[Sudden death occurring after anti-Hu associated paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and dysautonomia revealing a small cell lung carcinoma]

Abstract

Introduction: Paraneoplastic syndromes are a rare cancer complication with a frequent subacute evolution.

Observation: A 62-year-old man was admitted presenting with a cerebellar syndrome and orthostatic hypotension with dysautonomia. Anti-Hu antibody research was positive. A subcarinal adenopathy biopsy found out a small cell lung carcinoma. Despite a treatment with immunoglobulin and chemotherapy, the patient died suddenly, after a raise of dysautonomia symptoms.

Conclusion: Sudden death observations represent exceptional complications of paraneoplastic syndrome. They might be secondary to arrhythmias, ictal asystol or laryngospasm. Systematic research of paroxystic heart arrhythmias with holter-ECG in paraneoplastic syndrome may prevent sudden deaths.

Keywords: Arrhytmias; Arythmies; Autonomic nervous system diseases; Dysautonomie; Dégénérescence cérébelleuse subaiguë; Mort subite; Nervous system; Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration; Paraneoplastic syndromes; Sudden death; Syndromes neurologiques paranéoplasiques.