Functional Neurological Disorder Presenting After Concussion: A Retrospective Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: Although a majority of individuals recover from a concussion within weeks of the index injury, a substantial minority of patients report persistent postconcussion symptoms. Some of these symptoms may reflect a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder (FND). The authors evaluated the relationship between persistent postconcussion symptoms and FND symptoms. METHODS: In this retrospective chart review, the authors characterized demographic and clinical information from 50 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of FND whose functional neurological symptoms started after a concussion. RESULTS: Patients who developed FND after a concussion had high rates of baseline risk factors for both persistent postconcussion symptoms and FND. After the concussive event, functional neurological symptoms presented abruptly or developed insidiously over time. Functional neurological symptoms ranged widely and included gait symptoms, seizures, speech and language symptoms, weakness, sensory symptoms, tremors, and vision and oculomotor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Functional neurological symptoms can arise after a concussion. FND should be considered in the differential diagnosis of individuals presenting with neurological symptoms beginning after a concussion. By failing to recognize functional symptoms, clinicians may inadvertently reinforce negative health-related beliefs regarding a patient's injured brain.

How Sex Hormones Affect Migraine: An Interdisciplinary Preclinical Research Panel Review.

Sex hormones and migraine are closely interlinked. Women report higher levels of migraine symptoms during periods of sex hormone fluctuation, particularly during puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause. Ovarian steroids, such as estrogen and progesterone, exert complex effects on the peripheral and central nervous systems, including pain, a variety of special sensory and autonomic functions, and affective processing. A panel of basic scientists, when challenged to explain what was known about how sex hormones affect the nervous system, focused on two hormones: estrogen and oxytocin. Notably, other hormones, such as progesterone, testosterone, and vasopressin, are less well studied but are also highlighted in this review. When discussing what new therapeutic agent might be an alternative to hormone therapy and menopause replacement therapy for migraine treatment, the panel pointed to oxytocin delivered as a nasal spray. Overall, the conclusion was that progress in the preclinical study of hormones on the nervous system has been challenging and slow, that there remain substantial gaps in our understanding of the complex roles sex hormones play in migraine, and that opportunities remain for improved or novel therapeutic agents. Manipulation of sex hormones, perhaps through biochemical modifications where its positive effects are selected for and side effects are minimized, remains a theoretical goal, one that might have an impact on migraine disease and other symptoms of menopause. This review is a call to action for increased interest and funding for preclinical research on sex hormones, their metabolites, and their receptors. Interdisciplinary research, perhaps facilitated by a collaborative communication network or panel, is a possible strategy to achieve this goal.

Preventive Approaches in Women's Neurology: Prepartum, Pregnancy, and Postpartum.

Women's neurology is the subspecialty within neurology concerned with the distinct healthcare needs of women. In this article, we review current literature and expert management strategies regarding disease-specific neurologic concerns of women, with an emphasis on issues related to contraception, pregnancy, and lactation. Health conditions that we discuss in this article include epilepsy, headache, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Chiari I malformation. Current findings on neurologic disease in women suggest that many women with neurologic disease can safely manage their disease during pregnancy and have healthy children, though pregnancy planning is important in many conditions to mitigate risks and effective contraceptive management is important when pregnancy prevention is desired.

Obstetric and Gynecologic Disorders and the Nervous System.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article highlights the multiple intersections between obstetric/gynecologic issues and neurologic disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Neurologic issues can arise related to contraceptive medications, infertility treatments, pregnancy, and menopause. This article explores these areas in chronologic order, beginning with women's neurologic conditions that overlap their reproductive years and those that may occur during pregnancy and continuing through menopause. For each disorder, the epidemiology, pathophysiology, complications, and best sex-based treatment are described. Recent findings and treatments are highlighted. SUMMARY: Obstetric and gynecologic disorders may present with neurologic symptoms, so it is important for neurologists to understand these intersections to deliver the best care for our female patients.

Clinical Advances in Sex- and Gender-Informed Medicine to Improve the Health of All: A Review.

