[Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension in Spain]. / Impacto del confinamiento por COVID-19 en pacientes con hipertensión intracraneal idiopática en España.

INTRODUCTION: The nationwide lockdown implemented in Spain in March 2020 in response to the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) could have had an effect on the clinical situation, disease management and access to care in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted by means of an online survey. The frequency and impact of headache, visual symptoms, dizziness, cognitive symptoms, diplopia, anxiety and depression on patients' quality of life were recorded. Disease treatment and delays experienced in accessing care were recorded. Participants were grouped according to the time elapsed since diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients participated in the study (103 women). The average time since disease onset was 6.25 years. Headache, anxiety and depression were responsible for considerable impact in the period prior to lockdown. The impact of headache was not aggravated during lockdown, but anxiety and depression did become significantly worse. Recently diagnosed participants reported higher rates of anxiety, depression, dizziness and diplopia; chronically diagnosed participants reported a higher frequency of cognitive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical situation of the participants deteriorated during lockdown, although the differences were smaller than previously thought. This was probably because the baseline situation was more severe than expected. Further studies are needed to clarify the medium and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

TITLE: Impacto del confinamiento por COVID-19 en pacientes con hipertensión intracraneal idiopática en España.Introducción. El confinamiento nacional instaurado en España en marzo de 2020 como respuesta a la pandemia por la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pudo tener un efecto en la situación clínica, el manejo de la enfermedad y el acceso a la atención médica en pacientes con hipertensión intracraneal idiopática. Pacientes y métodos. Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal por medio de una encuesta en línea. Se registraron la frecuencia y el impacto en la calidad de vida de la cefalea, los síntomas visuales, el mareo, los síntomas cognitivos, la diplopía, la ansiedad y la depresión. Se registró el tratamiento de la enfermedad y los retrasos experimentados en el acceso a la atención médica. Se agrupó a los participantes según el tiempo de evolución desde el diagnóstico. Resultados. Participaron 112 pacientes (103 mujeres). El tiempo medio de evolución de la enfermedad fue 6,25 años. La cefalea, la ansiedad y la depresión fueron responsables de un impacto considerable en el período previo al confinamiento. El impacto de la cefalea no empeoró durante el confinamiento, pero la ansiedad y la depresión empeoraron significativamente. Los participantes diagnosticados recientemente comunicaron mayores tasas de ansiedad, depresión, mareo y diplopía; los de evolución crónica, mayor frecuencia de síntomas cognitivos. Conclusiones. La situación clínica de los participantes se deterioró durante el confinamiento, aunque las diferencias fueron menores de lo que se pensaba. Esto se debió, probablemente, a que la situación basal era más grave de lo esperado. Son necesarios más estudios para aclarar el impacto a medio y largo plazo de la pandemia por COVID-19 en pacientes con hipertensión intracraneal idiopática.

Tiempo puerta-aguja entre neurólogo presencial y localizado en ictus isquémico tratado con alteplasa. Estudio PRISA / Door-to-needle times for patients with ischaemic stroke treated with alteplase by on-site and off-site on-duty neurologists. PRISA study

