Multiple Sclerosis Followed by Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: From the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Case Conference Proceedings

A woman presented at age 18 years with partial myelitis and diplopia and experienced multiple subsequent relapses. Her MRI demonstrated T2 abnormalities characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS) (white matter ovoid lesions and Dawson fingers), and CSF demonstrated an elevated IgG index and oligoclonal bands restricted to the CSF. Diagnosed with clinically definite relapsing-remitting MS, she was treated with various MS disease-modifying therapies and eventually began experiencing secondary progression. At age 57 years, she developed an acute longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and was found to have AQP4 antibodies by cell-based assay. Our analysis of the clinical course, radiographic findings, molecular diagnostic methods, and treatment response characteristics support the hypothesis that our patient most likely had 2 CNS inflammatory disorders: MS, which manifested as a teenager, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, which evolved in her sixth decade of life. This case emphasizes a key principle in neurology practice, which is to reconsider whether the original working diagnosis remains tenable, especially when confronted with evidence (clinical and/or paraclinical) that raises the possibility of a distinctively different disorder.

Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a relatively common, immune-mediated neurologic disease of the central nervous system that can cause significant disability and lead to reduced quality of life. There are several currently approved disease-modifying therapies, and more in the pipeline being developed and tested. As the field learns more about the pathophysiology and natural course of the disease, the treatment approaches are also being investigated. This article reviews data on available treatments along with a discussion of future treatment targets under investigation.

Stroke due to Paradoxical Embolization Related to Fibroid Uterus Enlargement Compressing the Right Common Iliac Vein

Stroke in young women is commonly cryptogenic or associated with an underlying hypercoagulable state (e.g., hormonal contraception). Paradoxical embolization has been postulated as a potential risk factor for stroke in young adults. Many sources of venous thrombosis leading to paradoxical embolization have been described. There have been few reported cases of uterine enlargement leading to iliac vein compression and paradoxical embolization. We present the case of a young adult woman who had a left middle cerebral artery infarction related to patent foramen ovale and right common iliac vein compression from an enlarged fibroid uterus.

Chronic colitis associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection

OBJECTIVE

A clinical and pathological description of chronic colitis associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

DESIGN

A retrospective case review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral institution and specialist gastroenterology practice.

PATIENTS

A series of six patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and chronic colitis observed for up to four years.

RESULTS

The six patients had chronic diarrhoea for longer than six months, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and stool leukocytosis. The mucosal pattern on colonoscopy showed diffuse proctocolitis, consisting of contact bleeding, superficial ulcerations, exudates, and/or loss of vascular pattern. Colonic biopsies showed a persisting diffuse colitis characterised principally by a mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate (mononuclear cells and neutrophils) and essentially preserved crypt architecture after six to 39 months of histological follow-up. The histopathology over this time frame was not typical of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, nor of the conventionally described forms of infective colitis. HIV nucleic acid was identified by insitu hybridisation in colonic biopsies from four patients. In two of three patients tested, the presence of HIV DNA was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. No other microbial agent could be demonstrated as the cause of diarrhoea. At presentation all patients had CD4+ lymphocyte counts greater than 265 x 10(6)/L and none had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Four patients have gone into remission, the other two patients were not in remission at four and a half to five years after onset.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that chronic colitis may represent a new entity related to infection of the colon with human immunodeficiency virus.