Rev Neurol France
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Hashimoto's encephalitis is a rare cause of encephalitis which is improved by corticosteroid treatment. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman who developed progressive dementia associated with episodes of recurrent discorders of consciousness which rapidly improved with corticosteroids. During these episodes, no sleep activity was recorded on the holter EEG. ⋯ At physical examination, Hashimoto's encephalitis can mimic Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. Systematic sleep-EEG recordings can be helpful for diagnosis of sleep disorders related Hashimoto's encephalitis. This case illustrates the importance of searching for antithyroid antibodies in patients with unexplained encephalitis.
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Review Case Reports
[Bilateral amyotrophic neuralgia (Parsonage Turner syndrome) with HIV seroconversion].
We report a unusual case of neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) occurring during the seroconversion stage of an HIV infection. Combined with previously published cases, our observation suggests that NA associated with HIV could belong to the group of early multiplex mononeuritis. Neurologists should be aware of HIV infection when managing a patient with NA.
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Case Reports
[Livedo-like dermatitis (Nicolau's syndrome) after injection of Copolymer-1 (Glatiramer acetate)].
We report the first case of a 33-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis, who developed a livedo-like dermatitis after injection of Copolymere-1. This disease is characterized by the development of acute violent pain during or immediately after injection, and a livedo-like plaque followed by necrosis corresponding to an arterial ischemia by vasospasm or thrombosis. Early treatment with vasoactive and anticoagulation agents is required. Surgery may be necessary.
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In the past decade, there have been considerable advances in understanding the neuronal bases of sensory and motor map reorganisation in adults and it is now clear that cortical representations are not invariant and stable, but rather, are dynamic and can continuously be modified. In human subjects, substantial advances in this field have been possible because of the spectacular development of non-invasive imaging and brain stimulation techniques. This review addresses specific questions about the capacity of motor maps in adult primates, including man, to change in response to behaviourally relevant experiences or as a result of central or peripheral lesion. ⋯ The mechanisms underlying such a plasticity of cortical maps following peripheral lesions are increasingly well understood. Thirdly, we discuss data showing that a corticospinal system lesion can lead to a complete reorganisation of the area allocated to the hand representation in the primary motor cortex or to a reorganization of the whole network of motor areas responsible for voluntary movements. As a conclusion, therapeutical perspectives that result from a better understanding of those various mechanisms responsible for motor map plasticity are briefly discussed.