Introducción: La guardia de neurología es frecuentemente presencial; es decir, con el neurólogo presente en el centro hospitalario; pero en algunos centros, puede ser localizada o mixta. La fibrinólisis intravenosa (FIV) es uno de los principales tratamientos reperfusores en el ictus isquémico agudo (IIA). El objetivo del siguiente trabajo es comparar el tiempo puerta-aguja (TPA) durante la guardia presencial y la guardia localizada. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, observacional, desde el año 2012 hasta el año 2017 en el que se incluyeron pacientes con IIA y FIV. Se recogieron datos como sexo, edad, hora del inicio de los síntomas, hora de llegada al hospital, hora de la tomografía axial computarizada (TAC), hora de inicio de la FIV. Se consideró guardia de «Presencia» desde las 8:00 hasta las 20:00 y «Localizada» desde las 20:00 hasta las 08:00, divido en 3 grupos: guardia «Presencial», guardia «Localizada» y guardia «Localizada con residente». Resultados: N.° = 138; edad media 69,7 años; mujeres 45,7%. Pacientes en guardia de «Presencia» 96, «Localizada» 42, de los cuales 17 con residente. Ambos grupos presentaban características basales similares. Los TPA de los grupos «Presencia» y «Localizada» fueron 59 y 72 min, respectivamente (p = 0,003). Los TPA de grupos «Presencia», «Localizada» y «Localizada con residente», respectivamente 59, 74 y 68 min (p = 0,001), con significación entre «Presencia» y «Localizada». No se observaron diferentes entre el TPA dependiendo de la franja horaria de mañana, tarde y noche ni entre días laborales y días de fin de semana. Conclusión: La presencia o ausencia del neurólogo en el centro hospitalario en el momento del código ictus, influye en la demora de administración del tratamiento fibrinolítico. La presencia del residente de neurología puede acelerar la realización del proceso. (AU)

Background: Hospital on-call neurology shifts are frequently on-site, but some on-call services may be off-site or mixed. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is one of the main reperfusion treatments for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). This study assesses door-to-needle times (DNT) when the neurologist is on-site or off-site. Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study from 2012 to 2017, including patients with AIS and treated with tPA. Data were collected on sex, age, door-to-scan time, scan-to-needle time, and DNT. The on-duty neurologist was on-site from 08:00 to 20:00, and on call but off-site from 20:00 to 8:00. Three groups were formed: on-site, off-site, and off-site with resident present. Results: Our sample included 138 patients. The mean age was 69.7 years, and 45.7% of patients were women. Ninety-six patients were admitted during the on-site shift, 25 during the off-site shift, and 17 during the off-site–resident present shift. Patients admitted during the on-site and off-site shifts presented DNTs of 59 and 72 minutes, respectively (P = .003). DNTs were 59, 74, and 68 minutes (P = .001), respectively, for the on-site, off-site, and off-site–resident present shifts; the difference between DNTs for on-site and off-site shifts was statistically significant. No differences were observed between DNTs according to time of day (morning, afternoon, or night), or between weekdays and weekends. Conclusion: DNT is influenced by whether the on-duty neurologist is on- or off-site at the time of code stroke activation. The presence of a neurology resident can reduce DNT. (AU)

[Knowledge on stroke in Spanish population. A systematic review]. / Conocimiento sobre el ictus en la población española. Una revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze by means of a systematic review the general knowledge about strokes of the Spanish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review is performed following PRISMA guidelines and with data from PubMed, Scopus and EMBASE. All studies carried out in Spain, centred around the knowledge of strokes are compiled (terminology, pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and willingness to make use of the Emergency Services). From the 4,627 articles collected, 21 were ultimately included in this review. RESULTS: In Spain, the term stroke is less known than others such as embolism or cerebrovascular accident. Loss of strength is the most widely recognized symptom, whereas arterial hypertension is the most widely identified risk factor. The least known symptom and risk factor are visual impairment and diabetes mellitus, respectively. When faced with a suspected stroke, the attitude of most respondents is adequate as they decide to go to the hospital or call the Emergency Services. However, in rural areas or in cases in which the symptoms suddenly stop, a greater number of participants choose to go to their family physician. The main sources of information of the participants are their family members and their doctors. CONCLUSIONS: General knowledge about strokes is scarce among the general population. Nonetheless, the attitude of most of the participants is adequate as they choose to contact specialized Emergency Services.

