Journal of neurology
-
Journal of neurology · Jan 2002
Comparative Study Clinical TrialMulti-slice CT angiography in the evaluation of patients with acute cerebrovascular disease--a promising new diagnostic tool.
Single-slice computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is an established imaging method for the cerebrovascular system (CVS), but it suffers from technical limitations with respect to the coherent high resolution visualization of longer vascular segments, such as the extra- and intracranial CVS. The recently introduced multi-slice (MS) technology has been attributed with a superior imaging quality for angiographic procedures due to increased scan speed and improved spatial resolution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of multi-slice CTA (MS-CTA) for the assessment of the arteriovenous CVS in patients with acute symptoms of either arterial or venous occlusive diseases. 41 patients with clinically suspected acute cerebral ischaemia (hemispheric in 29 and vertebrobasilar in 12 patients) and 4 patients with suspected cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) underwent CTA in a MS-CT scanner. ⋯ In all patients, in whom imaging and clinical follow-up proved a non-lacunar infarction (n = 22), MS-CTA detected the underlying vascular pathology. Suspected CVT could be confirmed in 2 and ruled out in another 2 patients through MS-CTA. In conclusion, multi-slice CT an giography may be a promising new diagnostic tool for the rapid and comprehensive assessment of the arteriovenous CVS in patients with clinical signs of acute cerebrovascular diseases.
-
Journal of neurology · Jan 2002
Clinical TrialTreatment of acute cluster headache with 20 mg sumatriptan nasal spray--an open pilot study.
We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of 20 mg sumatriptan nasal spray in the acute treatment of cluster headache attacks in an open-label study. 10 patients met the criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS) for episodic or chronic cluster headache and were enrolled in our study. The primary efficacy measure was "pain free" 30 minutes after treatment. Secondary end-points included "headache response" (defined as headache improvement from "very severe", "severe" or moderate" pain to "mild" or "no" pain) 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after treatment. ⋯ Seven patients were interviewed after a follow-up period of six months. Four patients continued to treat all cluster headache attacks with the intranasal sumatriptan formula, two patients had switched to subcutaneous sumatriptan and one patient was in remission since the end of the study. We conclude that 20 mg sumatriptan nasal spray might be an alternative therapy for the treatment of cluster headache attacks, but double-blind studies are needed to further evaluate its efficacy.
-
Journal of neurology · Jan 2002
Clinical TrialEfficacy of botulinum toxin A in upper limb function of hemiplegic patients.
Botulinum toxin A has been reported to reduce spasticity and increase the comfort of hemiplegic patients. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the treatment on disability, especially in manual activities, and to attempt to identify predictive factors of improvement. Twenty patients (mean age: 54.4 years; M: 14; right hemiplegia: 12) were included, with a delay of at least three months after unilateral hemispheric stroke. ⋯ The improvement in the RMA was better explained by the quality of the initial motor command on distal prehension (positive correlation with motor strength), and that in hand using in domestic activities by a lower level of spasticity on pronators and wrist flexors (negative correlations with spasticity). Conversely, the severity of the motor deficit (negative correlations with motor strength) and a high level of spasticity before injection (positive correlations with spasticity) mostly explained the improvement in comfort. In conclusion, botulinum toxin A is efficient in improving hand use in patients with relatively preserved distal motricity, and in increasing comfort in patients with severe global disorders.
-
The induction of peripheral neuropathy is a common factor in limiting therapy with chemotherapeutic drugs. Little is known about the mechanisms responsible for the development of neuropathy. Depending on the substance used, a pure sensory and painful neuropathy (with cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin) or a mixed sensorimotor neuropathy with or without involvement of the autonomic nervous system (with vincristine, taxol, suramin) can ensue. ⋯ A general predisposition for developing a chemotherapy-induced neuropathy has been observed in nerves previously damaged by diabetes mellitus, alcohol or inherited neuropathy. The recovery from symptoms is often incomplete and a long period of regeneration is required to restore function. Up to now, no drug is available to reliably prevent or cure chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.