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Biomedical subjects

M A Pina

Publications and source records attributed to M A Pina.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Myelitis and optic neuritis caused by varicella].

INTRODUCTION: Varicella mainly affects children between 1 and 14 years old. It is the initial infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus. It is characterized by a vesicular cutaneous eruption, fever and generally good prognosis. The neurological complications caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus are infrequent and include: meningitis, encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, Reye's syndrome, myelitis, optic neuritis, mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, necrosis of the retina and cerebral arteritis. CLINICAL CASE: We present the unusual case of a woman patient aged 18 who presented with myelitis 15 days after having a varicella rash. Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid showed intrathecal production of antibodies against the Varicella-Zoster virus. Fourteen days after resolution of the myelitis, she presented with unilateral optic neuritis which remitted without sequelae, (as did the myelitis). Cerebral and medullary MR showed no alterations. CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenesis leading to involvement of the nervous system is still not well defined. Direct invasion by the virus has been postulated, particularly in Herpes-Zoster (reinfection by Varicella-Zoster), as immunological phenomena which may be more frequent with Varicella (initial infection by Varicella-Zoster virus). In our case there were two short episodes of neurological involvement: optic neuritis and myelitis, with a satisfactory clinical course after giving corticosteroids. This makes one think of immunological mechanisms rather than direct invasion of the central nervous system by the Varicella-Zoster virus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Primary intraventricular hemorrhage in the adult].

Forty two instances of primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) out of overall 592 cases of intracerebral hemorrhages diagnosed by CT in 1980-1989, to evaluate the general prognosis attributable to PIVH and its factors. The mortality rate was 23.8%, and persistent residual disability was small or absent in 59.5% of patients. The prognosis was influenced by the clinical status at admission and the magnitude of ventricular bleeding. We conclude that PIVH is comparatively benign.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Anterior spinal artery syndrome caused by cervical disc protrusion. Diagnosis by magnetic resonance].

The syndrome of the anterior spinal artery is a rare disease with a diagnosis based an its characteristic clinical features. Until the widespread use of the Magnetic Resonance (MR) the lesional confirmation required an anatomopathological study. We report a 49-years-old male with lacinating interscapular pain and sudden asymmetrical tetraparesia, in whom MR scan disclosed a plurisegmental anterior spinal lesion and a posterolateral disk protrusion at C6-C7 level. We discuss the etiological and pathogenetical relation between degenerative vertebral disk disease and spinal infarctions.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The evaluation of cognitive deterioration in transient ischemic attacks].

We compared the degree of dementia in a group of 41 patients who, four years previously, had presented a first TIA with that of 31 healthy controls of similar age. For pathogenic diagnosis the Hachinski and Gustafson-Nilsson scales were applied, while mental state was evaluated by the Folstein, Blessed, GDS and CDR tests. We performed in all cases cerebral CT and several MR. The findings associated with dementia were the presence of multi-infarctions, leucoaraiosis or lacunes in the cerebral CT and the presentation of new ischemic episodes, sphincterian or gait disturbances and focal deficits. There were no differences with the control group in the cases only presenting one TIA. Polyglobulia was the only factor significantly associated with vascular dementia in these patients.

Age Factors↗