[A patient with Gulf war syndrome. On discussion of an uncertain disease picture]. / Ein Patient mit Golfkriegssyndrom? Zur Diskussion eines unklaren Krankheitsbildes.

The Gulf War syndrome represents neurological and neuropsychological disorders in veterans of the Persian Gulf war. Until today, the various symptoms observed could not be attributed to any defined disease. As a possible cause, exposure to neurotoxic agents such as the organophosphates used during the war has been suggested by many authors. We report on a 29-year-old man who suffered from dysmnesia, disturbance of orientation, cognitive impairment, and double vision. His history revealed several front-line operations in 1990 and 1991 during the Gulf War. Physical examinations showed a complex eye-movement disturbance and a horizontal nystagmus, which was neuro-ophthalmologically confirmed. The early auditory potentials referred to a brainstem dysfunction and the cognitive disturbances correlated to changes in the late-appearing component of event-related potentials (P 300). Brain imaging with CCT, MRI, SPECT, PET, and EEG and CSF showed no pathologies. Neuropsychological tests disclosed severe cognitive impairment especially concerning memory. Three-month follow-up studies in a department of psychosomatic medicine excluded a dissociative disorder as a feature of a post-traumatic stress or a conversion disorder. This is the first case of Gulf War syndrome in Germany. We focus on an unfamiliar complication after the war. The recent literature is reviewed.

Specific cardiological evaluation after focal cerebral ischemia.

Purpose of this study was to define a subgroup of TIA/stroke patients who should be examined by transthoracal and transesophageal echocardiography or Holter-electrocardiography to identify those with cardiogenic brain embolism reliably; 300 consecutive patients with acute focal brain ischemia underwent a standardized diagnostic protocol for the evaluation of the etiology including, clinical examination by a cardiologist and routine electrocardiography, Holter-electrocardiography, transthoracal and transesophageal echocardiography. 188 patients had a potential cardiac source of embolism. In particular echocardiography was diagnostic in 163 patients, and Holter-electrocardiography 10; 159 of these 188 patients (84.6%) had competitive etiologies, predominantly large vessel atherosclerosis. In 136 patients cardiogenic brain embolism was assumed as quite definite or possible. To identify these patients reliably, transthoracal and transesophageal echocardiography would have been necessary in 89% of the entire group of patients (all with clinically cardiological abnormalities, pathological routine ECG, without vascular risk factors, or no atherosclerosis in duplex sonography), and Holter-electrocardiography in 54%.

Space-occupying cerebellar infarction. Clinical course and prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because the timing and strategy of surgical intervention in massive cerebellar infarction remains controversial, we report our experience with the management of 52 such patients. METHODS: Case records, computed tomographic scans, surgical reports, and angiograms of 52 patients with space-occupying cerebellar infarction defined by computed tomographic criteria were reevaluated with regard to clinical course, etiology, therapeutic management, mortality, and functional outcome. RESULTS: In most cases clinical deterioration started on the third day after stroke, and a comatose state was reached within 24 hours. Sixteen patients were treated medically, and 30 by suboccipital craniectomy (22 plus ventriculostomy, 12 plus tonsillectomy). Ten patients primarily had ventriculostomy, which in 4 patients was supplemented by craniotomy because of continuing deterioration. Twenty-nine patients made a good recovery, 15 remained disabled, and 8 died. Even comatose patients had a 38% chance of a good recovery with decompressive surgery. Age older than 60 years (P = .0043) and probably initial brain stem signs (P = .0816) and a late clinical stage (P = .0893) were linked with a fatal or disabling outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Decompressive surgery should be the treatment of choice for massive cerebellar infarction causing progressive brain stem signs or impairment of consciousness.

Cardioembolic stroke: results from three current stroke data banks.

About 17% of all transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and ischemic strokes were due to cardiogenic embolism in three prospective stroke registries (Berlin, Giessen, Klosterneuburg). Most of these patients can be identified by history, clinical examination, conventional ECG, and appropriate use of echocardiography. Widespread screening of stroke patients with transesophageal echocardiography, as intented in the protocol of two registries, did not appreciably increase the portion of patients with the final diagnosis of cardiogenic embolism, although, in many cases, minor-risk embolic sources can be identified. Prognosis for death or early recurrence after cardiogenic brain embolism was not worse than assumed previously.

