1/4. Optic neuropathy and central nervous system disease associated with primary sjogren's syndrome.Three cases of optic neuropathy associated with primary sjogren's syndrome are reported. All three patients had clinical manifestations of primary sjogren's syndrome, although two of the patients did not report sicca symptoms at initial examination. Two patients had focal neurologic signs in addition to optic neuropathy. The differentiation of this syndrome of optic neuropathy, focal neurologic signs, and sjogren's syndrome from multiple sclerosis and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is important for reasons of treatment and prognosis. This diagnostic differentiation was facilitated by positive tests for xerophthalmia and findings of positive minor salivary gland biopsy. High titers of antinuclear antibody, anti-SSA(Ro), and anti-SSB(La), and the absence of antiphospholipid antibodies provided additional help in the differential diagnosis. In 5 years of observation, none of the patients developed symptoms of multiple sclerosis or additional connective tissue disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. xerophthalmia secondary to alcohol-induced malnutrition.BACKGROUND: xerophthalmia refers to the ocular manifestations associated with vitamin a deficiency. vitamin a deficiency can be caused by numerous disorders, including alcohol-induced malnutrition. The ocular manifestations of xerophthalmia include conjunctival and corneal xerosis (drying), keratomalacia (corneal necrosis/ulceration), nyctalopia (night blindness), and Bitot's spots (conjunctival lesions). CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old white male with complaints of dryness and difficulty seeing at night presented to our clinic for consultation from general medicine to rule out xerophthalmia. Laboratory testing and general medicine, psychiatry, and nutrition evaluations confirmed the systemic diagnosis of alcohol-induced malnutrition. He admits that his alcoholism was induced by depression. Confirmed associated disorders compounding the malnutrition include alcoholic cirrhosis, protein deficiency, and megaloblastic anemia. The patient had xerophthalmia diagnosed in the optometry clinic as a result of symptoms, slit lamp examination signs, and the associated disorders. The associated disorders were treated with systemic medications and vitamins. Ophthalmic treatment consisted of carboxymethylcellulose-based artificial tears. CONCLUSIONS: Although xerophthalmia and vitamin a deficiency are more common in underdeveloped countries, their presentation in the united states may be induced by conditions such as liver cirrhosis, malnutrition, and alcoholism. This report summarizes ocular manifestations of alcoholism and presents a case of xerophthalmia secondary to alcohol-induced malnutrition and the role of optometry in its treatment and management.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 481.5192394127keywords = alcohol-induced (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. Neurologic complications of primary sjogren's syndrome.Although peripheral nervous system disease has been well documented in Sjogren's syndrome (SS), central nervous system (CNS) involvement is considered distinctly uncommon. Sixteen patients with primary SS and CNS disorders not attributable to other causes were the subjects of this study. Cerebral manifestations, both focal and diffuse, as well as spinal cord disease, were observed. Peripheral vasculitis occurred in 12 patients (75%), 83% of whom had anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies. The high proportion of patients with concomitant peripheral vasculitis, and the observed association with antibodies to the Ro(SSA) antigen system which, in other studies, has been linked to vasculitis in SS, suggest that an immune vasculopathy may play a role in the pathogenesis of the CNS disease of SS.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Human adjuvant disease: presentation as a multiple sclerosis-like syndrome.Twenty-six women had a systemic disease with central nervous system (CNS) involvement at a mean age of 39.2 years (range, 23 to 64 years) after receiving silicone breast implants (n = 25) or silicone fluid injections into breasts (n = 1). The median latency period between breast surgery and onset of symptoms was 5.71 years (range, 3 months to 15 years). All patients had evidence of disseminated CNS lesions; 20 patients also had evidence of peripheral neuropathy. Additional problems included myalgia (n = 24), joint stiffness (n = 23), arthralgia (n = 22), sicca complex (dry eyes and dry mouth) (n = 19), headache (n = 16), skin rash (n = 15), joint swelling (n = 14), Raynaud's phenomena (n = 14), fever (n = 13), hair loss (n = 12), allergies (n = 11), sensitivity to sunlight (n = 10), and lymphadenopathy (n = 9). magnetic resonance imaging brain scans were abnormal in 22 of 26 patients (21, white matter lesions; 1, ischemic lesions; 4, cerebral atrophy). Spinal tap revealed oligoclonal bands in 18 of 23 patients. Visual evoked responses were delayed in 14 of 23 patients, and autodirected antibodies were detected in 16 of 26. sural nerve biopsy results showed loss of myelinated fibers in 15 of 15. Seventeen of 24 patients (71%) who had implant removal were found to have grossly ruptured implants. We believe our patients had a new syndrome triggered by the foreign material in their body. This syndrome appears as a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease with central nervous system involvement resembling multiple sclerosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |