Endovascular stroke therapy in Austria: a nationwide 1-year experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Based on a tight network of stroke units (SUs) and interventional centres, endovascular treatment of acute major intracranial vessel occlusion has been widely implemented in Austria. Documentation of all patients in the nationwide SU registry has thereby become mandatory. METHODS: Demographic, clinical and interventional characteristics of patients who underwent endovascular treatment for acute ischaemic stroke in 11 Austrian interventional centres between 1 October 2013 and 30 September 2014 were analysed. RESULTS: In total, 301 patients (50.5% women; median age 70.5 years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 17) were identified.193 patients (64.1%) additionally received intravenous thrombolysis. The most frequent vessel occlusion sites were the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (n = 161, 53.5%), the intracranial internal carotid artery (n = 60, 19.9%) and the basilar artery (n = 40, 13.3%). Stent retrievers were used in 235 patients (78.1%) and adequate reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scores 2b and 3, median onset to reperfusion time 254 min) was achieved in 242 patients (81.4%). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage occurred in 7%. 43.8% of patients (n = 132) had good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) and the mortality rate was 20.9% (n = 63) after 3 months. Compared to the anterior circulation, vertebrobasilar stroke patients had higher mortality. Patients with secondary hospital transportation had better outcomes after 3 months than in-house treated patients. CONCLUSION: Our results document nationwide favourable outcome and safety rates of endovascular stroke treatment comparable to recent randomized trials. The ability to provide such data and the need to further optimize such an approach also underscore the contribution of respective registries.

Essential tremor: functional disability vs. subjective impairment.

78 patients with essential tremor (ET) were investigated to uncover correlation and discrepancies between functional (motor) disabilities and subjective impairment. Various self-rating scales (Zung, v. Zerssen etc.) were used for the assessment of the latter: 2/5 of the patients rated themselves as severely impaired; 1/3 was depressive. Patients who showed nearly the same functional (motor) disability felt very differently subjectively impaired. Semiquantitative clinical scores of action tremor correlated best with the subjective impairment in activities of daily living. Objective measurements of motor disability were performed with the "Motorische Leistungsserie nach Schoppe" (motor performance test) and showed good correlation to the subjective impairment in simple tasks of every day life, such as drinking from a glass, eating soup, and writing. Asking for the subjective impairment in these tasks allows to estimate the objective disability correctly. This may be of value in long-term studies of essential tremor.

Neurological rehabilitation of severely disabled cardiac arrest survivors. Part II. Life situation of patients and families after treatment.

BACKGROUND: About half of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors experience secondary anoxic brain damage. Neurological outcome can be influenced by rehabilitative treatment approaches, but the nature and severity of persistent disabilities remain unclear. The aim of the study was to explore persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms, global function and life situation of these patients, and to evaluate quality of life in families. METHODS: 25 months after inpatient rehabilitation, 12 individuals (mean age=51 years; ten M: two F) attended a cross-sectional interdisciplinary follow-up assessment with their carers. Function was investigated by clinical rating scales, neuropsychological standard tests, and clinical psychological inventories. Family members were asked about quality of life and satisfaction with social support. RESULTS: All patients had deficits in at least one or more cognitive areas such as orientation, memory, alertness, and awareness. Three different clinical syndromes were observed: very severe intellectual and physical impairment, (two), mild to moderate dementia, (five), and amnesic syndrome, (five). Prevalence of multiple disabilities, was high. A striking discrepancy was found between self and proxy rating of disabilities (P<0.01). Family members faced dramatically altered life situations after CA; 60% of spouses suffered from psychosomatic problems, 50% complained of lack of social support. CONCLUSION: Despite optimal in-hospital treatment, severe anoxic brain damage resulted in permanent cognitive decline, impaired awareness and self care ability. Families felt isolated, and more than half need more support to prevent burn out.

Neurological rehabilitation of severely disabled cardiac arrest survivors. Part I. Course of post-acute inpatient treatment.

BACKGROUND: Some survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) sustain anoxic brain injury. The aim of this study was to offer these patients a new treatment approach, to describe the course and outcome of rehabilitation, and to judge whether rehabilitation provided benefit. METHODS: Twenty severely disabled patients (mean age 47.6 years, 17 M:3 F) were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation after sustaining anoxic brain damage secondary to CA. The multidisciplinary treatment approach aimed at orientation, communication, mobility, and self care. Function was assessed using Barthel index (BI) score. On discharge, placement and global outcome was noted. Medical charts of consecutive patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Inpatient rehabilitation lasted on for average 12 weeks. Improvement in function was slow with a median increase of 1.88 BI score per week. Patients achieved clinically significant functional improvement as measured by pre-post comparison of BI (P<0.001). On discharge, overall disability was mild in 2 (10%), moderate in 7 (35%), and severe in 11 (55%) patients. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation of selected CA survivors is appropriate, reducing the subsequent burden of care. Although in 55%, only minor dependence on care persisted, on a group level, the potential for rehabilitation was modest, and recovery curve was flat. Before admission, families should be given realistic information about the possible outcome, because independence was rarely achieved.

