RESUMEN
Background: The field of neurology encompasses the study and treatment of disorders that affect the nervous system, and patients with neurological conditions often require specialized care, particularly in the ICU. Predictive scoring systems are measures of disease severity used to predict patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the discriminative power of commonly used scoring systems, namely the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) in the ICU of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with neurological disorders in the ICUs of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. Results: A total of 153 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 54.76 ± 17.32 years with higher male predominance (60.78%). Ischaemic stroke was the most common neurological disorder. There were 58 patients (37.9%) who required mechanical ventilation and all-cause mortality was 20.9%. The mean SOFA score was significantly higher (P=0.002) in survivors, whereas the mean APACHE II did not show a significant difference (P=0.238). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed the area of curve (AUC) of SOFA score was 0.765 and of APACHE II was 0.722. Conclusions: SOFA score had comparatively higher discriminative power than APACHE II. Assessment of the performance of scoring systems in a specific ICU setting improves the sensitivity and applicability of the model to these settings.
RESUMEN
Painful tonic spasms initially described in association with multiple sclerosis are actually more common in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Characterized by fierce pain and tonic posture of limbs, painful tonic spasms are common in patients during the recovery phase after the first episode of myelitis. A 68-year-old man presented with painful tonic spasm after 2 months of diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Eventual use of eslicarbazepine resulted in significant control of spasms. Early recognition of painful tonic spasms and appropriate therapeutic medications can significantly decrease the impact it can have on the quality of life among neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features are typical findings in Hirayama disease (HD) and are useful diagnostic entities but may not be present in all patients. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 22-year-old Nepalese man who presented with insidious onset of weakness of his right upper limb of more than 5 years duration. His weakness was progressive for the first 3 years, and then remained static. On examination, weakness of the interossei, thenar, hypothenar, flexor, and extensor muscles were present in his right upper limb, power was normal in his left upper and bilateral lower limbs. Minipolymyoclonus was present in both upper limbs, less prominent on the left side. Electrophysiological findings showed motor axonal neuropathy in his right upper limb, neurogenic discharges and fibrillations, and fasciculations in both upper limbs. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his cervical spine in flexion was normal. Our patient was diagnosed with HD based on clinical and electrophysiological findings. Our patient was advised to use a cervical collar and regular physiotherapy and was found to have subjective benefit. CONCLUSION: A normal cervical MRI does not rule out HD and the diagnosis can also be made based on clinical and electrophysiological studies. Progressive distal upper limb weakness or tremor in young patients should be evaluated for HD, because early diagnosis and intervention might halt the progression.