Utility of optical coherence tomography in patients of central immune mediated demyelinating diseases - A prospective study.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive tool to measure thickness of various layers of retina. Recently, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIP) thinning has been observed in OCT in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), This study compared OCT profile, along with visual acuity (VA), color vision (CV), contrast saturation (CS) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) in two main cohorts of MS and NMOSD and with controls, during acute episode of optic neuritis (ON), at 3 and 6 months. We found that changes of ON were present in 75% of MS eyes and in 45% of NMOSD patients. Of these, subclinical involvement was present in 56.25% of MS eyes and only in 5% of NMOSD eyes suggesting frequent subclinical involvement in the former. Mean RNFL was 95.23 ± 15.53 in MS and 66.14 ± 43.73 in NMOSD after 6 months of ON episode. Thinning of NQ and IQ was observed in NMOSD eyes in the immediate period after ON attack. At 6 months relative sparing of RNFL in TQ was observed in NMOSD ON eyes and MS ON showed predilection for involvement of TQ.

Progressive motor quadriparesis with wasting: a diagnostic conundrum.

The case of a man in his early 30s, presenting with slowly progressive, asymmetrical onset, pure motor quadriparesis over 9 months with bulbar involvement, absence of upper motor neuron features and significant weight loss, is reported. In view of presentation with diffuse lower motor neuron involvement of short duration, the diagnostic possibilities are discussed. Apart from motor neuron disease, its mimics including muscle and neuromuscular junction disorders were also considered and evaluated for. Carefully assessed clinical and electrophysiological markers which finally clinched the diagnosis of the rare disorder Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome are elaborated. In the present context, recognition of the oddities on clinical and laboratory evaluation is of paramount importance to rule in causes of pure motor quadriparesis.

Cerebral Ptosis: A Revisit.

Ptosis, unilateral or bilateral, partial or complete, occurring in cases of cerebral ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, trauma or tumor without involvement of brainstem or oculo-sympathetic mechanism can be termed as cerebral ptosis. Such eyelid dysfunction can occur with hemispheric involvement of either side. It is associated with higher frequency of gaze preference to side of lesion as well as upgaze limitation compared to patients without cerebral ptosis. Here, we present our observations in four such patients with stroke and discuss its evaluation and implications with a brief review of literature.

Large Vessel Occlusions By Free Floating Thrombi in Strokes During the COVID-19 pandemic- A Single Center Observational Study.

Background: An increased incidence of systemic macrothrombotic phenomena such as strokes has been observed in moderate and severe COVID. However, strokes have also been increasingly observed in mild COVID, post COVID, or without obvious COVID illness. Objective: To share our experience with a specific stroke type noted during the COVID pandemic period. Materials and Methods: A single-center observational study was conducted in Western India from January to December 2020, and data regarding stroke patients admitted under Neurology services were noted. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of strokes and subtypes were documented. Results: A total of 238 stroke patients were admitted in 2020, 76.5% during the COVID pandemic period. Among 153 ischemic strokes, 16.3% and 56.2% had large vessel occlusion (LVO) in pre-COVID and COVID pandemic period, respectively. Of all ischemic strokes, 20.9% (18 patients) and 12% (3 patients) had free floating thrombus (FFT) in the COVID versus pre-COVID period, respectively. Only 44.4% of all FFT patients could be proven SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive while 50% were COVID suspect with surrogate markers of heightened inflammation at time of stroke. All patients were given anticoagulation and average mRS at discharge was 3.1 (range: 1-6) and 1.84 (range: 0-4) at 3-month follow-up in survivors. Conclusions: This study highlights the presence of FFT causing LVO as a new stroke subtype during the COVID-19 pandemic. With renewed and steeper spike in COVID-19 cases, especially new variants, the resurgence of this stroke subtype needs to be actively explored early in the course of illness to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Catastrophic Presentation of COVID-19 with Solitary Large Denovo Tumefactive Demyelination.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed a plethora of extrapulmonary manifestations including neurological presentations. To date, nervous system demyelination has been relatively infrequently reported in this setting. Also, while most data point toward immune activation as a causative process, few studies propound a direct effect. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old man presented with severe new-onset headache, hemiparesis, and focal seizures culminating in deeply altered sensorium. Radiological evaluation showed a large expansile demyelinating lesion in the right cerebral hemisphere. Nasopharyngeal swab COVID reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was positive. After initial non-response to steroids, the patient responded well to plasma exchange leading to complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: This report highlights a case of active severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection presenting with tumefactive demyelination and subsequent response to therapy. It is important to recognize atypical presentations at this juncture as it may be crucial for planning treatment strategies.