Journal of neurology
-
Journal of neurology · Jun 2003
Comparative StudyChronic dysimmune neuropathy. A subclassification based upon the clinical features of 102 patients.
The Chronic Dysimmune neuropathies (CDN) are a clinically heterogeneous group of polyneuropathies united by their presumed immune mediated aetiology. At present such neuropathies are classified as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) and the Neuropathies in association with serum Paraproteins (Paraproteinaemic Neuropathies). This classification fails to recognise other distinctive syndromes and is limited by heterogeneity within, and overlap between, subgroups. ⋯ Patients with chronic development of Motor Sensory Demyelinating Neuropathy respond less well to steroids than those with a subacute onset. An association was found between elderly patients with Subacute Motor Sensory Demyelinating Neuropathy and carcinomas. Within any clinical subgroup patients behave similarly regardless of the presence of associated paraproteins or nerve specific antibodies.
-
Journal of neurology · May 2003
Quality-adjusted survival after tumor resection and/or radiation therapy for elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme.
Prognostic factors are poorly defined for the elderly subpopulation with glioblastoma multiforme and have been exclusively related to conventional survival analysis. In this study an additional quality adjusted survival analysis (QAS) was performed. The prognostic evaluation of both survival- and QAS data after standard treatment were checked for concordant/discordant findings. Their usefulness for estimation of treatment effects and treatment strategies was then evaluated. ⋯ The dramatic decrease of QAS as compared with survival indicates extremely limited posttreatment improvement and/or rapid deterioration of the neurological score after standard treatment for the older subpopulation with glioblastoma multiforme. Supportive treatment should be considered for patients with a pretreatment KPS < 70.
-
Journal of neurology · Apr 2003
ReviewCharacteristics of intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid haemorrhage in patients with polycystic kidney disease.
Subarachnoid haemorrhage is a common cause of death in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), but little is known about specific characteristics of subarachnoid haemorrhage and intracranial aneurysms in this group of patients. We performed a systematic review on site, size and number of aneurysms, age at time of rupture, gender, and family history in patients with ADPKD and intracranial aneurysms. We also studied the frequency of ADPKD in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage treated in our hospital. ⋯ Compared with data on patients without ADPKD, subarachnoid haemorrhage in patients with ADPKD occurs not only often in a familial setting of subarachnoid haemorrhage, but also at an earlier age and more often in men. In patients with ADPKD, the most frequent site of aneurysms is the middle cerebral artery. The proportion of patients with ADPKD among all patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage is very small.