Importance: Biological sex and sociocultural gender represent major sources of diversity among patients, and recent research has shown the association of sex and gender with health. A growing body of literature describes widespread associations of sex and gender with cells, organs, and the manner in which individual patients interact with health care systems. Sex- and gender-informed medicine is a young paradigm of clinical practice and medical research founded on this literature that considers the association of sex and gender with each element of the disease process from risk, to presentation, to response to therapy. Observations: Characteristics that underlie sex and gender involve both endogenous and exogenous factors that change throughout the life course. This review details clinical examples with broad applicability that highlight sex and gender differences in the key domains of genetics, epigenomic modifiers, hormonal milieu, immune function, neurocognitive aging process, vascular health, response to therapeutics, and interaction with health care systems. These domains interact with one another in multidimensional associations, contributing to the diversity of the sex and gender spectra. Novel research has identified differences of clinical relevance with the potential to improve care for all patients. Conclusions and Relevance: Clinicians should consider incorporating sex and gender in their decision-making to practice precision medicine that integrates fundamental components of patient individuality. Recognizing the biological and environmental factors that affect the disease course is imperative to optimizing care for each patient. Research highlights the myriad ways sex and gender play a role in health and disease. However, these clinically relevant insights have yet to be systematically incorporated into care. The framework described in this review serves as a guide to help clinicians consider sex and gender as they practice precision medicine.

Obstetric anaesthesia: what a neurologist needs to know.

Neurologists are often consulted to see women postpartum who are having difficulties involving the lower extremities; weakness, numbness and pain. Many of these women have received labour analgesia. Often, there is limited understanding by the neurologist of how these procedures are performed, why a neuraxial technique is chosen and their potential complications. This case-based review will explain the differences in the neuraxial procedures: epidural, spinal and combined spinal epidural; their advantages and disadvantages, why one technique might be chosen over another, contraindications as well as procedural risks.

Lower Extremity Weakness and Numbness in the Postpartum Period: A Case-Based Review.

This article reviews the common lower extremity postpartum neuropathies, including their incidence, risk factors, clinical features, and treatment. In addition, the rarer complications from neuraxial anesthesia are also discussed.

A Review of Women's Neurology.

Concern about what is best practice when caring for women with neurologic disease is a common clinical scenario. Therefore, knowledge about women's health issues and their intersection with neurologic disorders is imperative. This review will discuss the appropriate gender-based considerations in epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, migraine, autoimmune disease, sleep disorders, stroke, and paraneoplastic disorders.

A Pregnant Woman with Spina Bifida: Need for a Multidisciplinary Labor Plan.

Women with spina bifida present both obstetrical and anesthesia challenges. They are more likely to require a caesarian delivery and traditionally neuraxial anesthesia has been avoided due to concerns of worsening neurologic disability. The case of a pregnant woman with a history of a surgically corrected lipomeningocele and tethered cord is presented to illustrate the need for a comprehensive labor plan.

Headaches complicating pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Headaches are a common neurological complaint during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Most are primary and benign, but there are also several secondary headaches. This review uses a practical case-based approach to the evaluation and management of the most common headaches referred for neurological consultation: primary headaches such as migraine as well as the presentation and management of some of the secondary headaches complicating pregnancy and the puerperium. These include: idiopathic intracranial hypertension, eclampsia, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, cerebral venous thrombosis, pituitary apoplexy and postdural puncture headache.

Neurology of Pregnancy: A Case-Oriented Review.

The anatomic and physiologic changes that occur during pregnancy are unique. A neurologist needs to be aware of normal pregnancy-induced physiologic changes in the cardiovascular, renal, hematologic, and autoimmune systems, and the local anatomic changes, which include alteration of body habitus and pelvic ligaments. These changes are clearly advantageous, but in certain circumstances may predispose to pathology. In addition, pregnancy effects treatment of chronic neurologic conditions as regards medication safety and metabolism. This case-oriented review discusses the important aspects of pregnancy physiology and an approach to treatment of common disorders encountered during pregnancy including stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and compression neuropathies.

Stroke in pregnancy: a case-oriented review.

Stroke is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Yet, despite its rarity, it remains a major cause of serious morbidity and long-term disability in young women. In this review, we use cases to illustrate many of the most important issues that arise when managing pregnancy-associated stroke.

Postpartum spinal cord, root, plexus and peripheral nerve injuries involving the lower extremities: a practical approach.

Neurological complications after labor and delivery are most often caused by compressive trauma related to childbirth and rarely related to neuraxial anesthesia/analgesia. However, it is important for anesthesiologists to be able to recognize the common manifestations of these neuropathies in order to distinguish them from more ominous causes of neurologic disease. In this article, we review the anatomy and etiology of postpartum thoracolumbar spinal cord, lumbar nerve roots, plexus, and lower extremity peripheral nerve injuries. We will focus on a practical approach to their diagnosis, management, and treatment. Cases will be used to illustrate diagnosis and management.

Neurologic diseases in women: Five new things.

This review highlights some of the new epidemiologic information concerning sex differences involving combined oral contraceptives and stroke, depression and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use during pregnancy, emerging knowledge of the teratogenicity and cognitive effects of anticonvulsants during pregnancy, demyelinating disorders in pregnancy, and the influence of timing of hormonal exposure on the risk of Alzheimer disease.