Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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Paroxysmal dyskinesias (PxD) refer to a rare group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders presenting with recurrent attacks of abnormal movements, typically dystonia, chorea or a combination thereof, without loss of consciousness. Classically, PxD have been categorised according to their triggers and duration of the attacks, but increasing evidence suggests that there is a certain degree of clinical and genetic overlap and challenges the concept that one phenotype is attributable to one single aetiology. Here we review the increasing spectrum of genetic conditions, as well as of other non-genetic disorders, that might present with PxD, provide criteria for case definition and propose a diagnostic workup to reach a definitive diagnosis, on which treatment is heavily dependent.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2019
Elevated YKL-40 and low sAPPβ:YKL-40 ratio in antemortem cerebrospinal fluid of patients with pathologically confirmed FTLD.
The combination of high YKL-40 (a glial inflammatory marker) and low sAPPβ (a soluble β fragment of amyloid precursor protein) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) in clinical series. We investigate these biomarkers in a neuropathologically confirmed cohort of patients with FTLD. ⋯ Our study provides pathological confirmation that the combination of low sAPPβ and high YKL-40 in CSF is associated with FTLD. These biomarkers could be useful in particular clinical settings when FTLD is suspected.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2019
Lifetime risk of common neurological diseases in the elderly population.
To quantify the burden of common neurological disease in older adults in terms of lifetime risks, including their co-occurrence and preventive potential, within a competing risk framework. ⋯ One in two women and one in three men will develop dementia, stroke or parkinsonism during their life. These findings strengthen the call for prioritising the focus on preventive interventions at population level which could substantially reduce the burden of common neurological diseases in the ageing population.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2019
Atypical CIDP: diagnostic criteria, progression and treatment response. Data from the Italian CIDP Database.
A few variants of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) have been described, but their frequency and evolution to typical CIDP remain unclear. To determine the frequency and characteristics of the CIDP variants, their possible evolution to typical CIDP, and treatment response. ⋯ The proportion of patients with atypical CIDP varies during the disease course. DADS and LSS have a less frequent response to intravenous immunoglobulin compared with typical CIDP, raising the possibility of a different underlying pathogenetic mechanism.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2019
Case ReportsX linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and multiple sclerosis: emerging evidence for an association.
X linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX) is a hereditary neuropathy caused by mutations in GJB1 coding for connexin-32, a gap junction protein expressed in Schwann cells, but also found in oligodendrocytes. Four patients with CMTX developing central nervous system (CNS) demyelination compatible with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been individually published. We presently sought to systematically investigate the relationship between CMTX and MS. ⋯ We have demonstrated a higher than expected frequency of MS in patients with CMTX and identified incidental focal demyelinating lesions on brain MRI in patients with CMTX without CNS symptoms. This provides circumstantial evidence for GJB1 mutations acting as a possible MS risk factor.