Occurrence Of Neurological Symptoms Research Articles

Steroid-Induced Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in HIV Patient: A Paradoxical Effect

Introduction: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, severe demyelinating disease of the central nervous system predominantly found in patients with acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Case Presentation: This report details a case involving a male HIV-positive patient with PML who discontinued his highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatment 10 days after being diagnosed with HIV. The patient had no history of neurological symptoms either before or after his HIV diagnosis until he was administered corticosteroids. Notably, he began experiencing ataxia shortly after starting dexamethasone. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy was diagnosed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the John Cunningham virus (JCV) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The PML lesions were confined to the cerebellum. Conclusions: The occurrence of neurological symptoms (activation of JCV) after administering corticosteroids to a patient with HIV-who had not received any antiretroviral treatment for 4 years-raises a critical question: Is the use of corticosteroids, which are a primary treatment for immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), a double-edged sword in CNS-IRIS?

Cerebral venous thrombosis in reproductive age

Relevance. Cerebral venous thrombosis is a relatively rare pathological condition that often leads to the development of ischemic and/or hemorrhagic stroke.Objective. Describe a clinical case of cerebral venous thrombosis, accompanied by the ischemic stroke with hemorrhagic transformation, in a reproductive age woman taking a combined estrogen-progestin drug from the group of oral contraceptives.Patients and methods. The analysis based on the anamnesis data, clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination of the patient.Results. A clinical case of a 23-year-old patient who had an acute ischemic stroke with hemorrhagic transformation is presented. According to the history data and instrumental methods, the stroke was caused by thrombosis of the cerebral sinuses, which developed on the background of hormonal contraception use. The clinical case is accompanied by MRI images of the patient's brain.Conclusions. The risk of cerebral venous thrombosis in women with hormonal contraceptives use is almost 8 times higher than in those who do not receive hormone therapy. The occurrence of neurological symptoms in women of reproductive age requires a thorough study of the life history, obstetric/gynecological and pharmacological history to establish the fact of estrogen-progestin drugs use for contraception or treatment of hormonal disorders. The described case focuses on the importance of a delicate approach to prescribing hormonal therapy in the treatment of gynecological and other pathological conditions, and indicates the necessity to consider and recommend other contraceptives for young patients.

Loss of social independence in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2: a follow-up study using a national registry in Japan.

For patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), maintaining an independent state of living is important. The present study aimed to examine the loss of social independence (i.e., a status that patients can work and go to school) and its contributing factors in patients with NF2 using data from a national registry in Japan. This longitudinal study used a registry database containing information on patients with NF2 who had submitted initial claims to receive medical expense subsidies between 2004 and 2010. Patients with "employed," "studying," and "housekeeping" categories were classified as "socially independent." Patients who were socially independent at baseline were followed-up for up to nine years. The primary outcome of the present study was the loss of social independence during the follow-up period, which was defined as the change in status from being socially independent to socially dependent. First, we examined longitudinal associations between demographic variables and neurological symptoms at baseline and the loss of social independence. Second, we examined whether the occurrence of neurological symptoms is associated with a loss of social independence in patients. A total of 156 patients were included in the present study. During the follow-up period, 37 (23.7%) patients experienced a loss of social independence. In the first analysis, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that the loss of social independence was significantly more frequent among patients with spinal dysfunction than among patients without. In the second analysis, logistic regression analyses showed that neurological symptoms, including bilateral hearing loss, facial nerve palsy, cerebellar dysfunction, decreased facial sensation, speech dysfunction (dysphagia/dysarthria and aphasia), double vision, blindness, hemiparesis, and seizures, were significantly associated with loss of social independence. The occurrence of various neurological symptoms of NF2 can hinder social independence in the long term. Medical service providers need to observe patients while considering the risks, and provide appropriate support to address neurological symptoms that can restrict social independence, as this will lead to maintaining social engagement.

Management of Cavernous Carotid Artery Aneurysms: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience.

