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Rapidly progressive diffuse Lewy body disease
Author(s) -
Gaig Carles,
Valldeoriola Francesc,
Gelpi Ellen,
Ezquerra Mario,
Llufriu Sara,
Buongiorno Mariateresa,
Rey Maria Jesús,
Martí Maria Jose,
Graus Francesc,
Tolosa Eduardo
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.23506
Subject(s) - lewy body , dementia with lewy bodies , parkinsonism , dementia , medicine , lewy body disease , hyperintensity , pathology , cognitive decline , psychology , disease , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
Background: Lewy body syndromes (mainly Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies) share many clinical features and usually have a slowly progressive course. Some patients may show rapid symptoms progression. Objective: To evaluate clinical and neuropathological features of patients with a rapidly progressive diffuse Lewy Body disease. Methods: Review clinical records and pathological findings of 6 cases with diffuse Lewy Body disease and rapid disease progression (less than 18 months before death). Results: Mean age at disease onset was 72.5 years, and mean disease duration was 9 months. Onset consisted of delirium in 3 patients and rapidly progressive dementia in the other three. All cases presented visual hallucinations and delusions; cognitive symptoms were fluctuating in two, parkinsonism occurred in four, and myoclonus in three. Brain MRI did not show cortical or basal ganglia hyperintensities. Periodic sharp waves were absent on EEG. 14.3.3 protein in CSF was negative. Myocardial 123 I‐metaiodo‐benzyl‐guanidine SPECT showed marked reduction in tracer uptake in the 2 patients tested. Neuropathological studies did not identify any particular feature that could differentiate rapidly progressive diffuse Lewy body disease from classical diffuse Lewy body disease. Conclusions: Diffuse Lewy body disease is a possible cause of rapidly progressive dementia and should be included in the differential diagnosis of confusional states of undetermined cause. In patients with rapidly progressive dementia, the presence of fluctuating cognition, parkinsonism, hallucinations, delusions, or severe dysautonomia, should raise the suspicion of diffuse Lewy body disease. Neuroimaging studies such as 123 I‐metaiodo‐benzyl‐guanidine myocardial scintigraphy may support the clinical diagnosis of diffuse Lewy body disease. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society