Endogenous immune mediated reactions of inflammation and angiogenesis are components of the spinal cord injury in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). The aim of this study was to ...identify alteration of certain mediators participating in angiogenetic and inflammatory reactions in patients with DCM. A consecutive series of 42 patients with DCM and indication for surgical decompression were enrolled for the study. 28 DCM patients were included, as CSF samples were taken preoperatively. We enrolled 42 patients requiring surgery for a thoracic abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) as neurologically healthy controls. In 38 TAAA patients, CSF samples were taken prior to surgery and thus included. We evaluated the neurological status of patients and controls prior to surgery including NDI and mJOA. Protein-concentrations of factors with a crucial role in inflammation and angiogenesis were measured in CSF via ELISA testing (pg/ml): Angiopoietin 2, VEGF-A and C, RANTES, IL 1 beta and IL 8. Additionally, evaluated the status of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) by Reibers´diagnostic in all participants. Groups evidently differed in their neurological status (mJOA: DCM 10.1 ± 3.3, TAAA 17.3 ± 1.2, p < .001; NDI: DCM 47.4 ± 19.7, TAAA 5.3 ± 8.6, p < .001). There were no particular differences in age and gender distribution. However, we detected statistically significant differences in concentrations of mediators between the groups: Angiopoietin 2 (DCM 267.1.4 ± 81.9, TAAA 408.6 ± 177.1, p < .001) and VEGF C (DCM 152.2 ± 96.1, TAAA 222.4 ± 140.3, p = .04). DCM patients presented a mild to moderate BSCB disruption, controls had no signs of impairment. In patients with DCM, we measured decreased concentrations of angiogenic mediators. These results correspond to findings of immune mediated secondary harm in acute spinal cord injury. Reduced angiogenic activity could be a relevant part of the pathogenesis of DCM and secondary harm to the spinal cord.
The leading cause of morbidity and mortality after surviving the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm is delayed cerebral ischaemia (DCI). We present an update of recent literature on the current ...status of prevention and treatment strategies for DCI after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. A systematic literature search of three databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Embase) was performed. Human clinical trials assessing treatment strategies, published in the last 5 yr, were included based on full-text analysis. Study data were extracted using tables depicting study type, sample size, and outcome variables. We identified 49 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. Clazosentan, magnesium, and simvastatin have been tested in large high-quality trials but failed to show a beneficial effect. Cilostazol, eicosapentaenoic acid, erythropoietin, heparin, and methylprednisolone yield promising results in smaller, non-randomized or retrospective studies and warrant further investigation. Topical application of nicardipine via implants after clipping has been shown to reduce clinical and angiographic vasospasm. Methods to improve subarachnoid blood clearance have been established, but their effect on outcome remains unclear. Haemodynamic management of DCI is evolving towards euvolaemic hypertension. Endovascular rescue therapies, such as percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty and intra-arterial spasmolysis, are able to resolve angiographic vasospasm, but their effect on outcome needs to be proved. Many novel therapies for preventing and treating DCI after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage have been assessed, with variable results. Limitations of the study designs often preclude definite statements. Current evidence does not support prophylactic use of clazosentan, magnesium, or simvastatin. Many strategies remain to be tested in larger randomized controlled trials.
This systematic review was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews. PROSPERO: CRD42015019817.
Radiographic shunt series are still the imaging technique of choice for radiologic evaluation of VP-shunt complications. Radiographic shunt series are associated with high radiation exposure and have ...a low diagnostic performance. Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic performance of whole-body ultra-low-dose CT for detecting mechanical ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications.
This retrospective study included 186 patients (mean age, 54.8 years) who underwent whole-body ultra-low-dose CT (100 kVpeak; reference, 10 mAs). Two radiologists reviewed the images for the presence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications, image quality, and diagnostic confidence. On a 5-point Likert scale, readers scored image quality and diagnostic confidence (1 = very low, 5 = very high). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. Radiation dose estimation of whole-body ultra-low-dose CT was calculated and compared with the radiation dose of a radiographic shunt series.
34 patients positive for VP-shunt complications were correctly identified on whole-body ultra-low-dose CT by both readers. No false-positive or -negative cases were recorded by any of the readers, yielding a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 87.3%-100%), a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 96.9%-100%), and perfect agreement (κ = 1). Positive and negative predictive values were high at 100%. Shunt-specific image quality and diagnostic confidence were very high (median score, 5; range, 5-5). Interobserver agreement was substantial for image quality (κ = 0.73) and diagnostic confidence (κ = 0.78). The mean radiation dose of whole-body ultra-low-dose CT was significantly lower than the radiation dose of a conventional radiographic shunt series (0.67 SD, 0.4 mSv versus 1.57 SD, 0.6 mSv; 95% CI, 0.79-1.0 mSv;
< .001).
