Neurology Alert
RSSArticles
-
Risk Factors and Outcomes for Post-Traumatic Seizures After Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Using data collected from an Australian registry, a population-based cohort study identified risk factors for early post-traumatic seizures (EPS), associated morbidity and mortality, and contribution to development of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). EPS were associated with significant in-hospital morbidity, poorer outcomes, and increased risk of mortality at 24 months of follow-up. Patients with EPS had a higher risk of developing PTE.
-
Genetic Evaluation of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) refers to a group of rare, clinically heterogenous degenerative neurogenetic disorders resulting in spasticity, gait impairment, and falls as the result of a length-dependent upper motor neuron degeneration. Next-generation sequencing with multigene panels or exome analysis can confirm molecular diagnosis of approximately 30% of HSP patients. Multigene panels can identify the common causative variants, variants on rarely involved genes, and structural rearrangements.
-
Myositis as a Cause of Unexplained Dysphagia
A stepwise diagnostic algorithm was developed to identify potentially treatable idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in patients presenting with isolated unexplained dysphagia.
-
What Is the Right Dose of Immunoglobulin to Treat CIDP?
In this comparative trial of different doses of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, higher doses appeared to result in a higher percentage of patients who improved. However, there was no control group and there were many confounding issues that make it difficult to reach a definitive conclusion around optimal dosing.
-
Intensive Blood Pressure Control May Augment Cerebral Blood Flow
Patients with hypertension were randomized to intensive vs. standard blood pressure control and underwent baseline and follow-up cerebral perfusion imaging. Intensive blood pressure treatment was associated with improved cerebral perfusion over time.
-
Polygenic Associations of Chronic Axonal Polyneuropathy
In most cases of chronic axonal polyneuropathy, no specific cause is found. Using a polygenic risk score for potential risk factors, based on whole genome sequencing, these investigators identified multiple significant risk factors, including diabetes, body mass index, alcohol intake, and vitamin B12 level.
-
Use of Serum Biomarkers in Determining Prognosis After Cardiac Arrest
Used in conjunction with the clinical exam and brain imaging, serum biomarkers, such as neurofilament light, can help refine the prognostication for patients who have experienced severe anoxic/ischemic brain injury after cardiac arrest.
-
Neurodegeneration Biomarkers in Patients with Subjective Cognitive Complaints
In individuals with subjective cognitive decline, multiple biomarkers of neurodegeneration were found to add predictive values beyond amyloid and tau biomarkers; however, the various neurodegeneration biomarkers were not equivalent and should not be used interchangeably.
-
Antibody Profile in Refractory Myasthenia Gravis
In retrospective studies of patients with generalized myasthenia gravis, those who are refractory to multiple treatments have disease onset at an earlier age, are more likely to have thymic pathology, and are more likely to be double-seronegative (neither acetylcholine receptor nor muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase antibodies).
-
Outcomes of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Treated with IL-7
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by the reactivation of the JC virus. The authors of this study conducted a multi-centered retrospective observational study on 64 patients with PML who were treated with recombinant human IL-7 (RhIL-7). Overall, the one-year all-cause survival following start of RhIL-7 was 55% and similar among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, hematological malignancies, and primary immunodeficiencies.