Clippers Syndrome

The Clippers syndrome ( Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids - CLIPPERS) is a chronic inflammation of the bridge of the brainstem and cerebellum . It is an immune system disease in which the brainstem is attacked by the body's own lymphocytes . The syndrome has been known since 2011, and was supported by a group of US neurologists from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, first diagnosed with a case series of eight patients and characterized.

Symptoms

Sufferers described the following symptoms: tingling in the head, numbness, impaired balance, impaired vision, and language problems. MRI images of the brain show an increased number of white spots in the area of ​​the brain stem. This "peppered brain stem" is created by many individual inflammatory cells on the brain stem.

treatment

Symptoms can be treated with high doses of cortisone and methotrexate . The methotrexate prevents new inflammation.

First known case in Germany

In 2011, a patient fell ill with Clippers syndrome, which was previously unknown in Germany. Due to the strong similarity of the symptoms, the doctors initially suspected that the disease was multiple sclerosis . However, further research showed that the only possible option was encephalitis. The correct diagnosis happened a year later in the Herdecke community hospital : after examining the MRI images, the doctor working there remembered having seen almost identical MRI images at an American neurology congress. After neurosarcoidosis could be ruled out, the only diagnosis left was Clippers syndrome. The story of the patient and his illness was made public on the adventure program .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Erich Schmutzhardt (among others): Inflammatory diseases. In: Peter Berlit (ed.): Clinical Neurology (3rd edition), Springer-Verlag 2012, pp. 723–791.
2. ↑ Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) In: Brain (2010). A Journal of Neurology 133 (9). Oxford University Press, pp. 2626-2634. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
3. ↑ Ibid.
4. ^ NDR broadcast adventure diagnosis: tingling in the head from February 16, 2016. Accessed on November 2, 2016.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !