Late Neurological Complications Research Articles

Neurological complications in adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: Incidence, characteristics and long-term follow-up in a multicenter series.

Neurological complications (NCs) represent a diagnostic and clinical challenge in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) patients. We retrospectively analyzed NC incidence, etiology, timing, characteristics, outcome, and long-term effects in 2384 adult patients transplanted in seven Italian institutions between January 2007 and December 2019. Ninety-three (3.9%) patients were affected by 96 NCs that were infectious (29.2%), immune/inflammatory (26%), drug-related (12.5%), cerebrovascular (5.2%), metabolic (3.1%), related to central nervous system disease relapse (11.5%) and malignancy (3.1%), or undefined (9.4%). Six patients (6.4%) had neurological manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). NCs occurred on average at day +128 (from -5 to +4063). Early (< day +120) and late NCs had similar frequencies (46.9% vs 53.1%, p = 0.39). Thirty-one patients (33.3%) were affected by acute or chronic GVHD at the NC onset. With a median follow-up of 25.4 (0.4-163) months, the overall mortality due to NCs was 22.6%. The median time between NC onset and death was 36 (1-269) days. Infectious NCs were the main cause (61.9%) of NC-related mortality. A persistent neurological impairment occurred in 20.4% patients, 57.9% of whom being affected by immune/inflammatory NCs. This study highlights the rare, yet severe impact of alloHSCT-associated NCs on patient survival and long-term functional ability.

Risk-reduction strategies for late complications arising from brain metastases treated with radiotherapy: a narrative review.

This review will focus on the late neurological complications from cranial irradiation and relevant mitigation strategies. Radiotherapy (RT) remains an important pillar in the management of brain metastases. Patients being treated in the modern era do experience longer survival, because of superior intra- and extra-cranial disease control. As a result, they can be more prone to developing and manifesting late complications post-brain radiotherapy. A search and narrative review of prospective clinical trials relating to neurological toxicity outcomes was conducted. Neurological toxicities can be challenging to diagnose and manage and should be considered during consideration of radiotherapy in brain metastasis, hence more emphasis should be placed on prevention and upfront mitigation of these complications, with novel strategies showing promising results in prospective trials being adopted into clinical practice.

Cerebrovascular pathology in patients with hemorrhagic fever

It was performed complex ultrasound investigation of 50 patients with hemorragic fever at different stages of disease. Analysis of dopplerographic parameters showed, that in acute stage of disease the following patterns of changed cerebral blood flow can be determined: poor cerebral perfusion, stenosis and venous discirculation. In reconvalescent patients in comparison with the control group reliable deviations retained, presented mostly by autoregulatory disorders. For prognostic risk development evaluation of late neurologic complications in patients, having had hemorrhagic fever, cerebro-renal index was suggested.

A systematic review of endovascular treatment for chronic total occlusion of the internal carotid artery.

The management of patients with symptomatic chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is controversial. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate patient selection, technical success, early and late outcome of endovascular treatment for CTO of the ICA. PubMed/Medline and EMBASE databases were searched until January 2, 2020 for studies on endovascular treatment for CTO of the ICA. A descriptive analysis of demographic, clinical and anatomic data, endovascular technique, perioperative and late outcomes was performed. A total of 1,222 articles were screened, 8 retrospective or prospective cohort studies were reviewed; 276 patients, 18.9% females, mean age: 64.3 years, underwent attempt at endovascular treatment of 278 lesions. Two hundred and thirteen patients (77.2%) had neurological symptoms; the others had evidence of ipsilateral cerebral hypoperfusion. Two hundred and thirty-eight lesions (91.2%) were treated >30 days after diagnosis of occlusion. Technical success was 66.9%. Perioperative mortality was 1.64% (4/243), early stroke rate was 3.3%. Follow-up averaged 23.4 months (range, 0.25–84 months), late mortality was 1.89% (5/265), stroke rate was 3.4% (9/265). Stroke rate was similar after successful stenting (3.57%, 4/112) vs. failed stenting (3.61%, 2/61; P=1.00), stroke/death rates were also similar after successful stenting (5.36%, 6/112) than after failed stenting (3.28%, 2/61; P=0.71). Endovascular treatment of CTO of the ICA in eight cohort studies was safe and feasible with a technical success of 67% and a low rate of early and late neurological complications. Pooled data in this review failed to confirm the benefit of successful stenting on stroke and mortality, but some of the included studies suggest benefit and some also supported improvement in neurocognitive function after successful stenting. Prospective randomized trials to investigate the benefit of endovascular treatment in addition to best medical therapy for symptomatic CTO of the ICA are urgently needed.

