Diagnostic power and clinical impact of exome sequencing in a cohort of 500 patients with rare diseases.

Rare diseases comprise a diverse group of conditions, most of which involve genetic causes. We describe the variable spectrum of findings and clinical impacts of exome sequencing (ES) in a cohort of 500 patients with rare diseases. In total, 164 primary findings were reported in 158 patients, representing an overall diagnostic yield of 31.6%. Most of the findings (61.6%) corresponded to autosomal dominant conditions, followed by autosomal recessive (25.6%) and X-linked (12.8%) conditions. These patients harbored 195 variants, among which 43.6% are novel in the literature. The rate of molecular diagnosis was considerably higher for prenatal samples (67%; 4/6), younger children (44%; 24/55), consanguinity (50%; 3/6), gastrointestinal/liver disease (44%; 16/36) and syndromic/malformative conditions (41%; 72/175). For 15.6% of the cohort patients, we observed a direct potential for the redirection of care with targeted therapy, tumor screening, medication adjustment and monitoring for disease-specific complications. Secondary findings were reported in 37 patients (7.4%). Based on cost-effectiveness studies in the literature, we speculate that the reports of secondary findings may influence an increase of 123.2 years in the life expectancy for our cohort, or 0.246 years/cohort patient. ES is a powerful method to identify the molecular bases of monogenic disorders and redirect clinical care.

Cognitive function and carotid stenosis: review of the literature / Funções cognitivas e estenose de artéria carótida: revisão da literatura

Stroke is a known cause of cognitive impairment but the relationship between asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and cognitive function is not clear. The main risk factors for vascular disease are also related to carotid stenosis and cognitive impairment. The association of high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery with cognitive impairmentis related to silent embolization and hypoperfusion, but it may also be present without evidence of infarction on magnetic resonance imaging. Carotid stenosis treatment may lead to a decline in cognitive function due to complications related to the procedures (endarterectomy or stenting). On the other hand, reperfusion may improve cognitive impairment. The best treatment choice is unclear, considering possible deterioration of cognitive function related to carotid artery stenosis. There is insufficient evidence to consider cognitive impairment an important factor in determining the therapy for carotid stenosis.

O acidente vascular cerebral é uma doença que pode levar ao declínio cognitivo, mas a relação entre a estenose carotídea e as funções cognitivas não são bem esclarecidas. Os fatores de risco para doenças vasculares estão também relacionados à estenose de carótida e ao declínio cognitivo. A associação da estenose grave de carótida interna com o declínio cognitivo está relacionada a embolia silenciosa e hipoperfusão, mas pode também estar presente sem a evidência de lesão isquêmica pela ressonância. O tratamento da estenose carotídea pode levar ao declínio cognitivo devido acomplicações relacionadas aos procedimentos (endarterectomia ou stent). Por outro lado a reperfusão pode melhorar o declínio cognitivo. Não está claro qual a melhor decisão terapêutica considerando a possível deterioração cognitiva relacionada à estenose carotídea. Não existe evidência suficiente para considerar o declínio cognitivo um fator importante na decisão terapêutica para estenose de carótida.

Risk score to predict the outcome of patients with cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Around 15% of patients die or become dependent after cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis (CVT). METHOD: We used the International Study on Cerebral Vein and Dural Sinus Thrombosis (ISCVT) sample (624 patients, with a median follow-up time of 478 days) to develop a Cox proportional hazards regression model to predict outcome, dichotomised by a modified Rankin Scale score >2. From the model hazard ratios, a risk score was derived and a cut-off point selected. The model and the score were tested in 2 validation samples: (1) the prospective Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Portuguese Collaborative Study Group (VENOPORT) sample with 91 patients; (2) a sample of 169 consecutive CVT patients admitted to 5 ISCVT centres after the end of the ISCVT recruitment period. Sensitivity, specificity, c statistics and overall efficiency to predict outcome at 6 months were calculated. RESULTS: The model (hazard ratios: malignancy 4.53; coma 4.19; thrombosis of the deep venous system 3.03; mental status disturbance 2.18; male gender 1.60; intracranial haemorrhage 1.42) had overall efficiencies of 85.1, 84.4 and 90.0%, in the derivation sample and validation samples 1 and 2, respectively. Using the risk score (range from 0 to 9) with a cut-off of >or=3 points, overall efficiency was 85.4, 84.4 and 90.1% in the derivation sample and validation samples 1 and 2, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity in the combined samples were 96.1 and 13.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CVT risk score has a good estimated overall rate of correct classifications in both validation samples, but its specificity is low. It can be used to avoid unnecessary or dangerous interventions in low-risk patients, and may help to identify high-risk CVT patients.