Whole-body ultra-low-dose CT allows detection of ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications with excellent diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic confidence. With concomitant radiation dose reduction on contemporary CT scanners, whole-body ultra-low-dose CT should be considered an alternative to the radiographic shunt series.
Surgical treatment of deep-seated insular lesions causing refractory epilepsy is thought to be difficult due to the complicated accessibility and close proximity of eloquent areas. Here we report our ...experience with insular lesionectomies. Twenty-four patients (range 1–62 years, mean 27) who underwent epilepsy-surgery for a lesion involving the insular region, were identified from the epilepsy surgery data bank. We analysed pre-surgical diagnostics, surgical strategy and postoperative follow up concerning functional morbidity and seizure outcome (range 12–168 months, mean 37.5). Eight patients had pure insular lesions, in 16 cases the lesion extended either to the frontal (n = 3) or temporal lobe (n = 8) or was multilobar (n = 5). Sixteen resections (66.7%) were done on the right side. Six patients required invasive EEG-recording, three patients received intra-operative electrocorticography. In seven patients only subtotal resection of the insular lesion was possible due to involvement of eloquent areas. Thirteen patients suffered from glial/glioneural tumours (WHO grades I–III), 11 from non-neoplastic lesions. Postoperatively, one patient had a hemihypesthesia and one patient had a deterioration of a pre-existing hemiparesis; two patients had a hemianopia as calculated deficit (mild permanent morbidity 16.6%). According to the ILAE-classification, 15 patients were completely seizure free (62.5%, ILAE 1). Around 79.2% had satisfactory seizure outcome (ILAE 1-3). In selected patients an individually tailored lesionectomy of insular lesions can be performed, which is acceptably safe and provides a high rate of satisfactory seizure relief. Even subtotal resection can result in good seizure control.
•Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) may help to better characterize patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.•The concentration of myo-Inositol (Ins) at the precentral gyrus is high in ...patients with CSM and seems to normalize in the chronic phase of the disease.•Ins is a potential early marker of relevant disease in CSM.
To determine the changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) at the proximal spinal cord and in magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the precentral gyrus in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with respect to clinical symptoms and their duration.
20 patients with CSM (7 female; mean age 64.6 ± 10.5 years) and 18 age/sex matched healthy controls (9 female; mean age 63.5 ± 6.6 years) were prospectively included. Clinical data (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (mJOA) and Neck Disability Index (NDI)) and 3T MR measurements including DTI at the spinal cord (level C2/3) with FA and MRS of the left and right precentral gyrus were taken. Clinical correlations and regression analyses were performed.
Mean clinical scores of patients were significantly different to controls (mJOA; CSM: 10.2 ± 2.9; controls: 18.0 ± 0.0, p < 0.001; NDI; CSM: 41.4±23.5; controls: 4.4±6.6, p<0.001); FA was significantly lower in patients (CSM: 0.645 ± 0.067; controls: 0.699 ± 0.037, p = 0.005). MRS showed significantly lower metabolite concentrations between both groups: creatine (Cr) (CSM: 46.46±7.64; controls: 51.36±5.76, p = 0.03) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) (CSM: 93.94±19.22; controls: 107.24±20.20, p = 0.05). Duration of symptoms ≤6 months was associated with increased myo-inositol (Ins) (61.58±17.76; 44.44±10.79; p = 0.02) and Ins/Cr ratio (1.36±0.47; 0.96±0.18; p = 0.014) compared to symptoms >6 months.
Metabolic profiles of the precentral gyrus and FA in the uppermost spinal cord differ significantly between patients and healthy controls. Ins, thought to be a marker of endogenous neuroinflammatory response, is high in the early course of CSM and normalizes over time.