Relationship between time at diagnosis and clinical manifestations of phenylketonuria in a sample of Egyptian children

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between age at the time of diagnosis of pediatric phenylketonuria (PKU) and clinical manifestations in a sample of Egyptian children. Patients and methods This retrospective cohort included children diagnosed as PKU. The collected data included the time, age, and phenylalanine (Phe) level at diagnosis, sex, serial plasma Phe levels, neurological and behavioral problems, developmental quotient, and anthropometric measurements. Results Sixty-six patients were included. Compared with early diagnosed patients, late cases had significantly lower median Phe levels (P&lt;0.001) and higher rates of neurological complications (P&lt;0.001) and behavioral problems (P&lt;0.001). Compared with compliant patients, noncompliance was significantly associated with late diagnosis (P=0.001), neurological complications (P=0.001), and hyperactivity (P=0.017). Conclusions Stature and head circumference were not significantly affected by time of diagnosis or compliance with treatment. Early diagnosis and compliance with dietary treatment have a potential impact on neurological and behavioral problems in pediatric PKU patients.

Neurological complications of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients: The registry of a neurology department in the first wave of the pandemic.

ObjectiveTo describe the spectrum of neurological complications observed in a hospital‐based cohort of COVID‐19 patients who required a neurological assessment.MethodsWe conducted an observational, monocentric, prospective study of patients with a COVID‐19 diagnosis hospitalized during the 3‐month period of the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain). We describe the neurological diagnoses that arose after the onset of COVID‐19 symptoms. These diagnoses could be divided into different groups.ResultsOnly 71 (2.6%) of 2750 hospitalized patients suffered at least one neurological complication (77 different neurological diagnoses in total) during the timeframe of the study. The most common diagnoses were neuromuscular disorders (33.7%), cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) (27.3%), acute encephalopathy (19.4%), seizures (7.8%), and miscellanea (11.6%) comprising hiccups, myoclonic tremor, Horner syndrome and transverse myelitis. CVDs and encephalopathy were common in the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to neuromuscular disorders, which usually appeared later on (p = 0.005). Cerebrospinal fluid severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) polymerase chain reaction was negative in 15/15 samples. The mortality was higher in the CVD group (38.1% vs. 8.9%; p = 0.05).ConclusionsThe prevalence of neurological complications is low in patients hospitalized for COVID‐19. Different mechanisms appear to be involved in these complications, and there was no evidence of direct invasion of the nervous system in our cohort. Some of the neurological complications can be classified into early and late neurological complications of COVID‐19, as they occurred at different times following the onset of COVID‐19 symptoms.

Tabes dorsalis in the 19th century. The golden age of progressive locomotor ataxia.

Tabes dorsalis, a late neurological complication of syphilis, is nowadays almost extinct. The path to understanding this disease and its pathophysiology was long and winding, spanning multiple centuries. The 19th century was a crucial period for understanding it. In the first third of the century, German and French physicians defined the semiology of tabes dorsalis, renamed in France "ataxie locomotrice progressive [progressive locomotor ataxia]." Nevertheless, the multiplicity of ancient and recent terms and the description of sometimes unclear nosological concepts (tabes nervosa, tabes spasmodic, nervo-tabes, etc.) were a hindrance to understanding it. Tabes dorsalis was a fertile ground for the description of many clinical signs that have become classics in medicine. No real treatment was available and various unusual therapies were performed. For a long time, the etiology of this disease remained unknown. The link between syphilis and tabes dorsalis was slowly established in the second part of the 19th century from epidemiologic observations. We present an overview of the concept of tabes dorsalis in the medical context of the 19th century and discuss the medical observations of some famous patients suffering from the disease such as Édouard Manet (1832-1883) and Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897).