TITLE: Conocimiento sobre el ictus en la población española. Una revisión sistemática.Objetivos. Analizar mediante una revisión sistemática el estado de conocimiento sobre el ictus en la población española. Materiales y métodos. Se ha llevado a cabo una revisión sistemática siguiendo las directrices PRISMA en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus y EMBASE. Se incorporaron todos los estudios realizados en España que versaran sobre el conocimiento del ictus (terminología, fisiopatología, síntomas y signos, factores de riesgo, tratamiento e intención de acudir a servicios de emergencias). Se identificaron 4.627 artículos, de los cuales 21 se incluyeron finalmente en la revisión. Resultados. El término ictus es menos reconocido que otros, como embolia o infarto cerebral. La pérdida de fuerza es el síntoma más reconocido y la hipertensión arterial es el factor de riesgo más identificado. El síntoma y el factor de riesgo menos reconocidos son los déficits visuales y la diabetes mellitus, respectivamente. Ante la sospecha de ictus, la actitud de la mayoría de los encuestados es adecuada, ya que eligen acudir al hospital o llamar a los servicios de emergencias. Sin embargo, en el medio rural, y ante síntomas que ceden espontáneamente, un mayor número de participantes elige acudir a su médico de familia. Las principales fuentes de información de los participantes son sus familiares y médicos. Conclusiones. El conocimiento global sobre el ictus es escaso entre la población española. Sin embargo, la actitud de la mayoría de los participantes es adecuada, ya que elige mayoritariamente contactar con servicios de emergencias especializados.

Door-to-needle times in patients treated by on-site and off-site on-call neurologists. PRISA study.

BACKGROUND: Hospital on-call neurology shifts are frequently on-site, but some on-call services may be off-site or mixed. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is one of the main reperfusion treatments for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). This study assesses door-to-needle times (DNT) when the neurologist is on-site or off-site. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational study from 2012 to 2017, including patients with AIS and treated with tPA. Data were collected on sex, age, door-to-scan time, scan-to-needle time, and DNT. The on-duty neurologist was on-site from 08:00 to 20:00, and on call but off-site from 20:00 to 8:00. Three groups were formed: on-site, off-site, and off-site with resident present. RESULTS: Our sample included 138 patients. The mean age was 69.7 years, and 45.7% of patients were women. Ninety-six patients were admitted during the on-site shift, 25 during the off-site shift, and 17 during the off-site-resident present shift. Patients admitted during the on-site and off-site shifts presented DNTs of 59 and 72 minutes, respectively (P =  .003). DNTs were 59, 74, and 68 minutes (P =  .001), respectively, for the on-site, off-site, and off-site-resident present shifts; the difference between DNTs for on-site and off-site shifts was statistically significant. No differences were observed between DNTs according to time of day (morning, afternoon, or night), or between weekdays and weekends. CONCLUSION: DNT is influenced by whether the on-duty neurologist is on- or off-site at the time of code stroke activation. The presence of a neurology resident can reduce DNT.

[Familial cavernous malformation secondary to a novel genetic mutation]. / Cavernomatosis familiar secundaria a una nueva mutación genética.

TITLE: Cavernomatosis familiar secundaria a una nueva mutación genética.

Door-to-needle times for patients with ischaemic stroke treated with alteplase by on-site and off-site on-duty neurologists. PRISA study. / Tiempo puerta-aguja entre neurólogo presencial y localizado en ictus isquémico tratado con alteplasa. Estudio PRISA.

BACKGROUND: Hospital on-call neurology shifts are frequently on-site, but some on-call services may be off-site or mixed. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is one of the main reperfusion treatments for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). This study assesses door-to-needle times (DNT) when the neurologist is on-site or off-site. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational study from 2012 to 2017, including patients with AIS and treated with tPA. Data were collected on sex, age, door-to-scan time, scan-to-needle time, and DNT. The on-duty neurologist was on-site from 08:00 to 20:00, and on call but off-site from 20:00 to 8:00. Three groups were formed: on-site, off-site, and off-site with resident present. RESULTS: Our sample included 138 patients. The mean age was 69.7 years, and 45.7% of patients were women. Ninety-six patients were admitted during the on-site shift, 25 during the off-site shift, and 17 during the off-site-resident present shift. Patients admitted during the on-site and off-site shifts presented DNTs of 59 and 72minutes, respectively (P=.003). DNTs were 59, 74, and 68minutes (P=.001), respectively, for the on-site, off-site, and off-site-resident present shifts; the difference between DNTs for on-site and off-site shifts was statistically significant. No differences were observed between DNTs according to time of day (morning, afternoon, or night), or between weekdays and weekends. CONCLUSION: DNT is influenced by whether the on-duty neurologist is on- or off-site at the time of code stroke activation. The presence of a neurology resident can reduce DNT.

