Paroxysmal dysarthria-ataxia in remitting-relapsing Bickerstaff's-like encephalitis.
Paroxysmal dysarthria-ataxia is a rare neurological condition due to ephaptic transmission, generally appearing in multiple sclerosis patients characterized by stereotyped attacks of slurred speech usually accompanied by ataxia, appearing many times a day. Here we describe a patient with an unusual remitting-relapsing form of Bickerstaff's-like brainstem encephalitis who manifested PDA after a relapse with the involvement of a peculiar region below the red nuclei and benefited from lamotrigine.
Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy. Electronic address: silviopiffer@yahoo.it.
Silvio
S
Piffer
Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy.
Giulia
G
Turri
Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy.
Michele
M
Acler
Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy.
Silvia
S
Richelli
Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, Section of Radiology, University of Verona, Italy.
Roberto
R
Cerini
Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy.
Antonio
A
Fiaschi
Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Monaco
Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy.
Bruno
B
Bonetti
D000368:Aged; D001259:Ataxia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011241:Prednisone
Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system; Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis; Brainstem MRI abnormalities; Brainstem dysfunction; Ephaptic axonal activation; Paroxysmal dysarthria-ataxia syndrome