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Laura van Horn

Department of Neurology, Neurophysiology and Cerebrovascular Diseases Germany

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Case Report of Susac Syndrome – A Rare and Challenging Disease

* Laura van Horn; Noel van Horn; Mau-Thek Eddy; Peter Michels; Joachim Röther; Bernd Eckert; Till Illies;
  • * Laura van Horn: Department of Neurology, Asklepios Klinik Altona, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Noel van Horn: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Mau-Thek Eddy: Department of Ophthalmology, Asklepios Klinik Altona, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Peter Michels: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Asklepios Klinik Altona, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Joachim Röther: Department of Neurology, Asklepios Klinik Altona, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Bernd Eckert: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Asklepios Klinik Altona, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Till Illies: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Asklepios Klinik Altona, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Oct 19, 2021 |
  • Volume: 2 |
  • Issue: 4 |
  • Views: 950 |
  • Downloads: 810
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Abstract

Objective: Susac Syndrome is a rare disease of unclear pathology and is often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis due to its variable appearance. The scope of this case report comprises presenting symptoms, diagnostic measures in terms of different treatment approaches, and possible therapeutic recommendations.

Case Presentation: A 30-year-old male patient presenting with holocephalic headaches and visual disturbances is treated with high dose prednisolone, Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG), and mycophenolate mofetil after comprehensive diagnostics. An early reduction of prednisolone led to a reoccurrence of neurological impairment. Nonetheless, an added aggressive and multivalent immunotherapy with mycophenolate mofetil combined with IVIGs and prednisolone prevented further disease progression and even improved neurological symptoms to a stable condition. Patients with encephalopathy of unknown cause may therefore benefit from early ophthalmological assessment and sound threshold audiometry.

Introduction

Susac Syndrome (SS) is a rare, immunological mediated disease that affects the arterioles of the brain, retina, and inner ear, leading to vasculopathies with recurrent ischemic lesions [1] and irreversible organ damage [2]. The arising Branch Retinal Artery Occlusions (BRAO) and intracranial ischemic lesions may be detectable on retinal fluoresce in angiography and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [3,4]. Therefore, an early diagnosis of SS is crucial for treatment initiation to govern the development of encephalopathies, visual field loss, and inner ear deafness, which characterize the symptom triad [2]. Since first described by John O. Susac in 1979 [1], over 300 cases with many different treatment regimens have been reported, but no uniform guideline has been established [5]

We demonstrate the promising approach of a SS patient with high dose prednisolone in combination with Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) and mycophenolate mofetil.

Case Presentation

A 30-year-old male patient admitted over the emergency department presented with holocephalic headaches and diffuse visual disturbances existent for eight days. In addition, he complains of recurrent paresthesia of the face and left hand. The visual disturbances are comparable to migraine symptoms with scintillating scotoma in the left field of vision and diffuse scotoma-blind spots on both eyes (left > right).

We performed Cranial non-contrast Computed Tomography (CCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), with the latter revealing smaller lesions of the callosal fibers as demonstrated in (Figure 1A). Spinal MRI to expel demyelinating diseases such as encephalomyelitis disseminate was unremarkable. Visually and somatosensory evoked potentials to differentiate from Multiple Sclerosis resulted in regular latencies on both sides. Liquor diagnostics showed a pleocytosis of 18 cells with a protein of 1900mg/l. No oligoclonal bands and no further pathologic laboratory markers were evident. Ophthalmologic examination revealed 20/20 vision equivalent to full visual function but diffuse scotomas and retinal hemorrhage mainly on the left eye. In additional fluorescein angiography, peripheral vessel leakage and Branch Retinal Artery Occlusions (BRAO) were present, accentuated on the left eye to indicate retinal vasculitis and leakage of peripapillary vessels emanating from the disc (Figure 1C, Figure 1D). Evaluation by an Otolaryngologist, including audiometry, showed no hearing deficit and no sound conduction or sensation disturbance.


As described in the literature, the symptom triad presents not necessarily simultaneous but can occur independently at different phases of the disease. Therefore, we diagnosed Susac’s Syndrome based on the two predominant findings with pathognomonic retinal vasculitis and typical MRI findings [6].

Treatment: The patient was initially treated with intravenous high-dose cortisone therapy (1000 mg methylprednisolone) for three days with a subsequent tapered regime of initial 100 mg oral prednisolone. In a three-week follow-up, after a dose reduction to 80 mg, an assessment by the ophthalmologists revealed a decreasing vascular involvement of the retinal arteries with already improved visual acuity. No neurological deficits were present. Six weeks after initial diagnosis and a dose reduction of prednisolone to 70 mg, the patient reported deterioration with swaying vertigo, recurrent and increased cephalgia, and paresthesia of the left hand. In addition, third-party medical history revealed a psychotic syndrome with spatial cognition disorder. Ophthalmologic re-examination showed clear deterioration with increased peripheral BRAO and visual field defects (Figure 1D). Follow-up cranial MRI revealed increased callosal fiber lesions with a characteristic “icicle” and “snowball” pattern [7] (Figure 1 B).

Subsequent, two months after diagnosis, therapy escalation with a high-dose boost of methylprednisolone with 1g per day for five consecutive days and simultaneous plasmapheresis for five cycles was initiated. In addition, immunomodulatory treatment including IVIG (30 g per day) on five consecutive days as induction dose and mycophenolate mofetil was simultaneously adapted. Mycophenolate mofetil was administered two times a day with 250 mg in the first, 500 mg in the second, 750 mg in the third, and 1000 mg in the fourth week. Oral prednisolone of 100 mg was continued and carefully tapered (5 mg to 10 mg reduction every month; in the end, in smaller dose reduction as usual) over nine months. The administration of immunoglobulin (IVIGs) was given four-weekly with 30 g i.v. each on two consecutive days.

