Neurological manifestations in patientes with CrohnÂs disease and ulcerative colitis

VÃrios distÃrbios neurolÃgicos foram observados em pacientes com doenÃa inflamatÃria intestinal (DII), porÃm sua prevalÃncia exata à desconhecida. Estudamos prospectivamente a incidÃncia e a prevalÃncia das manifestaÃÃes neurolÃgicas em uma coorte de 82 pacientes com DII (protocolo 1) e a presenÃa e gravidade de tremor em pacientes com DII e voluntÃrios sadios (Protocolo 2). Os pacientes do protocolo 1 foram avaliados no ambulatÃrio de DII do Hospital Walter CantÃdio por um perÃodo de pelo menos 1 ano, realizando avaliaÃÃes neurolÃgicas completas periÃdicas. O segundo protocolo consistiu na quantificaÃÃo de tremor em espirais de Arquimedes realizadas por pacientes com doenÃa de Crohn (DC, N=31), retocolite ulcerativa (RCU, N=63) e voluntÃrios sadios (N=41) por um neurologista especializado em distÃrbios de movimento (Dr. Elan Louis, Columbia University, Nova Iorque). Polineuropatia de fibras grossas sensitivas ou sensitivo-motoras foi observada em 16,1% dos pacientes com DC e 19,6% dos pacientes com RCU, sendo usualmente leve, predominantemente simÃtrica, distal e axonal. SÃndrome do tÃnel do carpo foi observada comumente em mulheres com RCU. Sintomas sensitivos sem anormalidades eletromiogrÃficas, sugestivos de neuropatia de pequenas fibras ou mielopatia subclÃnica, foram observados em 29% dos pacientes com DC e 11,8% com RCU. ApÃs excluir outros fatores etiolÃgicos ou contributÃrios para polineuropatia, 13,4% dos pacientes com doenÃa inflamatÃria intestinal apresentaram polineuropatia de fibras grossas ou fibras finas (7,3% com polineuropatia de fibras grossas sensitivo-motoras). CefalÃia nÃo debilitante foi a queixa neurolÃgica mais comum, 3 pacientes apresentaram acidente vascular cerebral isquÃmico, 5 epilepsia e 1 corÃia transitÃria. Pacientes com DII apresentaram menor quantidade de tremor que os voluntÃrios sadios devido ao menor uso de cafeÃna. Nos pacientes com DC, houve correlaÃÃo significativa entre a nota do tremor, uso de medicaÃÃes com aÃÃo sobre o sistema nervoso central, uso e quantidade de cafeÃna e presenÃa de doenÃas neurolÃgicas. Em pacientes com RCU, sà houve correlaÃÃo significativa entre a nota do tremor e idade ou uso/quantidade de cafeÃna ingerida. Em resumo, pacientes com RCU e DC apresentam uma vasta gama de manifestaÃÃes neurolÃgicas que sÃo com freqÃÃncia clinicamente negligenciadasSeveral neurological disorders have been described in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, but their exact prevalence is unknown. We prospectively studied the prevalence and incidence of neurological disorders in a cohort of 82 patients with IBD (protocol 1) and the presence and severity of tremor in patients with IBD or healthy volunteers (Protocol 2). Patients from protocol 1 were evaluated at the IBD Clinic from the Hospital Walter CantÃdio for at least one year, with complete periodic neurological evaluations. The second protocol consisted in quantifying the amount of tremor in Archimedes spirals from patients with CrohnÂs disease (CD, N=31), ulcerative colitis (UC, N=63) and healthy volunteers (N=41) by a neurologist specialized in movement disorders (Dr. Elan Louis, Columbia University, New York City). Sensory or sensorimotor large-fiber polyneuropathy was observed in 16.1% of the patients with CD and 19.6% of the patients with UC. Neuropathy was usually mild, predominantly distal, symmetric, and axonal. Carpal tunnel syndrome was more commonly observed in women with UC. Sensory complaints without electrodiagnostic (EMG) abnormalities suggestive of small fiber neuropathy or subclinical myelopathy were observed in 29% of the patients with CD and 11.8% of the patients with UC. After excluding other etiological or contributory factors for the development of neuropathy, still 13.4% of the IBD patients had large or small fiber neuropathy (7.3% had large-fiber polyneuropathy). Non-debilitating headache was the most common neurological complaint, 3 patients had strokes, 5 were diagnosed with epilepsy and one had transient chorea. Patients with IBD had lower scores of tremor in the Archimedes spiral assessment due to decreased caffeine intake. In patients with CD, there was a significant correlation between tremor grade, use of medications with effect on the central nervous system, use and amount of caffeine intake and presence of other neurological conditions. In patients with UC, there was only a significant correlation between tremor grade, age and use and the amount of caffeine intake prior to the evaluation. In summary, patients with CD and UC exhibit a wide range of neurological manifestations that are frequently neglected clinicall