Patients with Acute Lacunar Infarction Have Benefit from Intravenous Thrombolysis.

INTRODUCTION: Usefulness of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute lacunar cerebral infarction is questionable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with lacunar infarction in comparison with patients with nonlacunar infarction as well as with patients with lacunar infarction who were not treated with intravenous thrombolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the first part of the study, among patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis, characteristics and outcomes of 46 patients with lacunar and 221 patients with nonlacunar infarction were compared. In the second part, 46 patients with lacunar infarction treated with intravenous thrombolysis were compared with 45 lacunar infarction patients who were not treated with intravenous thrombolysis. RESULTS: Patients with lacunar infarction had a lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (9.2 versus 13.9, P < .001), a greater Alberta Stroke Program Early computed tomography (CT) score (9.7 versus 9.2, P = .002), a lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation (6.5% versus 41.2%, P < .001), and significantly more frequently an excellent outcome after 3 months (76.1% versus 36.2%, P < .001) compared with patients with nonlacunar infarction. Among patients with lacunar infarction, an excellent outcome at discharge was significantly more frequent in the intravenous thrombolysis group (41.3% versus 15.6%, P = .01), and the length of hospitalization was significantly shorter (9.5 days versus 14.3 days, P = .002). There was no hemorrhagic transformation among patients with lacunar infarction treated with intravenous thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: Intravenous thrombolysis has proven to be effective and safe in patients with lacunar infarction and should always be applied if there are no absolute contraindications.

Association between Apolipoproteins AI and B and Ultrasound Indicators of Carotid Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoproteins A-I and B (apoA-I and apoB) may be better indicators of the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases than conventional risk factors (RFs). The onset of ischemic stroke (IS) may be preceded by the development of atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries, which can be detected by ultrasound. Only a certain % of patients with IS have an (underlying) carotid etiology. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine the association between ultrasound indicators of carotid atherosclerosis and the presence of apolipoproteins and other biomarkers in patients with IS. METHODS: The study included 120 patients with clinically first, non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke in the carotid circulation. For all patients the following data were recorded: risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipoproteinemia, smoking, obesity, metabolic syndrome, (MetS) hyperhomocysteinemia and inflammation), and levels of blood pressure, glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipids, apoA-I and apoB apolipoproteins, body mass index, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Carotid duplex ultrasound was used to measure carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and determine the presence of an unstable (hypoechogenic) plaque. RESULTS: The most significant associations were found between cIMT and older age (ß=0.230; p=0.006), lower concentrations of apoA-I (ß=-0.244; p=0.008) and a higher apoB/apoA-I ratio (ß=0.247; p=0.007). The presence of a hypoechogenic plaque was most significantly associated with increased concentrations of apoB (OR=2.29; 95% CI=4.9-173.5; p<0.0001), the presence of MetS (OR=9.2; 95% CI=2.9-29.2; p<0.0001) and elevated CRP (OR=2.7; 95% CI=1.1-6.9; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Among RFs and their biomarkers, apoA-I, apoB and the apoB/apoA-I ratio showed strong association with ultrasound indicators of carotid atherosclerosis in IS patients.

Importance of angle correction in transcranial color-coded duplex insonation of arteries at the base of the brain.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD) sonography allows visualization of the vessels being examined and measurement of the angle of insonation. The published literature suggests that blood vessels are insonated at the angle lower than 30 degrees, hence no correction for the angle is necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the availability of intracranial blood vessels for insonation, and the percentage of arteries and their segments which can be insonated at the angles lower than 30 degrees. METHODS: The study included 120 patients (mean age 51). For each of the segments the angle of insonation was registered based on TCCD vizualization, and hemodynamic parameters were measured. The angle of insonation was measured using combined B-mode and color Doppler vizualization, as the angle between the direction of the ultrasound beam and the axis of the shown arterial segment. RESULTS: The total success rate of insonation was 86.33% (1,554 out of 1,800). The mean angle of insonation value in all the examined arterial segments was 42 degrees. The insonation angle was higher than 30 degrees in about three quarters of the examined segments, especially in the A2 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (98%), the P1 segmet of the posterior cerebral artery (87%) and in the terminal internal carotid artery (83%). The A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery showed the best insonation conditions with the angle of insonation lower than 30 degrees in 53% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The presented results of angles of insonation measurements for the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries and their segments, as well as the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery clearly indicate that their average values in tested segments were very often higher than 30 degrees, which can cause an error in blood flow velocity measurement that cannot be ignored. The results confirm the necessity of correcting flow velocity values on the basis of the angle of insonation in TCCD sonography.

Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity and Apnea Test in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic High-Grade Carotid Stenosis.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral vasomotor reactivity (VMR) represents an autoregulatory response of the arterial trunks on the specific vasoactive stimuli, most commonly CO2. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare VMR in high-grade symptomatic (SCAS) and asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACAS), using the apnea test to evaluate the hemodynamic status. METHODS: The study included 50 patients who were hospitalized at the neurology and vascular surgery departments as part of preparation for carotid endarterectomy. We evaluated VMR by calculating the breath holding index (BHI) in 34 patients with SCAS and 16 patients with ACAS, with isolated high-grade carotid stenosis. We evaluated the impact of risk factors and collateral circulation on BHI, as well as the correlation between the degree of carotid stenosis and BHI. RESULTS: A pathological BHI was more frequent in the SCAS group (p<0.01). There was no difference in the range of BHI values between the groups, both ipsilaterally and contralaterally. Only male gender was associated with pathological BHI in both groups (p<0.05). Collateral circulation did not exist in over 60% of all subjects. We confirmed a negative correlation between the degree of carotid stenosis and BHI. CONCLUSION: SCAS and ACAS patients present with different hemodynamics. While ACAS patients have stable hemodynamics, combination of hemodynamic and thromboembolic effects is characteristic of SCAS patients.

The effect of post stroke depression on functional outcome and quality of life.

In spite of being a common and important complication of stroke, post stroke depression is often overlooked, so its impact on stroke outcome remains under recognized. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of depression on functional outcome and quality of life in stroke patients. The study included 60 patients treated for their first clinical stroke, 30 of them diagnosed with depression and 30 patients without depression. Testing was done in all patients two and six weeks after stroke. Depression was diagnosed according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview, DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, and depression severity was quantified by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; functional impairment was determined by the Barthel Index; and post stroke quality of life was assessed by the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires. The patients with depression had significantly more severe functional disability both at baseline and after rehabilitation treatment, although the potential for functional recovery in depressed patients was less than in non-depressed ones. The quality of life in patients with post stroke depression was impaired more severely in all SF-36 domains compared with non-depressed stroke patients, with the domains of the role of emotional functioning and social relations being most severely affected.

Sonothrombolysis: is the story (t)old or just the beginning.

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, fastest and widely feasible treatment in acute ischemic stroke induces arterial recanalization, a prerequisite for neurological recovery. THE THERAPEUTIC ROLE OF ULTRASOUND AND POTENTIAL MECHANISM OF SONOTHROMBOLYSIS: Augmentation of recanalization can be achieved safely in combination with diagnostic transcranial Doppler by delivering mechanical pressure waves to the thrombus and exposing more thrombus surface to circulating drug. The addition of microspheres can further improve thrombolytic effect. CLINICAL TRIALS: International multicenter CLOTBUST trial showed that acute ischemic stroke patients treated with sonothrombolysis had higher rate of arterial recanalization and dramatic clinical recovery without increasing risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. A microsphere dose-escalation study called TUCSON showed that rates of recanalization and clinical recovery tended to be higher in target groups compared with controls. META-ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL TRIALS OF SONOTHROMBOLYSIS: Cochrane Stroke Group found that sonothrombolysis was likely to reduce death or dependency. A meta-analysis of sonothrombolysis showed that patients who received any form of sonothrombolysis had more than twofold higher likelihood of achieving complete arterial recanalization. PERSPECTIVES FOR SONOTHROMBOLYSIS - OPERATOR-INDEPENDENT DEVICE FOR SONOTHROMBOLYSIS: The collaborative group of the CLOTBUST trial designed multi-transducer assembly to cover conventional windows used for transcranial Doppler examinations. Operator-independent device can be quickly mounted by medical personnel with no prior experience in ultrasound. Sonothrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke is now tested in a pivotal efficacy multi-national trial called CLOTBUSTER. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is a promising tool to enhance systemic thrombolysis.

Intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of internal carotid artery - a Serbian Experience with Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke (SETIS).

OBJECTIVE: The benefit of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the influence on outcome of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ICA occlusion comparing to those without it. METHODS: Data were from the national register of all acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis in Serbia. Patients with nonlacunar anterior circulation infarction were included and were divided into two groups, those with and those without ICA occlusion. We compared the differences in demographic characteristics, risk factors, baseline NIHSS score, early neurological improvement, 3-month functional outcome, complications and death between these two groups. RESULTS: Among 521 included patients there were 13.4% with ICA occlusion. Group with ICA occlusion had more males (82.9% vs. 60.5%; p=0.0008), and more severe stroke (baseline NIHSS score 15.3 vs. 13.6; p=0.004). Excellent functional outcome (mRS 0-1) at 3 months was recorded in 32.9% patients with ICA occlusion and in 50.6% patients without (p=0.009), while favorable functional outcome (mRS 0-2) was recorded in 50.0% of patients with ICA occlusion vs. 60.1% without (p=0.14). Death occurred in 12.9% patients with ICA occlusion and in 17.3% patients without it (p=0.40). There was no significant difference in rate of symptomatic ICH between the two groups (1.4% vs. 4.2%; p=0.5). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ICA occlusion was associated with the absence of early neurological improvement (p=0.03; OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.05-3.04). However, the presence of ICA occlusion was not significantly associated with an unfavorable outcome at 3-month (p=0.44; OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.72-2.16) or with death (p=0.18; OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.25-1.29). CONCLUSION: The patients with ICA occlusion treated with intravenous thrombolysis have a worse outcome than patients without it.

Atrial myxoma as a cause of stroke: emboli detection and thrombolytic treatment.

It presents a case of a 42-year-old female patient who was admitted to the stroke unit for right-sided hemiplegia and global aphasia, without conventional stroke risk factors. As the patient presented within the therapeutic time window and had no contraindications for thrombolysis, intravenous thrombolytic treatment was initiated. Brain CT showed multiple hypodense partly confluent lesions in the territory of the left middle cerebral artery. For the purpose of determining the etiology of the stroke, TCD was performed and after cerebral microemboli were detected, transthoracic echocardiography was indicated, the finding of which showed the presence of a myxoma in the left atrium. The patient underwent surgery and thereafter her neurological deficits improved.

Neurosonographic monitoring of haemodynamic changes in tandem middle cerebral and internal carotid artery occlusion due to arterial dissection.

A middle-aged man with pain in the right eye and right side of the neck was brought to the emergency department one hour after the onset of left-sided weakness. Computed tomography (CT) showed hyperdense right middle cerebral artery (MCA). On transcranial Doppler (TCD), occlusion of the right MCA and right internal carotid artery (ICA) was found. Thirty minutes after thrombolytic therapy was initiated, engagement of collateral circulation through the anterior communicating artery (AComA) was shown by TCD. Caro-tid duplex examination confirmed occlusion of the right ICA with intimal flap and intramural haematoma. CT angiography revealed flame-like occlusion of the right ICA, and occlusion of the right MCA with collateral supply from the left to right anterior cerebral artery through the AComA. Recanalization of the MCA and ICA was evident on both CT and ultrasound. Frequent ultrasound monitoring is useful for haemodynamic evaluation of carotid artery dissection, while TCD plays an important role in real-time monitoring of flow changes of intracranial vasculature.

