Neurological manifestations of B(12) deficiency with emphasis on its aetiology.

BACKGROUND: It is believed that Pernicious anaemia (PA) is more common in the West. We postulate however that in India PA is probably an important aetiological factor as a cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency in patients having neurological disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the aetiological factors resulting in Vitamin B12 (Vit B12) deficiency in patients with subacute combined degeneration (SACD) and other neurological manifestations. METHODS: We undertook a prospective study of 50 patients, all clinically suspected to have Vit B12 deficiency; they were investigated clinically, haematologically, biochemically and radiologically. RESULTS: There was a dominance of males (41 of 50) with the majority in the age group of more than 40 years of age. There was no correlation between the socio-economic and dietary status on the one hand and the clinical manifestation on the other. Anti intrinsic factor antibodies (AIFAB) were positive in 19 of 50 patients (38%) and anti parietal cell antibodies (APCAB) were positive in 28 of 50 (56%) patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Pernicious anaemia is an important cause of various neurological manifestations including SACD in the Vitamin B12 deficient population in the age group of more than 40 years, irrespective of the socio-economic and dietary status in the Indian subcontinent. It is supported by the presence of AIFAB or APCAB in this group.

Management of Dyslipidaemia for the Prevention of Stroke: Clinical Practice Recommendations from the Lipid Association of India.

Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide. The rates of stroke are increasing in less affluent countries predominantly because of a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors. The Lipid Association of India (LAI) has provided a risk stratification algorithm for patients with ischaemic stroke and recommended low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals for those in very high risk group and extreme risk group (category A) of <50 mg/dl (1.3 mmol/l) while the LDL-C goal for extreme risk group (category B) is ≤30 mg/dl (0.8 mmol/l). High intensity statins are the first-line lipid lowering therapy. Nonstatin therapy like ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors may be added as an adjunct to statins in patients who do not achieve LDL-C goals with statins alone. In acute ischaemic stroke, high intensity statin therapy improves neurological and functional outcomes regardless of thrombolytic therapy. Although conflicting data exist regarding increased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) with statin use, the overall benefit risk ratio favors long-term statin therapy necessitating detailed discussion with the patient. Patients who have statins withdrawn while being on prior statin therapy at the time of acute ischaemic stroke have worse functional outcomes and increased mortality. LAI recommends that statins be continued in such patients. In patients presenting with ICH, statins should not be started in the acute phase but should be continued in patients who are already taking statins. ICH patients, once stable, need risk stratification for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).