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)

Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is prevalent and widely distributed in Thailand, especially in the northeastern and central parts of the country. Angiostrongylus cantonensis is one of the causative agents of fatal eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. The nematodes produce extensive tissue damage by moving through the brain and inducing an inflammatory reaction. We report the clinical features and the findings revealed by MR imaging and MR spectroscopy in six patients with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. The clinical presentation included severe headache, clouded consciousness, and meningeal irritation. Abnormal findings on MR images included prominence of the Virchow-Robin spaces, subcortical enhancing lesions, and abnormal high T2 signal lesions in the periventricular regions. Proton brain MR spectroscopy was performed in three patients and was abnormal in one severe case, showing decreased choline in a lesion. Small hemorrhagic tracts were found in one case. Lesions thought to be due to microcavities and migratory tracts were found in only one case. We believe the MR imaging and MR spectroscopy findings are of diagnostic value and helpful in understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease.
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PMID:MR findings of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis attributed to Angiostrongylus cantonensis. 1087 Oct 20

Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis (EME) remains an important neurological disease and is widely distributed in Thailand. We analyzed the cytological specimens of 56 EME cases. Pertinent clinical data were analyzed retrospectively and correlated with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)analysis. Headache was the commonest symptom seen in all EME cases. History of raw or partially cooked Pila snail ingestion was elicited from most patients. There was a marked seasonal occurrence between July to January. Patients received specific treatment as supportive therapy, which included spinal taps, analgesics and corticosteroids, was adequate. No fatal cases were seen. The CSF specimens were sorted into two categories: fresh CSF and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained centrifuged CSF sediment. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of eosinophils and lymphocytes of fresh CSF and the H&E stained centrifuged CSF sediment (p = 0.001 and 0.001 respectively). The CSF glucose and the number of eosinophils in both methods were significantly correlated (p = 0.000, p = 0.008 for fresh CSF and the H&E stained centrifuged CSF sediment respectively). Moreover, the number of eosinophils was statistically significant with the protein in the CSF (p = 0.013), and intracranial pressure (ICP) (p = 0.025). Higher yields of eosinophils, especially in the early course of the disease, can readily be detected in the H&E stained centrifuged CSF sediment, whereas fresh specimens were negative. Further tests may increase the sensitivity and specificity of EME diagnostic results.
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PMID:Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. 1204 50

Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is based on clinical manifestations and microscopic identification of eosinophils present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is caused by a variety of helminthic infections with most common being angiostrongyliasis, gnathostomiasis, toxocariasis, cysticercosis, schistosomiasis, baylisascariasis, and paragonimiasis. Many case reports are there in which parasites have been found responsible, but there are rare reports of CSF eosinophilia associated with the use of drugs. We report a case of drug-induced (ibuprofen) eosinophilic meningitis in a healthy female who presented to us with severe headache and improved dramatically after drug withdrawal.
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PMID:A rare case of Ibuprofen-induced eosinophilic meningitis in a 13-year-old girl. 2459 73