In repeated fluorescein angiography, the ophthalmologic examination revealed partial improvement of the initial vascular pathologies and cotton-wool-like foci in both eyes with fewer perivascular leakages compared to the previous month. The follow-up perimetry also revealed receding scotomas after seven months. On five months follow-up, cranial MRI showed a reduction in contrast enhancement of the cerebral lesions but no change in the lesion load. As far as the patient’s follow-up (nine-month) was recorded, no reoccurrence of any neurological symptom under this therapy with actual Prednisolon 2.5 mg was reported, and remission under the performed therapy was achieved.

Discussion

Patients suffering from Susac’s Syndrome do not always present a complete symptom triad consisting of focal neurological deficits, hearing loss, and visual field loss, making diagnosis and exclusion of differential diagnosis difficult [5,8]. Therefore, it is important to undergo cranial imaging, and if suspected, early examination of hearing and vision contributes to rapidly confirm a diagnosis and thus allows for aggressive immunosuppressive therapy at an early stage of the disease [9].

In this SS case, early administration of oral prednisolone eliminated headaches and reduced BRAO involvement. However, despite an even prolonged tapering of oral prednisolone, according to Rennebohm et al. [10]. Dose reduction from 100 mg/day to 70 mg/day after six weeks resulted in abrupt worsening of the patient’s condition from “severe” to “extremely severe” with increased neurological and visual deficits, accompanied by an increase in BRAO and MRI lesions. As described by Fox et al. [11] administration of intravenous methylprednisolone in combination with IVIG improvement of visual disturbances and cognitive dysfunction were shown. In the current literature, promising responses to immunomodulatory therapies indicated that further immunosuppressive options should be considered [3]. Thus, disease remission was achieved by adding the commonly used immunomodulator mycophenolate mofetil to the patient’s long-term treatment plan. Recent treatment approaches with natalizumab [3], and supportive regimes with acetylsalicylic acid and/or nimodipine show promising results and maybe an option in other SS cases.

Essentials

  • SS is a rare and important differential diagnosis of non-pathogenic encephalitis in young patients with focal neurological deficits.
  • Randomized controlled studies are missing due to their low incidence.
  • Patients suffering from diffuse cerebral symptoms (headaches, nausea, fatigue, etc.) threshold audiometry and fluorescein angiography should be considered with a diagnosis.
  • Aggressive multivalent immunotherapy with steroids, IVIG, cyclophosphamide, and/or mycophenolate mofetil with additional acetylsalicylic acid is crucial.

Conflict of Interest

Laura van Horn, currently employed at Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (since December 2020). Apart from this employment there are no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Susac JO, Hardman JM, Selhorst JB. Microangiopathy of the brain and retina. Neurology. 1979;29(3):313–316.
  2. Rennebohm RM, Egan RA, Susac JO. Treatment of susac's syndrome. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2008;10(1):67–74.
  3. Gross CC, Meyer C, Bhatia U, Yshii L, Kleffner I, Bauer J, et al. CD8+ T cell-mediated endotheliopathy is a targetable mechanism of neuro-inflammation in Susac syndrome. Nat Commun. 2019;10(1):5779.
  4. Buzzard KA, Reddel SW, Yiannikas C, Riminton DS, Barnett MH, Hardy TA. Distinguishing Susac's syndrome from multiple sclerosis. J Neurol. 2015;262(7):1613–1621.
  5. Dorr J, Krautwald S, Wildemann B, Jarius S, Ringelstein M, Duning T, et al. Characteristics of Susac syndrome: a review of all reported cases. Nat Rev Neurol.2013; 9(6):307–316.
  6. Susac JO, Murtagh FR, Egan RA, Berger JR, Bakshi R, Lincoff N, et al. MRI findings in Susac's syndrome. Neurology. 2003;61(12):1783–1787.
  7. Garg N, Reddel SW, Miller DH, Chataway J, Riminton DS, Barnett Y, et al. The corpus callosum in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and other CNS demyelinating and inflammatory diseases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2015;86(12):1374–1382.
  8. Kleffner I, Duning T, Lohmann H, Deppe M, Basel T, Promesberger J, et al. A brief review of Susac syndrome. J Neurol Sci. 2012;322(1-2):35–40.
  9. Klein M, Illies T, Georgi S, Rosenkranz T, Terborg C. [Aggressive immunotherapy in Susac's syndrome]. 2009;80(12):1502–1505.
  10. Rennebohm RM, Asdaghi N, Srivastava S, Gertner E. Guidelines for treatment of Susac syndrome - An update. Int J Stroke. 2020;15(5):484–494.
  11. Fox RJ, Costello F, Judkins AR, Galetta SL, Maguire AM, Leonard B, et al. Treatment of Susac syndrome with gamma globulin and corticosteroids. J Neurol Sci. 2006;251(1-2):17–22.

Keywords

Encephalopathy; Immunomodulatory treatment; Susac syndrome; Vasculopathy

Cite this article

van Horn L, van Horn N, Eddy MT, Michels P, Röther J, Eckert B, et al. Case report of Susac Syndrome – a rare and challenging disease. Clin Case Rep J. 2021;2(4):1–4.

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