Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Case I: A 9-year-old boy, diagnosed as having hemophilia A at 8 months, was admitted complaining of slight headache and nausea one day after a minor head trauma. Neurological deficits were absent but CT scan revealed an epidural hematoma in the posterior fossa. Shortly afterwards, he lapsed into coma with apnea and dilated pupils. Following resuscitation, emergency suboccipital craniectomy and total removal of the bilateral supra- and infratentorial extradural hematoma was performed under AHG administration. The patient gradually regained consciousness, but during the subsequent nine weeks he underwent three major operations (laparotomy): the first two for hemostasis of gastrointestinal bleeding, and the last one for strangulated intestinal obstruction. Although this patient necessitated 16 weeks of AHG administration, he was discharged without any side effects after 4 months of hospitalization. Case II: A 10-year-old boy, diagnosed earlier as having hemophilia A, experienced a minor head trauma and was admitted because of headaches and nausea. CT scan revealed an epidural hematoma in the posterior fossa. Removal of the hematoma was successfully completed under AHG administration. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficits. In the above hemophilic cases, we used a high concentrated AHG and maintained at 70% of the plasma concentration of the VIII factor during the first 14 postoperative days. The high concentrated AHG was safe for long term administration, so one should not hesitate operation even in the case of intracranial hemorrhage of hemophilic patients. CT scan should be recommended to the patient of hemophilia A even in minor head trauma.
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PMID:[Acute epidural hematoma in the posterior fossa in patients with hemophilia A--report of two surgically treated cases]. 641 74

The syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder caused by mitochondrial dysfunctions that result in headaches, seizures, and progressive dementia. The authors describe a clinical case study of gastrointestinal manifestations in a pedigree with MELAS, in which all three children, ages 11, 8, and 6, demonstrated acute onset of intestinal obstruction. They unexpectedly showed severe abdominal distension and vomiting. Their parents had no clinical manifestation. The first female sibling underwent an emergent laparotomy because she was diagnosed to have intestinal strangulation. She had postoperative complications caused by progressive lactic acidosis and died the next day. The second and third sisters had similar onsets of the disease and were treated with gastrointestinal decompression and intravenous administration of lactate-free fluid and coenzyme Q10. Genetic testing using blood samples showed an A-to-G point mutation at nucleotide position 3243 in the tRNALeu(UUR) region in the mitochondrial DNA. In MELAS children who demonstrate acute onset of gastrointestinal manifestations, a careful review of family history and an elevation of serum lactate and pyruvate levels may enable a differential diagnosis to be made of acute abdomen to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.
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PMID:Familial occurrence of intestinal obstruction in children with the syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). 986 67

Malignant-associated bowel obstruction remains a common and perplexing problem for patients with advanced gynecologic and gastrointestinal malignancies. The ability to locate and define its cause preoperatively has improved with the advent of computed tomography. Initial clinical experience with half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (HASTE MRI) and virtual colonoscopy is exciting. The surgical approach for primary obstructing colon cancer has become more aggressive, with experienced surgical groups doing one-stage procedures. Yet to be defined are guidelines for surgical management of obstructions occurring in the face of recurrent disease. Stent placement for upper and lower bowel obstructions is an option in nonoperable patients. Pharmacologic symptom management for intestinal obstructions consists of an opioid, an anticholinergic, and an antiemetic. Octreotide, either alone or added to the original regimen, will palliate symptoms that are resistant to the three-drug combination.
Curr Pain Headache Rep 2001 Jun
PMID:Modern management of cancer-related intestinal obstruction. 1140 Jun 96

Evidence for the effectiveness of corticosteroids in palliative care is anecdotal, and more information is required. From January to December 1999 a total of 376 consecutive patients admitted to a home palliative care program were longitudinally surveyed. Patients who started a corticosteroid treatment after admission on the basis of common indications prescribed by their home care physicians were selected. Fifty patients were enrolled in the study. Dexamethasone, in doses ranging from 4 to 16 mg, was the drug of choice. Corticosteroids were found to be effective in anorexia, weakness, headache, and nausea and vomiting. The reduction of symptom intensity was achieved in less than 3 days on average. However, no great advantages were found in terms of controlling drowsiness or confusional states associated with advanced illness because of cerebral involvement. It can be concluded from this study that: (a) corticosteroids may be effective in controlling anorexia, weakness, headache, and nausea and vomiting associated with cerebral involvement or bowel obstruction; (b) they should be stopped if no therapeutic effect has become evident within 3-5 days; (c) the treatment is not useful when given in the presence of severe neurological impairment resulting from the advanced stage of disease; (d) the range of adverse effects was acceptable for limited periods and in the circumstances in which the preparations were used in this study; and (e) corticosteroids may have an adjuvant role in potentiation of analgesic drugs. These findings will be very useful in the planning of future controlled studies designed to yield evidence-based data on the role of corticosteroids in the relief of specific symptoms.
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PMID:The use of corticosteroids in home palliative care. 1149 94

Malignant bowel obstruction continues to be a difficult problem for patients with abdominal and pelvic primary tumors and tumors originating in other sites. The main treatment options consist of surgery, stenting, and pharmacotherapy. Despite recent advances, the impact of available treatment modalities on symptom control, longevity, quality of life, and associated health care costs have not been evaluated rigorously. This article reviews the available data and suggests an approach to the management of this challenging patient population.
Curr Pain Headache Rep 2003 Aug
PMID:Recent advances in malignant bowel obstruction: an interface of old and new. 1282 76

