Evaluation of diagnosis and treatment practices of Brazilian neurologists among patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Recent changes to the diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS) and new medications have had a major impact on the way in which specialists manage the disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors considered by Brazilian neurologists in managing MS, and to identify how these contribute to diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Potential participants were selected by a steering committee (MS experts who developed this survey). Only MS specialists were included in the study (neurologists who had completed a neuroimmunology fellowship or who were treating more than 30 MS patients). Links to the online questionnaire were distributed between March 2019 and January 2020. This questionnaire was composed of sections with hypothetical MS scenarios. RESULTS: Neurologists from 13 Brazilian states responded to the survey (n = 94). In the clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) scenario, the respondents agreed to treat patients with a high risk of MS diagnosis, whereas in the radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) half of the respondents opted not to treat, even among high-risk patients. In cases of low-activity relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), the choice of treatment was distributed among interferon beta, glatiramer acetate and teriflunomide, which were changed to fingolimod and natalizumab, as RRMS severity increased. The topics in which disagreement was found included practices regarding use of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for pregnant patients and the washout period required for some DMTs. CONCLUSIONS: This study enabled identification of areas of agreement and disagreement about MS treatment among Brazilian neurologists, which can be used to update future protocols and improve patient management.

Patients and neurologists have different perceptions of multiple sclerosis symptoms, care and challenges.

BACKGROUND: Basic steps in the management of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), such as good patient understanding of the disease and active participation in its management are extremely important, as they directly influence treatment adherence and success. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the perception of MS patients and neurologists pertaining to the most common disease symptoms, disabilities that impact on quality of life, and patient concerns and difficulties during medical visits, as information that can be used to improve the doctor-patient relationship. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving two groups: the first composed of neurologists and the second of patients. Participants of the first group were selected by a Steering Committee (15 predetermined neurologists representing each region of Brazil and specialized in MS and neuroimmunological disorders, who also assumed the role of creating the survey and questionnaire). Participants of the second group were selected following dissemination of a questionnaire on the AME's social networks (Amigos Múltiplos pela Esclerose, a non-governmental organization to support patients with MS). Questions about sociodemographic data, disease impact on quality of life, symptoms perception, and concerns and issues regarding disease care were put to both groups. RESULTS: A total of 317 patients and 182 neurologists answered the questionnaires. Significant divergences were found between the perceptions of patients and neurologists in relation to orientation and information given during medical appointments, and also regarding patient participation in treatment and therapy choice. Considering the topic assessing impact on quality of life, more than 70% of neurologists perceived that autonomy to work and travel, and future planning were aspects that most affected patient lives, however, almost 50% of patients reported that disease monitoring did not affect their life in any way. Analysis of data regarding MS symptoms revealed neurologists to consider physical symptoms, such as ambulation issues, imbalance, falls and urinary incontinence, to be those most interfering with patient quality of life, whereas patients considered non-physical symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, cognitive and memory problems to be more significant. Patients with primary progressive MS complained more about ambulation issues, imbalance and falls (p<0.05), when compared to patients with other disease phenotypes. CONCLUSION: Significant differences in disease perception were found in this study. While neurologists tended to overestimate the consequences and symptoms of the disease, for most patients, the disease impact on activities did not appear to be as significant, with more complaints regarding non-physical symptoms. Although neurologists described involving patients in treatment decisions and providing them with appropriate orientation during medical appointments, the opposite was reported by patients. These results may help to improve treatment adherence and disease outcomes by redefining the doctor-patient relationship.

Neurolinfomatose de nervos cranianos e plexos braquial e lombossacro em um paciente com linfoma não Hodgkin: relato de caso / Neurolymphomatosis of cranial nerves and brachial and lumbosacral plexuses in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report

Neurolinfomatose (NL) corresponde à infiltração do sistema nervoso periférico por células neoplásicas, sendo a manifestação neurológica menos comum dos linfomas, principalmente do Linfoma Não Hodgkin (LNH). A infiltração pode ocorrer em diversos níveis, como junções neuromusculares, nervos periféricos ou raízes nervosas, sendo que a maioria dos pacientes possui múltiplos sítios envolvidos, incluindo raízes nervosas espinhais, nervos cranianos e plexos nervosos. Neste relato, descrevemos um caso de LNH, em paciente HIV positivo, com NL em nervos cranianos e plexos braquial e lombossacro bilaterais, com sintomas de paresia e parestesia de membros inferiores e membro superior esquerdo, ptose, midríase e estrabismo divergente em globo ocular direito, arreflexia em membros inferiores e marcha atáxica. Nos exames de imagens, foram observadas alterações compatíveis com espessamento de raízes nervosas da cauda equina, bem como hiperssinal no III par craniano à direita e espessamento do V par craniano à direita. A partir da análise do líquido cefalorraquidiano e da exclusão de outras hipóteses diagnósticas, houve forte suspeita de NL. O paciente apresentou melhora parcial do quadro após corticoterapia, sendo encaminhado para tratamento oncológico. A possibilidade de infiltração linfomatosa em pacientes com quadro de mono ou polineuropatia deve ser sempre lembrada nos pacientes com LNH, podendo ser a primeira ou a única manifestação clínica da enfermidade. Um diagnóstico precoce é fundamental para a melhora do prognóstico (AU)