Neurological complications in aortic coarctation: Results of a Nationwide analysis based on 11,907 patients

BackgroundPatients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) are at increased risk of periprocedural and late neurological complications. Based on a nationwide inpatient dataset, we assessed the prevalence and risk factors for neurological complications in this cohort. Method and ResultsWe included all CoA patients hospitalized in England between 1997 and 2015. The risk for procedural complications, subarachnoid bleeding and ischemic stroke were quantified, and risk factors investigated. Overall, 11,907 patients (60% male) with CoA were identified. The median age at first presentation was 0.6 years with a median follow-up period of 14.4 years. Throughout the study period, 8456 surgical or interventional procedures were performed in 6796 patients. The neurological complication rate for primary surgical or interventional repair in patients born after 1997 was 0.05% and 0.2%, respectively. During a total follow-up period of 146,295 patient-years, late neurological complications such as subarachnoid bleeding and cerebral infarction occurred in 225 patients (0.15%/patient-year). The median age for subarachnoid bleeding was 29 years and 57 years for ischemic stroke. While, arterial hypertension (p = .0014), current smoking (p = .02), dyslipidaemia (p = .007) and diabetes (p = .037) were significantly related to the risk of ischemic stroke, only arterial hypertension emerged as significant risk factor for subarachnoid bleeding. ConclusionsNeurological complication during primary CoA repair are extremely rare in the current era. In contrast, many CoA patients are afflicted by late complications such as subarachnoid bleeding and ischemic stroke at a relatively young age, emphasizing the need for meticulous and pro-active blood pressure control and reduction of cardiovascular risk factors.

Emergency percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic repair for patients with traumatic thoracic aortic blunt injury: A single center experience

PurposeTo analyze the efficacy and outcome of percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with traumatic blunt aortic injury in our single-center. MethodsFrom January 2014 to December 2018, a total of 89 patients with traumatic blunt aortic injuries were treated with emergency TEVAR in our center. Their clinical data such as demographics, operative details and postprocedure outcomes were analyzed retrospectively in this study using SPSS 20 software. Continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range. Categorical variables are expressed as the numbers and percentages of patients. ResultsThe median age of the patients was 37 years, and 76 (85.4%) were males. All the patients were involved in violent accidents and combined with associated injuries. Two patients died while awaiting the operations and 87 patients underwent emergency percutaneous TEVAR, with a 100% technique success. The mean time interval from admission to operating room was (90.1 ± 18.7) min, and the mean procedure time was (54.6 ± 11.9) min. Eighty (92.0%) patients were operated on under local anesthesia, while other 7 (8.0%) patients were under general anesthesia. Two cases underwent open repair of the femoral arteries because of the pseudoaneurysm formation of the access vessels. A total of 98 aortic covered stent grafts were deployed, of which 11 patients used two stent grafts (all in dissection cases). The length of the stent was (177.5 ± 24.6) mm. The horizontal diameter of aorta arch at the proximal left subclavian artery ostium was (24.9 ± 2.4) mm, the proximal diameter of the covered stent was (30.5 ± 2.6) mm, and the oversize rate of proximal site was (22.7 ± 4.0)%. The proximal landing zone length was (14.1 ± 5.5) mm. The left subclavian artery ostium was completely covered in 5 patients and partially covered in 32 patients. No blood flow reconstruction was performed. The overall aortic-related mortality was 2.25% (2/89). Among 87 patients, the median follow-up time was 24 months. Postoperative computed tomography angiography scans demonstrated no residual pseudoaneurysm, hematoma or endoleak. One patient complained of mild left upper limb weakness during follow-up due to left subclavian artery occlusion. Neither late death, nor neurological or other complications occurred. ConclusionEmergency percutaneous endovascular repair is a less invasive and effective approach for the treatment of traumatic blunt aortic injuries. Long-term results remain to be further followed.

Prevention of late neurological and surgical complications of diabetes mellitus in the daycare center of the city clinic

<h3>ЦЕЛЬ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ</h3> Изучить влияние комбинированной терапии диабетической полинейропатии на профилактику поздних осложнений сахарного диабета в долгосрочной перспективе. <h3>МАТЕРИАЛ И МЕТОДЫ</h3> Использованы статистические данные общей заболеваемости сахарным диабетом, число пролеченных в дневном стационаре больных с диабетической полинейропатией, а также число наблюдающихся у хирургов с трофическими нарушениями за 2015—2018 гг. <h3>РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ И ОБСУЖДЕНИЕ</h3> Проведена оценка влияния комбинированной терапии тиоктовой кислотой (октолипен) и витаминами группы В (комбилипен) на формирующиеся хирургические осложнения в отдаленном периоде у прикрепленного населения городской поликлиники за 2015—2018 гг. <h3>ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ</h3> При регулярном прохождении курсов лечения в условиях дневного стационара по поводу диабетической полинейропатии достоверно (<i>p</i>&lt;0,001) снижается риск возможных трофических осложнений. При увеличении числа пролеченных пациентов снижается последующая частота обращения к хирургам.

