Prevalence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in antioquia between 2016 and 2018.

BACKGROUND: There are few epidemiological studies published in the world evaluating the prevalence of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD). The true prevalence of the disease is not known and the studies carried out are based on the diagnostic criteria used prior to 2015. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of NMOSD in Antioquia, from January 2016 to December 2018. METHODS: The prevalence of NMOSD in Antioquia was determined using the Capture-Recapture Method. Eight centers in the Department of Antioquia for the care of patients with neurological diseases were included. The data was collected between 2016 and 2018. RESULTS: A total of 221 consultation histories, 169 patients with a diagnosis of NMOSD were identified. The prevalence was 4.03 cases/100,000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3-4.8) of whom (87.5%), were women and the predominant race was Mestizo (81.6%). The most frequent initial presentation was optic neuritis (ON) (50.9%). Most of the patients had motor or visual disability (86.4%) and the treatment most used was Rituximab (47.9%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NMOSD in Antioquia is one of the highest reported in the world, except for the French Antilles. More studies are required to know the prevalence of this disease in the Colombian population.

The risk of infections for multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder disease-modifying treatments: Eighth European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Focused Workshop Review. April 2021.

Over the recent years, the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has evolved very rapidly and a large number of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) are now available. However, most DMTs are associated with adverse events, the most frequent of which being infections. Consideration of all DMT-associated risks facilitates development of risk mitigation strategies. An international focused workshop with expert-led discussions was sponsored by the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) and was held in April 2021 to review our current knowledge about the risk of infections associated with the use of DMTs for people with MS and NMOSD and corresponding risk mitigation strategies. The workshop addressed DMT-associated infections in specific populations, such as children and pregnant women with MS, or people with MS who have other comorbidities or live in regions with an exceptionally high infection burden. Finally, we reviewed the topic of DMT-associated infectious risks in the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Herein, we summarize available evidence and identify gaps in knowledge which justify further research.

Evaluación de riesgo de infecciones e inmunización en pacientes inmunosuprimidos por enfermedad neurológica / Assessment of the risk of infections and immunization in immunosuppressed patients due to neurological disease

RESUMEN La relación entre las enfermedades inmunológicamente mediadas del sistema nervioso central (SNC) y las infecciones es muy estrecha. En primer lugar, es importante reconocer que las infecciones pueden desencadenar reacciones inmunopatológicas que pueden conducir posteriormente a la manifestación de enfermedades neurológicas. En segundo lugar, las infecciones se han reconocido como complicación de algunas de las terapias empleadas para tratar condiciones neurológicas que requieren cierto grado de inmunosupresión. Las estrategias de mitigación de riesgo (EMR) son muy importantes para prevenir complicaciones asociadas con los tratamientos farmacológicos, así como generar estrategias de prevención con respecto a inmunización y detección del perfil de riesgo, antes del inicio de terapias.

SUMMARY The relationship between immunologically mediated diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and infections is very close. First, it is important to recognize that infections can trigger immunopathological reactions that can subsequently lead to the manifestation of neurological diseases. Second, infections have been recognized as a complication of some of the therapies used to treat neurological conditions that require some degree of immunosuppression. Risk mitigation strategies (RMS) are key in order to prevent complications associated with pharmacological treatments, as well as to generate prevention strategies with respect to immunization and detection of the risk profile, prior to starting therapies.

Síndrome clínico aislado: abordaje del primer evento desmielinizante / Clinically isolated syndrome: approach to the first demyelinating event

RESUMEN El síndrome Clínico Aislado (SCA) denota al primer síntoma neurológico sugestivo de esclerosis múltiple (EM), de por lo menos 24 horas de duración; en ausencia de fiebre, procesos infecciosos y encefalopatía. Se caracteriza por su presentación frecuente en adultos jóvenes y afecta al nervio óptico, hemisferios cerebrales, tronco encefálico o médula espinal. La estratificación temprana del SCA es indispensable ya que con herramientas predictoras clínicas, radiológicas y biológicas, se puede establecer el riesgo de conversión a EM. El uso de terapias modificadoras de la enfermedad (TME) en el primer evento desmielinizante, ha demostrado retrasar la conversión de SCA a esclerosis múltiple en un 44 a 50 %. Sin embargo, no todos los pacientes con SCA evolucionarán a EM, por lo que el estudio de diversos marcadores prónosticos permitirá reconocer el escenario ideal donde los pacientes se beneficien del inicio temprano de TME.

SUMMARY Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS), denotes the first neurological symptom suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), at least 24 hours in duration; In the absence of fever, infectious processes and encephalopathy. It is characterized by its frequent presentation in young adults and affects the optic nerve, brainstem or spinal cord. The early stratification of CIS is essential because with clinical, radiological and biological predictors, the risk of conversion to MS can be established. The use of Disease Modifying Therapies (DMT) in CIS has been shown to delay the conversion of CIS to Multiple Sclerosis by 44 to 50 %%. However, not all patients with CIS will evolve to MS, so the study of several prognostic markers will allow to recognize the ideal scenario where patients benefit from the early onset of DMT.

Queratopatía neurotrófica severa en paciente con compromiso bilateral del reflejo palpebral con diferente sustrato neurológico pos-TEC: reporte de un caso / Severe Neurotrophic keratopathy in patients with bilateral involvement of blink reflex with different neurological lesion post TBI: a case report

Se presenta el caso de un paciente que experimentó un TEC severo, asociado a fracturas de huesos craneales y lesión de pares craneales: II par izquierdo, ramas sensitivas corneales y oculares de la primera rama del trigémino derecho, y VII par izquierdo. Secundario a lo anterior, en el paciente se alteró el reflejo palpebral de manera bilateral, pero con un sustrato neurológico diferente. Con el paso del tiempo, ya en fase crónica pos-TEC, el paciente desarrolló una queratopatía neurotrófica severa. Es un caso llamativo por la correlación neuroanatómica que exige y el papel trófico epitelial que representa el nervio trigémino a nivel corneal y porque otorga información al personal médico en neurociencias clínicas para predecir la aparición de una complicación compleja de tratar como lo es la queratopatía neurotrófica. Son escasos los reportes en la literatura de esta temática, asociada a TEC y lesión de diferentes pares craneanos.

A case report of a patient with severe TBI associated with fractures of the skull base and cranial nerve involvement: II left cranial nerve, sensitive fibers from de V right cranial nerve and VII left cranial nerve. Because of complex lesions in cranial nerves, the patient had bilateral altered blink reflex. During the follow-up the patient developed severe neurotrophic keratopathy because. This is a rare cause of corneal lesion secondary to the damage to the trigeminal fibers which has a protective effect in the corneal epithelium. It is also important because could be a complications that could be avoidable en patients with severe TBI with an early diagnosis and treatment. There are few cases reported in the literature.