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Central nervous system superficial siderosis, headache, and epilepsy
S Iannaccone1, V Golzi, B Sferrazza
1Department of Neurology, IRCCS H. S. Raffaele, University of Milan, Italy.
Headache
|March 31, 2001
Summary
Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system can cause ataxia and deafness. A case report highlights severe headaches and seizures in a patient, managed effectively with carbamazepine and nimodipine.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare condition.
- It is characterized by hemosiderin deposition in the CNS due to chronic subarachnoid bleeding.
- Typical symptoms include ataxia, deafness, pyramidal signs, and cognitive decline.
Observation:
- A 33-year-old male presented with typical superficial siderosis symptoms.
- He experienced severe, recurrent frontal headaches since age 8, sometimes with loss of consciousness.
- MRI and CSF analysis indicated subarachnoid bleeding.
Findings:
- The patient's headache, likely from meningeal irritation by blood, triggered seizures.
- This suggests a potential reflex mechanism linking extreme pain to seizures in superficial siderosis.
- Carbamazepine and nimodipine significantly reduced headache and seizure frequency.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of superficial siderosis clinical manifestations.
- It highlights headache as a prominent and potentially seizure-inducing symptom.
- Pharmacological prophylaxis may effectively manage debilitating headaches and seizures in superficial siderosis.