Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Retrospective Study from a Single Center in Kosovo.

BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that can increase susceptibility to viral infections. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with MS on DMTs admitted with symptoms of COVID-19 to a single center in Prishtina, Kosovo between March 2020 and April 2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this observational, single-center study, we included 282 patients with MS (mean age 37.8±11, 64.9% females), of whom 272 (96.4%) had confirmed COVID-19 infection, either through the presence of antibodies in the serum or a positive PCR test. RESULTS Most patients with COVID-19 infection were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, while 11 patients were hospitalized due to moderate to severe symptoms. Among those with severe infection, 2 patients have died. Patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 had more advanced MS disease (P=0.001) and higher disability scales (P<0.001). In a logistic regression analysis, advanced MS remained significantly associated with worse symptoms, even after adjusting for other risk factors, with a relative risk (RR) of 2.8 (95% CI=1.1-6.6, P=0.018). MS patients on anti-CD20 DMTs more frequently experienced moderate and severe symptoms (RR=2.1, 95% CI=1.1-4.0, P=0.012). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was also lower in patients treated with anti-CD20. Notably, patients receiving vitamin D supplementation experienced a lower frequency of moderate to severe symptoms (P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS Patients with advanced MS exhibiting higher disability scales and those on anti-CD20 therapy faced an increased risk of experiencing more pronounced symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Patients on vitamin D supplementation had better clinical outcomes.

A 14-Year-Old Male Patient with Kawasaki Disease Presented with Stroke after COVID-19.

According to several studies, children represent only about 2% of the patients affected by the current SARS-CoV-2, and most often, they are asymptomatic. However, there is a concern about a vascular inflammatory disease which is similar to Kawasaki disease observed in children and adolescents weeks after infection. We report a case of Kawasaki disease presented with ischemic stroke in a 14-year-old male patient following SARS-Cov-2 infection.

Hypertension on admission is associated with a lower risk of early seizures after stroke.

PURPOSE: Despite the common occurrence of early seizures (ES) after stroke, the relationship between risk factors and this complication of stroke is not well established. In this study we have examined the relationship between clinical measures on admission and ES after stroke. METHODS: We included 1073 patients (mean age 69 ± 12, 51.6% females) with ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke. The frequency of seizure occurrence within 2 weeks of stroke was determined. We used a logistic regression model to analyse the effect of blood pressure on admission and other clinical factors (age, gender, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and dyslipidemia) on the occurrence of ES after stroke. RESULTS: ES occurred after 4.1% and 4.0% of ischemic and haemorrhagic strokes respectively. Compared to patients with high blood pressure on admission, those with low and normal blood pressure had a higher risk of ES after stroke (2.9% vs.7.5% vs. 7.6%, p=0.001). Also the mean age of patients with post-stroke ES was lower (62.5 vs. 69.3, p<0.001). In a logistic regression analysis, low/normal blood pressure remained independently associated with ES after stroke with OR of 2.46 (95% CI 1.38-4.63, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: ES after stroke was equally frequent in patients with ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Low/normal blood pressure on admission and younger patient age were risk factors for ES after stroke.

Accuracy of Conventional Diagnostic Methods for Identifying Structural Changes in Patients with Focal Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal firing of nerve impulses in the brain. AIM: This study aims to investigate the frequency of appearance of pathological changes in conventional examination methods (electroencephalography-EEG, brain computerized tomography -CT or brain magnetic resonance imaging - MRI) in patients with epilepsy, and relationship between clinical manifestations and localization of changes in CT or MRI. METHODS: In this study we have included 110 patients with focal epilepsy who fulfilled the inclusion criteria out of 557 initially diagnosed patients. Detailed clinical examination together with brain imaging (CT and MRI) and electroencephalography examination was performed. We have evaluated the accuracy of each diagnostic method to localize the epileptic focus. Diagnosis of epilepsy was determined by the ILAE (International League Against Epilepsy) criteria of the year 1989, and classification of epileptic seizures was made according to the ILAE classification 2010. RESULTS: Electroencephalography presented changes in 60.9% of patients; brain CT in 42.1%, and MRI in 78% of the patients. The results of our study showed that clinical manifestations were not always conveyed with pathological changes in conventional examining methods performed. Of the total of 79 patients with changes in imaging (8 with changes in CT and 71 in MRI), 79.7% presented a clinical picture compatible with the region in which morphological changes were found, while in 20.3% of patients the presented morphological changes were not aligned with the clinical picture. CONCLUSION: In patients with epilepsy, conventional examination methods do not always find pathological changes, while clinical manifestations of epilepsy did not always coincide with the location of changes in imaging. Further studies are needed to see if there is clear border between focal and generalized epilepsy.

Hypoglycemia-induced hemiparesis in a diabetic woman after childbirth.

A 24-year-old female with type 1 diabetes mellitus presented with hemiparesis induced by hypoglycemia. She was hospitalized because she has noticed a weakness of her right hand and leg three days after childbirth. On physical examination she had an expressive dysphasia and right side hemiparesis with facial drop. Hypoglycemia is rarely associated with hemiparesis and it is often overlooked, especially when it happens in patients at higher risk of other diseases frequently associated with hemiparesis. Although sporadical cases of hypoglycemia-induced hemiparesis were reported, the clear pathophysiology behind this is not well determined. However, any individual case is important in order to increase the awareness of hypoglycemia as an important etiology of this condition.