Document Detail


Pregabalin-withdrawal encephalopathy and splenial edema: a link to high-altitude illness?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15991228     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
A postherpetic-neuralgia patient abruptly discontinued pregabalin. Thirty hours later, unexplained nausea, headache, and ataxia developed, progressing to delirium 8 days later. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated T2-hyperintense lesions of her splenium. Similar magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, interpreted as focal vasogenic edema, develop in some epileptic patients after rapid anticonvulsant withdrawal. Patients with high-altitude cerebral edema have similar splenial-predominant magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities that accompany these same neurological symptoms. This case is the first to associate anticonvulsant-withdrawal splenial abnormalities with neurological symptoms, with gabapentin-type anticonvulsants, and is among the first in nonepileptic patients, suggesting that sudden anticonvulsant withdrawal alone, unaccompanied by seizures, can initiate symptomatic focal brain edema. The similarity of this syndrome to high-altitude cerebral edema suggests a possible common pathophysiology and offers potential therapies.
Authors:
Anne Louise Oaklander; Bradley R Buchbinder
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Annals of neurology     Volume:  58     ISSN:  0364-5134     ISO Abbreviation:  Ann. Neurol.     Publication Date:  2005 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-08-02     Completed Date:  2005-10-31     Revised Date:  2007-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7707449     Medline TA:  Ann Neurol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  309-12     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Nerve Injury Unit, Department of Anesthesiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. aoaklander@partners.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Altitude Sickness / physiopathology
Anticonvulsants* / administration & dosage
Brain Edema / etiology*,  pathology
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Neuroglia / drug effects
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / complications*,  etiology
Time Factors
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / administration & dosage,  analogs & derivatives*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01NS42866/NS/NINDS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anticonvulsants; 0/pregabalin; 56-12-2/gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Ann Neurol. 2006 Jan;59(1):214   [PMID:  16374825 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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