Neurological aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

By the spring of 2020 the COVID-19 outbreak caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has become a pandemic, requiring fast and efficient reaction from societies and health care systems all over the world. Fever, coughing and dyspnea are considered the major signs of COVID-19. In addition to the involvement of the respiratory system, the infection may result in other symptoms and signs as well. Based on reports to date, neurological signs or symptoms appear in 30-50% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with higher incidence in those with more severe disease. Classical acute neurological syndromes have also been reported to associate with COVID-19. A drop in the volume of services for other acute diseases has been described in countries with healthcare systems focusing on COVID-19. During the COVID-19 epidemic it is also important to provide appropriate continuous care for those with chronic neurological disorders. It will be the task of the future to estimate the collateral damage caused by the COVID-19 epidemic on the outcome of other neurological disorders, and to screen for the possible late neurological complications of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection.

Predictors of hospital-associated complications prolonging ICU stay in patients with low-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The authors sought to determine the predictors of late neurological and hospital-acquired medical complications (HACs) in patients with low-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The authors conducted a retrospective study of 424 patients with low-grade aSAH admitted to their institution from 2008 to 2015. Data collected included patient comorbidities, Hunt and Hess (HH) grade, ICU length of stay (LOS), and complications. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors for neurological and hospital-associated complications. Out of 424 patients, 50 (11.8%) developed neurological complications after the first week, with a mean ICU stay of 16.3 ± 6.5 days. Of the remaining 374 patients without late neurological complications, 83 (22.2%) developed late HACs with a mean LOS of 15.1 ± 7.6 days, while those without medical complications stayed 11.8 ± 6.2 days (p = 0.001). Of the 83 patients, 55 (66.3%) did not have any HACs in the first week. Smoking (p = 0.062), history of cardiac disease (p = 0.043), HH grade III (p = 0.012), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (p = 0.012), external ventricular drain (EVD) placement (p = 0.002), and early pneumonia/urinary tract infection (UTI)/deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (p = 0.001) were independently associated with late HACs. Logistic regression showed early pneumonia/UTI/DVT (p = 0.026) and increased HH grade (p = 0.057) to be significant risk factors for late medical complications. While an extended ICU admission allows closer monitoring, low-grade aSAH patients develop HACs despite being at low risk for neurological complications. The characteristics of low-grade aSAH patients who would benefit from early discharge are reported in detail.

The Role of the Headmaster Collar (Cervical) for Dropped Head Syndrome in Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors.

Dropped head syndrome is a potential late neurologic complication of radiation therapy in survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma. There is limited evidence for conservative management of this condition. To discover patient utilization patterns of the commonly prescribed Headmaster Collar (cervical) in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors with radiation-induced dropped head syndrome. Questionnaire-based retrospective observational study. Single-site academic cancer center. Twenty-six Hodgkin lymphoma survivors treated with radiation therapy involving the mantle who were prescribed a Headmaster Collar for dropped head syndrome. Patients were interviewed by phone with a structured set of questions. Compliance, patterns of use, individual modifications, and side effects of collar use. Although 58% of patients who were prescribed a Headmaster Collar eventually discontinued its use, 62% of all patients used the collar for more than 6 months. The majority of users wore the collar for up to 3 hours per day, usually for static seated activities. Thirty-eight percent of patients made personal modifications to their collar, most commonly the addition of extra padding. All but one patient had complaints about the collar, most commonly discomfort, rigidity, and confinement. The Headmaster Collar (cervical) is often utilized for a few hours a day, for longer than 6 months, to help with static seated activities. Insights from this study might help to improve future orthotic designs with better long-term compliance rates for the treatment of radiation-induced dropped head syndrome. IV.

