Post-Kidney Transplant Cancer: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis From a Single Italian Center.

We describe the epidemiology of cancer after kidney transplantation (KTx), investigating its risk factors and impact on therapeutic management and survival in KTx recipients (KTRs). The association between modification of immunosuppressive (IS) therapy after cancer and survival outcomes was analyzed. We collected data from 930 KTRs followed for 7 [1-19] years. The majority of KTRs received KTx from a deceased donor (84%). In total, 74% of patients received induction therapy with basiliximab and 26% with ATG. Maintenance therapy included steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and mycophenolate. Patients with at least one cancer (CA+) amounted to 19%. NMSC was the most common tumor (55%). CA+ were older and had a higher BMI. Vasculitis and ADPKD were more prevalent in CA+. ATG was independently associated with CA+ and was related to earlier cancer development in survival and competing risk analyses (p = 0.01 and <0.0001; basiliximab 89 ± 4 vs. ATG 40 ± 4 months). After cancer diagnosis, a significant prognostic impact was derived from the shift to mTOR inhibitors compared to a definitive IS drug suspension (p = 0.004). Our data confirm the relevance of cancer as a complication in KTRs with ATG as an independent risk factor. An individualized choice of IS to be proposed at the time of KTx is crucial in the prevention of neoplastic risk. Finally, switching to mTORi could represent an important strategy to improve patient survival.

Erdafitinib in locally advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma with certain FGFR genetic alterations.

FGFR inhibitors represent a new and promising therapeutic approach to urothelial cancer (UC). Erdafitinib (Balversa©) was the first FGFR inhibitor approved for the treatment of metastatic UC, showing proper pharmacological activity and a consistent safety profile in a population with limited or no therapeutic alternatives. While results from comparative phase II and III trials are needed to assess the efficacy of erdafitinib in different clinical settings, there are still questions unsolved regarding a typical class effect of FGFR inhibitors, hyperphosporemia. In this review, the authors focus on the state-of-art administration of erdatifinib in advanced UC, pointing out the more recent evidence, pitfalls and possible future research. Insight on the management of hyperphosporemia in patients undergoing treatment with FGFR inhibitors is also provided.

Comorbidities in patients with epilepsy: Frequency, mechanisms and effects on long-term outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess frequency, types, and mechanisms of comorbidities in people with epilepsy and verify their association with disease features and outcome. METHODS: This cohort study was performed in 13 Italian epilepsy centers with nationwide distribution and accurate records. Eligible patients were children and adults diagnosed before December 31, 2005, and followed for a minimum of 10 years. Two pairs of raters independently reviewed patients' records and classified each comorbidity. In case of disagreement, a third reviewer made the final decision. Comorbidities were classified according to type (organ/system) and underlying mechanism (causal, shared risk factors, chance association). Comorbidity types and mechanisms were described in the entire sample and according to epilepsy prognostic patterns (sustained remission, relapsing-remitting course, no remission). RESULTS: Of 1006 included patients, 266 (26.4%) had at least one comorbidity. The most common were developmental/perinatal (7.5% of cases), psychiatric (6.2%), cardiovascular (5.3%), and endocrine/metabolic (3.8%). Among 408 reported comorbidities, the underlying mechanisms were, in decreasing order, chance association (42.2%), shared risk factors (31.1%), and causal (26.7%). Psychiatric diseases were present in 13.3% of patients with no remission, 5.9% of patients with relapsing-remitting course, and 4.8% of patients with sustained remission (p = .016). The corresponding numbers for endocrine/metabolic diseases were respectively, 9.6%, 3.4%, and 2.9% (p = .013); for respiratory diseases were 3.6%, .3%, and .3% (p = .001), and for urogenital diseases were 3.6%, .7%, and 1.6% (p = .048). The association of endocrine/metabolic, psychiatric, and respiratory comorbidities with epilepsy prognosis was confirmed by multivariable analysis adjusted for the main demographic and clinical variables, with patients with these comorbidities showing a lower probability of achieving remission. SIGNIFICANCE: Comorbidities in epilepsy are not uncommon and reflect differing underlying mechanisms. Psychiatric, endocrine/metabolic, and respiratory disorders are associated with a worse long-term epileptological outcome.