Dopamine D2 receptor imaging and measurement with SPECT.

Only recently it has become possible to label and visualize dopamine D2 receptors in the living human brain using an [123I]labeled ligand and the SPECT technique. Iodobenzamide (S(-)IBZM) is a substance with high affinity and high specificity for D2 receptors and was used in controls and in patients with different extrapyramidal disorders. After the i.v. administration of 5mCi (185 MBq) of [123I] labeled S(-)IBZM data collection was performed with a rotating double head scintillation camera between 60 and 110 minutes. In a semiquantitative approach a ratio was calculated between mean counts/pixel in the striatum and a region in the lateral frontal cortex, which gives an index of receptor density. In a group of 21 controls this ratio is 1.73 +/- 0.09. A highly significant age-related decline is found in controls and in 57 patients with PD. PD patients without L-DOPA or dopamine agonist treatment do not differ from controls (1.72 +/- 0.09; n = 18), whereas patients under dopaminergic therapy show a significantly lower binding ratio (1.65 +/- 0.13; n = 39; p = 0.017) suggesting receptor downregulation. Comparing the striatum ipsi- and contralateral to clinical symptoms in 18 hemiparkinsonian patients shows slightly but significantly higher values on the contralateral side, indicating receptor supersensitivity (1.71 +/- 0.11 vs. 1.66 +/- 0.09; p = 0.0014). No correlation between D2 receptor binding and clinical stage, duration of disease or duration of dopaminergic therapy exists. Markedly reduced ratios are measured in 7 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophies and in 18 patients with Huntington's disease (1.40 +/- 0.09 and 1.37 +/- 0.12 respectively; p = 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Physical activity and sports in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease in comparison with healthy seniors.

Physical activity during lifetime was investigated among 32 Parkinson patients (age 65.6 +/- 8.1 yrs, mean +/- SD) retrospectively by means of a structured interview. Data were compared with 31 healthy controls (age 61.7 +/- 5.8 yrs). An objective score was obtained by presenting a list of all kinds of sports, subjective estimation of physical activity was done by visual analogous scales. Until the occurrence of the first symptoms (mean = 58.5 yrs) the patients did not differ from controls. During the course of disease a striking reduction in physical activity but no complete abandonment of sports was found. Swimming, hiking and gymnastics were the favoured sports in both groups. Learning of new sports seemed to be impossible for the patients.

[Parkinson disease and neurologic rehabilitation]. / Morbus Parkinson und neurologische Rehabilitation.

Modern rehabilitation is becoming more and more "social integration" instead of "going back to work". Therefore rehabilitation is also a matter in chronic disease and in old people. Parkinson patients are somewhat disabled in nearly every aspect of their life, although the extent is related to the stage of the disease. Moreover, symptoms do not respond equally to drug treatment, balance (with succeeding falls) and swallowing being special problems for anti-parkinsonian drug treatment, but also vegetative symptoms, dysarthria, motor skills etc. Apart from medication patients get relief also from adjuvant therapy like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, which all can lead to improvement of quality of life. Rehabilitation needs team effort. Patient and family supporting groups (like Parkinson Disease Society and others) are an important factor for all needs of neurological rehabilitation.

The serial use of two provocative tests in the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunel syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To examine the diagnostic value of the newly proposed manual carpal compression test (mCCT). 2) To evaluate the test efficacy of a serial use of mCCT and Phalen's test (PT) in the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in comparison with standard nerve conduction studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, controlled study of 47 patients with 63 symptomatic CTS hands according to clinical as well as electrophysiological criteria. In the control group, 39 hands of 20 healthy volunteers were examined. Clinical neurological examination including mCCT and PT and standard nerve conduction studies were always performed: sensory nerve conduction velocity third and fifth digit to wrist, median distal motor latency. Calculation of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for the mCCT, PT and mCCT+PT, i.e. at least one of both tests positive after sequential application. RESULTS: Sensitivity 83% for mCCT, 79% for PT and 92% for mCCT+PT. Specificity 92% for all three conditions. Excellent positive predictive value of 95% and good negative predictive value of 88% for mCCT+PT. CONCLUSION: The serial application of mCCT and PT is very useful in the clinical diagnosis of CTS. This finding facilitates the clinical diagnosis by the primary physician, it helps to improve referral decisions to electrophysiological departments and other ancillary examinations and may reduce costs.

Circadian secretion pattern of melatonin in Parkinson's disease.