Congenital chikungunya infection and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months follow up- A case series from North India

Introduction : Early and late neurologic complications of congenital chikungunya fever has been underreported in published literature. We describe the acute clinical manifestations and long term neurodevelopmental outcomes of congenital chikungunya in a recent case series. Objective: To describe clinical manifestations of congenital chikungunya and its neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months follow up. Methods : Medical records of the neonates born to mothers with chikungunya admitted in Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi during August to November 2016 were reviewed. All exposed neonates were observed for signs and symptoms of chikungunya and managed as per departmental protocol. Newborns with positive cord blood or postnatal RT-PCR were defined to have congenital chikungunya. These infants were evaluated for developmental disabilities at 18 months of age by ages and stages questionnaire (ASQ-3). Results: Seventeen neonates were considered to be “exposed” being delivered to chikungunya positive mothers. Of them, nine (52.9%) were labelled as infected on basis of positive cord blood RT-PCR. Eight neonates became symptomatic with development of typical chikungunya rash in 6 (66.6%), fever in 5 (55.5%), encephalopathy in 8 (100%), and seizure in 4(50%) neonates with one mortality(11%). MRI-brain was abnormal in six encephalopathic (75%) neonates. Based on parental response of ASQ-3 questionnaire, neurodevelopment was learnt to be normal in six infants (75%) and two (25%) had delay in motor and communication skills. Conclusion: Although few babies developed developmental delay, significant proportion of them recovered by 18 months of age inspite of severe neurotropic manifestation of congenital chikungunya.

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for instability arthropathy.

Osteoarthritis may be observed after surgery for instability and in the natural history of pathology. The primary objective was to analyze the late clinical and radiographic results of reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSA) for patients who had instability arthropathy. This is a retrospective cohort of 25 patients with a mean follow-up of 6.6years. Patients had a history of instability surgery (80%) or multiple closed reductions. All were clinically evaluated with the constant score (CS), and radiologically (true AP view and Y view). No significant differences in pre- and post-operative function, radiologic status, and complication rate between the patients treated with a prior bone block procedure for the anterior instability and those treated by a capsular plication or non-operatively. A 36-mm sphere was implanted in 67%. Bone grafting of the glenoid was needed in 71%. No intra-operative complication has been reported. Clinically, the active anterior elevation increased from 70° to 140° (p < 0.01) and external rotation from 9° to 21° (p = 0.02). The adjusted CS increased from 38 to 98 (p < 0.01). Two early post-operative complications were collected: one spine fracture and one superficial infection. No early or late dislocation or neurologic complication was observed. At the latest follow-up, there were 38.10% of glenoid spurs, and 55% of scapular notch. The overall complication rate in this specific group is relatively low. Patients' satisfaction rate is high and clearly higher than those reported with anatomic TSA for this indication. Clinical results are comparable to other studies describing results of RSA.

Performance of CHA2DS2-VASc score for stroke prediction after surgical aortic valve replacement

ObjectiveStroke is a frequent complication occurring early and late after surgical aortic valve replacement. There is an unmet clinical need for simple tools to assess postoperative stroke risk. We sought to assess the predictive performance of Congestive heart failure; Hypertension; Age ≥75 (doubled); Diabetes mellitus; prior Stroke, transient ischemic attack or thromboembolism (doubled); Vascular disease; Age 65 to 74; Sex category (female) (CHA2DS2-VASc) score in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis. MethodsSeven hundred fourteen patients undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis at 4 university hospitals were included. Data were collected retrospectively from patient records and monitored by an independent party. ResultsMedian follow-up time was 4.8 years. Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.1 ± 1.6. Low (scores, 0-1), high (scores, 2-4), and very high (scores, 5-9) CHA2DS2-VASc scores were observed in 39 (5.5%), 400 (56.0%), and 262 (38.5%) patients, respectively. Incidences of stroke or transient ischemic attack at 1 year were 2.6%, 4.8%, and 10.7%; at 5 years incidences were 5.2%, 14.0%, and 21.9%; and at 10 years incidence were 5.2%, 20.7%, and 37.9% for patients in low, high, and very high scores, respectively. Incidences of major bleeds at 1 year were 0%, 1.8%, and 2.7%; at 5 years incidences were 0%, 5.4%, and 8.7%; and at 10 years incidences were 0%, 9.0%, and 27.1%, respectively. Competing risk analysis showed that patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 5 through 9 had a significantly increased risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (hazard ratio, 4.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-20.6; P = .037) irrespective of preoperative or new-onset in-hospital atrial fibrillation compared with low-risk patients. ConclusionsCHA2DS2-VASc is a valuable tool to identify patients with increased risk of stroke and major bleeding, and for whom alternative strategies for prevention of late neurologic complications should be adopted.

