Glasgow coma scale pupil score (GCS-P) and the hospital mortality in severe traumatic brain injury: analysis of 1,066 Brazilian patients.

BACKGROUND: Pupil reactivity and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score are the most clinically relevant information to predict the survival of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the accuracy of the GCS-Pupil score (GCS-P) as a prognostic index to predict hospital mortality in Brazilian patients with severe TBI and compare it with a model combining GCS and pupil response with additional clinical and radiological prognostic factors. METHODS: Data from 1,066 patients with severe TBI from 5 prospective studies were analyzed. We determined the association between hospital mortality and the combination of GCS, pupil reactivity, age, glucose levels, cranial computed tomography (CT), or the GCS-P score by multivariate binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent (n = 908) of patients were men. The mean age was 35 years old, and the overall hospital mortality was 32.8%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.73 (0.70-0.77) for the model using the GCS-P score and 0.80 (0.77-0.83) for the model including clinical and radiological variables. The GCS-P score showed similar accuracy in predicting the mortality reported for the patients with severe TBI derived from the International Mission for Prognosis and Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) and the Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH) studies. CONCLUSION: Our results support the external validation of the GCS-P to predict hospital mortality following a severe TBI. The predictive value of the GCS-P for long-term mortality, functional, and neuropsychiatric outcomes in Brazilian patients with mild, moderate, and severe TBI deserves further investigation.

ANTECEDENTES: A reatividade pupilar e o escore da Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECG) representam as informações clínicas mais relevantes para predizer a sobrevivência de pacientes com traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE). OBJETIVO: Avaliar a acurácia da ECG com resposta pupilar (ECG-P) como índice prognóstico para predizer mortalidade hospitalar em pacientes brasileiros acometidos por TCE grave e compará-lo com um modelo combinando ECG e resposta pupilar com fatores prognósticos radiológicos. MéTODOS: Foram analisados dados de 1.066 pacientes com TCE grave de 5 estudos prospectivos. Foi determinada a associação entre mortalidade hospitalar e a combinação de ECG, reatividade pupilar, idade, níveis glicêmicos, tomografia computadorizada (TC) de crânio ou o escore ECG-P por regressão logística binária multivariada. RESULTADOS: Oitenta e cinco por cento (n = 908) dos pacientes eram homens. A média de idade foi de 35 anos e a mortalidade hospitalar geral foi de 32,8%. A AUROC (em português, Curva Característica de Operação do Receptor) foi de 0,73 (0,70­0,77) para o modelo utilizando o escore ECG-P e de 0,80 (0,77­0,83) para o modelo incluindo variáveis clínicas e radiológicas. O escore ECG-P mostrou acurácia semelhante na previsão da mortalidade relatada para pacientes com TCE grave derivados dos estudos International Mission for Prognosis and Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT, na sigla em inglês) e Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH, na sigla em inglês). CONCLUSãO: Nossos resultados apoiam a validação externa da ECG-P para prever a mortalidade hospitalar após um TCE grave. O valor preditivo da ECG-P para mortalidade a longo prazo, resultados funcionais e neuropsiquiátricos em pacientes brasileiros com TCE leve, moderado e grave precisam ser investigados.

Glasgow coma scale pupil score (GCS-P) and the hospital mortality in severe traumatic brain injury: analysis of 1,066 Brazilian patients / Escala de coma de Glasgow com resposta pupilar (ECC-P) e mortalidade hospitalar em traumatismo cranioencefálico grave: análise de 1.066 pacientes brasileiros

Abstract Background Pupil reactivity and the Glasgow Coma Scale (CCS) score are the most clinically relevant information to predict the survival of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Objective We evaluated the accuracy of the CCS-Pupil score (CCS-P) as a prognostic index to predict hospital mortality in Brazilian patients with severe TBI and compare it with a model combining CCS and pupil response with additional clinical and radiological prognostic factors. Methods Data from 1,066 patients with severe TBI from 5 prospective studies were analyzed. We determined the association between hospital mortality and the combination of CCS, pupil reactivity, age, glucose levels, cranial computed tomography (CT), or the CCS-P score by multivariate binary logistic regression. Results Eighty-five percent (n = 908) of patients were men. The mean age was 35 years old, and the overall hospital mortality was 32.8%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.73 (0.70-0.77) for the model using the CCS-P score and 0.80 (0.77-0.83) for the model including clinical and radiological variables. The CCS-P score showed similar accuracy in predicting the mortality reported for the patients with severe TBI derived from the International Mission for Prognosis and Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) and the Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH) studies. Conclusion Our results support the external validation of the CCS-P to predict hospital mortality following a severe TBI. The predictive value of the CCS-P for long-term mortality, functional, and neuropsychiatric outcomes in Brazilian patients with mild, moderate, and severe TBI deserves further investigation.