Early outcome and recurrences after cardiogenic brain embolism.

Functional outcome and recurrence rate were evaluated retrospectively in a series of 566 consecutive patients with a cardioembolic TIA or stroke. Seventy-five patients had a TIA/RIND, 163 a minor stroke, 238 a major deficit, and 90 a fatal event. In a logistic regression analysis the probability of a disabling or fatal outcome was significantly influenced by age (p = 0.0023), a previous stroke (p = 0.0262), concomitant carotid artery disease in Doppler sonography (p = 0.0210), and the underlying heart disease (p = 0.0001). Fatal or major strokes predominated among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, prosthetic heart valves, acute or chronic myocardial infarction. Kaplan-Meier estimates revealed a cumulative risk of recurrent cerebral embolism of 2.9% within three weeks. In a proportional hazards model only the underlying heart disease was significantly linked with the risk of recurrent embolism (p = 0.021).

Hemorrhagic transformation in cardioembolic cerebral infarction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because the frequency of hemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarcts is still a matter of controversy, we performed a prospective magnetic resonance imaging study in a series of consecutive patients with cardioembolic stroke. SUMMARY OF REVIEW: Among 200 consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke, 41 were identified with a computed tomographically proven supratentorial infarct due to cardiogenic embolism. Magnetic resonance imaging (T1-weighted) was performed 3 weeks after the stroke in 35 of these 41 patients. Eight patients received anticoagulants. Magnetic resonance images showed hemorrhagic transformation in 68.6% (24) of the 35 infarcts, always without clinical deterioration. In a stepwise forward logistic regression analysis only the volume of infarction edema on the initial computed tomogram was linked significantly with the risk of hemorrhagic transformation (p = 0.037). Hemorrhages were a regular finding on magnetic resonance images of infarcts exceeding a volume of 10 cm3 (94.4%, 17 of 18). CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic transformation is a regular finding in medium-sized and large cardioembolic infarcts. Thus, in therapeutic and preventive studies of acute stroke the severity, not the frequency, of hemorrhages into brain infarcts should be the matter of interest.

Long-term prognosis of infratentorial transient ischemic attacks and minor strokes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study was performed to gather information about long-term prognosis after infratentorial transient ischemic attacks and minor strokes and about the factors influencing it. METHODS: We included 226 patients with transient ischemia and 169 patients with a minor stroke of the brain stem/cerebellum consecutively admitted to a neurological department. Medical records and the findings of computed tomography, Doppler ultrasonography, and angiography were evaluated retrospectively. Follow-up information was gathered from the patients and their physicians by questionnaires. Complete follow-up information was available for 381 patients. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 3.9 years, 15.7% of the 381 patients suffered a stroke and 6.8% a myocardial infarction; 15% died. Kaplan-Meier estimates revealed a cumulative stroke rate of 5.1% within the first year and a risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, or death of any cause of 9.8%. In a proportional hazards model, the time-dependent risk of stroke was significantly increased by increasing age (p = 0.018), minor stroke (p = 0.0005), hypertension (p = 0.022), previous stroke (p = 0.0006), and carotid artery occlusive disease (p = 0.0065). The probability of stroke, myocardial infarction, or death was influenced by age (p = 0.0001), minor stroke (p = 0.006), diabetes (p = 0.015), previous stroke (p = 0.002), infarct on a computed tomogram (p = 0.041), and carotid artery disease (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term prognosis after brain stem/cerebellar transient ischemic attacks and minor strokes is significantly influenced by age, diabetes, hypertension, previous stroke, and concomitant carotid artery disease. Patients with transient ischemic attacks have a better prognosis than those with minor stroke.

Plasmacellular angiitis of the brain-supplying arteries with disseminated cerebral necroses.

