Association of Parsonage-Turner syndrome with COVID-19 infection and vaccination: a systematic review

Albuminocytologic Dissociation and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Parsonage-Turner Syndrome With Bilateral Involvement: A Case Report

Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by acute neuropathic pain followed by motor and sensory deficits, typically affecting the brachial plexus. While often self-limiting, atypical presentations can complicate diagnosis and management. We present a case of a 53-year-old male patient with a history of cervical foraminal stenosis and progressive left upper extremity (LUE) flaccid paralysis for over 14 months, with no clear cause for worsening symptoms. Diagnostic evaluation, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) of the brain, cervical spine, and brachial plexus, revealed grossly normal findings. Initial electromyography (EMG) studies demonstrated worsening motor response in the LUE without the typical dermatomal distribution of cervical radiculopathy, leading to the diagnosis of PTS. Additionally, shoulder subluxation and triceps tendon insertional enthesopathy were noted due to muscular instability. The patient was followed by outpatient neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation departments when, 14 months later, he developed similar weakness in the contralateral right upper extremity (RUE). In the outpatient clinic, repeat EMG demonstrated severe axonal denervation with no motor or sensory response in the LUE, along with new-onset RUE weakness in the digits, prompting hospital admission. During a week-long hospitalization, all blood tests were normal, and infectious causes were ruled out. Notably, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed albuminocytologic dissociation (ACD), a unique finding in the patient with a history of PTS. Given the conflicting presence of ACD and the potential for an underlying autoimmune inflammatory neuropathy, the patient was treated off-label with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). IVIG was selected over corticosteroids due to the chronic and worsening nature of the condition, as there is limited clinical evidence supporting steroid efficacy in long-term cases. Physical therapy was initiated during hospitalization, leading to modest improvement in the RUE motor strength. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of PTS, particularly in patients with bilateral involvement, atypical progression, and severe symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach, including the exclusion of other neuromuscular and structural pathologies, is essential. Early recognition and intervention may help mitigate long-term morbidity. Further research into early diagnostic markers and targeted treatments is warranted to improve patient outcomes and restore neuromuscular function.

Immune triggers preceding neuralgic amyotrophy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Infections and vaccinations have been identified as potential immunological triggers of neuralgic amyotrophy (NA), but the exact type and frequency of the preceding agents is unknown.

METHODS

This was a multicentre, prospective, observational, matched case-control study. NA was diagnosed by neuromuscular experts according to validated clinical criteria and electrodiagnostic studies. Clinical data and biological samples of NA patients were collected within 90 days from disease onset between June 2018 and December 2023. All NA patients were asked about prior infection and vaccination in the month before disease onset. Serological tests for hepatitis E virus, human immunodeficiency virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, varicella-zoster virus, Borrelia burgdorferi, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Bartonella henselae were performed in a central laboratory. Each case was matched with a healthy control for age, sex, place of residence and time of blood collection.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients and corresponding controls were included. The mean age was 45 years for both groups. NA onset was preceded by a symptomatic infectious trigger confirmed by microbiological tests in 15/57 (26.3%) patients. Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination was considered a potential trigger in 7/57 (12.3%) subjects. An acute viral infection was associated with a bilateral involvement of the brachial plexus (p = 0.003, Cramèr's V = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

Confirmed immune triggers (infection or vaccination) preceded disease onset in 22/57 (38.6%) NA cases. We suggest to test NA patients in the acute phase for intracellular antigens, especially in the case of concomitant bilateral involvement and hepatitis.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Guillain-Barré Syndrome Incidence

Despite the fact that the global COVID-19 pandemic has officially ended, we continue to feel its effects and discover new correlations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and changes in the organism that have occurred in patients. It has been shown that the disease can be associated with a variety of complications, including disorders of the nervous system such as a characteristic loss of smell and taste, as well as less commonly reported incidents such as cranial polyneuropathy or neuromuscular disorders. Nervous system diseases that are suspected to be related to COVID-19 include Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is frequently caused by viruses. During the course of the disease, autoimmunity destroys peripheral nerves, which despite its rare occurrence, can lead to serious consequences, such as symmetrical muscle weakness and deep reflexes, or even their complete abolition. Since the beginning of the pandemic, case reports suggesting a relationship between these two disease entities have been published, and in some countries, the increasing number of Guillain-Barré syndrome cases have also been reported. This suggests that previous contact with SARS-CoV-2 may have had an impact on their occurrence. This article is a review and summary of the literature that raises awareness of the neurological symptoms' prevalence, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, which may be impacted by the commonly occurring COVID-19 disease or vaccination against it. The aim of this review was to better understand the mechanisms of the virus's action on the nervous system, allowing for better detection and the prevention of its complications.

Hepatitis E and diaphragmatic dysfunction: Case series and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

The causes of diaphragmatic paresis are manifold. An association between neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been reported. We wondered about the prevalence of diaphragmatic disfunction and hepatitis E infection in our clinic.

METHODS

From July 1st, 2020 to August 31st, 2023, patients presenting with diaphragmatic dysfunction and simultaneous clinical symptoms of an acute NA, or a history of NA, as well as patients with previously unexplained diaphragmatic dysfunction were examined for HEV infection.