Objective: While cavernous carotid aneurysms can cause neurological symptoms, their often-uneventful natural course and the increasing options of intravascular aneurysm closure call for educated decision-making. However, evidence-based guidelines are missing. Here, we report 64 patients with cavernous carotid aneurysms, their respective therapeutic strategies, and follow-up. Methods: We included all patients with cavernous carotid aneurysms who presented to our clinic between 2014 and 2020 and recorded comorbidities (elevated blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and nicotine consumption), PHASES score, aneurysm site, size and shape, therapeutic strategy, neurological deficits, and clinical follow-up. Results: The mean age of the 64 patients (86% female) was 53 years, the mean follow-up time was 3.8 years. A total of 22 patients suffered from cranial nerve deficit. Of these patients, 50% showed a relief of symptoms regardless of the therapy regime. We found no significant correlations between aneurysm size or PHASES score and the occurrence of neurological symptoms. Conclusion: If aneurysm specific symptoms persist over a longer period of time, relief is difficult to achieve despite aneurysm treatment. Patients should be advised by experts in neurovascular centers, weighing the possibility of an uneventful course against the risks of treatment. In this regard, more detailed prospective data is needed to improve individual patient counseling.

Early clinical signs and treatment of Menkes disease

Menkes disease (MD) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in ATP7A. Patients with MD exhibit severe neurological and connective tissue disorders due to copper deficiency and typically die before 3 years of age. Early treatment with copper injections during the neonatal period, before the occurrence of neurological symptoms, can alleviate neurological disturbances to some degree. We investigated whether early symptoms can help in the early diagnosis of MD. Abnormal hair growth, prolonged jaundice, and feeding difficulties were observed during the neonatal period in 20 of 69, 16 of 67, and 3 of 18 patients, respectively. Only three patients visited a physician during the neonatal period; MD diagnosis was not made at that point. The mean age at diagnosis was 8.7 months. Seven patients, who were diagnosed in the prenatal stage or soon after birth, as they had a family history of MD, received early treatment. No diagnosis was made based on early symptoms, highlighting the difficulty in diagnosing MD based on symptoms observed during the neonatal period. Patients who received early treatment lived longer than their elderly relatives with MD. Three patients could walk and did not have seizures. Therefore, effective newborn screening for MD should be prioritized.

Altered mental status in 71 deaths due to COVID-19

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of neurologic symptoms with a focus on altered mental status in a sample of deaths due to COVID-19. Methods We reviewed neurologic symptoms in 71 deaths due to COVID-19 at the first US hospital with reported cases, of which 66 (93%) had medical comorbidities, 47 (66%) came from assisted living facilities or nursing homes and 35 (49%) had baseline dementia. Results Sixty-one patients (86%) demonstrated neurologic symptoms at hospital admission. Altered mental status was seen in 47 patients (66%) and represented the most common neurologic symptom. Seven patients (10%) were comatose at hospital admission and 5 (7%) presented with altered mental status without respiratory symptoms. Three patients had seizures and two had strokes. Hypertension (61%), cardiovascular disease (59%), and dementia (49%) were the most common comorbidities associated with death due to COVID-19 in our sample. Conclusions Neurologic symptoms, particularly altered mental status, are very common in COVID-19 patients with high risk of mortality. In a small subset of patients, altered mental status is the defining feature of disease presentation. A mental status examination should be incorporated in the medical assessment of COVID-19.

Arteriogenesis of the Spinal Cord-The Network Challenge.

Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is a clinical complication following aortic repair that significantly impairs the quality and expectancy of life. Despite some strategies, like cerebrospinal fluid drainage, the occurrence of neurological symptoms, such as paraplegia and paraparesis, remains unpredictable. Beside the major blood supply through conduit arteries, a huge collateral network protects the central nervous system from ischemia—the paraspinous and the intraspinal compartment. The intraspinal arcades maintain perfusion pressure following a sudden inflow interruption, whereas the paraspinal system first needs to undergo arteriogenesis to ensure sufficient blood supply after an acute ischemic insult. The so-called steal phenomenon can even worsen the postoperative situation by causing the hypoperfusion of the spine when, shortly after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery, muscles connected with the network divert blood and cause additional stress. Vessels are a conglomeration of different cell types involved in adapting to stress, like endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes. This adaption to stress is subdivided in three phases—initiation, growth, and the maturation phase. In fields of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, pre-operative selective segmental artery occlusion may enable the development of a sufficient collateral network by stimulating collateral vessel growth, which, again, may prevent spinal cord ischemia. Among others, the major signaling pathways include the phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) pathway/the antiapoptotic kinase (AKT) pathway/the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathway, the Erk1, the delta-like ligand (DII), the jagged (Jag)/NOTCH pathway, and the midkine regulatory cytokine signaling pathways.