[Contemporary treatment neuropathic pain].

INTRODUCTION: Neuropathic pain, or pain associated with disease or injury to the peripheral or central nervous system, is a common symptom of a heterogeneous group of conditions, including diabetic neuropathy; trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia and spinal cord injury. Chronic neuropathic pain should not be thought of as a symptom. It should truly be thought of as a disease with a very complicated pathophysiology. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: The mechanisms involved in neuropathic pain are complex and involve both peripheral and central pathophysiologic phenomenon. The underlying dysfunction may involve deafferentation within the peripheral nervous system (e.g. neuropathy), deafferentation within the central nervous system (e.g. post-thalamic stroke) or an imbalance between the two (e.g. phantom limb pain). CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Neuropathic pain is non-nociceptive, in contrast to acute nociceptive pain, and it can be described as "burning", "electric", "tingling", and "shooting" in nature. TREATMENT: Rational polypharmacy is often necessary and actually it is almost always the rule. It would be an exception if a patient was completely satisfied with his treatment. Treatment goals should include understanding that our patients may need to be titrated and managed with more than one agent and one type of treatment. There should be the balance of safety, efficacy, and tolerability. CONCLUSION: There are many new agents and new applications of the existing agents being currently studied which will most certainly lead to even more improved ways of managing this very complicated set of disorders.

[Diagnosis and outcome of cervical artery dissection].

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous dissection of the cervical artery is a rare non-atherosclerotic vascular disease of unknown aetiology and unclear pathogenesis that may be a cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. DIAGNOSIS: Precise diagnosis of dissection of the cervical artery--carotid or vertebral--is possible with cervical axial magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography. TREATMENT: The recommended treatment in the acute phase of cervical artery dissection is anticoagulant or antithrombotic therapy, aimed at preventing a primary or recurrent ischemic event. There have been as yet no results of randomized controlled studies comparing efficacy of both treatments. An ongoing randomized multicentre study is expected to provide answers about the effects of these treatments in cervical artery dissection. OUTCOME: Complete resolution of arterial abnormalities is achieved in around 46% of stenoses. 33% of occlusions, and 12% of dissecting aneurysms. RECURRENT EVENTS: Recurrence of cerebral ischemia and cervical artery dissection seems to be rare, although some data suggest that early ischemic and late cervical artery dissection recurrences could be underestimated. MORTALITY AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME: In comparison with other causes of stroke in young adults, the functional outcome of cervical artery dissection is good in contrast to its socio-professional effects, which may be unsatisfactory. The mortality rate of cervical artery dissection is low, although it may be underestimated since some patients with malignant infarction die before the diagnosis is established. CONCLUSION: Further research is warranted to improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, to assess the long-term outcome, and ultimately to provide treatment and prevention strategies.

[Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: under-diagnosed syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is an idiopathic, hereditary form of epilepsy. Although juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is a well defined clinical syndrome, attempts at diagnosing it commonly fail. ETIOPATHOGENESIS: The exact cause of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy remains unknown. Clinical, morphological and metabolic data suggest a preferential role for frontal regions in this syndrome. Several major genes for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have been identified, but these genes account for only a small proportions of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy cases, suggesting multifactorial or complex inheritance in most. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is characterized by the triad of myoclonic jerks on awakening (all patients), generalized tonic-clonic seizures (> 90% of patients) and typical absences (about one third of patients). Seizures have an age-related onset, circadian distribution and are frequently precipitated by sleep deprivation, fatigue and alcohol intake. Intelligence is normal. DIAGNOSIS: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy diagnosis is based upon clinical criteria and typical electroencephalographic findings (generalized pattern of spikes and/or polyspikes and waves). All other tests are normal. TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS: Both medical treatment and counselling are important in the management of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Mono-therapy with valproate is the preferred treatment. Some of the newer antiepileptic drugs have been suggested as possible alternatives. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy has a good prognosis. Lifelong treatment is usually considered necessary in vast majority of patients due to the increased risk of relapse if treatment is discontinued. CONCLUSION: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is a common, although under-diagnosed epileptic syndrome. The clinician should study the occurrence of myoclonic jerks and should consider atypical presentations.

