Intractable Hepatic Hydrothorax: A Successful Outcome following CPAP Treatment.

Unlabelled: Hepatic hydrothorax is an uncommon complication in patients with end-stage liver disease. It may result in dyspnoea, hypoxia and infection, and carries a poor prognosis. Initial treatment is based on a sodium-free diet together with diuretics.

Acute Recurrent Pericarditis as the Inaugural Manifestation of Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Unlabelled: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder commonly found among individuals of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent and caused by Mediterranean Fever gene (MEFV) mutations on chromosome 16. It is the most frequent periodic febrile syndrome among the autoinflammatory syndromes. Typical febrile attacks include serosal inflammation, but although FMF is characterized by recurrent polyserositis, there is a little documentation of pericardial disease among patients.

Reversible Cerebral Vasospasm in Acute Intermittent Porphyria: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Unlabelled: The porphyrias are rare inherited diseases of heme biosynthesis which can involve the nervous system. The most common neurological manifestations of acute intermittent porphyria are autonomic visceral neuropathy, peripheral motor neuropathy, and central nervous system dysfunction. In rare cases, patients with acute intermittent porphyria have presented with cerebral infarction, suggested to be due to vasospasm in cerebral arteries.

Spontaneous Periodic Hypothermia in the Elderly: A Rare or Under-Recognised Syndrome.

Unlabelled: Spontaneous periodic hypothermia is a rare syndrome presenting with recurrent, centrally mediated hypothermia without an identifiable systemic cause or brain lesion. The case of an 88-year-old woman with recurrent hypothermia is reported. Despite intensive investigation, no other manifestations of hypothalamic or autonomic dysfunction were found.

Acquired Haemophilia Associated with Urticarial Vasculitis.

Unlabelled: Acquired haemophilia (AHA) is a rare autoimmune disorder caused by circulating autoantibodies that inhibit the activity of factor VIII (FVIII). Acquired inhibitors against FVIII are rarely seen, with a reported incidence of approximately 1 case per million/year. Clinical conditions and contexts associated with AHA include autoimmune diseases, lymphoproliferative malignancies, drug treatment, pregnancy and infections.

Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Still Under-Recognized Syndrome.

Unlabelled: Cannabis is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world. Its use is associated with several short- and long-term side-effects such as changes in mood, impaired memory, impaired attention, depression and anxiety, and it is correlated with schizophrenia. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by chronic cannabis use, cyclic intractable nausea and vomiting, and compulsive hot bathing.

Tetraparesis with Major Hypokalaemia and Rhabdomyolysis Induced by Chronic Liquorice Ingestion.

Unlabelled: Chronic ingestion of liquorice induces a syndrome with findings similar to those for primary hyperaldosteronism. This is characterized by hypokalaemia, hypertension, metabolic alkalosis and suppression of the renin-aldosterone system. We describe a 30-year-old woman who, with a plasma potassium level of 1.

[Cerebral salt wasting syndrome in bacterial meningitis].

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is the most common cause of cerebral salt wasting syndrome. There are few reports of this condition in infectious meningitis. We describe a patient with hyponatremia and bacterial meningitis.

Hypoparathyroidism in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease. The main cause of hypoparathyroidism is postsurgical hypoparathyroidism. However, cases of hypoparathyroidism in patients suffering from SLE exist although it is uncommon.

[Conjugal progressive systemic sclerosis].

Introduction: Familial occurrence of progressive systemic sclerosis is unusual. The occurrence of conjugal scleroderma is exceptional.

Exegesis: We report here a case of systemic sclerosis in a wife and husband who both developed the onset of illness within a 10-year period.

[Sjögren's syndrome with autonomic failure and epilepsy].

Introduction: Primary Sjogren syndrome is considered as the most frequent connective tissue disease. Neurological complications may affect the peripheral nervous system and to lesser extent the central nervous system. Autonomic system nervous dysfunction and epilepsy have been rarely reported.

[Association of hereditary hemochromatosis and pernicious anaemia].

Introduction: Hereditary hemochromatosis is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. It is characterized by increased absorption of dietary iron. The association between pernicious anaemia and hereditary hemochromatosis has never been described.

[Cavernous sinus lymphoma mimicking Tolosa-Hunt syndrome].

Introduction: Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is characterized by painful ophthalmoplegia due to idiopathic granulomatous inflammation of the cavernous sinus. Steroid therapy dramatically reverses the symptoms and clinical signs. Because they also may respond to steroids, tumors such as lymphoma and meningioma and orbital tumors can make differential diagnosis difficult.

[Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy an chronic lymphocytic leukemia].

Introduction: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a demyelinating disease resulting from an opportunistic infection of the central nervous system by JC papovavirus. It mostly occurs in patients with an underlying immunosuppressive disorder. In the era of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome it is observed with increasing frequency.

[Ischemic cerebral vascular accident and zoster infection].

Herpes zoster is uncommonly followed by cerebral infarction. The pathophysiological mechanism remains uncertain. Outcome is favorable after early specific treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis in the same patient. Two case-reports.

We report on two new patients with both rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In one patient, the first manifestations of multiple sclerosis occurred eight years after onset of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis without extraarticular manifestations. The other patient had a 20-year history of multiple sclerosis when she developed seropositive, nodular rheumatoid arthritis.