Primary sellar melanocytoma: pathological, clinical and treatment review.

Sellar melanocytomas represent a small subgroup of primary melanocytic tumors. They arise from melanocytes located in the meningeal lining of the sellar floor or in the diaphragma sellae and this location is very uncommon. Usually, sellar melanocytomas are benign and slow-growing tumors with a high likelihood of recurrence. To our knowledge, due to the rarity of this condition, there are no guidelines regarding their diagnosis and treatment in the medical literature to date. We have developed a narrative review, analyzing the available studies regarding primary sellar melanocytomas reported in the medical literature. We have found ten papers on this topic and all of them are case reports. In all patients, tumor diagnosis was performed after the occurrence of neurological symptoms, in particular progressive visual loss or endocrinological disorders. The diagnosis is difficult, and it requires several preoperative and postoperative investigations, but histological examination is crucial. Transsphenoidal surgery is the first-choice treatment. In case of tumor's recurrence or regrowth, the role of radiation therapy and chemotherapy is not entirely clear.

Clinical characteristics of patients with delayed hepatolenticular degeneration

Objective: To evaluate the clinical manifestations, metal metabolism, imaging characteristics and treatment response in patients with delayed Wilson disease (WD). Methods: Patients with untreated WD (40 with delayed onset and 40 with non-delayed onset) were enrolled. Twenty healthy people were included as normal controls. All patients were evaluated with modified Young scale neural symptom scores, grade of Child liver function and mental symptoms rating scale, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, magnetic sensitive imaging (susceptibility weighted imaging, SWI), metal metabolism. Corrected phase (CP) was measured at SWI. After 2 week treatment, neurologic symptoms, liver function, and metal metabolism were reviewed. Results: The total score of neurological symptoms in WD patients with delayed onset was lower than that of non-delayed onset (13.00±6.87 vs. 21.13±5.53, P=0.033). The scores of SCL-90 and HAMA depression scales in patients with delayed onset were lower than those of non-delayed onset. On T(2) weighted imaging, areas including substantia nigra and thalamus, the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen presented high signal rate in patients with delated onset than those with non-delayed (P=0.022, 0.037, 0.022, 0.037, 0.029 respectively). The SWI CP values of cangbai sphere and shell nucleus in patients with delayed onset were lower than those with non-delayed onset. Patients with delayed onset had higher urinary copper than those with non-delayed onset before and after treatment (P=0.040, 0.036). After treatment, the score of abnormal tremor and gait in patients with delayed onset was decreased (P=0.037, 0.044), while as the occurrence of neurological symptoms was increased by 10%, and the liver function level in patients with delayed WD was decreased in 3 cases. Conclusions: The brain of WD patients with delayed onset is mainly composed of metal deposits, however the cell damage is not apparent. Clinical symptoms are characterized by significant liver injury, but relatively mild neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Patients with delayed WD have higher urinary copper excretion than those with non-delayed WD. Chelating agents improves the neurological symptoms in patients with delayed onset.

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy for Renal Cell Carcinoma Brain Metastases in the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Era: Outcomes of 120 Patients.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the outcomes in terms of efficacy and safety of a large consecutive series of 362 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) brain metastases treated using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era. From 2005 to 2015, 362 consecutive patients with brain metastases from RCC were treated using SRS in 1 fraction: 226 metastases (61 patients) using Gamma-Knife at a median of 18 Gy (50% isodose line); 136 metastases (63 patients) using linear accelerator at a median of 16 Gy (70% isodose line). The median patient age was 58 years. At the first SRS, 37 patients (31%) received a systemic treatment. Among systemic therapies, TKIs were the most common (65%). The local control rates were 94% and 92% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a minimal dose >17 Gy and concomitant TKI treatment were associated with higher rates of local control. The overall survival rates at 12 and 36 months were 52% and 29%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor survival included age≥65 years, lower score index for SRS, concomitant lung metastases, time between RCC diagnosis and first systemic metastasis≤4 months, occurrence during treatment with a systemic therapy, no history of neurosurgery, and persistence or occurrence of neurological symptoms at 3 months after SRS. Seventeen patients had Grade III/IV adverse effects of whom 3 patients presented a symptomatic radionecrosis. SRS is highly effective in patients with brain metastases from RCC. Its association with TKIs does not suggest higher risk of neurologic toxicity.