Discontinuation of antiseizure medications in seizure-free patients with long-term follow-up: Patients' profile, seizure recurrence, and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To compare withdrawal of antiseizure medications (ASM) to continued treatment in newly diagnosed individuals achieving seizure freedom, and assess the risk of relapse and factors associated with relapse. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study with long-term follow-up. Patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy were identified from the medical records of 13 Italian epilepsy centers and followed up until the most recent visit or death. Seizure-free patients discontinuing treatment were compared to patients who maintained treatment for baseline characteristics. Treatment was stopped upon clinical judgment. The probability of relapse was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Demographic, clinical, and instrumental variables associated with relapse were assessed with Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: One thousand and six patients aged 1 month to 72 years at diagnosis were enrolled and followed up for 17,892 person-years (median follow-up, 9.9 years). Three hundred and twenty patients (31.8%) underwent one or more treatment discontinuations. Factors associated with ASM withdrawal were younger age at remission and normal psychiatric examination. The probability of relapse after the first withdrawal was 16% at six months, 24% at 12 months, and 36%, 45%, and 53% at three, five, and ten years, respectively. The probability of remission after the first relapse was 59% at one month, 67%, 72, and 76% at three, six, and 12 months, respectively. Variables associated with relapse were age 14+ years, structural etiology, abnormal neuroimaging, ASM initiation after a single seizure, and symptomatic/cryptogenic epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: About one half of seizure-free patients stopping ASM relapse in 10 years. However, the possibility of remission after relapse is high, particularly in children and patients with idiopathic/cryptogenic epilepsy. Treatment deprescription might be encouraged at least in these patients.

Radiomic analysis of the optic nerve at the first episode of acute optic neuritis: an indicator of optic nerve pathology and a predictor of visual recovery?

OBJECTIVE: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) is a biomarker of neuroaxonal loss and index of visual function in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to assess the correlation between radiomic features and RNFL, visual acuity (VA) at patients' presentation, visual outcome (VO), and clinical diagnosis. METHODS: We reviewed imaging and clinical data of 25 patients with a first episode of optic neuritis (ON) (14 females, 11 males; 5 bilateral ON; 7 left ON; 13 right ON). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological assessment, including visual acuity and RNFL, neurological evaluation, orbits MRI. Segmentation of the optic nerves was performed through 3D slicer open software to get radiomics analysis. All patients underwent a complete neuro-ophthalmological follow-up at 6 months to assess the VO, classified as: complete recovery, partial recovery, deficit persistence/relapse, or visual worsening and were diagnosed as MS or clinically isolated syndrome. RESULTS: We observed significant correlations between radiomic features and RNFL and between radiomic features and VA. Regression model analysis identified 1 radiomic feature with significant association with VO (Gray Level non-uniformity Normalized, p = 0.004) and 6 radiomic features with significant correlation with diagnosis (High Gray Level Zone Emphasis, p < 0.001; Entropy, p < 0.001, for T1 segmentation; Mean Absolute Deviation, p < 0.001; Coarseness < 0.001; Small Area Low Gray Level Emphasis, p < 0.001; Contrast, p = 0.008, for STIR segmentation). CONCLUSION: Orbits MRI analysis at the first episode of ON has the potential to assess the visual function and VO in ON patients, and predict MS development.

Prognostic patterns and predictors in epilepsy: a multicentre study (PRO-LONG).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the long-term prognosis of epilepsy and prognostic patterns in a large cohort of newly diagnosed patients and identify prognostic factors. METHODS: Study participants were 13 Italian epilepsy centres with accessible records dating back to 2005 or earlier, complete data on seizure outcome and treatments, precise epilepsy diagnosis, and follow-up of at least 10 years. Records were examined by trained neurology residents for demographics, seizure characteristics, neurological signs, psychiatric comorbidity, first electroencephalogram (EEG) and MRI/CT, epilepsy type and aetiology, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and 1-year, 2-year, 5-year and 10-year seizure remissions. Five predefined prognostic patterns were identified: early remission, late remission, relapsing-remitting course, worsening course and no remission. Prognostic factors were assessed using multinomial logistic regression models. RESULTS: 1006 children and adults were followed for 17 892 person-years (median 16 years; range 10-57). During follow-up, 923 patients (91.7%) experienced 1-year remission. 2-year, 5-year and 10-year remissions were present in 89.5%, 77.1% and 44.4% of cases. 5-year remission was associated with one to two seizures at diagnosis, generalised epilepsy, no psychiatric comorbidity, and treatment with one or two AEDs during follow-up. 10-year remission was associated with one or two AEDs. The most common prognostic pattern was relapsing-remitting (52.2%), followed by early remission (24.5%). 8.3% of cases experienced no remission. Predictors of a relapsing-remitting course were <6 seizures at diagnosis, (presumed) genetic aetiology and no psychiatric comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Few seizures at diagnosis, generalised epilepsy and no psychiatric comorbidity predict early or late seizure freedom in epilepsy. Achieving remission at any time after the diagnosis does not exclude further relapses.

