Unraveling a Complex Neurological Case Study | Diagnosis Insights & Treatment Plan
This case presentation depicts a 37-year-old Caucasian man with recurrent right facial droop, arm and leg tingling, weakness, and other concerning symptoms. Extensive workup and differential diagnoses were explored, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of Mollaret's Meningitis and Pseudomigraine with Temporary Neurologic Symptoms. The text delves into the patient's history, examination findings, diagnostic tests, treatment modalities, and the unique characteristics of these conditions.
Unraveling a Complex Neurological Case Study | Diagnosis Insights & Treatment Plan
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Neurology Case Presentation Scott M. Shorten, MD PGY-3
37 y.o. Right-handed Caucasian man CC: right facial droop, right arm and leg tingling and weakness
HPI • recurrent drooping of the right face • started 1.5 yrs ago without clear precipitant • multiple times per day and while asleep, no warning, no trigger • Average 30 minutes (5 min-2 hours), with complete recovery between • Sometimes associated hand/arm numbness, no other consistent symptoms • This episode concerning due to ‘stabbing’ mid-frontal headache with photo/phonophobia, left arm and leg weakness, and lasted over 2 hours. Onset while out in the heat gardening. • ROS: fatigue, chest discomfort, neck pain
PMHx/SurgHx • COPD • Hyperlipidemia • Depression • Septic thrombophlebitis, R Cephalic vein • Appendectomy • Hemorrhoidectomy
Family History • Mother: Bell’s Palsy, Thyroid disease • Father: Meniere’s Disease • Grandmother: Stroke
SocHx • Married, lives in Lawrence • Diesel mechanic • Smokes 1ppd x 30 years • No use of EtOH or Recreational Drugs
Medications • Verapamil 60mg TID • Carbamazepine 200mg BID • Aspirin 325 qD • Famotidine 10mg qD • Trandolapril 2mg qD • Multivitamin • Simvastatin 40mg qHS • Albuterol PRN • Allergy: Minocycline
VS: 132/80 36.6 p67 r18 GEN: alert, cooperative, pleasant, NAD. CV, Pulm, MSK examinations normal MS: oriented to person/place/time/situation Speech: slight labial dysarthria. Language normal. CN: NLF flattened on the right, decreased pinprick Right V1-3*
Motor: Tone and bulk normal, 5/5 throughout Sensory: decreased pinprick Right UE & LE Reflexes: Coordination: normal F-N-F and Heel-shin Gait: normal x4, no Romberg 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 ~ ~ 1 1
Workup(occurred over ~1 year) • Imaging: • MRI of complete neuro-axis: normal • CTA head and neck: normal • Trans-esophageal Echocardiogram: normal • 4-vessel angiogram normal • Prolonged and Video EEG negative for epileptic event, no slowing, no change on trial of Keppra • PET: Left lower lobe infiltrate likely pneumonia, no neoplasm
Lumbar Punctures: RBCs WBCs ProtGlu 3/7/11 90 20 (88%L) 62 49 3/9/11 2750 15 (51%L) 80 59 3/14/11 140 10 (77%L) 83 60 4/12/11 1 2 70 60 10/3/11 1 2 51 63 5/23/12 550 33 (94%L) 76 60
No growth of bacteria or fungus • CryptococcalAb: negative • Oligoclonal bands: negative • IgG index 0.59 • ACE: <4 • Cytology: negative x4 • Extensive workup with ID: unremarkable • Autoimmune/paraneoplastic workup: normal • DRVVT + on 6/17 but normal on subsequent 9/21: “possible transient due to viral infection” • EBV studies: +Capsid IgG +Nuclear agab +Early agab; - Capsid IgM
Mollaret’s Meningitis v. Pseudomigraine with Temporary Neurologic Symptoms and Lymphocytic Pleocytosis • started empiric treatment with Acyclovir IV, then Valacyclovir 1000mg daily x 1 year • Increased verapamil for continued possibility of vasospasm
Mollaret’s Meningitis • Described in 1944 • >3 episodes of fever and meningismus; weeks to years between • Lasting 2-5 days, wide variation • Spontaneous resolution • ~50% with neurologic features Pierre Mollaret (1898-1987) Mollaret, P. Revue Neurologique. 1944 . Shalabi, M. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2006.