Trombose venosa cerebral: evolução clínica e fatores prognósticos em 111 pacientes / Cerebral venous thrombosis: clinical outcome and prognostic factors in 111 patients

Introdução: A evolução clínica da trombose venosa cerebral (TVC) pode variar desde a recuperação completa ao óbito. Séries européias e um estudo multicêntrico identificaram alguns fatores indicativos de prognóstico da TVC, dado importante na decisão da melhor terapêutica para os pacientes. Este estudo busca identificar, a partir do seguimento prospectivo de cento e onze pacientes com TVC, os fatores prognósticos envolvidos na evolução clínica durante o período de 2 anos. Pacientes Métodos: Foram acompanhados prospectivamente 111 pacientes com diagnóstico de TVC desde a fase aguda do diagnóstico, confirmado por meio de RM de encéfalo e/ou angiografia cerebral (ARM, ATC ou angiografia digital). Obtidos dados do quadro clínico e seguimento por um protocolo clínico. 96% dos pacientes foram anticoagulados na fase aguda com heparina e seguida de anticoagulação com warfarina. Submetidos a investigação para os fatores predisponentes para TVC. A evolução clínica foi quantificada por meio da escala modificada de Rankin (EMR) após 3, 6, 12 e 24 meses, definindo os pacientes de bom prognóstico EMR 1, e mau prognóstico EMR 2. Comparamos dados clínicos da fase aguda e resultados encontrados nos exames de imagem e laboratoriais como possíveis fatores prognósticos, através da análise univariada pelo teste 2 e os fatores de significância estatística (p<0,1), foram analisados com regressão logística ajustada e cálculo da razão de chances (RC), (intervalo de confiança IC=95%). Resultados: A média da idade dos pacientes foi de 35 anos, 72% mulheres, 40% afro-brasileiros. As principais manifestações clínicas foram: cefaléia 97%, déficit focal 47%, crise epiléptica 40%, alteração da consciência 28%, síndrome de HIC (SHIC) isolada 40%. Quanto aos fatores predisponentes; 75% das mulheres usavam anticoncepcional, 31% dos pacientes apresentavam trombofilia hereditária, 13% SAAF, 6% eram portadores de vasculites, 25% outros estados pro trombóticos, 7 % apresentavam fatores...

Introduction: The cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) clinical evolution is quite variable from complete recovery to death. Some European series and a multicenter study had identified prognostic factors related to CVT prognosis. The identification of these factors is important for the best therapeutic decision to patients. This study aims to identify the prognostic factors enrolled in clinical evolution of 111 patients with CVT in a prospective outcome clinical trial during two years. Subjects and Methods: One hundred and eleven patients were prospective followed with the diagnosis of CVT since acute phase diagnosis, confirmed by brain MRI and/or brain angiography (MRA , CTA or digital angiography). Information about clinical features and follow-up were filled on a clinical form. 96% of the patients were anticoagulated on heparin followed by warfarin treatment. The patients were investigated to predisposing factors to CVT. The clinical evaluation was accessed by the modified Rakin scale (mRs) after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months, considering patients with good outcome when mRs < 1 and poor outcome when mRs > 2. The acute phase clinical features, laboratory and imaging data were compared as possible prognosis factors beyond univariate 2 test and the factors with statistical significance (p<0,1) and then analyzed by logistic regression adjusted and Odds Ratio values (confidence interval CI=95%). Results: The mean age of the patients was 35 years, 72% were women, and 40% were African Brazilian. The main clinical features observed were: headache 97%, focal sign 47%, epileptic seizure 40%, isolated ICH syndrome 40% and altered mental status 28%. All the patients were investigated to predisposing factors; 75% of the women were on oral contraceptive, 31% of the patients presented hereditary thrombophilia, 13 % antiphospholipid syndrome, 6% presented vasculitis, 25% other protrhrombotic state, 7% presented some local feature (arterialvenous malformation or infection) and 5%...