MRI of acute optic neuritis (ON) at the first episode: Can we predict the visual outcome and the development of multiple sclerosis (MS)?

AIM: Our aim was to assess MRI findings in the acute phase of ON and their correlation with visual acuity at presentation, visual outcome (VO) and MS development, to analyze a possible correlation between lesions number and diagnosis, and to assess correlation between orbits MRI and OCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 37 patients, who presented to our Emergency Department with an ON first episode from January 2015 to January 2017. Patients underwent immediately a complete neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, blood test, CSF analysis. MRI of brain, orbits, cervical spine was executed within 7 days from ON onset. Brain MRI was classified as: normal, non-specific, suspected demyelination, lesions with dissemination in space and time. Optic nerves findings were localized in three sites (intra-orbital, canalicular and chiasmal) and classified as: normal, STIR- alteration, altered contrast enhancement. Patients underwent neuro-ophthalmological follow-up and MRI at 6 months to assess VO (complete recovery, partial recovery, deficit persistence). Another follow-up at 1 year was performed to identify MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). RESULTS: 64.8% patients received a diagnosis of MS; 35% of CIS. Lesions of the optic nerve were found in 65.8%. We observed statistically significant correlation between brain MRI pattern and diagnosis and between lesions number and diagnosis. We observed a statistically significant correlation between orbital MRI pattern and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results. MRI brain findings correlate with development of MS. MRI brain features and lesions number can predict the risk of MS conversion.

Long-term applicability of the new ILAE definition of epilepsy. Results from the PRO-LONG study.

OBJECTIVE: The new epilepsy definition adopted by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) includes patients with one unprovoked seizure with a probability of further seizures, similar to the general recurrence risk after two unprovoked seizures, occurring in a 10-year period. Long-term follow-up of patients diagnosed after a single seizure is needed to assess the applicability of the new epilepsy definition in clinical practice. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy were recruited retrospectively with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Patients were stratified in two groups depending on the occurrence of one (new definition, ND) or two or more unprovoked seizures (traditional definition, TD) at the time of epilepsy diagnosis and compared for disease characteristics and factors predicting seizure recurrence. The primary outcome was the occurrence of a new unprovoked seizure during follow-up in the ND group. The secondary outcome was the achievement of an early remission in both groups. RESULTS: Among 1,006 patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy, 152 (15.1%) were diagnosed after a single seizure. Compared to patients diagnosed using the TD, patients diagnosed according to the ND showed a higher proportion of subjects with an abnormal neurologic examination (19.9% vs. 13.7%, p = 0.0504) and with focal seizures (69.3% vs. 60.4%, p = 0.0021). The two samples differed in the presence of at least one of the factors predicting seizure recurrence (focal seizures or abnormal findings in at least one among the following: neurologic examination, electroencephalography [EEG], and neuroimaging) (94.6% vs. 89.1%, p = 0.0376). Long-term recurrence in patients diagnosed with the new definition was 83.6% at 10 years and 89.1% at 15 years. The probability of early remission did not differ between the two groups. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results support the applicability of the new epilepsy definition in clinical practice. Individual patient characteristics and a personalized diagnostic approach can justify treatment after a single unprovoked seizure.

Comprehensive educational plan for patients with epilepsy and comorbidity (EDU-COM): a pragmatic randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: The impact of educational strategies in the management of adverse treatment effects and drug interactions in adult patients with epilepsy with comorbidities remains undetermined. OBJECTIVE: The EDU-COM study is a randomised, pragmatic trial investigating the effect of a patient-tailored educational plan in patients with epilepsy with comorbidity. METHODS: 174 adult patients with epilepsy with chronic comorbidities, multiple-drug therapy and reporting at least one adverse treatment effect and/or drug interaction at study entry were randomly assigned to the educational plan or usual care. The primary endpoint was the number of patients becoming free from adverse treatment events and/or drug interactions after a 6-month follow-up. The number of adverse treatment events and drug interactions, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) summary score changes and the monetary costs of medical contacts and drugs were assessed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The primary endpoint was met by 44.0% of patients receiving the educational plan versus 28.9% of those on usual care (p=0.0399). The control group reported a significantly higher risk not to meet successfully the primary endpoint at the end of the study: OR (95% CI) of 2.29 (1.03 to 5.09). A separate analysis on drug adverse effects and drug interactions showed that the latter were more sensitive to the effect of educational treatment. Quality of life and costs were not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A patient-tailored educational strategy is effective in reducing drug-related problems (particularly drug interactions) in epilepsy patients with chronic comorbidities, without adding significant monetary costs. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01804322, (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Management of cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients undergoing dialysis: a still unresolved issue of onconephrology.