Most commonly due to HSV-2, often with muco-cutaneous lesions found elsewhere • Diagnosis confirmed with CSF HSV PCR • Valacyclovir prevented genital lesion recurrence in first year, but no change in meningitis frequency Canadian Medical Assn. http://www.cmaj.ca/content/174/12/1710.2/F2.expansion.html Ginsberg L. PractNeurol 2008;8:348-361 Aurelius E. Clinical Infectious Diseases .2012.
Pseudomigraine with Temporary Neurologic Symptoms and Lymphocytic Pleocytosis = Migrainous Syndrome with CSF Pleocytosis = Syndrome of Transient Headache and Neurologic Deficits with CSF Pleocytosis (HaNDL)
HaNDL • First described in 1981 • Self-limited, benign condition • Transient neurological deficits - 15 minutes to 2 hours each, over weeks-months • Moderate-Severe throbbing headache • Lymphocyte predominant pleocytosis • Avg 199 cells (range 10-760), most >90% Lymph; • avg protein 96, elevated in 96% • Glucose normal • Opening pressure elevated in ~50% Bartleson, JD. Neurology. 1981 Gomez-Aranda, F. Brain. 1997
Lumbar Punctures: RBCs WBCs ProtGlu 3/7/11 90 20 (88%L) 62 49 3/9/11 2750 15 (51%L) 80 59 3/14/11 140 10 (77%L) 83 60 4/12/11 1 2 70 60 10/3/11 1 2 51 63 5/23/12 550 33 (94%L) 76 60
Usually in 30s-40s (range 7-52 yrs) • 25-40% had preceding cough/rhinitis/fatigue/diarrhea • No consistent gender predominance
Other Studies • Neuroimaging is usually normal • Leptomeningeal enhancement • Hypoperfusion on CT perfusion • EEG generally shows slowing in the corresponding region
HaNDL Etiology • Inflammatory/Infectious? • Few reports; Echovirus, HHV-6. • Migrainous? • SPECT imaging with decreased blood flow at sites corresponding to neurologic deficit • spreading cortical depression phenomenon • Infectious, triggering cortical depression? Castels-van Daele, M. Lancet. 1981. Emond, H. Cephalalgia. 2009. Caminero, AB. Headache. 1997
Diagnosis / Tx • Must first exclude more sinister causes • CSF with >15 cells/mL of lymphocyte predominance • Episodes of moderate-severe headache occurring with or shortly following symptoms • Episodes recurring within 3 months • Symptomatic treatment only, if needed The International Classification of Headache Disorders: Cephalalgia. 2004
Our Patient • frequency of attacks 3-4 per day (from up to 20). • Mostly affecting only his right face • Usually associated with moderate headache • Happy with improvement
ShalabiM, Whitley RJ. Recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis. Clinical Infect Dis. 2006;43(9):1194. L Ginsberg, J Kidd. Chronic and Recurrent Meningitis. PractNeurol 2008;8:348-361. Aurelius E, Franzen-Röhl E, GlimåkerM. Long-term valacyclovirsuppressive treatment after herpes simplex virus type 2 meningitis. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(9):1304. BartlesonJD, Swanson JW, WhisnantJP. A migrainous syndrome with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Neurology. 1981;31(10):1257. Castels-van Daele M, Standaert L, Boel M, Smeets E, Colaert J, DesmyterJ. Basilar migraine and viral meningitis. Lancet. 1981;1(8234):1366. CamineroAB, Pareja JA, Arpa J, Vivancos F, Palomo F, CoyaJ. Migrainoussyndrome with CSF pleocytosis. SPECT findings. Headache. 1997;37(8):511. Gómez-Aranda F, Cañadillas F, Martí-MassóJF. Pseudomigrainewith temporary neurological symptoms and lymphocytic pleocytosis. A report of 50 cases. Brain. 1997;120 ( Pt 7):1105.