Vascular dementia: clinical and neuroradiological correlation.

All stroke patients admitted to Banjaluka Clinical Centre during one year were evaluated by the standard protocol during the hospitalization and three months after the stroke. It included clinical, functional and neuropsychological examination and neuroimaging. Dementia was diagnosed according to the criteria of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences. Demographic and clinical variables were examined. After the exclusion of the patients who died (n = 139) and those who refused to be interviewed during the 3-month follow up (n = 52) and those with pre-stroke dementia (n = 22), a total of 273 (58.8%) patients underwent neuropsychological examination 3 months after the stroke. Forty-nine (19.52%) of them met the criteria for vascular dementia. The predictors of vascular dementia were age, atrial fibrillation, cognitive and functional impairment on admission and functional outcome, subcortical lacunar infarctions, leukoaraiosis, multiple and bilateral brain lesions. Dementia is frequent after stroke and it cannot be determined by a single factor. A combination of several factors increases the critical threshold for cognitive decline.

[Factors predisposing to cervical artery dissection].

INTRODUCTION: Cervical artery dissection is a major cause of cerebral ischemia in young adults and can lead to various clinical symptoms, some of which are benign (e.g. headache, neck pain, Horner's syndrome, and cranial nerve palsy). However, most patients have a stroke or transient ischemic attack. EPIDEMIOLOGY: The incidence of cervical artery dissection is low and is estimated to be around 2.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. Mortality and short-term recurrence rates are low: however; they may have been underestimated. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Although the pathophysiology is still unclear constitutional and partly genetic susceptibility of the arterial wall has been proposed as a causal factor; triggered by infection or minor trauma. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: In addition to the trauma to the neck, other risk fractors have been suggested, such as infection, migraine, hyperhomocisteinamia, and the 67TT genotype of the 5,10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase gene although evidence is sparse. GENETIC FACTORS: Cervical artery dissection is now considered a multifactorial disease caused by several genetic abnormalities and environmental factors acting synergistically. CONCLUSION: Research aimed at improving our understanding of the environmental and genetic factors predisposing to cervical artery dissection and assessment of long-term outcomes of this disease is needed. Better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and the natural history of the disease through large prospective multicentre cohorts could also be helpful to improve therapeutic and preventive strategies. Several mutlticentre efforts are already under way to meet these needs.

[Ischaemic stroke in children: diagnostic and therapeutic specificity].

INTRODUCTION: Although more common in older adults, stroke occurs in neonates, infants and children as well, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. EPIDEMIOLOGY: The incidence of childhood ischemic stroke exceeds 3.3 in 100,000 children per year. Stroke is one of the top ten causes of death in children. RISK FACTORS: Children's strokes are often caused by birth defects, injections (e.g. meningitis, encephalitis), trauma, and blood disorders. Risk factors for stroke are recognized in more than 75% of children. The most common cause of stroke in children is probably congenital or acquired heart disease. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Children often experience different symptoms of stroke to adults. These can include seizures, headache and fever. However, many of" the symptoms of stroke in children are similar to those experienced by adults (paralysis, speech and visual impairment). DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS: Urgent neuroimaging is important for confirming the diagnosis of stroke. It is necessary for clinicians to conduct a thorough investigation for possible cardiac, vascular, and hematologic risk factors in all patients. THERAPY: The appropriate choices for in-hospital acute treatment and secondary preventative strategies, including aspirin and anticoagulants, are controversial. The recommendations for children are based mainly upon extrapolation from studies involving adults, and the clinical experience of experts, as reflected in consensus guidelines. CONCLUSION: Advanced forms of thrombolytic and neuroprotective agents may become more readily available to paediatric stroke patients when both the general public and medical staff become more aware of this disorder.

