Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms in NMOSD.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the CNS that frequently affects brainstem functions.[1] Trigeminal neuralgia occurs in 2.5% of patients with NMOSD[1]; however, the occurrence of trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC) is rarely reported.[2,3] Here, we describe a case of NMOSD with anti–aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies who had a relapse with brainstem and cervical spinal cord lesions manifesting as short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA), a rare form of TAC.

Case report

A 55-year-old woman developed intractable hiccups and vomiting that lasted for 1 month. Three weeks after the onset, she noticed dysesthesia in her upper extremities and was referred to our hospital. Neurologic examination revealed red desaturation in both eyes, despite normal visual acuity and pupillary reflexes, positive Lhermitte sign, and bilateral dysesthesia at the C8-Th1 dermatomes. Serum anti-AQP4 antibodies were positive by a cell-based assay. MRI revealed a longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion encompassing 3 vertebral segments from C7 to Th2 spine levels. She was diagnosed as having NMOSD and treated with intravenous methylprednisolone (IV-MP, 1,000 mg/d for 3 days). Plasmapheresis was also performed because of the suboptimal effects of IV-MP on dysesthesia. To prevent relapses, oral prednisolone therapy was initiated at 30 mg/d, which was gradually tapered and maintained at 11 mg/d until the second attack.

At 57 years of age, she developed intermittent, 1–3-minute-lasting severe, tingling, and stabbing pain around the left eye, constantly accompanied by ipsilateral rhinorrhea and lacrimation 5–20 times a day. A facial photograph during a headache attack is presented in figure, A. This pain was inducible by stimulation of the left side of her face without any cessation after each attack, and it was refractory to oral loxoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and carbamazepine. Neurologic examination revealed only mild hypoalgesia on the left side of her face during the remission of headache. Surprisingly, brain MRI revealed new T2-hyperintense lesions in the left dorsolateral medulla oblongata and left dorsal cervical spinal cord at the C1/2 spine level (figure, B and C). Gadolinium-enhancement was observed in the cervical cord lesion (figure, D). Three-dimensional double inversion recovery images clearly showed hyperintense lesions (figure, E–H). We diagnosed her as having SUNA with a relapse of NMOSD. IV-MP (1,000 mg/d for 3 days) and oral lamotrigine (25 mg/d) were initiated 10 days after the onset. Headache attacks began to decrease after the initiation of treatment. Subsequently, the dose of lamotrigine was increased to 75 mg/d, and a second course of IV-MP was performed based on the insufficient treatment response. Headache attacks disappeared completely 21 days after the onset. Oral tacrolimus (3 mg/d) was added to prevent further relapses. Thereafter, she has not suffered any recurrence for 10 months.

Figure

Facial photograph during headache attack and brain and upper cervical cord MRI

(A) Facial photograph during headache attack showing rhinorrhea and lacrimation on the left side (arrows). Written informed consent was obtained to show part of the face without masking. (B) Sagittal fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), (C) an axial FLAIR image at the level of the lower medulla oblongata, and (D) gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images of the brain. Three-dimensional double inversion recovery images in sagittal (E), coronal (F), and axial planes (G, medulla oblongata; H, lower medulla oblongata). Arrowheads indicate lesions.

Discussion

We described a case of NMOSD with anti-AQP4 antibodies, who had a relapse manifesting as SUNA. SUNA and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) are rare forms of TAC.[4] SUNA is defined as having only one or neither of conjunctival injection or lacrimation, whereas SUNCT is defined as having both symptoms. The occurrence of SUNA/SUNCT is rare and was reported only twice previously.[2,3] A longitudinal brainstem lesion caused SUNCT in a patient with Devic syndrome without reference to anti-AQP4 antibodies; however, axial distribution of the medullary lesion was not shown.[2] The occurrence of unilateral TAC, probably SUNCT, was also described in a patient with NMOSD with anti-AQP4 antibodies who developed a lesion at the center of the medulla oblongata.[3] Our case clearly had a left dorsolateral medulla oblongata lesion, which included the left spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve that corresponded with the left side SUNA. Furthermore, the lesion responsible for SUNA in our patient confirms a report of infarction in the right dorsal medulla oblongata, which caused SUNCT.[5]

SUNA/SUNCT is highly refractory to medication. Antiepileptic drugs or corticosteroids and surgical treatment are used to suppress SUNA/SUNCT. Of these, a good-to-excellent response to lamotrigine was observed in 11/19 cases (58%) of SUNA/SUNCT.[6] Likewise, another study reported that lamotrigine was effective in 4/5 SUNCT cases (80%).[7] Indeed, in our patient, where SUNA was refractory to oral loxoprofen, diclofenac, indomethacin, and carbamazepine, the use of lamotrigine and IV-MP successfully alleviated SUNA attacks. The association of TAC including SUNA with NMOSD was suggested by the treatment response and the clearly visualized ipsilateral dorsal medulla lesion, compatible as a causative lesion of SUNA/SUNCT. We propose that neurologists should be aware that SUNA/SUNCT could be the sole brainstem manifestation of NMOSD and a combination of immunotherapies and lamotrigine should be considered for such cases.