Nervous system involvement in Behçet's syndrome.

Neurological involvement in Behçet's syndrome is defined as 'the occurrence of neurological symptoms and signs in a patient who meets the International Diagnostic Criteria for BS not otherwise explained by any other known systemic or neurological disease or treatment, and in whom objective abnormalities consistent with neuro-Behçet's syndrome (NBS) are detected either on neurological examination, neuroimaging studies (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), and/or on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination'. Given that the neurological involvement of Behçet's syndrome carries a poor prognosis, we aimed to describe the differential diagnosis of NBS and highlight the different radiological patterns together with the treatment options. Two distinct MRI patterns of spinal cord involvement in Behçet's syndrome according to T2-weighted axial images were described: 'Bagel Sign' pattern: a central lesion with hypointense core and hyperintense rim with or without contrast enhancement; and 'Motor Neuron' pattern: a symmetric involvement of the anterior horn cells. Infliximab prevents patients from having further attacks and even led to improvement in the neurological examination. As the treatment options completely differ, a NBS diagnosis should be carefully made in patients with clinical and MRI features mimicking other central nervous system inflammatory disorders.

Headache at the Time of First Symptom Manifestation of Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective, Longitudinal Study

Aims: Headaches have not been considered a typical symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), although since 2000, almost every study showed high prevalence. We screened 50 MS patients at the time of first occurrence of neurological symptoms and found the highest prevalence of headache in MS that was ever recorded (78%). Postmortem histological analyses of MS patients’ brains revealed lymphoid follicle-like structures in the cerebral meninges and a pathophysiological link between headache, and high inflammatory activity especially in the initial phase of MS could be suspected. The aim of this study was to get insights into the persistence of headache in the further progress of the disease. Methods: In a prospective, multicenter study, 50 MS patients at the time of first symptom manifestation were screened for the presence of headache within the last 4 weeks and again 6 months later with help of the Rostock Headache Questionnaire (Rokoko) as well as using the evaluation of case history and clinical-neurological investigation. Results: We found a decrease of headache prevalence after 6 months from 78 to 61% (p = 0.01). We could also show a decrease of headache frequency, measured by days with headache in the last 4 weeks (9.5 vs. 5.9, p = 0.001). Migraine or probable migraine was the most frequent headache. In both investigations, the most frequent headache was recurrent pain with pulsating and throbbing character that lasted between 4 and 72 h. Conclusion: Headaches should be taken seriously as an important symptom in early MS. The decrease of headache 6 months after first symptom manifestation of MS could be a result of the immunomodulatory therapy. Young patients in whom migraine-like headaches occur should obligatory undergo an MRI of the head, and in the case of abnormal findings differential diagnosis should be initiated. This could reduce latency until final diagnosis of MS and enable early treatment.

Expression of kynurenine aminotransferase I as a prognostic factor in the context of the occurrence of neurological symptoms during chemotherapy.

e22081Background: Neurological symptoms in the course as well as after completed chemotherapy are one of the most frequently reported complications affecting the quality of life of patients. Method...

Low Common Carotid Artery Systolic Occlusion Pressure and Symptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis Are Associated with Development of Neurologic Intolerance during Proximal Protected Carotid Artery Stenting.

Background and ObjectivesNeurologic intolerance (NI) is defined as the occurrence of neurological symptoms during carotid artery stenting (CAS). Because NI is inevitable problem, it may be helpful to anticipate its occurrence. So, we studied factors associated with NI during proximal protected CAS.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients underwent proximal protected CAS from August 2012 to January 2017.ResultsWe included total 123 patients (109 males, 72±8 years old). The total procedure time was 43±12 minutes, and mean occlusion time was 4.8±1.2 minutes. We divided CAS patients into 2 groups according to presence of NI; neurologic tolerance (NT; n=74, 60%) and NI (n=49, 40%) groups. After the univariate analysis, symptomatic carotid artery stenosis (p=0.003), absence of anterior communicating artery (p=0.015) and low common carotid artery occlusion pressure (CCAOP, p<0.001) were associated with NI. After the multivariate analysis, NI was significantly associated with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis (odds ratio [OR], 5.549; p=0.014) and systolic CCAOP≤42 mmHg (OR, 6.461; p<0.001). In NI group, 43 patients (88%) recovered right after the balloon deflation and 2 patients were normalized within 2 hours. However, 1 had major stroke and 3 had minor strokes in 4 patients with persistent NI ≥24 hours.ConclusionsAbout 40% showed NI during the CAS. Most of them (88%, 43 of 49 patients) recovered after the balloon deflation, but stroke incidence was significantly higher in NI group. Symptomatic carotid artery stenosis and systolic CCAOP ≤42 mmHg were significantly associated with the development of NI during proximal protected CAS.

