Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · May 2008
Comparative StudyClinical characteristics of patients with late-onset multiple sclerosis.
We evaluated clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with late-onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS). Fifty-two patients with definitive multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosed after the age of 50 years were identified between 1991 and 2002. Data pertaining to clinical characteristics, CSF analysis, and cerebral and spinal MRI were compared with those of 52 young-onset MS (YOMS) patients matched for sex and disease duration. ⋯ YOMS patients responded to corticosteroids (93 %) to a significantly greater degree than LOMS patients (73 %; p = 0.004). For individuals who develop LOMS, a primary progressive course is frequent, with motor symptoms as the prominent feature. Vigilance is necessary to recognise MS in this population because of its unusual presentation.
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Journal of neurology · May 2008
Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis and Fisher syndrome form a continuous spectrum: clinical analysis of 581 cases.
Whether Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE) is a distinct disease or a subtype of Fisher syndrome (FS) is unclear as there have been no clinical studies with sufficiently large numbers of patients with FS or BBE. Our aim was to clarify the nosological relationship. Medical records of patients suffering acute ophthalmoplegia and ataxia within four weeks of onset were reviewed. ⋯ BBE (n = 4) and FS (n = 28) subgroups underwent detailed electrophysiological testing. Both groups frequently showed absent soleus H-reflexes, but normal sensory nerve conduction (75 % versus 74 %) and a 1-Hz power spectrum peak on postural body sway analysis (67 % versus 72 %). Common autoantibodies, antecedent infections, and MRI and neurophysiological results found in this large study offer conclusive evidence that Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis and Fisher syndrome form a continuous spectrum with variable CNS and PNS involvement.
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Journal of neurology · Apr 2008
Clinical TrialBotulinum toxin type-B improves sialorrhea and quality of life in bulbaronset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Sialorrhea is a disabling problem in bulbaronset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Botulinum toxin (BTX) type A and B have been proposed as alternatives to traditional treatments. ⋯ Anatomic guided BTX type B injections seem effective and safe to treat sialorrhea in bulbar-onset ALS.