RESULTS

By August 31st, 2023, 13 patients with diaphragmatic dysfunction and HEV infection were diagnosed (4 women, 9 men). Mean age was 59 ± 10 years. Liver values were normal in all patients. The median latency to diagnosis was five months (range: 1-48 months); nine patients, 4 of them with typical symptoms of NA, presented with acute onset three patients showed bilateral diaphragmatic dysfunction. All patients had a positive IgG immunoblot. Seven patients, three with NA, had an elevated hepatitis E IgM titer and six of them also a positive IgM immunoblot. In all cases, O2C hepatitis genotype 3 was identified. In eight cases, all those with a high IgG titer >125, the O2 genotype 1 was also detected.

CONCLUSION

NA that shows involvement of the phrenic nerve resulting in diaphragmatic dysfunction and dyspnoea, may be associated with HEV infection. The observation of 13 patients with diaphragmatic dysfunctions and HEV infection within a period of three years indicates a high number of undetected HEV-associated diaphragmatic dysfunction in the population, especially in the absence of NA symptoms. Therefore, even in diaphragmatic dysfunction without NA symptoms and causative damaging event, HEV infection should be considered, as it may represent a subform of NA with only phrenic nerve involvement. Therapy of HEV-associated diaphragmatic dysfunction in the acute phase is an open question. In view of the poor prognosis for recovery, antiviral therapy should be discussed. However, no relevant data are currently available.

The Utility of an Epidural Steroid Injection for the Treatment of Idiopathic Brachial Neuritis

Idiopathic brachial neuritis is an uncommon disorder that predominately affects the superior and middle trunks of the brachial plexus. Severe throbbing and aching shoulder pain is initially present for a period of days to weeks, followed by severe weakness and atrophy that can develop for an extended period of months to years. There are currently no known treatments for brachial neuritis, with the standard of care consisting of analgesics and corticosteroids, which typically provide minimal to no benefit in most cases. In this case, we will present a case of a patient who was diagnosed with idiopathic brachial neuritis and underwent an interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ESI) for treatment. Following treatment with the ESI, the patient had a subsequent resolution of symptoms. This case underscores the value of early recognition for the diagnosis of brachial neuritis and the utility of an ESI as a treatment option, thus preventing long-term pathological sequalae. To our knowledge, this is the first known reported case to have successfully cured brachial neuritis.

[MR neurography reveals fascicular constriction of the median nerve in a patient with neuralgic amyotrophy]

Diagnosing neuralgic amyotrophy can be challenging in clinical practice. Here, we report the case of a 37-years old Japanese woman who suddenly developed neuropathic pain in the right upper limb after influenza vaccination. The pain, especially at night, was severe and unrelenting, which disturbed her sleep. However, X-ray and MRI did not reveal any fractures or muscle injuries, and brain MRI did not reveal any abnormalities. During neurological consultation, she was in a posture of flexion at the elbow and adduction at the shoulder. Manual muscle testing suggested weakness of the flexor pollicis longus, pronator quadratus, flexor carpi radialis (FCR), and pronator teres (PT), while the flexor digitorum profundus was intact. Medical history and neurological examination suggested neuralgic amyotrophy, particularly anterior interosseous nerve syndrome (AINS) with PT/FCR involvement. Innervation patterns on muscle MRI were compatible with the clinical findings. Conservative treatment with pain medication and oral corticosteroids relieved the pain to minimum discomfort, whereas weakness remained for approximately 3 months. For surgical exploration, lesions above the elbow and fascicles of the median nerve before branching to the PT/FCR were indicated on neurological examinations; thus, we performed high-resolution imaging to detect possible pathognomonic fascicular constrictions. While fascicular constrictions were not evident on ultrasonography, MR neurography indicated fascicular constriction proximal to the elbow joint line, of which the medial topographical regions of the median nerve were abnormally enlarged and showed marked hyperintensity on short-tau inversion recovery. In patients with AINS, when spontaneous regeneration cannot be expected, timely surgical exploration should be considered for a good outcome. In our case, MR neurography was a useful modality for assessing fascicular constrictions when the imaging protocols were appropriately optimized based on clinical assessment.

Claw Hand in Parsonage Turner syndrome

An elderly patient with an extensive smoking history presented with acute severe right-hand pain and evolving weakness with patchy sensory deficit. He had minimal relief from multiple analgesics, gabapentin, and acupuncture. Motor deficits in his right-hand progressed. A nerve conduction study confirmed motor-predominant polyneuropathy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his C-spine and brachial plexus ruled out apical lung mass or other structural lesions. A positive GalNAc-GD1a ganglioside antibody (IgG) was noted. A diagnosis of immune mediated neuralgic amyotrophy or Parsonage-Turner Syndrome was made. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) was started with partial improvement in motor function, six months later. Although this patient did not have SARS-CoV-2 infection nor was he recently vaccinated, this case is of interest to hospital-based internists as the Covid pandemic has seen an increase in the in reported cases of neuralgic amyotrophy worldwide due to the virus itself as well as the associated COVID-19 vaccines.