Does massive cerebral venous thrombosis mean poor outcome?

A 21-year-old woman taking oral contraceptives presented with headaches, nausea, vomiting and somnolence. The next day she had a generalized tonic-clonic seizure after which her neurological condition deteriorated. CT and MRI showed multiple cerebral haemorrhages, while MR venography revealed extensive dural sinus and venous thrombosis involving almost all sinuses, great cerebral vein of Galen and internal cerebral veins. Two weeks after initiation of the anticoagulant treatment the patient recovered completely with complete recanalization of all cerebral sinuses and veins. Although the patient had conditions which were indicative of poor outcome, her neurological deficit improved completely, which correlated with recanalization of the thrombosed vessels.

[Effects of calcium antagonists on brain ischemia].

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults; about half of those who survive become dependent on others in performing personal activities of daily living. Ischemia disturbs calcium cellular homeostasis, whereas calcium channel blockers re-establish it. This study was aimed at assessing benefits of calcium channel blockers on the outcome of rehabilitation of the patients afflicted by ischemic stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The functional independence was measured by the Barthel index in 90 patients subjected to rehabilitative therapeutic treatment. The functional recovery of patients treated with calcium channel blockers and with other drugs (control) was compared and tested. RESULTS: The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the 0.5 confidence interval showed that the increases of the Barthel index values were significantly higher in the patients treated with calcium antagonists (p < 0.5). DISCUSSION: According to the literature, such an outcome is the result of improved brain blood flow auto-regulation, increased brain perfusion as well as of neuroprotective, antioxidative, platelet anti-aggregatory effects of investigated drugs. CONCLUSION: The calcium channel blockers improved the outcome of rehabilitative therapeutic treatment significantly in the patients afflicted by ischemic stroke.

[The most frequent causes of ischemic stroke in young adults].

INTRODUCTION: Pathogenesis of ischemic stroke in young adults is heterogeneous, thus making differential diagnosis very broad. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 60 ischemic stroke patients of both sexes aged 15-45 years who were treated at the Department of Neurology of the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina. Information about sex and age, detailed history, risk factors for ischemic stroke were obtained for all patients who underwent neurological examination as well. Diagnostic procedures applied in all patients included brain computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging, routine laboratory tests, Doppler imaging of extra and endocranial blood vessels and coagulation tests. Contrast and/ or transesophageal echocardiography, immunological blood assays, magnetic resonance angiography and/or computed tomography angiography and/or conventional angiography, immunological tests, assessment of levels of natural coagulation inhibitors, toxicological examination, etc. were performed in selected patients. RESULTS: Causes of ischemic stroke were determined according to the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria. The most frequent were the so called other causes of ischemic stroke, which were found in 26.7% patients. The second most frequent cause was cardiac embolisation, found in 25%. The cause of ischemic stroke remained undetermined in 21.7% of all patients. CONCLUSION: Aetiology of ischemic stroke in young adults is diverse and demands thorough diagnostic evaluation.

The sensitivity of electromyoneurography in the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Diabetic polyneuropathy is a complex set of clinical syndromes, which deplete various regions of the nervous system. The process leading to diabetic neuropathy is multi-factorial. Its symptoms are paresthesia, dysesthesia and pain. The signs of damage to the peripheral neurons are hypoesthesia, hypoalgesia, hyperesthesia and hyperalgesia, decreased tendon reflexes, and, possibly, weakness and muscle atrophy. There is no universal classification. Electromyoneurography is indispensable in the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. However, there is no agreement on the most sensitive parameter for an early diagnosis. One hundred patients with diabetes mellitus were examined in order to investigate the sensitivity of different electromyographic parameters. Electromyographic techniques proved to be entirely sensitive for the early diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. Some of the parameters are more suitable for an early detection of peripheral nerve damage, and others, which are not so sensitive but easy to use and stable, are suitable to follow up the course of diabetic polyneuropathy.