Resumo Antecedentes A reatividade pupilar e o escore da Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECC) representam as informações clínicas mais relevantes para predizer a sobrevivência de pacientes com traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE). Objetivo Avaliar a acurácia da ECC com resposta pupilar (ECC-P) como índice prognóstico para predizer mortalidade hospitalar em pacientes brasileiros acometidos por TCE grave e compará-lo com um modelo combinando ECC e resposta pupilar com fatores prognósticos radiológicos. Métodos Foram analisados dados de 1.066 pacientes com TCE grave de 5 estudos prospectivos. Foi determinada a associação entre mortalidade hospitalar e a combinação de ECC, reatividade pupilar, idade, níveis glicêmicos, tomografia computadorizada (TC) de crânio ou o escore ECC-P por regressão logística binária multivariada. Resultados Oitenta e cinco por cento (n = 908) dos pacientes eram homens. A média de idade foi de 35 anos e a mortalidade hospitalar geral foi de 32,8%. A AUROC (em português, Curva Característica de Operação do Receptor) foi de 0,73 (0,70-0,77) para o modelo utilizando o escore ECC-P e de 0,80 (0,77-0,83) para o modelo incluindo variáveis clínicas e radiológicas. O escore ECC-P mostrou acurácia semelhante na previsão da mortalidade relatada para pacientes com TCE grave derivados dos estudos International Mission for Prognosis and Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT, na sigla em inglês) e Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH, na sigla em inglês). Conclusão Nossos resultados apoiam a validação externa da ECC-P para prever a mortalidade hospitalar após um TCE grave. O valor preditivo da ECC-P para mortalidade a longo prazo, resultados funcionais e neuropsiquiátricos em pacientes brasileiros com TCE leve, moderado e grave precisam ser investigados.

Ictal fear is associated with anxiety symptoms and interictal dysphoric disorder in drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Interictal dysphoric disorder (IDD) is a poorly understood psychiatric disorder of epilepsy patients. Interictal dysphoric disorder is characterized by depressive, somatoform, and affective symptoms observed in up to 5.9% of drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). This study aimed to evaluate the association between ictal fear (IF) and the psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis in MTLE-HS patients. We included 116 (54.3% male) consecutive adult patients (36 ±â€¯11 years) with MTLE-HS. Anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the psychiatric diagnosis were according to Fourth Edition of the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The independent association between the occurrence of IF aura and the psychiatric diagnosis was determined by binary regression. When compared to those with other auras or without aura, patients reporting IF have higher HADS anxiety, but not HADS depression, scores. Ictal fear was independently associated with the diagnosis of interictal dysphoric disorder (OR, IC 95% = 7.6, 1.3-43.2, p = 0.02), but not with the diagnosis of anxiety (OR, CI 95% = 0.72, 0.08-6.0, p = 0.73), depression (OR, CI 95% = 0.94, 0.19-4.8, p = 0.94) or psychotic disorders (p = 0.99). Only patients with drug-resistant MTLE-HS were included and the small number of cases with DD diagnosis in the sample. In MTLE-HS patients, the occurrence of IF is associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms and IDD. The results provide insights about fear-related neural network connections with anxiety symptoms and the IDD in MTLE-HS.

How predictable is cognitive performance in Brazilian patients with pharmacoresistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the independent association between clinical, demographic, psychiatric, radiologic, electrophysiological, and pharmacologic variables and cognitive performance of Brazilian patients with pharmacoresistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). METHODS: Ninety-three patients with pharmacoresistant MTLE related to hippocampal sclerosis (HS) were included in the study. Multiple linear regressions were done to identify predictor variables for 24 cognitive tests. Independent variables analyzed were sex, hand dominance, age, years of education, marital status, work activity, history for an initial precipitant injury (IPI), family history of epilepsy, lesion side, antiseizure medication (ASM) treatment type, ASM serum levels, benzodiazepine (BDZ) treatment, age at epilepsy onset, disease duration, monthly frequency of seizures, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores. RESULTS: Years of education was an independent and positive predictor in 22 of the 24 cognitive tests evaluated. Male sex was also a positive predictor of one cognitive test. Variables negatively associated with cognitive performance were left side lesion (10 tests), disease duration (5 tests), polytherapy (3 tests), ASM serum levels (3 tests), and BDZ treatment or not working (1 test each). The regression model explained between 6% and 44% of the cognitive test scores variation. SIGNIFICANCE: In Brazilian patients with pharmacoresistant MTLE-HS, up to 44% of cognitive test scores variation is predictable by clinical, demographic, psychiatric, radiologic, electrophysiology, and pharmacological variables. The identification of predictors of cognitive performance may be helpful for better planning of patient care.

