BACKGROUND: Presently, it is well known that there are neurological and systemic complications after carbon monox-ide (CO) intoxication. Until recently, delayed-onset movement disorders after CO intoxication were rarely reported. We analyzed 32 patients with delayed onset movement disorders after CO intoxication. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 242 patients admitted to the Yonsei University Medical Center from January 1986 to December 1996 due to CO intoxication. Patients were analyzed with respect to movement disorders, onset, latency, and radiological findings. RESULTS: Among the 242 patients of CO intoxication, 32 (13.2%) patients had delayed-onset movement disorders. Of these, 23 (71.9%) had parkinsonism, 5 (15.6%) had dystonia, 3 (9.4%) had chorea, and 1 (3.1%) had myoclonus. The mean age of the patients was 46.66 +/-16.91 years. Among the 4 patients with CO intoxication occuring at age 17 or younger (Childhood group), 2 had parkinsonism and 2 had focal dystonia. The mean age of the Childhood group was 1 7 . 7 5 +/-6.99 years. Among the 28 patients with CO intoxication occuring at age 18 or older (Adult group), 21 (75%) had parkinsonism, 3(10.7%) dystonia, 3(10.7%) chorea, and 1(3.6%) myoclonus. Among the 3 patients with dystonia in the Adult group, 1 had focal dystonia and 2 had segmental dystonia. The mean age of the adult group was 50.79 +/-1 3 . 4 6 years. The mean latency between CO intoxication and the onset of movement disorders was 27.20 +/-27.94 weeks in the Childhood group and 9.60 +/-14.97 weeks in the Adult group. The mean latency between CO intoxication and the onset of movement disorders was 6.44 +/-6.76 weeks in parkinsonism, 41.76 +/-27.99 weeks in dystonia, 4.0 weeks in chorea, and 8.0 weeks in myoclonus. The mean latency in dystonia was longer than in the others. Among the 23 patients who underwent brain computed tomography, 12 (52.2%) had abnormal findings. Low density lesions were found in the globus pallidus (13.0%), cerebral white matter (13.0%), and both globus pallidus and cerebral white matter (17.4%). One (14.3%) patient showed cortical atrophy while another patient showed both cortical atrophy and low density in cerebral white matter. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a delayed-onset movement disorder after CO intoxication is not rare. In our research, the radiological findings of patients with delayed-onset movement disorders after CO intoxication were inconsistant. The findings revealed no correlations with the various types of delayed-onset movement disorders.
Academic Medical Centers ; Adult ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Chorea ; Dystonia ; Dystonic Disorders ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Movement Disorders* ; Myoclonus ; Parkinsonian Disorders

Twenty-three patients with delayed carbon monoxide (CO) encephalopathy completed a short-term follow-up brain computed tomographic (CT) study. Of them, 12 revealed low-density lesions in the cerebral white matter, 3 had pallidal low-density lesions, and one showed low-density lesions in the cerebral white matter and globus pallidus on initial CT scans. Of the 23 patients with follow-up brain CT scans, 9 (39.1%) showed more aggravating patterns with cortical atrophy . 8 with concomitant low-density lesions in the cerebral white matter. Age, sex, duration of unconsciousness during the anoxic episode and lucid interval did not appear to affect the presence of cortical atrophy, but the cerebral white matter low-density lesions on the initial CT scan seemed to be correlated with cortical atrophy after delayed CO encephalopathy. In conclusion, cortical atrophy after delayed CO sequelae is relatively common, and frequently associate with the cerebral white matter low-density lesions. Follow-up brain CT study will be needed to determine the development of cortical atrophy in all patients with delayed encephalopathy after CO poisoning.
Atrophy* ; Brain ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Poisoning ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Unconsciousness

Recently with the development of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) techniques, many reports of radiologic findings in spontaneous intracranial hypotension(SIH) have been reported. However in our review, the pachymeningeal changes within spinal canal secondary to SIH are not reported. In SIH, same mechanisms of it might act in the intraspinal space, which cause pachymeningeal changes of spinal dura and clinical features of spinal involvement. We reports four cases of SIH, in which MRI of the brain and spine reveals diffuse symmetric pachymeningeal enhancement. This is the first report of the spinal images in SIH.
Brain ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spinal Canal ; Spine

