Resident & Fellow Section

e-Pearls archive: Now Searchable! | Submit an e-Pearl

Dejerine Roussy syndrome

Dejerine Roussy syndrome is a rare, central post-stroke pain, which occurs due to involvement of the spinothalamic tract anywhere along its course, from the lateral medulla to the inferolateral thalamus.¹ It is named after French neurologist Joseph Dejerine and French physician Gustav Roussy, who wrote the famous paper, "Le syndrome thalamique."¹ Patients present with sharp, burning, stabbing pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia on the affected site that can occur immediately post-stroke or up to 10 years after the event. Initially, the patient is started on amitriptyline, gabapentin, or pregabalin. If there is an inadequate response, then serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, lamotrigine, opioids, or drug combinations can be tried.² Non-pharmacological treatment behavior therapy is also found helpful.³

References

1. Déjerine J, Roussy G. Le syndrome thalamique. Rev Neurol (Paris) 1906;14:521–32.
2. Klit H, Finnerup NB, Jensen TS. Central post-stroke pain: clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and management. Lancet Neurol 2009 Sep;8:857–868.
3. Tasker RR. Central pain states. In: Warfield CA, Bajwa ZH, eds. Principles and Practice of Pain Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2004:394–404.

Tushar Garg, Medical Student, Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital (Mumbai, India) and Shrikant Londhe, MD, Fellow, Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital (Mumbai, India)

The authors report no disclosures.