Is self-report sleepiness associated with cognitive performance in temporal lobe epilepsy?

OBJECTIVES: Sleepiness and cognitive impairment are common symptoms observed in patients with epilepsy. We investigate whether self-reported sleepiness is associated with cognitive performance in patients with refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). Seventy-one consecutive patients with MTLE-HS were evaluated with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) before neuropsychological evaluation. Their mean SSS scores were compared with controls. Each cognitive test was compared between patients with (SSS ≥ 3) or without sleepiness (SSS < 3). Imbalances were controlled by regression analysis. Patients reported a significantly higher degree of sleepiness than controls (p < 0.0001). After multiple linear regression analysis, only one test (RAVLT total) remained associated with self-reported sleepiness. CONCLUSION: Self-reported sleepiness was significantly higher in MTLE-HS patients than controls, but did not affect their cognitive performance. If confirmed in other populations, our results may have implications for decision making about sleepiness screening in neuropsychological settings.

Is self-report sleepiness associated with cognitive performance in temporal lobe epilepsy? / A sonolência auto-relatada está associada ao desempenho cognitivo na epilepsia do lobo temporal?

ABSTRACT Sleepiness and cognitive impairment are common symptoms observed in patients with epilepsy. We investigate whether self-reported sleepiness is associated with cognitive performance in patients with refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). Seventy-one consecutive patients with MTLE-HS were evaluated with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) before neuropsychological evaluation. Their mean SSS scores were compared with controls. Each cognitive test was compared between patients with (SSS ≥ 3) or without sleepiness (SSS < 3). Imbalances were controlled by regression analysis. Patients reported a significantly higher degree of sleepiness than controls (p < 0.0001). After multiple linear regression analysis, only one test (RAVLT total) remained associated with self-reported sleepiness. Conclusion: Self-reported sleepiness was significantly higher in MTLE-HS patients than controls, but did not affect their cognitive performance. If confirmed in other populations, our results may have implications for decision making about sleepiness screening in neuropsychological settings.

RESUMO A sonolência e o comprometimento cognitivo são queixas comuns na epilepsia. Investigamos se a sonolência relatada pelo paciente está associada ao desempenho cognitivo na epilepsia do lobo temporal mesial refratária com esclerose do hipocampo (ELTM-EH). 71 pacientes com ELTM-EH foram avaliados pela Escala de Sonolência de Stanford (ESS) antes da avaliação neuropsicológica. A média na ESS foi comparada com a de controles. Cada teste foi comparado entre os pacientes com sonolência (ESS ≥ 3) ou sem sonolência (ESS <3). Diferenças foram controladas por regressão logística múltipla. Os pacientes relataram uma sonolência maior do que os controles (p <0,0001). Após a regressão, a sonolência relatada pelos pacientes mostrou-se associada a apenas um teste (RAVLT total). Os pacientes com ELTM-EH referem mais sonolência do que os controles, mas esta não foi associada com a cognição. Se confirmado em outras populações, nossos resultados implicarão na tomada de decisão sobre o impacto da sonolência no contexto neuropsicológico.

Neuropsychological functioning and brain energetics of drug resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients.

Interictal hypometabolism is commonly measured by 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) in the temporal lobe of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE-HS). Left temporal lobe interictal FDG-PET hypometabolism has been associated with verbal memory impairment, while right temporal lobe FDG-PET hypometabolism is associated with nonverbal memory impairment. The biochemical mechanisms involved in these findings remain unknown. In comparison to healthy controls (n=21), surgically treated patients with MTLE-HS (n=32, left side=17) had significant lower scores in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT retention and delayed), Logical Memory II (LMII), Boston Naming test (BNT), Letter Fluency and Category Fluency. We investigated whether enzymatic activities of the mitochondrial enzymes Complex I (C I), Complex II (C II), Complex IV (C IV) and Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH) from the resected samples of the middle temporal neocortex (mTCx), amygdala (AMY) and hippocampus (HIP) were associated with performance in the RAVLT, LMII, BNT and fluency tests of our patients. After controlling for the side of hippocampus sclerosis, years of education, disease duration, antiepileptic treatment and seizure outcome after surgery, no independent associations were observed between the cognitive test scores and the analyzed mitochondrial enzymatic activities (p>0.37). Results indicate that memory and language impairment observed in MTLE-HS patients are not strongly associated with the levels of mitochondrial CI, CII, SDH and C IV enzymatic activities in the temporal lobe structures ipsilateral to the HS lesion.