Neurology Alert
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Treatment for Autoimmune Small-fiber Neuropathy
The cause of most cases of small-fiber neuropathy is uncertain, but many patients have accompanying autoimmune biomarkers. In a carefully selected group of such patients, intravenous immunoglobulin treatment appears to provide benefit.
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Proceedings From the International Stroke Conference, Los Angeles, February 2018
Message from the editor: The following reviews of studies presented at the 2018 International Stroke Conference were written after my personal attendance at the presentations, followed by review of the simultaneous publications in the journals Stroke, The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA Neurology, and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Serum Tau as a Reliable Biomarker of Outcome After Cardiac Arrest
Currently, there are no reliable and readily available biomarkers to assist in determining prognosis for neurological recovery after cardiac arrest, but serum tau measurements hold promise for the future.
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Pain in Anti-MAG Neuropathy
Most patients with anti-MAG neuropathy complain of painful paresthesias or dysesthesias, but unlike diabetic neuropathy, these symptoms are not severe and do not affect quality of life as much as motor weakness.
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Myasthenia Gravis, MuSK, and Pregnancy
Myasthenia gravis increases both maternal and fetal complications and mortality during pregnancy, but the MuSK-antibody variant appears less morbid, based on this small retrospective series of 17 patients.
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Functional Imaging Studies in Parkinson’s Disease
A meta-analysis of 142 studies demonstrated that functional imaging studies in Parkinson’s disease using tracers for aromatic acid decarboxylase showed smaller defects compared to those using tracers targeting dopamine transport and VMAT2. Symptom severity correlated linearly with dopamine neuron loss as determined by these imaging studies.
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Targeting Hypersensitive Corticostriatal Terminals to Treat Restless Legs Syndrome
SYNOPSIS: Based on this innovative study using optogenetic microdialysis, the mechanisms underlying restless legs syndrome include dopamine-mediated hypersensitivity of corticostriatal neurons to glutamate release.
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Neuroimmunology and Movement Disorders: When Should We Test for Autoantibodies?
Autoantibody-associated neurological disorders can mimic neurodegenerative and other movement disorders, but are likely under-diagnosed, resulting in missed treatment opportunities. This review is a “must read” for all neurologists.
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Thrombectomy Is Effective Up to 24 Hours After Stroke – the DAWN Trial
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Isolated Amyloid Myopathy
Isolated amyloid myopathy is a rare disorder that can be distinguished from systemic amyloidosis with myopathy by clinical, biochemical, and muscle biopsy histologic criteria.