Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate neurological and neurophysiological features of leprosy.
Methods: Seventy seven hospitalized leprosy patients (52 male, 25 female) were examined neurological and neurophysiologically between 2010 and 2012. Standard procedures were performed for evaluating sensory and motor conduction studies to all patients. Motor studies were carried out on median, ulnar, tibial and common peroneal nerves. Sensory studies were carried out on median, ulnar and sural nerves. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) recordings on both hands and feet, and the heart rate (R-R) interval variation (RRIV) recordings on precordial region were done in order to evaluate the autonomic dysfunction.
Results: The mean age was 59.11±14.95 years ranging between 17 and 80 years. The mean duration of disease was 35.58±18.30 years. Clinically, the patients had severe deformity and disability. In neurophysiological examinations, sensory, motor conduction studies of the lower extremities were found to be more severely affected than upper, and sensory impairment predominated over motor. Abnormal SSRs were recorded in 63 (81.8%) cases of leprosy. Abnormal RRIVs were recorded in 41 (53.2%) cases and abnormal RRIVs with hyperventilation were recorded in 55 (71.4%) cases of leprosy. Significant differences were found between SSR and sensory conduction parameters of median, ulnar nerves as well as motor conduction parameters of median, ulnar and peroneal nerves (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Peripheral nervous system dysfunction is accompanied by autonomic nervous system dysfunction in leprosy patients. Sympathetic involvement may predominate over parasympathetic involvement.
Background: Primary headache associated with sexual activity is a rare type of headache mostly seen in male gender and initiates at the 3rd decade. Even though the pathophysiology is still unknown, it is a benign type of headache and must be reminded on the differential diagnosis of the secondary headache. Materials&Methods: Thirteen patients diagnosed as primary headache associated with sexual activity were evaluated by their clinical and demographic data. Results:Ten male and three female patients were evaluated. The mean age was 37.07± 7.67. Headache was usually localized at bilateral occipital area or diffuse, starting with a severe ache and sudden explosive intensity in association with preorgasm in 8 patients and orgasm in 5 patients with a mean VAS score of 7.8±1.2. The mean duration was 21.53± 15.32 minutes. Five of the patients had a history of migraine, 3 had arteriel hypertension and two were diagnosed as primary thunderclap headache with sudden beginning and high intensity ache. Conclusion: Herein we presented our cases to highlight the importance of differential diagnosis. Patients may have difficulty of explaining the problem therefore their sexual activity could be limited.Apart from pharmacological prevention, counselling and facilitation plays important role in managing.
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