Sequelae of tick-borne encephalitis in retrospective analysis of 1072 patients.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging vector-borne disease in Europe. The aim of the study was to evaluate sequelae and to analyse the potential risk factors predisposing to sequelae development. We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records of 1072 patients who received a 1-month follow-up appointment after hospital discharge. Medical data, such as patients' age, gender, place of living, subjective complaints, neurological and psychiatric sequelae were evaluated twice: at the moment of discharge and at follow-up visits 1 month after discharge. We observed that sequelae may affect 20.6% of TBE patients. Subjective sequelae were more frequent than subjective complaints during the hospitalisation (P < 0.001), while objective neurological symptoms during the hospitalisation were more pronounced than neurological sequelae (P < 0.001). Patients with meningoencephalomyelitis were predisposed to neurological complications, while subjective symptoms were more common in meningoencephalitis. Independent risk factors for sequelae development were: age and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein concentration. The risk of late neurological complications persisting was increased in patients with higher CSF protein concentration. Based on the results of our study we concluded that, there is a need for a better vaccination program, which would prevent the development of sequelae.

Late neurological complications due to laminar hook compression in idiopathic scoliosis surgery.

To provide a review of unusual neurological complications occurring years after spinal instrumentation surgery. The authors analyzed the cases of three patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who presented with delayed neurological symptoms (later than 12 months postoperatively) following spinal deformity surgery using Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (TSRH) hook-rod instrumentation. One case presented with conus medullaris syndrome while the last two were rare cases of posterior cord syndrome due to a dislodged laminar hook at the thoracolumbar transition. In all three cases, the neurological symptoms were due to direct laminar hook compression. Metallosis was observed extra-spinally around the hook-rod construct but not at the sublaminar site. The dislodged laminar hook responsible for the symptoms was situated at the concavity of the curve with the blade-tip pointing downwards. Symptomatic improvement was observed in all patients following complete hardware removal. Conscientious long-term follow-up of patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is important in order to recognize late neurological deficits directly related to instrumentation. Anamnesis and physical examination are key for initial assessment and diagnosis, while myelography and computed tomography (CT) images are of great help to confirm the site of spinal compression. Removal of the dislodged laminar hooks after PSF with TSRH instrumentation in AIS cases can potentially improve neurological symptoms.

Management of Lyme Disease in European Children: a Review for Practical Purpose.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne zoonosis transmitted through a bite of a tick carrying a spirochete belonging to Borrelia species. In the last 20years, the reported incidence of Lyme disease is increased by three times in Europe. Clinically, the illness develops through a primary stage with a typical skin rash (erythema marginatum), then a secondary stage with possible neurologic or cardiac involvement. The last stage (chronic Lyme disease) is mainly represented by arthritis or late neurological complications but nowadays is rarely seen due to precocious antibiotic use. The diagnosis of Lyme disease is essentially based on history in agreement with tick exposure (living/recent traveling in endemic area or tick bite) and clinical findings compatible with the disease. At present, no laboratory diagnostic tool available can neither establish nor exclude the diagnosis of Lyme disease. The management of Lyme disease should comprise a prophylactic administration of antibiotic in selected population (patients exposed to a tick bite in endemic regions) in which the typical signs of Lyme disease are not yet appeared; conversely, patients with current signs of Lyme disease should undergo a standard therapeutic course. First-line therapy should be oral tetracycline or oral penicillin/cephalosporin (in pediatric populations, beta-lactamic drugs are preferred). In severe courses, intravenous route should be preferred. The aim of this review is to provide an updated guide to the management of pediatric Lyme patients, from prophylaxis to first- and second-line therapy in European setting.

Early and late neurological complications of liver transplantation in pediatric patients.

NCs occur commonly after solid organ transplantation and affect 15%-30% of liver transplant recipients. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the type and incidence of neurologic events in pediatric patients following LT. Between May 2006 and June 2015, 242 patients (118 females, 124 males) requiring LT for different etiologies at the İnönü University Liver Transplantation Institute were included. The incidence, types, and risk factors of NCs that occurred following LT were evaluated retrospectively. Neurologic events occurred in 57 (23.5%) of the patients. Early NCs were encephalopathy (12.4%), seizures (11.5%), and PRES (7%). Of 57 patients, five (8.7%) experienced NCs at least 1month after LT; these late NCs included tremor, headaches, encephalopathy, ataxia, and neuropathy. The psychiatric symptoms after LT were noted in 42 patients (17.4%). The mortality rate after LT in those with or without neurological events was not significantly different (P=.73). There was a high incidence of serious neurologic events after LT. The major neurologic manifestation in our patients was encephalopathy followed by seizures.