Fatigue Improvement after Switching Multiple Sclerosis Treatment from Interferon-ß to Glatiramer Acetate in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The immunomodulatory effect of glatiramer acetate may help in reducing multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue; however, evidence to prove this notion especially after switching from another immunomodulatory therapy is limited. We assessed the 6-month effect of glatiramer acetate on MS-related fatigue in patients switching from interferon-ß (IFN-ß) in clinical practice. METHODS: This was an observational study including 54 patients with relapsing-remitting MS that showed moderate/severe fatigue primarily caused by MS before switching from IFN-ß to glatiramer acetate and received glatiramer acetate for ≥6 months in daily practice. Study data were retrospectively collected through chart review at treatment switch and over the following 6 months on glatiramer acetate. RESULTS: Over the 6-month administration of glatiramer acetate, scores on the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale decreased: overall (p < 0.001), physical scale (p < 0.001), cognitive scale (p < 0.001), and psychosocial scale (p < 0.001). The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire showed improvements in work (p = 0.009) and other daily activity impairment (p < 0.001). Health-related quality of life as per the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale also improved: physical score (p < 0.001) and psychological score (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with moderate/severe fatigue switching from IFN-ß to glatiramer acetate may benefit from fatigue improvements that contribute to reduce their work/activity impairment and improve their quality of life.

Effectiveness and Safety of Teriflunomide in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Improvements in Quality of Life: Results from the Real-World TERICARE Study.

INTRODUCTION: Teriflunomide is a once-daily oral immunomodulator approved for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS; depending on the local label), based on extensive evidence from clinical trials and a real-world setting on efficacy, tolerability and patient-reported benefits. The TERICARE study assessed the impact of teriflunomide treatment over 2 years on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and some of the most common and disabling symptoms of MS, such as fatigue and depression. METHODS: This prospective observational study in Spain included RRMS patients treated with teriflunomide for ≤ 4 weeks. The following patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years: the 29-item Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale version 2 (MSIS-29), the 21-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-21), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Short Form (SF)-Qualiveen and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication v1.4 (TSQM). Annualised relapse rate (ARR), disability progression according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients were analysed. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 43.2 years (10.4), a mean baseline EDSS score of 1.75 (1.5), a mean number of relapses in the past 2 years of 1.5 (0.7), and 64% had received prior disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Patients showed significant improvements in the psychological domain of MSIS-29 from 35.9 (26.6) at baseline to 29.4 (25.5) at 18 months (p = 0.004) and 29.0 (24.6) at 24 months (p = 0.002). Levels of fatigue and depression were also reduced. After 2 years of treatment with teriflunomide, ARR was reduced to 0.17 (95% CI 0.14-0.21) from the baseline of 0.42 (95% CI 0.38-0.48), representing a 60.1% reduction. Mean EDSS scores remained stable during the study, and 79.9% of patients showed no disability progression. 54.7% of patients achieved NEDA-3 in the first 12 months, which increased to 61.4% during months 12-24. Patients reported increased satisfaction with treatment over the course of the study, regardless of whether they were DMT naive or not. CONCLUSION: Teriflunomide improves psychological aspects of HRQoL and maintains low levels of fatigue and depression. Treatment with teriflunomide over 2 years is effective in reducing ARR and disability progression.

[Chronic hepatic encephalopathy in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis]. / Encefalopatía hepática crónica en paciente con cirrosis biliar primaria.

