Lateral hypothalamic demyelination and cachexia in a case of "malignant" multiple sclerosis.
A 41-year old woman had profound weight loss and cachexia as a manifestation of rapidly fatal multiple sclerosis. Demyelinating lesions were present in the lateral hypothalamus. Data from animal experiments have indicated that lateral hypothalamic lesions cause a weight loss associated with a lowering of the regulation level or "set-point" for body weight. This case suggests, therefore, that a rapid decline in the level of maintained body weight in a patient without pituitary disease or general organic disorder, or distinct emotional disorder, may represent a clinical manifestation of tissue injury of the lateral hypothalamus.
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002100:Cachexia / Q000150:complications*; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000473:pathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005911:Gliosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000473:pathology; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D014371:Tuber Cinereum / Q000473:pathology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000473:pathology