A 55-year-old previously healthy woman developed disseminated neurological symptoms together with an organic psychosis over a period of several months. The symptoms progressed continuously despite all therapeutic attempts, and finally the patient died in a state of tetraparesis and coma. Brain biopsy showed necrosis and gliosis of the white matter, but no vasculitic changes. Autopsy revealed numerous necroses of the cerebral cortex and white matter. Signs of inflammation were absent throughout the whole brain. The adventitia of the brain-supplying arteries, especially both carotid arteries, showed a marked cellular infiltrate that consisted mainly of plasma cells and foam cells. The findings represent an unusual type of cerebral vasculitis whose etiology and pathogenesis are unknown.

[Thalamic infarcts--clinical aspects, neuropsychological findings, prognosis]. / Thalamusinfarkte--Klinik, neuropsychologische Befunde, Prognose.

Results of clinical investigations and CCT of 23 patients with thalamic infarctions were evaluated retrospectively. Nineteen patients underwent a clinical and 15 a neuropsychological examination one to 5 years after their stroke. Regarding the affected vascular territory, the patients were divided into the following subgroups: paramedian infarctions (posterior thalamo-subthalamic arteries, 13 patients, among them 5 bilateral infarcts); anterolateral infarcts (tuberothalamic arteries, 5 patients); posterolateral infarcts (thalamo-geniculate arteries, 5 patients). The leading symptoms of paramedian thalamic infarcts were disturbance of consciousness, amnesia and vertical gaze palsy. The patients with anterolateral thalamic infarctions became acutely confused and disorientated, whereas those with posterolateral infarcts suffered from focal neurological deficits in the first place. Five patients with leftsided thalamic infarctions of varying localization were aphasic. Two patients died within the observation period. A slight hemiparesis was detected in two patients and a vertical gaze palsy in 4, respectively, by the neurological reexamination one to 5 years after the stroke, whereas the clinical findings in 11 patients were completely normal. However 5 patients had a chronic psychosyndrome. The neuropsychological examination showed in some cases disorders of visual retention and verbal function as well as deficits in concentration. Neither the character nor the degree of the neuropsychological deficits did depend on the affected vascular territory but on the existence of further cerebral infarcts on CT-scan.

[Neurologic complications of coronary bypass surgery--a prospective study]. / Neurologische Komplikationen koronarer Bypassoperationen--eine prospektive Untersuchung.

Neurologic, cardiologic, and dopplersonographic findings of 303 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were evaluated in a prospective study. About 5% of the patients suffered from a prior stroke. Nearly 9% had a significant stenosis of an internal carotid artery detected by dopplersonography. Central nervous system complications occurred in 18.2% of the patients, predominantly temporary mental disturbances. Old patients and those with complicating heart failure were at higher risk for mental disorders. Approximately 3% of the patients suffered from a stroke with a permanent deficit. Half of them had a potential source of cardiogenic embolism. The risk of a complicating stroke was raised by the presence of a stenosis of a carotid artery, a heart failure, or an arrhythmia. The frequency of peripheral nervous system complications was 13.5% with temporary symptoms in about half of the cases. Brachial plexus paresis predominated with a particular risk in mammaria bypass grafting.

Epileptic seizures following ischaemic cerebral infarction. Clinical picture, CT findings and prognosis.

Clinical, CT and EEG findings of 100 consecutive patients suffering from epileptic seizures following hemispheric cerebral infarction were evaluated retrospectively. All patients were followed up for an average of 49 months. Twelve patients suffered from cardiogenic brain embolism, 20 had an occlusive disease of the internal cerebral artery. Forty-seven patients had a single middle cerebral artery infarct, 6 each a posterior cerebral artery or watershed infarct. CT showed lacunes in only 6 cases, 8 had multiple larger infarcts and 27 were normal. Seventy-six patients suffered from generalized seizures, 54 from partial fits, predominantly focal motor seizures. Seventy-one patients had their first seizure within the 1st year after stroke, 30 within 2 weeks after the infarct. The interval between stroke and the first epileptic fit exceeded 1 year in the remaining 29 cases. If the first fit occurred in the acute phase after stroke, the risk of further ones was significantly lower than when the first fit occurred in the chronic stage. The frequency of fits mainly depended on the occurrence of epileptic potentials in the EEG and the interval between stroke and the first seizure. During follow-up 27 patients suffered a recurrent stroke, and 52 patients died. Cardiac failure was the predominant cause of death; only 4 patients died as a consequence of an epileptic fit.

[Multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. An analysis of 14 case histories]. / Multiple Sklerose und Epilepsie. Eine Analyse von 14 Krankengeschichten.

Fourteen of 330 patients with the clinical and laboratory supported definite diagnosis of Multiple Sklerose (MS) had epileptic seizures. The epilepsy of six patients probably originates from the MS. Four patients respectively suffered from genuin epilepsy or symptomatic epilepsy caused by other diseases than the MS. Most patients had GM, two GM and focal motor fits and one uncinatus fits. An epileptic focus in the EEG was evident in two patients. MRI- and CCT-scans frequently showed extensive cortex-neighboured lesions and multiple subcortical demyelination, especially localized in the temporal lobe. Epileptic seizures as a symptom of MS are very seldom. The longer the interval from the first episode of the MS to the first epileptic seizure the more probable epilepsy is caused by other reasons than the MS.

[Fatal outcome of ischemic cerebral infarct]. / Letalität des ischämischen Hirninfarkts.

During 1977 to 1985 2008 patients suffering from acute ischemic cerebral infarcts were admitted to the Department of Neurology, Giessen University. 213 (10.6%) died during their stay at hospital of 28 days in average. Time of survival, cause of death, localization and etiology of the infarcts were evaluated retrospectively on base of the medical reports, the angiographic, doppler-sonographic, computerized tomographic, and autopsy findings. The same number of patients died because of direct sequelae of stroke and secondary complications respectively. Those with supratentorial infarcts, who died in consequence of a vegetative dysregulation generally did not survive the first week after ictus, often had infarcts exceeding the supply area of one large cerebral artery and frequently had evidence of cardiac embolism. Pathogenetic factors for extension of the ischemic cerebral damage subsequently causing transtentorial herniation were spreading thrombosis, reinfarction, and fatal secondary hemorrhage. Patients dying in consequence of an infratentorial infarct often had a thrombosis of the basilar artery or a large cerebellar infarction. Secondary fatal complications mostly occurred after the first week after stroke. Pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction predominated with different time pattern.

CSF cyclic AMP and CSF adenylate kinase in cerebral ischaemic infarction.

The severity of neurological deficits, size of hypodense zone on CT, concentration of cAMP and activity of adenylate kinase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were evaluated at predefined intervals in the acute stage of supratentorial cerebral ischaemic infarction in 52 patients. Patients with cerebral infarction had raised activities of adenylate kinase CSF as compared with normal persons. Patients with marked neurological deficits, only slight improvement of neurological signs and large infarction zones on CT had higher average activities of adenylate kinase and lower concentration of cAMP in CSF. Alterations of CSF adenylate kinase and CSF cAMP values were most distinct on the 3rd day after the stroke. Reasons for the changes may be metabolic disorders following brain ischaemia.

Hemorrhagic cerebral infarction--a prospective study.

In 65 cases of ischemic cerebral infarction, CT scans and quantitative assessments of the neurological disturbances were undertaken at specific intervals during the 4 week period after stroke. Forty-three patients underwent lumbar puncture to determine the serum/CSF albumin ratio. The etiology of the infarction was evaluated on the basis of angiographic, ultrasonic and cardiologic findings. A hemorrhagic transformation of the infarction occurred in 28 patients, eleven within the first week, and 15 within the second. Risks of hemorrhage were correlated with a severe neurological deficit, disturbance of consciousness, large infarction with a mass effect, enhancement of contrast medium in CT (especially if occurring early), involvement of the cortex, and distinct blood/CSF barrier disturbances. Cardiac embolism was a frequent etiology in patients with secondary hemorrhagic infarction, especially when transformation occurred within the first week after stroke. In addition to a heterogeneous pattern of hemorrhage, frank hematoma predominated in those infarcts which underwent early transformation, while those transforming late often showed less hyperdense cortical hemorrhagic changes. Deterioration evident on clinical evaluation was caused by the hemorrhagic transformation in three cases, in each instance within the first week after stroke.