IMPS-10BRAFV600E-MUTANT IMMUNOCOMPETENT GLIOMA MODEL EXHIBITS TYPICAL HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME

INTRODUCTION: Targeted monotherapy against BRAFV600E displays efficacy in preclinical models of BRAFV600E-mutant gliomas, however xenograft tumors adapt rapidly and escape from the growth-inhibitory effects. The question emerges whether a more durable anti-tumor effect will be achieved by combining BRAF inhibitors with immune-modulatory agents such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-L1. The lack of an immunocompetent preclinical model of BRAFV600E-mutant astrocytoma however has been prohibitive to addressing this question. METHODS: A BRAFV600E-mutant murine tumor cell line (2341) was isolated from tumors developed in transgenic mice with Cre-conditional alleles of BRAFV600E and CDKN2A. Multiple cohorts of syngeneic FVBN mice, as well as athymic mice were injected orthotopically with the BRAFV600E-mutant tumor cell line and evaluated for the occurrence of neurological symptoms. Symptomatic animals were sacrificed and brains were harvested and subjected to a detailed immunohistopathological characterization. Tumor growth was studied employing bioluminescence (BLI). The presence of tumor fluorescence following in vivo injection of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) was investigated as well. RESULTS: Injected animals developed tumors in the right striatum exhibiting all histopathological diagnostic features of human glioblastomas. Neurological free survival was significantly longer in immunocompetent FVBN mice (mean 56 days) compared to similarly treated athymic mice (mean 15 days). Additionally, 5-ALA injected mice exhibited strong fluorescence of tumor cells, when exposed to ultraviolet light compared to normal brain tissue. Results from ongoing work regarding T-cell regulation in the immunocompetent glioma model will be presented and discussed at the meeting. CONCLUSIONS: A BRAFV600E-mutant glioma model that recapitulates the typical genetical, histopathological and behavioral features of human glioblastoma multiforme can be established in fully immunocompetent FVBN mice. These tumors also exhibit 5-ALA induced tumor fluorescence, a typical feature of human malignant astrocytomas. Further studies will reveal this modelś ability to reliably test the anti-glioma efficacy of immune-modulatory drugs in combination with BRAFV600E inhibition.

Pre- and postoperative MRI Evaluation of Silent Neurological Lesions in Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery

did not take account of the type of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) observed. However the junctional strokes (JS) rather of hemodynamic origin and the territorial strokes (TS) rather of embolic origin, have different evolutionary prognosis and risk of recurrence. Is neurological risk of carotid surgery higher after a JS? The aim of this study was to compare the rate of postoperative neurological aggravation in the 30 days after carotid endarterectomy for a symptomatic stenosis, according to whether the CVA was junctional or territorial. Materials and Methods: We present a tri-centric retrospective continuous and consecutive study of 222 patients, operated between 2009 and 2013 of a carotid endarterectomy for a stenosis >50% responsible for an ipsilateral carotid CVA, junctional or territorial. Patients with a mixed CVA were excluded. The age, the gender, the cardiovascular risk factors, the preoperative NIHSS score, the time between the occurrence of neurological symptoms and operation, the degree of stenosis of the operated carotid and the contralateral carotid, the need for a shunt, the duration of peroperative clamping as well as the procedure were analyzed. The criterion of judgment was the rates of death and neurological events (strokes and TIA) during the 30 postoperative days. The data were studied by the Chi-2 test for the qualitative variables and by a test resulting from a Student test for the quantitative variables. Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients of the two groups did not present a significant difference. The cumulated rate of morbi-mortality was significantly higher after a JS (p 1⁄4 0.0076). Conclusion: This study pleads for a more precise analysis of the type of CVA which must be taken into account in the operative indication for symptomatic carotid stenoses. A study conducted on a larger scale is necessary to stratify the operative risk and to optimize the surgical management, in accordance with the initial type of CVA.

