70 yrs. They had 36 episodes at a variable interval of 3 months to 25 yrs. Relapse rate varied from one to four. Antecedent events were noted during 16 episodes in 9 patients but the triggering factors were varied. Clinical features of individual episodes were similar to the acute monophasic illness, although they differed inseverity from one episode to the other. Autonomic disturbances were rare. Albuminocytological dissociation was observed during 19 of the 24 episodes. Electrophysiological abnormalities were observed during 19 of the 24 episodes. Electrophysiological abnormalities were present in all and were comparable with patients of non-recurrent illness. Sural nerve biopsy in 3 patients showed evidence of demyelination, remyelination, Wallerian degeneration and myelin breakdown but none had features of inflammation. With the exception of one death, functional recovery was complete in the majority of patients, irrespective of the type of therapeutic intervention. Acute onset, frequent facial involvement, brief clinical course, near complete recovery and very long asymptomatic periods may distinguish these patients of acute relapsing demyelinating polyneuropathy (ARDP) from chronic relapsing demyelinating polyneuropathy. Relapses in GBS are however unpredictable and recurrent GBS is indistinguishable clinically, electrophysiologically and morphologically from the more frequently seen non-recurrent form of monophasic GB Syndrome. A biochemical or immunological marker may help in this distinction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Early onset Parkinson's disease: are juvenile- and young-onset different?

It is controversial if early onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) (onset at < 41 years of age) is Parkinson's disease (PD) occurring at a younger age or a different disease. This controversy is due to some clinical and pathological differences between EOPD and PD. Within EOPD, there appear to be two groups namely: young onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD), with onset between 21 and 40 years, and juvenile parkinsonism (JP), with onset at < 20 years. The two major clinical differences between these groups are a higher familial occurrence of PD and dystonia in JP. In this study, we determine if the two groups have the classical features of PD, namely rest tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability, and have a meaningful response to levodopa. Furthermore, we compare their other clinical features, autonomic and cognitive functions, and levels of CSF monoamine metabolites to determine differences between these groups. We observe that all YOPD (100%) and JP (85%) patients had rest tremors. Most of these patients also had a meaningful response to levodopa (YOPD: 72%; JP: 100%). The prevalence of family history of PD was similar, whereas dystonia was more frequent in JP (43%) compared to YOPD (9%). Autonomic symptoms were twice as common in JP (42%) compared to YOPD (17%). However, bedside autonomic functions were abnormal in similar proportions and, like in PD, suggest involvement of parasympathetic nervous system. Cognitive dysfunction does occur but with no difference in severity between the two groups. The difference in number of patients between YOPD and JP groups makes statistical comparison of the occurrence of clinical features like dystonia and autonomic dysfunction difficult.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Critically ill Guillain Barre' syndrome.

Among the 153 patients fulfilling NINDS criteria for Guillain Barre' Syndrome (GBS) seen over 5.5 yrs, there were 47 (M:F 38.9) critically ill patients (age range 4 to 60 years). Antecedent event was recorded in 25 patients and the peak deficit was attained over a mean period of 9.5 days. Besides severe motor paralysis other salient features were: bulbar paralysis--42, sensory symptoms or signs--21, dysautonomia 31 and requirement for ventilatory assistance 45. CSF protein was raised in 63% cases. All the 17 patients who underwent electromyography had abnormalities of nerve conduction paramentes. Mean stay on the ventilator was 29.6 days and was not influenced by corticosteroid. Complications were frequent: pulmonary and urinary tract infection, dysautonomia, electrolyte disturbances, haemetmesis, bleeding from tracheostomy site and hepatic and renal failure. Mortality in steroids treated group (13/27) and the conservatively managed group (5/20) did not differ significantly. No discriminant factor emerged between survivors and non-survivors. Age and sex of the patients, presence of antecedent event, onset to peak interval and CSF protein level did not predict the need for ventilatory assistance, although these patients at admission had more frequent weakness of facial, bulbar, trunk, neck and proximal muscles of upper limbs and autonomic disturbances. Course of GBS remains unpredictable at the onset of the disease, warrants close supervision and meticulous supportive care and remains a therapeutic challenge.

Adolescent↗