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon*

Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis (PKC) is characterized by short paroxysms of focal or generalized involuntary movement induced by sudden movements, and is a well-known disease in the neurologic literature, but only 4 cases have been reported in Korea. The purpose of the presentation is to clarify the clinical features of PKC in Korea. We clinically analyzed 20 patients with PKC between 1986 and 1994 at Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center, with a minimum of a 1 to 2 year follow-up period. There were 14 men and 6 women. The age at onset of the condition ranged from 8 to 17 years (mean, 13.1 years). Six patients (30%) had a family history of the condition and the mode of inheritance was suggestive of an autosomal recessive pattern. The involuntary movements seemed to be dystonic rather than choreoathetonic upon a mild attack, and the paroxysms were precipitated by sudden movements. The attacks occurred on one or both sides, and were often associated with dysarthria, upward gaze and sensory aura. Consciousness was never lost. Their duration were usually 10 to 30 seconds, and never more than two minutes. All laboratory tests including electroencephalographic and neuroimaging studies showed no abnormality. All patients responded well to diphenylhydantoin. PKC is not rare in Korea and has a benign course.
Adolescent ; Athetosis/drug therapy/*physiopathology ; Child ; Chorea/drug therapy/*physiopathology ; Female ; Human ; Male ; *Movement ; Phenytoin/therapeutic use ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for biliary tract cancer (BTC) after curative-intent resection remains con-troversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy for BTC patients undergoing microscopically margin-negative (R0) resection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of BTC patients who underwent curative-intent R0 resection. Patients were eligible if they received either fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy or observation after R0 resection. Results: A total of 153 patients were included. In the entire patient cohort, no significant differences were observed in 5-year overall survival (OS) rates (48.4% vs. 39.6%,P= 0.439) or 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates (49.1% vs. 39.5%,P= 0.299) between patients who received fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy or observation. However, for patients with stages Ⅱ and Ⅲ BTC, chemotherapy significantly improved 5-year OS rate (52.4% vs. 35.6%, P= 0.002) and 3-year RFS rate (55.5% vs. 39.1%,P= 0.021) compared with observation. Conclusion: Fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy may prolong the survival of patients with stages Ⅱ and Ⅲ BTC after R0 resection.

Albendazole, one of imidazole derivatives, is an new drug for the threatment of neurocysticercosis. In this study, effectiveness of albendazole and praziquantel for therapy for parenchymal or mixed neurocysticercosis was compared. Group A included 5 patients treated with albendazole for 7-10days. Three patients among them had been treated with praziquantel previously with partial response. During treatment, all patients presented with adverse reactions, such as mild fever, intense headache, vomiting, and seizure. After 3 months of treatment, the percentage of reduction in total number and total diameter of cysts on computed tomographic scan (CT) were 55.0%, 58.0% respectively. Group B included 10 patients treated with praziquantel for 5014days. Among them, only 2 patients presented with adverse reactions. The percentage of reduction in total number and total diameter of cysts on CT were 0%, 48.1% respectively. Froup C included 5 patients treated conservatively without any specific anticysticereal agent. Follow up CT after mean of 18.6 months had shown increase in total number (125%) and total diameter (151%) of cysts. Our results indicalte that both drougs were effective for therapy for parenchymal or mixed neurocysticercosis. But, albendazole I.
Albendazole* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Praziquantel* ; Seizures ; Vomiting

The elevated risk for thromboembolic events in cancer patients has been well documented. Chemotherapy is considered to be one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular complications such as arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, angina, and myocardial infarction. However, acute aortic thrombosis is an extremely rare complication in patients receiving chemotherapy. The authors report a case of acute aortic thrombosis after adjuvant capecitabine chemotherapy for colon cancer.

Two hundred and four patients with Parkinson's disease initially treated wth a combination of levodopa and carbidopa ( Sinement 25-250 ) and / or anticholinergic drugs. All patients responded initially to drug. Sixteen patients(7.8%) had 20 acute central nervous system side effects: 8, dyskinesia: 6, visual hallucination:5, psychosis: and 1, akathisia. The response to treatment usually was stable for the first one and a half to four years of drug therapy. Subsequently, over 50 percent of patients had therapeutic failure among 82 patients with long term drug therapy, fourteen(l7.0%) had 18 side effects: 8, on-off phenomenon: 4. Morning dystonia: 3, dyskinesia:and 3, simultaneous dyskinesia with parkinsonism. None had diphasic dyskinesia or myoclonus. The prognosis of the demented parkinsonian was relatively poor. Two patients died due to pneumonia and ovarian carcinoma.
Carbidopa ; Central Nervous System ; Drug Therapy ; Dyskinesias ; Dystonia ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Myoclonus ; Parkinson Disease* ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Psychotic Disorders