The incidence of tumors increases significantly in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly among those undergoing dialysis. This dialysis-associated condition not only impacts therapy but also influences the prognosis of oncological patients, contributing to heightened mortality rates related to both cancer and non-cancer causes. Importantly, it stands as a primary factor leading to suboptimal utilization of therapies. Dosage adjustment for many types of chemotherapy is a necessity in patients with kidney impairment. However, due to a lack of comprehensive knowledge about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of these drugs in dialysis, adjustments are often made empirically, and in many cases, chemotherapy is avoided altogether. In this review, we highlight the current challenges and gaps in knowledge, and emphasize the imperative need for dedicated research to establish evidence-based guidelines for chemotherapy management in this vulnerable patient population.

AKI Associated with Anti-cancer Therapies: Small Molecules and Targeted Therapies.

Molecular targeted therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by significantly improving the patient survival compared to standard conventional chemotherapies. The use of these drugs targets specific molecules or targets which block growth and spread of cancer cells. Many of these therapies have been approved for use with remarkable success in breast, leukemia colorectal, lung and ovarian cancers. The advantage over conventional chemotherapy is its ability to deliver drug effectively with high specificity while being less toxic. Although known as "targeted," many of these agents lack specificity and selectivity, and they tend to inhibit multiple targets including those in the kidneys. The side effects usually arise because of dysregulation of targets of the inhibited molecule in normal tissue. The "off target" effects are caused by drug binding to unintended targets. The "on target" effects are associated with inhibition towards the pathway reflecting inappropriate inhibition or activation of the intended drug target. Early detection and correct management of kidney toxicities is crucial to preserve kidney functions. The knowledge of these toxicities helps guide optimal and continued utilization of these potent therapies. This review summarizes the different types of molecular targeted therapies used in treatment of cancer, the incidence, severity and pattern of nephrotoxicity caused by them, with their plausible mechanism and proposed treatment recommendations.

Osimertinib in a patient with end-stage kidney disease not on hemodialysis.

Osimertinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) effective in non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations. Since the drug is primally eliminated by the fecal route no dose adjustment is needed in patient with chronic-kidney disease (CKD); despite this there is limited data about its safety in cancer patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Herein, we reported a case report of a 77-year-old woman, diagnosed in 2018 with lung adenocarcinoma EGFR mutated with lymph nodal and cerebral metastasis, who started Osimertinib 80 mg/day. She under- went 41 cycles of therapy with no Osimertinib interruptions, no severe toxicities and obtaining complete radiological response. We conclude that Osimertinib has an acceptable safety profile also in cancer patients with ESRD not undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

How to deal with renal toxicities from immune-based combination treatments in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. A nephrological consultation for Oncologists.

We are witnessing a revolution in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Indeed, several immune-based combinations (ICI [immune checkpoint inhibitor] + ICI, or ICI + antiangiogenic agents) have been approved as first-line therapy for mRCC after demonstrating superior efficacy over the previous standard. Despite all the improvements made, safety remains a critical issue, adverse events (AEs) being the main reason for drug discontinuations or dose reductions, ultimately resulting in an increased risk of losing efficacy. Thus, a good understanding of the AEs associated with the use of immune-based combinations, their prevention, and management, are key in order to maximize therapeutic effectiveness. Among these AEs, renal ones are relatively frequent, but always difficult to be diagnosed, not to take into account that it is often difficult to determine which drug is to blame for such toxicities. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common finding in patients with RCC, either as a pre-existing condition and/or as a consequence of cancer and its treatment; furthermore, CKD, especially in advanced stages and in patients undergoing dialysis, may influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties of anticancer agents. Finally, managing cancer therapy in kidney transplanted patients is another challenge. In this review, we discuss the therapy management of immune-based combinations in patients with CKD, on dialysis, or transplanted, as well as their renal toxicities, with a focus on their prevention, detection and practical management, taking into account the crucial role of the consulting nephrologist within the multidisciplinary care of these patients.

