Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · Sep 2017
Severity of traumatic brain injury correlates with long-term cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction.
After traumatic brain injury (TBI), central autonomic dysfunction might contribute to long-term increased mortality rates. Central autonomic dysfunction might depend on initial trauma severity. This study was performed to evaluate differences in autonomic modulation at rest and upon standing between patients with a history of mild TBI (post-mild-TBI patients), moderate or severe TBI (post-moderate-severe-TBI patients), and healthy controls. ⋯ Upon standing, only post-mild-TBI patients and controls increased LF-BPsys powers and BPsys and decreased HF-RRI powers. GCS scores correlated positively with LFnu-RRI powers, LF/HF-RRI ratios, and inversely with HFnu-RRI powers, at standing position. More than 6 months after TBI, there is autonomic dysfunction at rest and upon standing which is more pronounced after moderate-severe than mild TBI and in part correlates with initial trauma severity.
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Journal of neurology · Sep 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialComparison of the efficacy of azathioprine and rituximab in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a randomized clinical trial.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) often follows a relapsing course. As disability in NMOSD is attack-related, effective treatments are needed. We aimed to compare the efficacy of azathioprine (AZA) and rituximab (RIT) as maintenance therapy in NMOSD patients. ⋯ AZA and RIT can both effectively decrease ARR and EDSS in NMOSD patients. RIT was significantly more effective than AZA treatment. Trial Registration Name of registry: clinicaltrials.gov; ID: NCT03002038; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03002038 .