Although several studies on the efficacy and the toxicity of exogenous melatonin in Parkinson patients have been carried out, there are no data available on melatonin secretion in these patients. We therefore performed a controlled trial in 9 Parkinson patients (aged 62.1 +/- 8.7 years, x +/- SD) and in 14 control persons (58.0 +/- 10.4 years). Parkinson patients were treated with l-dopa (300-1000 mg per day) in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor (benserazide, carbidopa). 14 venous blood samples were taken from each person during a period of 24 hours in order to investigate the circadian secretion pattern of melatonin. Serum melatonin levels were estimated by radioimmuno assay. We found that the circadian secretion patterns of l-dopa-treated Parkinson patients and age-matched controls were very similar except for a phase advance of the nocturnal melatonin elevation in the parkinsonian group.

Circadian secretion pattern of melatonin in de novo parkinsonian patients: evidence for phase-shifting properties of l-dopa.

Aim of this study was the characterization of the circadian melatonin profile in de novo Parkinson patients (N = 9, age 60.0 +/- 3.2 years, mean +/- SEM) and the comparison of these profiles with those of controls and Parkinson patients treated with l-dopa/decarboxylase inhibitor (l-dopa/DCI). We collected 14 venous blood samples during a period of 24 hours and measured the serum melatonin levels by a radioimmuno assay. De novo Parkinson patients displayed the nocturnal melatonin peak (acrophase) at the same time as controls and significantly later than l-dopa/DCI treated patients (1:54 +/- 15.6 min [average clock time +/- SEM in minutes] vs. 1:45 +/- 15.6 min vs. 0:13 +/- 40.8 min). The amount of secreted melatonin did not differ among the three groups. Stage and duration of Parkinson's disease did not correlate with the amount of secreted melatonin. Patients of the tremor subgroup, however, secreted more melatonin than patients presenting only with rigidity and akinesia. The phase advance in Parkinson patients treated with l-dopa/DCI is possibly due to a central nervous dopaminergic effect elicited by l-dopa administration and not inherent to Parkinson's disease per se.

Remote effects of chronic botulinum toxin treatment: electrophysiologic results Do not indicate subclinical remodelling of noninjected muscles.

This study investigates the remote effects of botulinum toxin injections by examining the motor unit architecture of noninjected distant muscles. In 21 dystonia patients treated with botulinum toxin (n = 11, mean cumulative dose = 815 mU; n = 10, mean cumulative dose = 7,207 mU) and 10 control individuals, a blinded single-fiber electromyography of the vastus lateralis muscle was performed. The main outcome measure was fiber density (FD), thus measuring the effect of different cumulative doses on remote reinnervation. FD was normal in all patients treated with botulinum toxin. FD did not differ between the three groups studied. No relationship was found between FD and cumulative dose. Therefore, in this specific patient population, muscles remote to the site of injection showed no FD change months after the injection. We conclude that there was no evidence of remote reinnervation and remodelling of motor units with cumulative chemodenervation.

Symptomatic cerebral microangiopathy preceding initial manifestation of ulcerative colitis.

Focal white-matter lesions in the brain have been frequently found in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. These findings have been discussed as a novel extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease. In this case report we delineate the clinical relevance of such lesions by presenting a patient with ulcerative colitis and his associated neurological symptoms. The cerebral lesions were shown by magnetic resonance imaging, whereupon a successful treatment with corticosteroids was initiated.

Long-term functional effects of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage with special emphasis on the patient's view.

Although physical and emotional dysfunction appears to be quite frequent even among independent survivors of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), these symptoms may easily be missed on routine follow-up examinations. To assess the long-term functional effects of SAH and to outline possible treatment approaches, a cross-sectional study using multidimensional measures of relevant areas of function was performed on 40 independent survivors. After an average follow-up period of 22 months, patients were selected and enrolled following a pre-designed protocol. The comprehensive test battery consisted of subjective and objective measures of physical, psychological and social function and relationships between the different levels of assessment were calculated. We found a considerable proportion of cognitive, emotional and physical dysfunction in this sample, but on the subjective level, the majority of the patients stated satisfaction with life in general. Mild cognitive dysfunction was frequently missed and causes distress in the family. Mild to moderate depression was underdiagnosed, although such an emotional dysfunction influences working capacity and quality of life. Referral to rehabilitation centers appears to be restricted to patients with severe impairments. Our results help to alert the neurosurgeon to these possible symptoms and show the urgent need for a prospective, interdisciplinary and multidimensional follow-up of SAH survivors.

Transient and long-term feeding by means of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in neurological rehabilitation.

In 28 patients of a neurological rehabilitation unit of a hospital the use of enteral nutrition via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes was reviewed. During a total observation period of 5,172 days no life-threatening complications occurred. Minor complications were observed in 12 patients (43%) in the first 2 weeks after the insertion and in 5 patients (18%) afterwards. The nutritional status stabilized in all subjects. Transient PEG feeding was performed in 11 patients (39%) with a mean duration of 150 days. We conclude that hesitation in the application of PEG feeding in neurological rehabilitation should be abandoned. The timing and monitoring of PEG feeding in patients undergoing neurological rehabilitation for acute remitting neurological disorders is discussed.