Background and aim:Mediotemporal lobe (MTL) epilepsy (MTLE) is particularly frequent among human localisation related epilepsies. MTLE usually starts before adulthood and is most frequently ...associated with hippocampal sclerosis (HS). Here, aetiologies, disease courses and outcomes of adult onset MTLE patients treated at this tertiary epilepsy centre are studied.Methods:We collected all patients studied between January 1999 and December 2005 fulfilling the following criteria: (1) MTLE manifestation at age >20 years; (2) time between disease manifestation and assessment ⩽6 years; (3) MTL lesion on brain MRI; and (4) neuropsychological test battery applied. The diagnoses were classified and paraclinical data, neuropsychological performances, and seizure and memory outcomes were documented.Results:Diagnoses in the 84 patients (mean age 42 years at MTLE onset) were: limbic encephalitis (LE), n = 23 (27%); HS (unrelated to inflammation), n = 18 (22%); tumours I/II°, n = 12 (14%); amygdala lesions (increased volume and T2/FLAIR signal), n = 11 (13%); and other, n = 20 (24%). Visible MTL affection was frequently bilateral in patients with LE (57%) and HS (22%). These groups also showed the poorest memory performance. Patients with amygdala lesions were the oldest (mean age 52 years); their lesions were in part immune mediated and in part probably dysplastic. Treatment dependent seizure outcomes were similar to published data without restriction to adult onset cases. Under conservative therapy, memory performance remained stable in patients with HS but improved in a proportion of patients with LE.Conclusions:The data suggest that LE is a common and a previously underestimated cause of MTLE in this age group. Its prognosis is variable. Amygdala lesions, also, are in part encephalitic in nature.
Purpose
Resective epilepsy surgery is a well-established, evidence-based treatment option in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. A major predictive factor of good surgical outcome is ...visualization and delineation of a potential epileptogenic lesion by MRI. However, frequently, these lesions are subtle and may escape detection by conventional MRI (≤ 3 T).
Methods
We present the EpiUltraStudy protocol to address the hypothesis that application of ultra-high field (UHF) MRI increases the rate of detection of structural lesions and functional brain aberrances in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who are candidates for resective epilepsy surgery. Additionally, therapeutic gain will be addressed, testing whether increased lesion detection and tailored resections result in higher rates of seizure freedom 1 year after epilepsy surgery. Sixty patients enroll the study according to the following inclusion criteria: aged ≥ 12 years, diagnosed with drug-resistant focal epilepsy with a suspected epileptogenic focus, negative conventional 3 T MRI during pre-surgical work-up.
Results
All patients will be evaluated by 7 T MRI; ten patients will undergo an additional 9.4 T MRI exam. Images will be evaluated independently by two neuroradiologists and a neurologist or neurosurgeon. Clinical and UHF MRI will be discussed in the multidisciplinary epilepsy surgery conference. Demographic and epilepsy characteristics, along with postoperative seizure outcome and histopathological evaluation, will be recorded.
Conclusion
This protocol was reviewed and approved by the local Institutional Review Board and complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and principles of Good Clinical Practice. Results will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.
Trial registration number
www.trialregister.nl
: NTR7536.
Highlights • Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is a treatment option in refractory ICP elevation and malignant infarction. • Minimum threshold of 12 cm in AP diameter observed in all cases. • ...Baseline demographics were comparable in both groups. Surgery was effective in relieving or preventing intracranial hypertension in all patients. • Smaller craniectomy is equally effective in relieving intracranial hypertension respecting a lower threshold of 12 cm. • No increase in the risk for secondary complications.
Background
Spontaneous blood pressure increase is frequently observed after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). These episodes of spontaneous blood pressure alterations are usually tolerated ...under the assumption of an endogenous response to maintain cerebral perfusion. The relevance of blood pressure variability and its relationship to disease severity and outcome, however, remain obscure.
Methods
A total of 115 consecutive patients with aSAH were included for this retrospective analysis of a continuously collected data pool. Demographics, initial clinical severity of aSAH (HH°, mFS), treatment modality, clinical course, and outcome (development of DCI, cerebral infarction, and GOS after 3 months) were recorded. Hemodynamic information—recorded automatically with a frequency of 1/15 min—was analyzed for spontaneous blood pressure increase (SBI) and endogenous persistent hypertension (EPH) after exclusion of iatrogenic factors and relevant co-medication. Subgroup analysis included stratification for day 0–3, 4–14, and 14–21.
Results
SBI and EPH incidence varied from 17 to 84% depending on detection threshold (15–35 mmHg) and time period under scrutiny. Incidence of blood pressure increase correlated with disease severity upon admission (
p
< 0.05), but the anticipated association with outcome was not observed. SBI and EPH were more likely to occur between day 4 and 14 (
p
< 0.001), but only early occurrence (day 0–3) was associated with higher incidence of DCI (
p
< 0.05). Persistent blood pressure elevation between day 4 and 21 was associated with fewer DCI. However, no influence of spontaneous upregulation on clinical outcome after three months was observed.
Conclusions
Spontaneous hemodynamic upregulation is a frequent phenomenon after aSAH. Our data support the hypothesis that spontaneous blood pressure alterations reflect an endogenous, demand-driven response correlating with disease severity. Early alterations may indicate an aggravated clinical course, while later upregulation in particular—if permitted—does not translate into a higher risk of unfavorable outcome.
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