Validation of a basic neurosonology laboratory for detecting cervical carotid artery stenosis. / Validación de un laboratorio básico de neurosonología para la detección de estenosis carotídea cervical.

INTRODUCTION: Most of the cases of ischaemic stroke in our setting are of atherothrombotic origin. Detecting intracranial and cervical carotid artery stenosis in patients with ischaemic stroke is therefore essential. Ultrasonography has become the tool of choice for diagnosing carotid artery stenosis because it is both readily accessibility and reliable. However, use of this technique must be validated in each laboratory. The purpose of this study is to validate Doppler ultrasound in our laboratory as a means of detecting severe carotid artery stenosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational descriptive study to evaluate diagnostic tests. The results from transcranial and cervical carotid Doppler ultrasound scans conducted by neurologists were compared to those from carotid duplex scans performed by radiologists in patients diagnosed with stroke. Arteriography was considered the gold standard (MR angiography, CT angiography, or conventional arteriography). RESULTS: Our sample included 228 patients. Transcranial and cervical carotid Doppler ultrasound showed a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 100% for detection of carotid artery stenosis > 70%, whereas carotid duplex displayed a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 94%. Transcranial carotid Doppler ultrasound achieved a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 98% for detection of intracranial stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler ultrasound in our neurosonology laboratory was found to be a useful diagnostic tool for detecting cervical carotid artery stenosis and demonstrated superiority to carotid duplex despite the lack of B-mode. Furthermore, this technique was found to be useful for detecting intracranial stenosis.

Percheron artery syndrome: variability in presentation and differential diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Synchronous bilateral paramedian thalamic stroke (SBPTS), usually equated to Percheron artery infarction, is considered to be uncommon and difficult to diagnose clinically. Its characterization is based on the original description plus a few small series. AIM: To characterize SBPTS clinically by collecting cases and identifying the key difficulties for an early diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six cases at our centre plus another 115 located by systematic literature search and critical reading of articles fulfilled the criteria for SBPTS. An analysis was made of the variables age, gender, vascular risk factors, aetiology, alterations and fluctuations of consciousness, need for intubation, cognitive-behavioural disorders, pupillary changes, other neurological focal disorders and brainstem involvement on imaging studies. RESULTS: Of note in our series were disorders of consciousness (n=5), their fluctuations (n=3) and the diagnostic delay (seven days, with MRI in four patients). In only one case was a bilateral thalamic lesion seen on the initial CT. Joint analysis of all the cases showed a mean age of 61 years, a predominance of men (58%), the presence of vascular risk factors in 77%, a mainly cardioembolic aetiology (34% among those that were specified), sensory involvement in 75% (intubation in 7% and fluctuations in 16.5%), cognitive-behavioural disorders in 43%, oculomotor in 73%, pupillary in 31%, other in 67% and specified brainstem lesion in 37%. CONCLUSIONS: The SBPTS syndrome has a variable presentation with a low sensitivity on the initial CT, requiring brain MRI for typification. This explains the diagnostic difficulty and the fact that its frequency is probably underestimated.

[Déjerine-Roussy syndrome of an ischaemic origin in an adolescent with patent foramen ovale]. / Síndrome de Déjerine-Roussy de origen isquémico en un adolescente con foramen oval permeable.

