First case report of acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis following Plasmodium vivax infection

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis following the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: A case report

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE), is a rare inflammatory demyelinating disorder, variant of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The diagnosis of AHLE remains challenging due to the rarity of the disease and the lack of a reliable biomarker. We report here a case of a 73-year-old male patient with a progressive, low-grade febrile confusional syndrome 20 days after receiving the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Evidence indicative of the underlying condition by an extensive panel of imaging (brain magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography), laboratory (complete blood count, biochemistry, coagulation, tests for autoimmune or infectious disorders, tumor markers, hormonal levels, cerebrospinal fluid analysis) and electrodiagnostic tests were scarce, and mainly non-specific. Sequential neuroimaging revealed the appearance of extensive T2 lesions (signs of gliosis) along with multiple hemorrhagic lesions at various cortical sites. The patient was treated with corticosteroids, discontinued due to severe adverse effects, and subsequently with sessions of plasmapheresis and monthly intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide. Considering the rapid aggravation of the patient's neurological status, the MRI findings of cortical lesions and the lack of response to any treatment, a biopsy of a frontal lobe lesion was conducted, confirming the presence of confluent, inflammatory-edematous lesions with scattered areas of necrosis and hemorrhage, and ultimately areas of demyelination, thus confirming the diagnosis of AHLE. After more than 5 months of hospitalization the patient was transferred in a primary care facility and remained in a permanent vegetative state until his death, more than 2 years later.

Case Report: Minimal Neurological Deficit of Two Adult Patients With Weston-Hurst Syndrome Due to Early Craniectomy: Case Series and Review of Literature on Craniectomy

Objectives: We describe two new cases of acute hemorrhagic leucoencephalitis (AHLE), who survived with minimal sequelae due to early measures against increased intracranial pressure, particularly craniotomy. The recently published literature review on treatment and outcome of AHLE was further examined for the effect of craniotomy.

Methods: We present two cases from our institution. The outcome of 44 cases from the literature was defined either as good (no deficit, minimal deficit/no daily help) or poor outcome (severe deficit/disabled, death). Patients with purely infratentorial lesions (n = 9) were excluded. Fisher's exact test was applied.

Results: Two cases are presented: A 43-year-old woman with rapidly progressive aphasia and right hemiparesis due to a huge left frontal white matter lesion with rim contrast enhancement. Pathology was consistent with AHLE. The second case was a 56-year-old woman with rapidly progressive aphasia and right hemiparesis. Cranial MRI showed a huge left temporo-occipital white matter lesion with typical morphology for AHLE. Both patients received craniotomy within the first 24 h and consequent immunosuppressive-immunomodulatory treatment and survived with minimal deficits. Out of 35 supratentorial reported AHLE cases, seven patients received decompressive craniotomy. Comparing all supratentorial cases, patients who received craniotomy were more likely to have a good outcome (71 vs. 29%).

Conclusion: Due to early control of the intracranial pressure, particularly due to early craniotomy; diagnosis per biopsy; and immediate start of immunosuppressive-immunomodulatory therapies (cortisone pulse, plasma exchanges), both patients survived with minimal sequelae. Craniotomy plays an important role and should be considered early on in patients with probable AHLE.

Acute Hemorrhagic Leukoencephalitis: A Case and Systematic Review of the Literature

Objectives: To present a patient with acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) and a systematic review of the literature analyzing diagnostic procedures, treatment, and outcomes of AHLE.

Methods: PubMed and Cochrane databases were screened. Papers published since 01/01/2000 describing adult patients are reported according to the PRISMA-guidelines.

Results: A 59-year old male with rapidly developing coma and cerebral biopsy changes compatible with AHLE is presented followed by 43 case reports from the literature including males in 67% and a mean age of 38 years. Mortality was 47%. Infectious pathogens were reported in 35%, preexisting autoimmune diseases were identified in 12%. Neuroimaging revealed uni- or bihemispheric lesions in 65% and isolated lesions of the cerebellum, pons, medulla oblongata or the spinal cord without concomitant hemispheric involvement in 16%. Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid showed an increased protein level in 87%, elevated white blood cells in 65%, and erythrocytes in 39%. Histology (reported in 58%) supported the diagnosis of AHLE in all cases. Glucocorticoids were used most commonly (97%), followed by plasmapheresis (26%), and intravenous immunoglobulins (12%), without a clear temporal relationship between treatment and the patients' clinical course.

Conclusions: Although mortality was lower than previously reported, AHLE remains a life-threatening neurologic emergency with high mortality. Diagnosis is challenging as the level of evidence regarding the diagnostic yield of clinical, neuroimaging and laboratory characteristics remains low. Hence, clinicians are urged to heighten their awareness and to prompt cerebral biopsies in the context of rapidly progressive neurologic decline of unknown origin with the concurrence of the compiled characteristics. Future studies need to focus on treatment characteristics and their effects on course and outcome.

Neurological complications in patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria from Karachi, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Malaria remains an endemic disease in Pakistan with an estimated healthcare burden of 1.6 million cases annually, with Plasmodium vivax accounting for 67% of reported cases. P. vivax is the most common species causing malaria outside of Africa, with approximately 13.8 million reported cases worldwide.

METHOD

We report a series of P. vivax cases with cerebral involvement that presented at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

RESULTS

The majority of the patients presented with high-grade fever accompanied by projectile vomiting and abnormal behaviour, seizures, shock and unconsciousness. Seven of 801 patients with P. vivax monoinfection presented or developed cerebral complications. P. vivax infections were diagnosed based on peripheral smears and rapid diagnostic testing.

CONCLUSION

P. vivax infection can lead to severe complications, although not with the frequency of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Current cases highlight an increasing trend of cerebral complications caused by P. vivax.

Plasmodium vivax Malaria Presenting with Multifocal Hemorrhagic Brain Infarcts in a School-going Child

Cerebral malaria is a well-known complication of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Over recent years, however, Plasmodium vivax also has been reported to cause cerebral malaria with or without co-infection with P. falciparum Here, we report a boy aged 10 years presenting with acute febrile encephalopathy with raised intracranial pressure to the emergency, who was later diagnosed to have P. vivax malaria. His neurological status improved gradually during 6 weeks of pediatric intensive care unit stay. We report this case to highlight the unusual radiologic findings in the patient, such as multifocal hemorrhagic infarcts in the brainstem, bilateral thalami, frontal cortex and basal ganglia, which have not been reported with P. vivax malaria.

Post-Plasmodium vivax malaria cerebellar ataxia and optic neuritis: A new form of delayed cerebellar ataxia or cerebellar variant of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis?

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is commonly seen after viral and bacterial infections, immunization, and Plasmodium falciparum (PF) malaria. Plasmodium vivax (PV) rarely causes ADEM. We report a 14-year-old female patient who presented with acute onset bilateral cerebellar ataxia and optic neuritis, 2 weeks after recovery from PV. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral cerebellar hyperintensities suggestive of ADEM. No specific viral etiology was found on cerebrospinal fluid examination. Patient responded well to treatment without any sequelae. Thus, PV too is an important cause of ADEM along with PF. Two of the previously reported cases had co-infection with falciparum malaria. The only other two reported cases, as also this patient, are from Asia. A geographical or racial predisposition needs to be evaluated. Also, a possibility of post-PV delayed cerebellar ataxia, which is classically described post-PF infection, may be considered as it may be clinically, radiologically, and prognostically indistinguishable from a milder presentation of ADEM.