Chronic or persistent hepatic encephalopathy is a complication that develops in 1% of patients with chronic liver disease. We report a new case of this complication in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis. A 69-year-old woman with stage IV primary biliary cirrhosis presented with a 6-month history of progressive memory deficits, tremors and somewhat clumsy gait. Examination revealed sub-jaundiced skin tone, short-term memory deficits, fine distal bilateral tremor in the upper extremities and generalized hyperreflexia with spread of the reflexogenic zone. The hemogram showed mild pancytopenia, hypertransaminasemia, cholestatic pattern, lengthened thromboplastin time and hypocholinesterasemia. Wilson's disease was excluded and a cranial magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a bilateral hyperintense globus pallidus on T1-weighted sequences, which, together with the symptoms, were compatible with the diagnosis. Chronic liver diseases may cause chronic hepatic encephalopathy. Gastroenterologists should be familiar with this entity.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis: Results of the Spanish Neurology Society Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To understand COVID-19 characteristics in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and identify high-risk individuals due to their immunocompromised state resulting from the use of disease-modifying treatments. METHODS: Retrospective and multicenter registry in patients with MS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and available disease course (mild = ambulatory; severe = hospitalization; and critical = intensive care unit/death). Cases were analyzed for associations between MS characteristics and COVID-19 course and for identifying risk factors for a fatal outcome. RESULTS: Of the 326 patients analyzed, 120 were cases confirmed by real-time PCR, 34 by a serologic test, and 205 were suspected. Sixty-nine patients (21.3%) developed severe infection, 10 (3%) critical, and 7 (2.1%) died. Ambulatory patients were higher in relapsing MS forms, treated with injectables and oral first-line agents, whereas more severe cases were observed in patients on pulsed immunosuppressors and critical cases among patients with no therapy. Severe and critical infections were more likely to affect older males with comorbidities, with progressive MS forms, a longer disease course, and higher disability. Fifteen of 33 patients treated with rituximab were hospitalized. Four deceased patients have progressive MS, 5 were not receiving MS therapy, and 2 were treated (natalizumab and rituximab). Multivariate analysis showed age (OR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.04-1.17) as the only independent risk factor for a fatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study has not demonstrated the presumed critical role of MS therapy in the course of COVID-19 but evidenced that people with MS with advanced age and disease, in progressive course, and those who are more disabled have a higher probability of severe and even fatal disease.

[Tolosa-Hunt syndrome following traumatic eye injury]. / Sindrome de Tolosa-Hunt tras un traumatismo ocular.

INTRODUCTION: Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is an idiopathic condition involving unilateral eye pain with involvement of oculomotor nerves which responds well to treatment with steroids. It is produced by idiopathic granulomatous inflammation of the cavernous sinus or the orbital apex. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old male who was admitted to hospital due to a six-week history of blurred vision and pain in the left eye, which was later accompanied by full ipsilateral ophthalmoplegia. Some days prior to the onset of the clinical features, he suffered an accident which resulted in traumatic injury to the left eye. An examination showed data pointing to optic neuropathy in the left eye with complete extrinsic ocular motor palsy. Results of general analyses and lumbar puncture were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed a thickening of the wall of the left cavernous sinus and of the ipsilateral orbital apex, which enhanced with gadolinium. Evoked potential studies showed axonal and demyelinating optic neuropathy on the left-hand side. Suspecting this to be a case of THS, treatment was established with high doses of corticoids, which brought about an improvement in the pain and eye movement but not in the blurred vision. A MRI control scan showed a clear improvement in comparison to the one carried out initially. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of painful ophthalmoplegia, the professional should suspect the existence of THS. If the apex of the orbit is affected through the superior orbital fissure, the optic nerve may be damaged. Traumatic injury can be one of the situations that trigger THS.

Crisis comicial por la interacción sertralina-metilfenidato / Epileptic seizure due to drug interaction between sertraline and methylphenidate

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Carcinomatosis meningea por invasión dural de metástasis craneal / Meningeal carcinomatosis caused by dural invasion of cranial metastases

La meningitis carcinomatosa es una entidad poco frecuente, que puede formar parte de la historia natural de muchos procesos neoplásicos. Se presenta habitualmente con síntomas poco específicos, como cefalea, cambios en la conducta o alteraciones motoras y sensitivas. A continuación presentamos el caso de un paciente con carcinomatosis meníngea por cáncer de pulmón y su evolución clínica (AU)

Carcinomatis meningitis is a rare entity, which may be part of the natural history of many neoplasic. It usually present with nonspecific symptoms such as headache, changes in behavior or motor and sensory disturbances. We present the case of a patient with meningeal carcinomatosis from lung adenocarcinoma and its clinical evolution (AU)

Ictus isquémico como presentación de una trombocitemia esencial / Ischaemic stroke as the presenting symptom of essential thrombocythaemia

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Pupila de Adie / Adie's pupil

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Síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt tras un traumatismo ocular / Tolosa-Hunt syndrome following traumatic eye injury