INTRODUCTION: Déjerine-Roussy syndrome, or thalamic syndrome, is characterised by transient mild hemiparesis, hemichoreoathetosis, hemihypoesthesia, hyperalgesia, allodynia and hemiataxia with astereognosia that varies in intensity, and it appears in the presence of lesions in the posterior nuclei of the thalamus. It can be produced by strategic cerebral infarction, reported in elderly patients with vascular risk factors. Patent foramen ovale has been suggested as a risk factor for ischaemic stroke in young people, especially when associated to aneurysm of the auricular septum and above all to a procoagulating status. CASE REPORT: An 18-year-old male with a family history of Behçet's disease, who presented right-side thalamic and hippocampal cerebral infarction; following an exhaustive study, patent foramen ovale with septal aneurysm was found as the only risk factor. At that time he did not satisfy criteria for Behçet's disease, and thorough systemic screening did not reveal direct or indirect signs of venous thrombosis. Percutaneous closure of the foramen was performed. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of Déjerine-Roussy syndrome as a manifestation of cryptogenic cerebral infarction associated to patent foramen ovale in an adolescent. Taken as a whole, the clinical and complementary data enable us to reconstruct the pathophysiological sequence that position foramen ovale with an associated septal 'aneurysm' as the only detectable risk factor, which, when linked to the stress of the patient and the family, triggered its early closure.

[Miller Fisher syndrome as the presenting symptom of Wernicke's encephalopathy]. / Síndrome de Miller Fisher como presentación de una encefalopatía de Wernicke.

INTRODUCTION: Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome resulting from a thiamine deficit, which is defined by the characteristic triad of confusion, ophthalmoparesis and ataxia, although rare presentations have been reported that delay its diagnosis. Miller Fisher syndrome is characterised by the triad ophthalmoparesis, ataxia and areflexia and is considered to be a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome; its differential diagnosis includes Wernicke's encephalopathy. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old female with chronic digestive disorders, who developed an acute picture of bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia, with proteinocytologic dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid; accordingly, an initial diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome was proposed. Results of the neurophysiological studies were normal; anti-GQ1b antibodies were negative; and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain suggested Wernicke's encephalopathy. The response to thiamine was spectacular. CONCLUSIONS: The similarities in the distribution of the lesions of the two conditions, in the signs and symptoms and the lab findings, as well as the influence of certain misleading factors (hyponatremia, advanced age), went to make up a typical syndrome that favoured a wrong presumptive aetiological diagnosis. This was corrected at an early stage, however, in light of the results of certain diagnostic tests and after observing the therapeutic response. In addition to being an atypical presentation for Wernicke's encephalopathy, this case highlights the fact that for there to be an agreement between the syndromic and aetiological diagnoses it is necessary to carry out a correct differential diagnosis based on details from the patient's history, on appropriate complementary tests and on the follow-up study of how the patients progress, even when we come across typical syndromes that are usually related to a predominant aetiopathogenesis.

[Thalamic dementia secondary to acute bilateral paramedian thalamic infarcts after occlusion of the artery of Percheron]. / Demencia talámica secundaria a infarto agudo paramediano talámico bilateral por oclusión de la arteria de Percheron.

INTRODUCTION: The anterior and medial part of the thalamus is the responsible of multiples cognitive functions through the thalamus-cortical connections. A bilateral thalamic infarction can cause a secondary dementia and these are related to a thalamocortical deafferentation with a partial recovery. We report a case of sudden onset dementia caused by bilateral thalamus lesions. CASE REPORT: A 42 smoker male, that suddenly had an acute confusional syndrome with altered language, bradypsychia, right hemiparesis and right hemisensory loss. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed a bilateral thalamic stroke probably due to a variant talamus irrigation (artery of Percheron type 2). From this date, in three months, the patient had attention deficit, impairment of memory retention, apathy, initiative deficit, depressive syndrome and mood changes. All these symptoms improving partially in the following six months. CONCLUSIONS: The thalamic stroke can cause a thalamic dementia, commonly bilateral and preferable located in the anterior and medial nuclei. In our case, cranial SPECT showed frontal hypocaptation for diaschisis phenomenon.