[Management of Chemotherapy in Patients Subjected in Chronic Dialysis Treatment].

The incidence of tumors is increased in patients with chronic renal failure and even more in patients on dialysis. Dialysis can affect both therapy and prognosis of oncological patients. It increases both cancer-related and non-cancer-related mortality rates and is the main cause of a suboptimal use of therapies. In patients with renal impairment, the dosage of many chemotherapies should be reduced but, due to the lack of real knowledge of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of these drugs in dialysis, dosage adjustments are often done empirically and most often avoided. Although many papers are available in the literature regarding chemotherapy in dialysis, there is a lack of consensus regarding drug dosages and administration schedules. Furthermore, guidelines are absent due to the lack of "evidence" for most of these patients, usually excluded from experimental treatments. Specific onconephrologic trials are therefore mandatory to decide how much, how, and when to use chemotherapy in patients on dialysis and thereby ensure adequate treatment for these patients.

[The Treatment of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: An Update].

The therapeutic landscape for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has undergone significant changes in recent years. In this Literature review, we offer a synopsis of the latest scientific evidence in this field. The introduction of a standard of care in the adjuvant setting, based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), was a breakthrough. The efficacy of this treatment, calculated as the relapse risk reduction, can vary depending on multiple factors, whose knowledge is important for the clinician in the therapeutic choice. Another innovation concerns the first-line therapy for metastatic RCC. In this setting, the new standard is represented by an immune combination, a therapy based either on a doublet of ICIs or on a combination between an ICI and one VEGFR-TKI. Making the best choice between the available options requires careful evaluation, in order to tailor the most appropriate treatment for each patient. The critical analysis of the most recent clinical trials is a fundamental tool to tailor the correct clinical management of localized and advanced RCC. Finally, this review focuses on the role of the nephrologist in the management of RCC patients, across different disease settings.

Treatment of acute kidney injury in cancer patients.

Acute kidney injury (AKI), either of pre-renal, renal or post-renal origin, is an important complication in cancer patients, resulting in worse prognosis, withdrawal from effective oncological treatments, longer hospitalizations and increased costs. The aim of this article is to provide a literature review of general and cause-specific treatment strategies for AKI, providing a helpful guide for clinical practice. We propose to classify AKI as patient-related, cancer-related and treatment-related in order to optimize therapeutic interventions. In the setting of patient-related causes, proper assessment of hydration status and avoidance of concomitant nephrotoxic medications is key. Cancer-related causes mainly encompass urinary compression/obstruction, direct tumoural kidney involvement and cancer-induced hypercalcaemia. Rapid recognition and specific treatment can potentially restore renal function. Finally, a pre-treatment comprehensive evaluation of risks and benefits of each treatment should always be performed to identify patients at high risk of treatment-related renal damage and allow the implementation of preventive measures without losing the potentialities of the oncological treatment. Considering the complexity of this field, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary with the goal of reducing the incidence of AKI in cancer patients and improving patient outcomes. The overriding research goal in this area is to gather higher quality data from international collaborative studies.

IL-8 and its role as a potential biomarker of resistance to anti-angiogenic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

The therapeutic armamentarium of metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) has consistently expanded in recent years, with the introduction of VEGF/VEGFR (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor) inhibitors, mTOR (mammalian Target Of Rapamycin) inhibitors and Immune Checkpoint (IC) inhibitors. Currently, for the first-tline treatment of mRCC it is possible to choose between a VEGFR-TKI (VEGFR-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor) monotherapy, an ICI-ICI (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor) combination and an ICI-VEGFRTKI combination. However, a consistent part of patients does not derive benefit from first-line therapy with ICIs; moreover, the use of combination regimens exposes patients to significant toxicities. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop prognostic and predictive biomarkers of response to VEGFR-TKIs and ICIs, and measurement of serum IL-8 is emerging as a potential candidate in this field. Recent retrospective analyses of large phase II and phase III trials found that elevated baseline serum IL-8 correlated with higher levels of tumor and circulating immunosuppressive myeloid cells, decreased T cell activation and poor response to treatment. These findings must be confirmed in prospective clinical trials; however, they provide evidence for a potential use of serum IL-8 as biomarker of resistance to VEGFR-TKIs and ICIs. Considering the amount of new agents and treatment regimens which are transforming the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, serum IL-8 could become a precious resource in tailoring the best therapy for each individual patient with the disease.