Neurolymphomatosis (NL) corresponds to the infiltration of the peripheral nervous system by neoplastic cells, being the less common neurological manifestation of lymphomas, mainly Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). Infiltration can occur at several levels, such as neuromuscular junctions, peripheral nerves or nerve roots, with most patients having multiple sites involved, including spinal nerve roots, cranial nerves, and nerve plexuses. In this report we describe a case of NHL in an HIV positive patient with NL in cranial nerves and bilateral brachial and lumbosacral plexuses, with symptoms of paresis and paresthesia of the lower limbs and left upper limb, ptosis, mydriasis and divergent strabismus in the right eyeball, areflexia in lower limbs and ataxic gait. In the imaging studies, alterations consistent with thickening of the nerve roots of the cauda equina were observed, as well as hypersignal in the right cranial nerve III and thickening of the right V cranial nerve. From an analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and the exclusion of other diagnostic hypotheses, there was a strong suspicion of NL. The patient presented partial improvement after corticotherapy and was subsequently referred for cancer treatment. The possibility of lymphomatous infiltration in patients with mono or polyneuropathy should always be remembered in patients with NHL, which may be the first or only clinical manifestation of the disease. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving the prognosis (AU)

Dependência de Internet, qualidade do sono e sonolência em estudantes de Medicina de Universidade do Sul do Brasil / Internet addiction, sleep quality and sleepiness among medical students of a college in South Brazil

Introdução: A rápida expansão da utilização da Internet em nível mundial permitiu o surgimento de um provável distúrbio, a dependência de Internet, a qual vem sendo possivelmente associada a problemas do sono. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação entre dependência de Internet, qualidade do sono e sonolência em estudantes de Medicina de Universidade do Sul do Brasil e verificar possíveis associações com variáveis socioeconômicas. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo transversal, no qual foram avaliados 301 universitários através de questionários autoaplicáveis. Utilizaram-se análises descritivas, bivariadas e multivariadas por regressão logística entre as variáveis independentes e o desfecho, considerando intervalo de confiança de 95% significativo. Resultados: Dos estudantes entrevistados, 7,3% foram classificados com moderada dependência de Internet através do Internet Addiction Test, visto que estes apresentaram risco 60% maior de Sonolência Diurna Excessiva pela Escala de Sonolência de Epworth. Um risco maior de má qualidade de sono foi visto em usuários das redes sociais Facebook e Youtube através do Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh. Os classificados com má qualidade do sono gastaram, em média, uma hora a mais de tempo total diário utilizando a Internet, em comparação aos classificados com boa qualidade de sono. Conclusão: Este trabalho apresentou uma possível relação de dependência de Internet com distúrbios relacionados ao sono, principalmente com Sonolência Diurna Excessiva. Além disso, o uso de algumas redes sociais também mostrou possível relação com má qualidade do sono(AU)

Introduction: The rapid expansion of Internet use worldwide has allowed the emergence of a potential disorder, dependence on the Internet, which has been possibly associated with sleep problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Internet addiction, sleep quality and sleepiness in medical students from a college in south Brazil and assess possible associations with socioeconomic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study, which evaluated 301 students through self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses through logistic regression between independent variables and the outcome were performed, considering 95% confidence interval as significant. Results: Of the students interviewed, 7.3% were considered as with moderate addiction to the Internet through the Internet Addiction Test, since they had a 60% higher risk of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. A higher risk of poor sleep was seen in users of social network Facebook and Youtube as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Those considered with a poor sleep quality have spent, on average, one hour more in total daily time using the Internet, as compared to those considered with a good sleep quality. Conclusion: This study showed a possible relationship of Internet addiction with sleep-related disorders, particularly with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. In addition, the use of some social networks also showed a possible relationship with poor sleep quality(AU)