Neurology
-
Case Reports Clinical Trial
Intrathecal baclofen therapy for stiff-man syndrome and progressive encephalomyelopathy with rigidity and myoclonus.
We report on eight patients with stiff-man syndrome (SMS) or its "plus" variant, progressive encephalomyelopathy with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) receiving intrathecal baclofen via pump. In six of the patients, follow-ups continued for approximately 2.5 to 6.5 years after pump implantation. Intrathecal baclofen was an effective last-resort alternative for patients who responded poorly to or did not tolerate oral antispasticity medications. ⋯ They also required higher doses and more rapid dosage increases. Complications of intrathecal baclofen therapy included spasm-induced rupture of the catheter, catheter dislocation causing radicular symptoms, and pump malfunction resulting in inaccurate dosage administration. Patients suffered fewer side effects with intrathecal baclofen than with oral medication, but overdose resulted in a transient, comalike state in one patient and sudden dosage reduction due to pump failure was fatal in another.
-
Specific strategies for primary and secondary stroke prevention in children and young adults can only be recommended once the causes of stroke in these age groups are well described. ICD-9 codes were used to identify children aged 1 to 18 years with acute ischemic stroke. Young adults aged > 18 to 45 years were identified from the Indiana University and Northwestern University Young Adults Stroke Registries. ⋯ Children have more prothrombotic causes of stroke, and adults have more atherothrombotic causes and dissections. Lacunar strokes are rare in both children and young adults. The age of 15 years should be used to separate childhood from young-adult ischemic stroke.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Sumatriptan nasal spray for the acute treatment of migraine. Results of two clinical studies.
Sumatriptan nasal spray may be particularly useful for patients whose nausea and vomiting preclude them from using oral migraine medication or for patients who prefer not to use an injectable migraine medication. The objective of this study was to evaluate in two clinical studies the efficacy and tolerability of the intranasal form of sumatriptan in the acute treatment of a single migraine attack. International Headache Society-diagnosed adult migraineurs in two randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter studies (n = 409 and 436) used sumatriptan nasal spray 20 mg, 10 mg, or placebo (2:1:1) for the acute treatment of a single migraine attack at home. ⋯ Aside from this event, the pattern and incidence of adverse events did not differ among treatment groups. From these results we determined that sumatriptan nasal spray is a rapidly effective, well-tolerated migraine treatment. The 20-mg dose was effective in treating the entire migraine symptom complex, and the 10-mg dose was less consistently effective.
-
Two children developed multiorgan dysfunction with disseminated intravascular coagulation 9 days after lamotrigine was added to their antiepileptic therapy, which included valproic acid. During the episodes, rhabdomyolysis was detected in one of them, while being seizure-free, suggesting that this adverse reaction may involve muscular tissue.