Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Oct 2018
Predictive value of electroencephalography in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARE) is a severe, but treatable disease. This study aims to give a detailed description of electroencephalogram (EEG) results in paediatric and adult patients to improve disease recognition, and analyses the predictive value of the first EEG for the final clinical outcome. ⋯ The first EEG commonly shows normal posterior rhythm with focal or diffuse slowing. Although the sensitivity of an abnormal EEG is high (96%), normal EEG does not exclude anti-NMDARE. EDBs are only present in severely affected patients. The first EEG recording is predictive of the final clinical outcome.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Oct 2018
Disease-modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis and infection risk: a cohort study.
Little is known about disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) and infection risk in clinical practice. We examined the association between DMTs and infection-related medical encounters. ⋯ Exposure to first-generation DMTs was not associated with an altered infection risk. However, exposure to the second-generation DMTs was, with natalizumab associated with a 59% increased risk of an infection-related physician claim. Continued pharmacovigilance is warranted, including an investigation of the DMT-associated infection burden on patient outcomes.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Oct 2018
Altered cerebral blood flow in the anterior cingulate cortex is associated with neuropathic pain.
To assess the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain, and its changes after duloxetine therapy. ⋯ Our results suggest that the development of neuropathic pain is associated with increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, and greater baseline activation of this region may predict treatment responsiveness to pharmacological intervention.