RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of neurocognitive dysfunctions, depression and anxiety and the effect of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy on these alterations in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) patients. METHODS: Ten healthy normal and obese controls, 10 OHS and 10 OSAS patients were included in the study. Short form-36, Beck Depression Scale and State-Trade Anxiety Inventory (STAI 1-2) were performed. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MOCA), Enhanced Cued Recall (ECR) and Mini Mental Test (MMT) were used for neurocognitive evaluation. All tests were repeated after one night PAP therapy in OHS and OSAS groups. RESULTS: OHS patients had the lowest scores of physical (PF) and social functioning (SF) in SF-36. The total number of persistent errors and incorrect answers were the highest in OHS group in WCST. The scores of MOCA, ECR and MMT were lower; depression and anxiety scores were higher in OHS group than in controls (p = 0,00). There was a significant increase in the completed categories in OHS after PAP therapy (p = 0,03). There were also significant increases in MOCA, ECR and MMT scores and significant decreases in depression and anxiety scores with respect to PAP therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety are important under-recognized comorbidities in OHS. It is suggested that short term PAP therapy had positive effects on neurocognitive functions, depression and anxiety but further multicentre, prospective studies with large number of cases are needed to evaluate the effect of long term PAP therapy on these parameters.
RESUMEN
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is characterized by visual and mental disturbances, nausea and vomiting and generalized or focal convulsions and often represents itself with parietal and occipital oedema formation. We want to report the treatment of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with plasmapheresis, which developed in a 35-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed by renal biopsy 3 years ago. She has been followed up in the intensive care unit three times. However, she had been transferred to the nephrology department of our university hospital because of her uncontrolled blood pressure. Oral antihypertensive therapy, corticosteroid 500 mg 1 × 1 and cyclophosphamide were started for the activation of lupus. After the detection of low complement levels, systemic lupus erythematosus activation was suspected. She developed mental deterioration after her first plasmapheresis treatment and was then consulted by the neurology and intensive care unit doctors. Diffusion cranial magnetic resonance imaging was found compatible with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. The patient was transferred to our intensive care unit. The patient gained consciousness after her second plasmapheresis. After 5 days of follow-up in our intensive care unit and after significant regression was observed in the magnetic resonance imaging analysis, the patient was transferred to the nephrology service conscious, cooperated and orientated. At the nephrology service, after a total of 13 times of plasmapheresis, complement levels were increased and she was discharged with corticosteroid therapy. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome can be observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and intensive care unit treatment may be required. To control the hypertension, plasmapheresis should be kept in mind in addition to the multiple antihypertensive therapy in these patients.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there was a relationship between severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbation and pulmonary function test (PFT) and to determine the effect of theophylline, which was added to intravenous methylprednisolone, on serum Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha levels and clinical scores in MS relapses. STUDY DESIGN: Double blind randomized controlled trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was determined, PFT was performed and blood was taken for analysis of TNF- alpha in patients with MS exacerbation. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; group 1 received intravenous methylprednisolone+IV theophylline and group 2 intravenous methylprednisolone+placebo for 5 days. PFT and EDSS score were repeated and blood was taken for TNF-alpha on the 5(th) and 30(th) days of the treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (14 female, 10 male) were included in the study. Mean age was 32.6±9, duration of disease was 5.4±4.2 years, number of exacerbations was 5±2. There was a significant correlation between the number of exacerbations and EDSS score (p=0.000, r=1). Restrictive PFT findings were detected in 8 and decrease in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) in 3 cases. In within-group analysis, EDSS score was found to be decreased on day 5 and still low on day 30 in the theophylline group (baseline 3±1.3; 5(th) day 2.4±1.6; 30(th) day 2±1.7). There was no statistically significant difference in the EDSS score of the placebo group (3±1.6; 2.8±1.7; 2.4±1.9 respectively). While serum TNF-alpha level was not changed in the placebo group, there was a non-significant decrease on day 5 and increase on day 30 in the theophylline group. There was no correlation between the clinical parameters, PFT and TNF-alpha level. CONCLUSION: There was no correlation between severity of MS and PFT findings. It is suggested that theophylline might be effective in MS exacerbations since it caused decreases in clinical scores; studies with longer treatment duration are needed to clarify its possible anti-inflammatory effect.