Introducción. El síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt (STH) es un cuadro idiopático de dolor orbital unilateral con afectación de nervios oculomotores con buena respuesta al tratamiento esteroideo. Se produce por la inflamación granulomatosa idiopática del seno cavernoso o del ápex orbitario. Caso clínico. Varón de 37 años que ingresó por un cuadro de seis semanas de evolución de visión borrosa y dolor ocular izquierdo al que posteriormente se le sumó una oftalmoplejía completa ipsilateral. Días antes de comenzar la clínica sufrió un traumatismo ocular accidental en el ojo izquierdo. La exploración mostró datos de neuropatía óptica izquierda junto con plejía completa de motores oculares extrínsecos. La analítica general y la punción lumbar fueron normales. La resonancia magnética (RM) craneal evidenció un engrosamiento de la pared del seno cavernoso izquierdo y del ápex orbitario ipsilateral, que realzaba con gadolinio. El estudio de potenciales evocados mostró una neuropatía óptica izquierda axonal y desmielinizante. Ante la sospecha de STH se inició tratamiento con alta dosis de corticoides, tras lo cual se produjo una mejoría del dolor y de la motilidad ocular, pero no de la visión borrosa. La RM de control reveló una evidente mejoría respecto a la inicial. Conclusiones. Ante una oftalmoplejía dolorosa debe sospecharse la existencia de un STH. Si se afecta el ápex de la órbita a través de la fisura orbitaria superior puede verse perjudicado el nervio óptico. Uno de los desencadenantes del STH puede ser un traumatismo (AU)

Introduction. Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is an idiopathic condition involving unilateral eye pain with involvement of oculomotor nerves which responds well to treatment with steroids. It is produced by idiopathic granulomatous inflammation of the cavernous sinus or the orbital apex. Case report. A 37-year-old male who was admitted to hospital due to a six-week history of blurred vision and pain in the left eye, which was later accompanied by full ipsilateral ophthalmoplegia. Some days prior to the onset of the clinical features, he suffered an accident which resulted in traumatic injury to the left eye. An examination showed data pointing to optic neuropathy in the left eye with complete extrinsic ocular motor palsy. Results of general analyses and lumbar puncture were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed a thickening of the wall of the left cavernous sinus and of the ipsilateral orbital apex, which enhanced with gadolinium. Evoked potential studies showed axonal and demyelinating optic neuropathy on the left-hand side. Suspecting this to be a case of THS, treatment was established with high doses of corticoids, which brought about an improvement in the pain and eye movement but not in the blurred vision. A MRI control scan showed a clear improvement in comparison to the one carried out initially. Conclusions. In cases of painful ophthalmoplegia, the professional should suspect the existence of THS. If the apex of the orbit is affected through the superior orbital fissure, the optic nerve may be damaged. Traumatic injury can be one of the situations that trigger THS (AU)

Encefalopatía hepática crónica en paciente con cirrosis biliar primaria / Chronic hepatic encephalopathy in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis

La encefalopatía hepática crónica o persistente es una complicación que aparece en el 1% de los pacientes con hepatopatía crónica. Presentamos un nuevo caso en una paciente afectada de cirrosis biliar primaria.Mujer de 69 años con cirrosis biliar primaria en estadio IV. Consulta por cuadro progresivo de 6 meses de evolución de fallos mnésicos, temblor y cierta torpeza para caminar. La exploración reveló un tinte subictérico, amnesia reciente, temblor fino distal en miembros superiores bilateral e hiperreflexia generalizada con aumento del área reflexógena.El hemograma mostró discreta pancitopenia, hipertransaminasemia, patrón de colestasis, alargamiento del tiempo de tromboplastina e hipocolinesterasemia. Tras descartar la enfermedad de Wilson se practicó una resonancia magnética craneal en secuencia T1 que mostró hiperintensidad en globo pálido bilateral, que junto a la clínica son compatibles con el diagnóstico.Las hepatopatías crónicas pueden ocasionar una encefalopatía hepática crónica. Los especialistas en digestivo deben conocer esta entidad(AU)

Chronic or persistent hepatic encephalopathy is a complication that develops in 1% of patients with chronic liver disease. We report a new case of this complication in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis.A 69-year-old woman with stage IV primary biliary cirrhosis presented with a 6-month history of progressive memory deficits, tremors and somewhat clumsy gait. Examination revealed sub-jaundiced skin tone, short-term memory deficits, fine distal bilateral tremor in the upper extremities and generalized hyperreflexia with spread of the reflexogenic zone.The hemogram showed mild pancytopenia, hypertransaminasemia, cholestatic pattern, lengthened thromboplastin time and hypocholinesterasemia. Wilson's disease was excluded and a cranial magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a bilateral hyperintense globus pallidus on T1-weighted sequences, which, together with the symptoms, were compatible with the diagnosis.Chronic liver diseases may cause chronic hepatic encephalopathy. Gastroenterologists should be familiar with this entity(AU)

Utilidad de la SPECT con 123I-ioflupano (DaT-scan) en el parkinsonismo inducido por fármacos / The usefulness of SPECT with 123I-ioflupane (DaTSCAN) in parkinsonism induced by pharmaceuticals

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Psicosis aguda como forma de presentación de esclerosis múltiple / Multiple sclerosis presenting as acute psychosis

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