Neurodevelopmental long-term outcome in children after hemolytic uremic syndrome.

To investigate the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in children after hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and to compare outcome dependent on central nervous system (CNS) involvement during HUS. A single-center retrospective cohort of 47 children was examined at a median age of 10.6 (range 6-16.9) years and a median follow-up of 7.8 (range 0.4-15.3) years after having had HUS. Intellectual performance was assessed with the German version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale 4th version and neuromotor performance with the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment (ZNA). The occurrence of neurological symptoms during the acute phase of HUS was evaluated retrospectively. Mean IQ of the whole study population fell within the normal range (median full scale IQ 104, range 54-127). Neuromotor performance was significantly poorer in the domains "adaptive fine," "gross motor," "static balance" (all p < 0.05) and "associated movements" (p < 0.001); only the "pure motor" domain was within the normal reference range. Neurological findings occurred in 16/47 patients (34%) during acute HUS. Neurodevelopmental outcome was not significantly different between children with or without CNS involvement. Our follow-up of children after HUS showed a favorable cognitive outcome. However, neuromotor outcome was impaired in all study participants. Neurological impairment during acute HUS was not predictive of outcome.

Артериальная гипертензия и поражение головного мозга. Новые цели терапии

Objective: to assess the feasibility of ARBs to reduce hypoperfusion of the brain that develops in patients with arterial hypertension of 1-2 degrees. Material and methods. A study of changes in the ultrasonic Doppler index (RI resistivity index and pulsatility index PI) and the structure of neurological symptoms in patients with arterial hypertension of 1-2 degrees (n=86) due to 53-week olmesartan medoxomil reception (Cardosal®). Results. Patients with arterial hypertension of 1-2 degrees have diagnosed diffuse neurological symptoms and mild cognitive impairment. Doppler ultrasound revealed an increase in peripheral resistance index in the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries, compared with patients without hypertension. Through 53 weeks therapy of olmesartan medoxomil (Cardosal®) observed a statistically significant decrease in peripheral vascular resistance (p<0,05), a decrease in the occurrence of neurological symptoms and regression of mild cognitive impairment.Conclusion. The use of olmesartan medoxomil (Cardosal®) as an antihypertensive drug can stop the development brain’s perfusion disorders and initiate reverse remodeling of the vascular wall.

766 – The occurrence of neurological symptoms in currently abstinent misusers of alcohol

Background Significant neurological symptoms may be overlooked because of the traditional view that the non-Korsakoff's psychosis, middle aged alcoholic misuser is neurologically preserved. Aims In this study, we wanted to investigate the presence of neurological symptoms in individuals with misuse or dependence on alcohol who were abstinent for at least 1 month. Method We used two scales from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) to ascertain the presence of both neurological symptoms (HEA-2) and symptoms of general health concern (HEA-3) in 70 individuals who had a diagnosis of alcohol misuse or dependence, who were abstinent for greater than 1 month. Results Individuals reported significantly more neurological symptoms than general health difficulties (p0.001). We detected neurological symptoms, unlike general health difficulties in individuals who were abstinent from alcohol for 12 months. When we examined diagnostic subgroups, general health difficulties were most present in individuals with anxiety disorders; however, neurological difficulties were present across diagnostic groups. Conclusion Neurological symptoms persist to a greater extent than general health concerns in individuals who previously were dependent or misused alcohol.

CACNA1H antibodies associated with headache with neurological deficits and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL)

Patients with the syndrome of headache with neurological deficits and lymphocytosis (HaNDL) typically present with recurrent and temporary attacks of neurological symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis. To identify potential HaNDL-associated antibodies directed against neuronal surface and/or synapse antigens, sera of four HaNDL patients and controls were screened with indirect immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, cell-based assay, radioimmunoassay, protein macroarray and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Although HaNDL sera did not yield antibodies to any of the well-characterized neuronal surface or synapse antigens, protein macroarray and ELISA studies showed high-titer antibodies to a subunit of the T-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC), CACNA1H, in sera of two HaNDL patients. Our results support the notion that ion channel autoimmunity might at least partially contribute to HaNDL pathogenesis and occurrence of neurological symptoms.