Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is one of the monogenic neurological diseases that neurologists most often experience. DM1 can develop several symptoms, including muscle weakness, gait disturbance, urinary incontinence, and cognitive decline. Other hand, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is more frequent in the elderly population and is characterized by a triad of symptoms, gait disturbance, urinary urge incontinence, and cognitive decline. Therefore, some symptoms overlap between DM1 and NPH. In this report, we described a case of DM1 that presented with a triad of NPH, and NPH-like changes in brain images. A 54-year-old man with DM1 visited our hospital for rehabilitation. He had a history of dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cataracts. He developed muscle weakness, blepharoptosis, and dysarthria at 43 years. Neuro-exam revealed percussion and grip myotonia, distal muscle weakness and atrophy, broad-based gait, and urinary incontinence. The mini-mental state examination score was 18. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged lateral and third ventricles and Evans index was 0.38 (NPH criterion; >0.3), which was mimicking for NPH. Tap test (TT) was evaluated twice. First TT improved clinical symptoms slightly, but second was unremarkable. Based on the second TT result, we could not diagnose with NPH and could prevent unnecessary surgical shunting. Brain imaging of DM1 can show an NPH-like appearance in patients older than 50. Although TT is the gold standard for diagnosing NPH, its sensitivity and specificity vary among reports. TT results should be interpreted with caution before performing a surgical shunt. If necessary, multiple TTs should be considered in DM1 patients.
Keywords: brain anatomy; csf tap test; mri; myotonic dystrophy type 1; normal-pressure hydrocephalus.
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