Neurological presentations of Bartonella henselae infection.

OBJECTIVE: Neurological symptoms in patients with cat-scratch disease (CSD) have been rarely reported. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency of neurological CSD (NCSD) and describe the disease clinical presentation, management and outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively selected patients with a CSD syndrome and Bartonella IgG titers > 1:256. Data regarding epidemiological, clinical, management, and follow-up features were analyzed and discussed. A comparison between NCSD and non-neurological CSD (NNCSD) was established. RESULTS: Thirty-nine CSD patients were selected. NCSD frequency was 10.25%. No children were found affected in the NCSD group. A 65.7% of NNCSD and the entirety of the NCSD group had a history of cat exposure. Immunosuppression was only present in the NNCSD group (8.6%). NCSD presentations were as follows: isolated aseptic meningitis (25%), neuroretinitis (50%), and isolated optic neuritis (25%). A greater proportion of patients in the NCSD group had fever and raised levels of acute phase reactants and white blood cells. 85.7% of NNCSD had a complete recovery, whereas only 50% of the NCSD patients experienced a full recovery. CONCLUSION: NCSD may be a distinctive group compared to NNCSD due to its later age of presentation, the more intense systemic response, and the poorer outcome.

Calcified cerebral embolism: a 9-case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Calcified cerebral embolus (CCE), a rarely reported and underdiagnosed cause of stroke, may be the first manifestation of a vascular or cardiac disease. We describe the characteristics of CCE in a series of 9 cases and review the literature on the subject. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients with CCE from 3 different hospitals. We describe the diagnostic approach, neuroimaging findings, origin of the embolism, treatment, and prognosis of these patients. RESULTS: We identified a total of 9 patients presenting spontaneous CCE as the cause of acute ischaemic stroke. In all cases, the middle cerebral artery was affected; all patients underwent CT. A possible calcific source was found in 6 patients (66.6%), originating in the carotid arteries in 3 (33.3%) and in the heart in the other 3 patients (33.3%). Only one patient was treated in the acute phase (trombectomy) and only 11% of patients had modified Ranking Scale scores ≤ 2 at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: CCE is more frequent than previously thought and, although the condition continues to be underdiagnosed, it is of considerable prognostic relevance in the aetiological study of stroke.

[Epilepsy and breastfeeding: from myth to reality]. / Epilepsia y lactancia materna: del mito a la realidad.

INTRODUCTION: In clinical practice, it is common to find cases of epileptic women being treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) whom we have to advise on the compatibility of these AEDs with breastfeeding. AIMS: In order to offer correct guidance, we must be well informed about the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the different AEDs, in addition to being aware of the clinical experience in this regard. This review stems from the paucity of information on this topic. DEVELOPMENT: The World Health Organisation recommends that breastfeeding should be the norm for all women, even in epileptic mothers that are taking AEDs, who must always be given special attention in order to watch for the appearance of adverse effects in the infant, and always avoiding sudden weaning in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Very few AEDs are incompatible with breastfeeding. The decision to breastfeed should take into account not only the AED, but also its number, dose, serum levels, transmission and elimination rates in the infant, and the conditions of the newborn infant. Ethosuximide and felbamate are probably high risk and incompatible with breastfeeding. Lamotrigine, phenobarbital, pregabalin, primidone, tiagabine, eslicarbazepine, brivaracetam, perampanel, zonisamide, lacosamide or the sporadic use of benzodiazepines in low doses are considered quite safe, with a low risk for breastfeeding. The other AEDs present a very low risk for breastfeeding.

TITLE: Epilepsia y lactancia materna: del mito a la realidad.Introduccion. En la practica clinica es habitual encontrar el caso de una mujer epileptica en tratamiento con farmacos antiepilepticos (FAE) a la que deberemos asesorar sobre la compatibilidad de esos FAE con la lactancia materna. Objetivo. Para realizar un asesoramiento correcto deberemos estar bien informados sobre las caracteristicas farmacocineticas de los diferentes FAE, asi como estar al tanto de la experiencia clinica al respecto. La intencion de esta revision nace de la escasez de informacion a este respecto. Desarrollo. La Organizacion Mundial de la Salud recomienda que la lactancia materna debe ser la norma en todas las mujeres, incluso en las madres epilepticas que toman FAE, a las cuales debe prestarse siempre especial atencion para vigilar la aparicion de efectos adversos en el lactante, eludiendo siempre el destete brusco para evitar el sindrome de abstinencia. Conclusiones. Son muy pocos los FAE incompatibles con la lactancia materna. La decision de amamantar debe tener en cuenta no solo el FAE, sino su numero, la dosis, los niveles sericos, los porcentajes de transmision y eliminacion en el lactante, y las condiciones del neonato. La etosuximida y el felbamato presentan un riesgo probablemente alto y son incompatibles con la lactancia materna. La lamotrigina, el fenobarbital, la pregabalina, la primidona, la tiagabina, la eslicarbacepina, el brivaracetam, el perampanel, la zonisamida, la lacosamida o el uso puntual y en bajas dosis de benzodiacepinas se consideran bastante seguros, con riesgo bajo para la lactancia. El resto de FAE presenta muy bajo riesgo para la lactancia materna.

Calcified cerebral embolism: a 9 case series and review of the literature. / Embolia cerebral cálcica: presentación de una serie de 9 casos y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: Calcified cerebral embolism (CCE), a rarely reported and underdiagnosed cause of stroke, may be the first manifestation of a vascular or cardiac disease. Our purpose is to describe the characteristics of CCE in a series of 9 cases and review the literature on the subject. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients with CCE from 3 different hospitals. We described the diagnostic approach, neuroimaging findings, origin of the embolism, treatment, and prognosis of these patients. RESULTS: We identified a total of 9 patients presenting spontaneous CCE as the cause of acute ischaemic stroke. In all cases, the middle cerebral artery was affected; all patients underwent CT. A possible calcific source was found in 6 patients (66.6%), originated in the carotid arteries in 3 (33.3%) and in the heart in the other 3 patients (33.3%). Only one patient was treated in the acute phase (trombectomy) and only 11% of patients had modified ranking scale scores ≤ 2 at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: CCE is more frequent than previously thought and, although the condition continues to be underdiagnosed, it is of considerable prognostic relevance in the aetiological study of stroke.

Differences in performance in CAMCOG-R domains between old and oldest old patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the neuropsychological performance in a ≥90-year-old population with Alzheimer disease (AD) in comparison with younger elderly patients. We retrospectively studied all patients with AD attended in a specialized clinic between 1999 and 2011. Age, sex, educational level, and sensory loss data were collected. Neuropsychological evaluation included Mini-Mental State Examination and Global Deterioration Scale. We used the eight Cambridge Cognitive Assessment (CAMCOG-R) domains to evaluate and compare the neuropsychological performance in the younger than 90 years old (<90) and older than 90 years old (≥90) groups. We selected 2931 patients, 2897 <90 (98.83%) and 34 ≥90 years old (1.17%). The ≥90 group had significant lower punctuations in memory, praxis, and abstract thinking CAMOCG-R domains with 1.49, 0.75, and 0.58 less points, respectively, (p < 0.05). Neuropsychological characteristics of cognitive decline seem to be different in ≥90 compared to <90 years old patients. According to age, the biggest differences in the CAMCOG-R performance are in the memory, praxis, and abstract thinking domains.

[Myasthenia gravis and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins. Reply]. / Miastenia grave y tratamiento con inmunoglobulinas por via intravenosa. Replica.

Miastenia grave y tratamiento con inmunoglobulinas por via intravenosa. Replica.