[COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME].

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) represents a state of constant and often disabling pain, affecting one region (usually hand) and often occurs after a trauma whose severity does not correlate with the level of pain. The older term for this condition of chronic pain associated with motor and autonomic symptoms is reflex sympathetic dystrophy or causalgia. The aim of this review, based on contemporary literature, is to show the epidemiology and etiology, proposed pathophysiological mechanisms, method of diagnosis and treatment options, prevention and mitigation of this under-recognized disease.

Complex regional pain syndrome type I after diphtheria-tetanus (Di-Te) vaccination.

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) is a disorder of one or more extremities characterized by pain, abnormal sensitivity (allodynia), swelling, limited range of motion, vasomotor instability, fatigue and emotional distress. The symptoms may be aggravated by even minor activity or weather change. It is usually provoked by injury, surgery or injection but in a small proportion of patients CRPS I develops without a clear causative event.

[Electromyoneurographic study in inflammatory and noninflammatory myopathies].

Electromyoneurographic (EMNG) study is very useful in diagnosis of myopathy. Motor unit action potentials are low-amplitude, polyphasic and short duration and can be present to variable degree in different type of myopathies. Four components of needle EMG provide important information; morphology of motor unit action potentials, spontaneus activity, insertional activity and recruitment.

Coexistence of intradural spinal arteriovenous malformation and associated developmental anomalies - report of two cases.

Spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVM) have been devided into dural (Type I), intramedullary glomus (Type II), juvenile (Type III), and perimedullary direct arteriovenous fistulae (Type IV). AVMs are usually associated with subacute myelopathy in what has been known as Foix-Alajouanine syndrome. We presented two patients with two intradural spinal arteriovenous malformations associated in what we call Foix-Alajouanine syndrome.

Myasthenia gravis patients with anti-MuSK antibodies.

In myasthenia gravis (MG) patients without detectable anti-acetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR) antibody, referred to as seronegative myasthenia gravis patients, there is a variable proportion of patients with antibodies against the muscle-specific kinase (MuSK). MuSK antibodies were found in 8 (29.6%) of our 27 patients with generalized MG without anti-AChR antibodies.

Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have been investigated in a single neurodegenerative disease manifesting as either amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) alone, but have not been examined in combined disorders such as ALS with FTD (ALS-FTD). To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to demonstrate relationship between MRI abnormalities and MR spectroscopic metabolite changes of the motor cortex, frontal white matter and corticospinal tract in a patient with the diagnosis of ALS with probable upper motor neuron signs (ALS-PUMNS) and FTD. Patient presented underwent MRI of the brain and MRS.

Masked deficit of vitamin B12 in the patient with heterozygous beta-thalassemia and spastic paraparesis.

The spinal cord, brain, optic nerves and peripheral nerves may be affected by vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency. Deficiency of vitamin B12 also causes megaloblastic anaemia, meaning that the red blood cells are usually larger than normal. In this paper we report a 16-year old girl who was referred to us for the evaluation of mild paraparesis and paresthesias marked by tingling "pins and needles" feelings and general weakness.