Objectives: To report the clinical features and outcome of 24 Brazilian patients with optic neuromyelitis syndrome (ONM); discuss the underlying pathological events associated with the ONM syndrome; review the nosological situation of ONM in the group of inflammatory and demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. Patients and Methods: Patients with ONM treated at the Hospital da Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro were studied. Demographic, clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, and pathological data were analysed. Results: The study consisted of 20 women, four men of whom 10 were white and 14 Afro-Brazilians. Clinical course was recurrent in 22 cases and monophasic in two. Neurological manifestations at inclusion were: sensory impairment (66%), bilateral (41.6%) or unilateral blindness (20.8%), paraplegia or quadriplegia (37.5%). The EDSS was moderate/severe in 70.8%. The underlying pathological events were respectively pulmonary tuberculosis and upper respiratory infection in the two monophasic cases; in the 22 recurrent ONM patients: pulmonary tuberculosis (3), neurocysticercosis (1), polyarteritis nodosa (1), antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor (1), antiphospholipid antibody primary syndrome (1), diabetes mellitus (1), hypothyroidism (1), and amenorrhea-galactorrhea (4). Normal cerebrospinal fluid was found in 52% and an inflammatory profile in 48%. Only four recurrent ONM white patients had brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid findings compatible with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Large lesions were seen in 62% of spinal magnetic resonance images. Six of 12 recurrent ONM Afro-Brazilian died. There were no statistical differences in the demographic data of the two ethnic groups. Afro-Brazilians were significantly more severely impaired and had a higher mortality rate than the white patients. Conclusion: These cases were classified as follows: two monophasic acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; one recurrent disseminated encephalomyelitis; three recurrent ONM associated with Hughes syndrome, autoantibodies and polyarteritis nodosa; six recurrent ONM with endocrinopathies; and finally, four muliple sclerosis cases. The remaining cases were not associated with any other condition. It would seem clear that ONM is a syndrome rather than a single disease.

Intrathecal synthesis of antibodies to dengue virus occurs in the CNS. It may be used as a marker of myelitis associated with dengue, and it seems to be related to the pathogenesis of spinal cord disease due to direct viral invasion.

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The contribution of human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I) DNA by PCR in CSF and the intrathecal synthesis of antibodies to HTLV-I by the antibody index (AI) to the diagnosis of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) were evaluated. Cases of spastic paraparesis compatible with HAM/TSP had increased AI for HTLV-I (60/73) and HTLV-I proviral sequences in CSF (25/27). Among 27 patients with other neurologic diseases, three had increased AI and another three had positive HTLV-I DNA in CSF. Thus, the combination of PCR for proviral DNA and AI for HTLV-I in CSF provides consistent criteria for the diagnosis of HAM/TSP.

Dengue infection is a leading cause of illness and death in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Forty percent of the world's population currently lives in these areas. The clinical picture resulting from dengue infection can range from relatively minor to catastrophic hemorrhagic fever. Recently, reports have increased of neurological manifestations. Neuropathogenesis seems to be related to direct nervous system viral invasion, autoimmune reaction, metabolic and hemorrhagic disturbance. Neurological manifestations include encephalitis, encephalopathy, meningitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy, and cerebromeningeal hemorrhage. The development of neurological symptoms in patients with positive Immunoglobulin M (IgM) dengue serology suggests a means of diagnosing the neurological complications associated with dengue. Viral antigens, specific IgM antibodies, and the intrathecal synthesis of dengue antibodies have been successfully detected in cerebrospinal fluid. However, despite diagnostic advancements, the treatment of neurological dengue is problematic. The launch of a dengue vaccine is expected to be beneficial.

Dengue infection is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a flavivirus, and is recognized in over 100 countries with 2.5 billion people living in areas of risk. Neurological manifestations such as encephalitis, myelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, cranial nerve palsies, neuromyelitis optica, and encephalomyelitis have been recognized as clinical consequences of dengue infection. Meningitis is a rare complication. We report the case of a 24-year-old woman who presented with fever, headache, and nuchal rigidity without the typical symptoms of dengue infection. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed lymphocytic pleocytosis with a normal glucose value and negative bacterial and fungal cultures. The etiology of meningitis was confirmed by positive dengue PCR in the serum. This case report highlights dengue infection as a potential cause of meningitis in endemic areas. Also, meningitis can be the first manifestation of the infection. Dengue should be investigated even in the absence of a typical picture of the infection.