Abstract

LEON-SARMIENTO, Fidias E; PRADILLA ARDILA, Gustavo; CALDERON, Andrés  and  DUQUE, José R. Delay, Dilation, and Bending in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2008, vol.37, n.2, pp.280-286. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a clinical entity characterized by a triad of clinical signs including gait abnormalities, cognitive disorders and sphincter dysfunction. It parallels an increased cerebrospinal fl uid pressure, hydrocephalus and brain cortical atrophy. No detectable cause is a must. Methods and results: Case report. This is a Colombian male patient, 26 years-old, who had the clinical fi ndings commented above starting three years before our evaluation. He also presented notorious extrapyramidal involvement, mostly focal dystonia including pleorotonus. Besides this, mood lability, memory disorders, personality changes turning from introverted to compulsive, sleep disorders, isolation and fearlessness were also present. Initially, depression was diagnosed and then paranoid schizophrenia was considered. Olanzapine was given with no benefi ts on his neuropsychiatric disorder. Some of these signs and symptoms improved after a lumbar puncture which had a normal pressure. It confi rmed the diagnosis and offered very promising therapeutic possibilities. Conclusion: Normal pressure hydrocephalus must be considered in young people who have clinical symptoms and neurolaboratory fi ndings out of the range of those commonly considered to be part of evidence-based psychiatry.

Keywords : Normal pressure hydrocephalus; dystonia; Pisa syndrome; pleurotonus.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )