Attention deficits following ADEM ameliorated by guanfacine. Issue 6 (20th June 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh-Curry, Victoria; Malhotra, Paresh; Farmer, Simon F; Husain, Masud
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 82:Issue 6(2011)
• Page Start: 688
• Page End: 690
• Publication Date: 2010-06-20
• Subjects: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis -- neglect -- norepinephrine -- sustained attention -- thalamus -- attention -- clinical neurology -- neuropharmacology -- rehabilitation; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2009.195792
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : The authors report here the case of a patient with severe deficits in arousal and sustained attention, associated with hemispatial neglect. These impairments were secondary to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, with bilateral involvement of the medial nuclei and pulvinar of the thalamus. Treatment with the noradrenergic agonist guanfacine, previously used for attention deficits in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and stroke, was associated with a significant amelioration of both the spatial and sustained attention impairments in neglect. Guanfacine may prove to be a useful tool in the treatment of disorders of attention associated with neurological conditions.