Differential levels of Neurofilament Light protein in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are useful in the diagnosis and the prediction of progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. Among them, CSF neurofilament light (NfL) protein has particular interest, as its levels reflect neuroaxonal degeneration, a common feature in various neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we analyzed NfL levels in the CSF of 535 participants of the SPIN (Sant Pau Initiative on Neurodegeneration) cohort including cognitively normal participants, patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), Down syndrome (DS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS). We evaluated the differences in CSF NfL accross groups and its association with other CSF biomarkers and with cognitive scales. All neurogenerative diseases showed increased levels of CSF NfL, with the highest levels in patients with ALS, FTD, CBS and PSP. Furthermore, we found an association of CSF NfL levels with cognitive impairment in patients within the AD and FTD spectrum and with AD pathology in DLB and DS patients. These results have implications for the use of NfL as a marker in neurodegenerative diseases.

Long-term outcomes of adult chronic idiopathic hydrocephalus treated with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. / Evolución a largo plazo de la hidrocefalia crónica del adulto idiopática tratada con válvula de derivación ventrículo-peritoneal.

INTRODUCTION: Adult chronic idiopathic hydrocephalus (ACIH) is a cause of dementia that can be treated by implanting a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS). We aim to study clinical and functional outcomes in patients with ACIH corrected with a VPS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with probable ACIH (Japan Neurosurgical Society guidelines) and undergoing shunt placement between 2008 and 2013 in a centre of reference for neurosurgery in Spain. Clinical improvement was classified in 4 categories (resolution, partial improvement, equivocal improvement, and no improvement); functional outcome was assessed on the modified Rankin scale (mRS). RESULTS: The study included 29 patients with a mean age of 73.9 years; 62.1% were male and 65.5% had hypertension. Clinical improvement (complete or partial) was observed in 58% after one year and in 48% by the end of the follow-up period (mean follow-up time was 37.8 months). Older age, presence of hypertension, and surgery-related complications were more prevalent in the group responding poorly to treatment. One patient died, 20.7% experienced severe complications, and 69% were dependent (mRS ≥ 3) by the end of the follow-up period. Age at diagnosis was independently associated with poorer clinical response at one year and a higher degree of dependency by the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic benefits offered by VPS were partial and transient; treatment was associated with a high complication rate and poor functional outcomes in the long term, especially in the oldest patients.

Recurrence of stroke amongst women of reproductive age: impact of and on subsequent pregnancies.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The risk of recurrence of stroke after pregnancy is poorly known. METHODS: This was an observational study of women younger than 45 years of age with transient ischaemic attack (TIA), cerebral infarction (CI), cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) treated in a stroke unit (January 1996-2011). The clinical data were prospectively collected in a database. Information on reproductive history after stroke was obtained using telephone surveys (2011). The variables were demographic data, vascular risk factors, stroke type, outcomes, medical advice concerning pregnancies after stroke, number of pregnancies after stroke, neurological assessment during pregnancy, antithrombotic treatments during pregnancy/puerperium, fertility treatments administered and information about hemorrhagic/ischaemic stroke recurrence. RESULTS: Overall, 102 women were included: 24 TIA, 64 CI (four large vessel disease, 14 cardioembolic, 12 small vessel disease, 17 undetermined etiology, 17 uncommon etiology), 12 CVT and two ICH. Mean age at the time of first stroke was 35 (±7.5) years. Median follow-up was 7.4 years (range 1-17). Thirty-two pregnancies occurred in 27 patients (previous diagnosis: four TIA, 17 CI, five CVT and one ICH). One woman became pregnant using in vitro fertilization. Only eight pregnancies were followed up by a neurologist. Of 26 pregnancies without previous history of ICH, 18 (62%) underwent preventive antithrombotic treatment. No recurrence of stroke was observed during pregnancy/puerperium. Of the women without pregnancies after the first cerebrovascular event, four CIs and three TIAs were observed. CONCLUSION: The recurrence of stroke after pregnancy is very low, which should be considered when counseling these patients.