Two patients with terminal cancer, a 46-year-old man with intestinal obstruction and a 12-year-old boy with a brain tumour, were suffering from vomiting and from headaches and nausea, respectively. Their general practitioners consulted the general-practitioner adviser about palliative treatment. After the recommended changes in medication the symptoms decreased in both patients. They died some weeks later. Nausea and vomiting may be treated when one takes into account which centres in the brain and neurotransmitters are involved, together with the site of action of the medication. The medication may be administered by subcutaneous infusion.
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PMID:[Consultative palliative care for nausea and vomiting in the home setting]. 1456 Jun 94

The treacherous and deceptive nature of pheochromocytoma makes it crucial to detect and treat it promptly; otherwise it will almost certainly be fatal from cardiovascular complications or metastases. Hypertension occurring in patients with pheochromocytomas is sustained in about 50% and paroxysmal in the remainder; however, many patients remain normotensive. Hypertension attacks may be precipitated by physical activity, postural changes, anxiety, certain foods or wine, some drugs, operative procedures, etc. Cardinal manifestations are paroxysmal hypertension, headache, palpitations +/- tachycardia, inappropriate sweating; anxiety, tremulousness, pallor (rarely flushing), chest and abdominal pains; nausea and vomiting often occur. Hypercatecholaminemia manifestations are more common and pronounced when paroxysmal hypertension occurs, but persons with familial pheochromocytoma may be asymptomatic. Protean manifestations of pheochromocytoma may simulate many conditions, some of which may have elevated plasma and urine catecholamines and their metabolites. Baro-reflex failure, postural tachycardia syndrome, sleep apnea, carcinoid, renal failure, and pseudopheochromocytoma may be diagnostic challenges. The history, physical examination, biochemical testing (after eliminating interfering drugs, when possible) for plasma and urinary metanephrines can usually establish or exclude presence of pheochromocytomas. Occasionally a clonidine suppression test is needed to differentiate neurogenic from pheochromocytic hypertension. Manifestations suggesting hypercatecholaminemia without hypertension are highly atypical of pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytoma may present as panic attacks, pre-eclampsia, cardiomyopathy, infection with fever and leucocytosis, diabetes, migraine, shock, Cushing's syndrome, multiple organ failure with lactic acidosis, neurological manifestations, transitory electrocardiogram abnormalities, constipation, intestinal obstruction, visual impairment, convulsions, etc. The key to diagnosis is always to think of pheochromocytoma in the differential diagnosis of hypertension.
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PMID:The protean manifestations of pheochromocytoma. 1924 99

Pain is one of the most frequent and most distressing symptoms in the course of cancer. The management of pain in cancer patients is based on the concept of the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder and was recently updated with the EAPC (European Association for Palliative Care) recommendations. Cancer pain may be relieved effectively with opioids administered alone or in combination with adjuvant analgesics. Corticosteroids are commonly used adjuvant analgesics and play an important role in neuropathic and bone pain treatment. However, in spite of the common use of corticosteroids, there is limited scientific evidence demonstrating their efficacy in cancer patients with pain. The use of corticosteroids in spinal cord compression, superior vena cava obstruction, raised intracranial pressure, and bowel obstruction is better established than in other nonspecific indications. This review aims to present the role of steroids in pain and management of other symptoms in cancer patients according to the available data, and discusses practical aspects of steroid use.
Curr Pain Headache Rep 2012 Aug
PMID:The role of corticosteroids in the treatment of pain in cancer patients. 2264 2

Background. Wernicke's Encephalopathy (WE) is a clinical diagnosis with serious neurological consequences. Its occurrence is underestimated in nonalcoholics and is uncommon in adolescents. We aim to draw the attention to a rare case, which had additional clinical and radiological features. Case. A 16-year-old girl presented with three-week history of vomiting secondary to intestinal obstruction. She developed diplopia soon after hospitalization. Neurological evaluation revealed restriction of bilateral lateral recti with horizontal nystagmus, and bilateral limb dysmetria. Brain MRI was normal. She had prompt improvement to thiamine. Four months later, she presented with headache, bilateral severe deafness, and tinnitus. Clinically, she had severe sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral lateral recti paresis, and gait ataxia. CT head showed bilateral caudate nucleus hypodensities. MRI brain revealed gadolinium enhancement of mamillary bodies and vermis. She had significant improvement after IV thiamine. Headache completely resolved while the ocular movements, hearing, and tinnitus improved partially in 72 hours. Conclusions. Recurrent WE in adolescence is uncommon. Headache, tinnitus, and deafness are rare clinical features. Although MRI study shows typical features of WE, the presence of bilateral caudate nuclei hypodensities on CT scan is uncommon. Prompt treatment with thiamine is warranted in suspected cases to prevent permanent neurological sequelae.
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PMID:Recurrent Wernicke's Encephalopathy in a 16-Year-Old Girl with Atypical Clinical and Radiological Features. 2479 Jul 62

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare acquired disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia, marrow failure, and a high incidence of life-threatening venous thrombosis. It is subject to a considerable variety of complications like intestinal obstruction and visceral embolism. The current study firstly presents a 40-year-old male with a previous diagnosis of PNH who developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) during treatment with methylprednisolone. He was referred to our department with headache and two episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Laboratory examination revealed peripheral blood cytopenias and elevated count of reticulocyte. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibited abnormal signal in the bilateral parieto-occipital lobes with symmetric distribution which confirmed the diagnosis of PRES. After receive treatment of dexamethasone, anti-hypertensive and neurotropic drugs, the patient made a complete clinical recovery; and the abnormal signals of MRI were almost completely absorbed. This case shows that PRES might be a rare complication of PNH. Furthermore, it points out the necessity of rapid diagnosis and treatment of PRES.
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PMID:Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a case report and literature review. 2637 93


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