[Immunotherapy in kidney cancer: how it has changed and what are the challenges for the nephrologist - focus on pembrolizumab].

Kidney cancer accounts for about 3.5% of all malignant neoplasms; in 85% of cases the tumor arises from cells of the renal parenchyma, with an incidence of 70% of the clear cells subtype. Surgery, at present, is the treatment of choice for most renal cancers; medical therapy, on the other hand, has only palliative purposes and is used only in the relapsed or metastatic patients. The therapeutic toolbox available in the fight against renal cancer is continuously renewed due to the approval of new drugs. In particular, in the 2000s, antiangiogenic drugs were introduced and showed good efficacy in terms of increased survival in patients with advanced renal carcinoma. Immunotherapy was a treatment strategy for renal cancer in the 1980s, when cytokines such as Interleukin-2 and Interferon were administered. The advent of antiangiogenic drugs had bound immunotherapy to a secondary role until the discovery of immune check-point inhibitors (ICIs), which have been approved in the various lines of treatment, in monotherapy or in combination with other drugs, as they have shown to increase the oncological outcome. In this review we analyze the evolution of immunotherapy for the treatment of kidney tumor from the viewpoint of nephrologists, with a special focus on renal adverse events, pembrolizumab and its recent approval as first line therapy in association with axitinib.

Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 mRNA levels are reduced in platelets from patients with Parkinson's disease.

Despite advances in neuroimaging, the diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) remains clinical. The identification of biological markers for an early diagnosis is of great interest to start a neuroprotective therapy aimed at slowing, blocking or reversing the disease progression. Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) sequesters cytoplasmic dopamine into synaptic vesicles for storage and release. Thus, VMAT2 impairment can regulate intra- and extracellular dopamine levels, influencing oxidative stress and neuronal death. Because in vivo imaging studies have demonstrated a VMAT2 reduction in PD patients greater than would be explained by neuronal loss alone, as an exploratory study we assessed VMAT2 mRNA and protein levels in platelets from 39 PD patients, 39 healthy subjects and 10 patients with vascular parkinsonism (VP) to identify a possible peripheral biomarker for PD. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) of VMAT2 mRNA levels was demonstrated in PD patients versus healthy controls. Patients with VP showed VMAT2 mRNA levels similar to controls. No difference in VMAT2 mRNA levels was found in untreated versus treated patients. No correlation was observed between mRNA levels and demographic or clinical characteristics. Furthermore, eight SNPs tagging the VMAT2 gene did not show effects on VMAT2 mRNA levels. Western blot analysis did not allow the quantification of VMAT2 protein expression in blood platelets. Although further studies in a greater number of cases are needed to confirm our data, the reduction in VMAT2 mRNA in platelets from PD patients suggests the existence of a systemic impairment of this transporter possibly contributing to PD pathology.

Early acute hemispheric stroke after carotid endarterectomy. Pathogenesis and management.

PURPOSE: A major stroke after carotid endareterectomy (CEA) is an event that should be managed according to a planned strategy. Literature data on this issue are not definitive. We reviewed our series in the attempt to define an algorithm of treatment if this complication occurs. METHODS: A consecutive series of 413 CEAs in 390 patients was considered. All operations were performed under general anaesthesia and EEG monitoring. An indwelling shunt was inserted only according to EEG changes. Direct closure of the arteriotomy was performed in all cases. Intraoperative ultrasound was not routinely employed before 2004. Patients who suffered from the new onset of an ischaemic hemispheric deficit or the worsening of a pre-existing deficit within 72 h after surgery were included in the present study. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (3.9%) suffered from perioperative stroke. Seven patients presented neurological deficits that rapidly and spontaneously resolved. In nine cases (2.2%) a major stroke occurred. Acute occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), with or without embolic blocking of the omolateral M1 segment, occurred in eight cases; in one case a patent ICA was associated with the occlusion of two frontal branches of the omolateral middle cerebral artery. Seven cases were reoperated on. The ICA was reopened in all these cases except one. Among these seven cases, three (42%) had a good outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A major stroke after CEA is caused, in most of cases, by the acute ICA occlusion with or without intracerebral embolic occlusion. Reopening of the occluded ICA gives good results when intracerebral vessels are patent and when the occluded ICA is satisfactorily reopened. An algorithm of planned reactions in case of perioperative stroke is finally proposed.