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Anatomical and clinical study of a case of subacute encephalomyelitis with hyperekplexia syndrome

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Abstract

This case of subacute encephalomyelitis with a hyperekplexia type syndrome was characterized histologically by marked lymphomonocytic infiltrates, nodules of microglia, evidence of neuronophagia These findings suggested a viral infection. The clinical peculiarities of this encephalomyelitis are explained by the elective site of the lesions in the grey substance of the spinal cord, of the tegmentum of the medulla oblongata and pons and of some nuclei of the extrapyramidal system.

Sommario

Si riportano le osservazioni clinico-patologiche in un caso di encefalomielite subacuta con sindrome tipo Hyperekplexia, caratterizzata sul piano istopatologico da marcati infiltrati linfomonocitari, noduli di microglia, aspetti di neuronofagia. Tali reperti sono suggestivi di infezione virale. L'elettiva localizzazione delle lesioni a carico della sostanza grigia del midollo spinale, del tegmento bulbo-pontino e di alcuni nuclei del sistema extrapiramidale fornisce il substrato fisiopatologico delle peculiari caratteristiche cliniche di tale encefalomielite.

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Fenzi, F., Bongiovanni, G., Fincati, E. et al. Anatomical and clinical study of a case of subacute encephalomyelitis with hyperekplexia syndrome. Ital J Neuro Sci 9, 505–508 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02337170

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