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Neurology India, Vol. 59, No. 3, May-June, 2011, pp. 484-485 Letter to Editor Progressive supranuclear palsy like syndrome: Neurocysticercosis an unusual cause Pawan Sharma, Ravindra Kumar Garg, Dilip Singh Somvanshi, Hardeep Singh Malhotra Department of Neurology, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India Correspondence Address:Ravindra Kumar Garg Department of Neurology, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow India garg50@yahoo.com Date of Submission: 07-May-2011 Code Number: ni11145 PMID: 21743198 DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.82763 Sir, Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder which occurs rarely, and only a few patients of progressive supranuclear palsy like syndrome with acquired causes have been described. [1],[2] We report progressive supranuclear palsy like syndrome in a patient with neurocysticercosis. A 64-year-old man presented with gradually progressive difficulty in walking, frequent backward falls and change in speech since one and half year. Attendants also noticed progressive cognitive decline. On examination, patient was conscious, oriented, and attentive. His speech was hypophonic and spastic. Mini mental status examination revealed a score of 16. He had impaired recent memory and calculations. Perseveration and emotional lability were present. He had gaze restriction in all direction with vertical gaze much more affected than horizontal. In vertical, up-gaze was more restricted than down-gaze. Vertical saccades were absent and horizontal saccades were slow. Axial rigidity was present with positive pull test. Primitive reflexes were present. There was no motor weakness. Deep tendon reflexes were brisk bilaterally. Plantar responses were flexor. Gait was slow with short and low steps. Hematological and blood biochemical parameters were normal. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for neurocysticercosis was positive while ELISA for human immunodeficiency virus was negative. Magnetic resonance T1, T2, and Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) images of the brain showed multiple ring shaped cystic lesions (hypointense on T1 and hyperintense on T2). The vesicular lesions of neurocysticercosis were present in both the cerebral hemispheres, especially in the temporal lobes, and also in the dorsal and tegmental areas of the midbrain [Figure - 1]. Patient was treated with 2 weeks course of albendazole along with dexamethasone. No complication of albendazole therapy was noted. After 2 months of follow-up there was no significant change in the disability status of the patient. Follow up neuroimaging was not done. Diagnosis of PSP is based mainly on clinical criteria and there are no laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.[3] Essential criteria suggested by National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke-Society for PSP include presence of vertical supranuclear gaze palsy/slowing of vertical saccades and postural instability with recurrent falls. [4] Clinically our patient had progressive supranuclear palsy like syndrome. However, some of the manifestations were not suggestive of PSP, including early cognitive decline with prominent memory and calculation deficits. Neuroimaging of the brain revealed presence of multiple cystic lesions suggestive of neurocysticercosis. [5] Our patient suggests that neurocysticercosis may present with progressive supranuclear palsy like syndrome. References
Copyright 2011 - Neurology India The following images related to this document are available:Photo images[ni11145f1.jpg] |
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