Paranoid psychosis due to neurosarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis. 1994 Mar;11(1):34-6.

Abstract

We present two patients with known sarcoidosis who developed neurosarcoidosis manifested by paranoid psychosis and clinical diabetes insipidus with hypernatremia. Both had gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging which demonstrated leptomeningeal and hypothalamic enhancement. Both had elevated protein and a lymphocytosis in their cerebrospinal fluid, which improved after corticosteroid therapy. The patients improved clinically with this therapy as well. We suggest that new onset psychosis in a sarcoid patient, particularly with symptoms of hypothalamic/pituitary involvement, should be evaluated for neurosarcoidosis with an MRI and CSF examination. If the results are consistent with neurosarcoidosis, the patient should be treated promptly with corticosteroids.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Benzothiadiazines
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / therapeutic use
  • Diabetes Insipidus / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Insipidus / etiology
  • Diuretics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypernatremia / drug therapy
  • Hypernatremia / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Nervous System Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Nervous System Diseases / complications*
  • Paranoid Disorders / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Paranoid Disorders / etiology*
  • Sarcoidosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Sarcoidosis / complications*
  • Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Benzothiadiazines
  • Diuretics
  • Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin