chiniofon and Brain-Diseases

Twelve cases of confusional state after normal or excessive doses of clioquinol are discussed. They resemble transient global amnesia (TGA) of the classic type, but the episodes last longer (1-3 days), they are often accompanied by a variety of mental disturbances, and the onset and end are less well defined than in the classic type. A combination of SMON and acute encephalopathy due to clioquinol was observed in only one case. Apart from amnesia for the acute episode a permanent retrograde amnesia for a few days up to two months was left behind. The pathophysiology of these episodes is not clear, but they resemble the toxic reactions to clioquinol observed in dogs and experimental animals.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Amnesia; Amnesia, Retrograde; Brain Diseases; Clioquinol; Confusion; Female; Humans; Hydroxyquinolines; Male; Middle Aged

A method for the concentration of leucocytes from blood and labelling of the separated cells with 111-Indium oxine is described. This method guaranteed a good preparation. On average there were 64.8% of leucocytes from the blood in the concentrate. The yield of the labelling averaged 93%. Seventy-two patients from various departments were examined to test the clinical application of the labelled leucocytes in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases. The results obtained led to the formulation of six indications for the appropriate application of leucocyte scanning in everyday clinical routine.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bone Diseases; Brain Diseases; Child; Humans; Hydroxyquinolines; Indium; Inflammation; Isotope Labeling; Leukocytes; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular Diseases; Organometallic Compounds; Oxyquinoline; Radiation Dosage; Radioisotopes; Radionuclide Imaging; Urologic Diseases

A girl of 10-5/12 years is described, who had diabetes mellitus from the age of 5 years on and who developed bilateral ptosis, pigment degeneration of the retina and bilateral impairment of hearing at the age of nine years. A few weeks before death she suffered from an acute gastrointestinal infection which was successfully treated by a hydroxyquinoline derivative. In the days following a severe encephalopathy and signs of cardiac involvement appeared. A month later the girl died of bulbar paralysis and acute heart failure. Histology showed remnants of a granulomatous inflammation in the heart, the kidneys, the pancreas and the skeletal muscles. Furthermore there was a widespread spongiosis in the white substance of the brain, with large astrocytes, and partly also in the basal ganglia, the brain stem and the cerebellum. Foci of sudanophilic tissue necrosis resembling Wernicke's Encephalopathy were found in the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord. The peripheral nerves appeared partially demyelinated and showed axonal lesions. This case is classified as a Juvenile Type of so-called Canavan's Disease. It shows some resemblence to the "Progressive Chronic Ophthalmoplegia with Spongiform Encephalopathy described by Daroff, Kearn and Sayre. The possible neurotoxical effects of the hydroxyquinoline therapy are discussed.

Topics: Brain; Brain Diseases; Child; Diabetes Complications; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Hydroxyquinolines; Iatrogenic Disease; Medulla Oblongata; Muscles; Myocardium; Pancreas