Cognitive changes in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2.

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive disorders and dementia occur in 19 to 42% of patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). Neuropsychological tests can reveal executive dysfunction, impaired visual and verbal memory, tongue and speech impairment, attention disorders and impaired verbal fluency. METHODS: We performed psychiatric and neuropsychological examinations in 12 patients diagnosed with genetically confirmed SCA2 and 12 healthy volunteers matching the patients in age, gender, and length of education. The level of motor impairment was determined using the brief ataxia rating scale (BARS). The neuropsychological examination focused on testing executive functions, short-term visual and verbal memory, attention, psychomotor tempo, visual motor coordination, learning ability and comprehension ability. The tests were divided into two subgroups according to the difficulty of motor tasks. The cognitive abilities composite score (CACS) was determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of T scores of the respective tests. RESULTS: Patients with SCA2 had significantly lower CACSs (p=0.00005) compared to the healthy volunteers. Patients exhibited impaired performance in both difficult and simple motor tests. The severity of cognitive impairment was related to the age at the onset of the disease (p=0.002) but not to the duration or to the overall BARS score. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to healthy volunteers, patients with SCA2 exhibited significantly worse cognitive performance in all areas tested, including the tests of simple motor tasks. Moreover, the cognitive performance of patients worsened as the difficulty of the motor tasks increased.

Comparison between gadolinium and iodine contrast for percutaneous intervention in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis: clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous angiography with iodinated contrast in patients with chronic kidney disease carries a risk of contrast nephropathy, which is independently associated with renal disease progression and increased mortality. Gadolinium contrast is a potential alternative to iodinated contrast for percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA), and appears to be safe and well tolerated. The aim of this study was to assess the results of gadolinium use to facilitate PTRA in patients with chronic kidney disease. METHODS: Clinical outcomes were compared between patients with serum creatinine (Cr) >/= 176 micromol/L (2 mg/dL), who had either gadolinium (n = 57; gadoteridol or gadodiamide), iodinated (n = 68; iohexol or iodixanol) or a combination of gadolinium and iodinated-contrast-enhanced (n = 38) PTRA. RESULTS: Despite similar degrees of pre-procedural renal insufficiency, the incidence of immediate contrast nephropathy [defined as an increase in serum Cr of 44 micromol/L (0.5 mg/dL) within 7 days without other identifiable causes] was lowest in the gadolinium group (3/57, 5.3%) compared to those receiving a combination of modest iodinated contrast in addition to gadolinium (4/38, 10.5%) or solely iodinated contrast (14/68, 20.6%). This was associated with a reduction in the 30-day progression to need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) (P < 0.005). Yet, over a mean follow-up of 40 +/- 22 months, renal function outcomes or all-cause mortality were not different between the contrast groups. The type of contrast used had no effect on technical success and both short- and long-term blood pressure outcomes were comparable between the groups. Two patients developed pathology-proven nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy, a serious skin condition that has been seen in patients with kidney disease following administration of gadolinium. CONCLUSIONS: Gadolinium contrast appears to be an effective agent for interventional renal angiograms. Compared to iodinated contrast, gadolinium contrast is associated with a significantly lower incidence of contrast nephropathy and early progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease. The risk of fibrosing dermopathy however and remains to be established.

Prolactin as a factor for increased platelet aggregation.

Administration of antipsychotics appears to be related to increased risk of venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular side effects. The biological mechanism responsible for this possible adverse drug reaction is unknown, but there is a growing number of elucidating hypotheses. Treatment with antipsychotics is associated with elevation of prolactin level. Prolactin has recently been recognized as potent platelet aggregation co-activator, and have therefore been postulated as an additional risk factor for both arterial and venous thrombosis. We briefly review the arguments for the role of hyperprolactinemia in pathogenesis of platelet aggregation.

Pharmacological treatment of severe dyslipidaemia in patients with schizophrenia.

Mortality rates in patients with schizophrenia are double compared with the general population, with cardiovascular disease causing 50% of the excess. Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is recognized as a primary target for the prevention of cardiovascular mortality. The effects of lipid-lowering treatment were evaluated in patients with schizophrenia. Forty-six patients with schizophrenia and with severe dyslipidaemia were identified. All were treated with antipsychotics. Patients were screened for cardiovascular risk factors and examined at baseline when statin therapy was initiated. The effects of lipid-lowering medication on lipid profile, glucose homeostasis and components of metabolic syndrome were evaluated at 3 months follow-up. After 3 months of statin therapy, a significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and, in associated ratios, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein was observed. No significant changes occurred in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, waist circumference or glucose homeostasis. The only component of metabolic syndrome affected by statin therapy has been the serum triglyceride level. Statins proved effective in the management of dyslipidaemia in patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics. More complex treatment may be required for associated metabolic disturbances.

Treatment with rosuvastatin for severe dyslipidemia in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

BACKGROUND: Mortality rates in patients with schizophrenia are double compared to those in the general population, with cardiovascular disease causing 50% of the excess. Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is recognized as a primary target for the prevention of cardiovascular mortality according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. Use of lipid-lowering drugs such as statins is recommended when lifestyle changes are not sufficient to reach the LDL goal. The efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin treatment were evaluated in schizophrenic patients. METHOD: 100 schizophrenic patients with severe dyslipidemia were identified. All were treated with antipsychotics. Fifty-two patients were treated with rosuvastatin and compared with 48 who did not receive statin treatment. All patients were screened for cardiovascular risk factors and examined at baseline. The effects of lipid-lowering medication on lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, and components of metabolic syndrome were evaluated at 3-month follow-up. The study began in 2003, and all data available until December 2005 are reported. RESULTS: After 3 months of statin therapy, a significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol and in associated ratios (LDL/HDL, total cholesterol/HDL) was observed. The difference was highly significant compared to patients not receiving statin treatment. No significant changes occurred in HDL cholesterol, body mass index and waist circumference, or glucose homeostasis. The only component of metabolic syndrome affected by statin therapy was the serum triglyceride level. CONCLUSION: Rosuvastatin proved effective in the management of dyslipidemia in patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics. More complex treatment may be required for associated metabolic disturbances.

Body weight and self-esteem in patients with schizophrenia evaluated with B-WISE.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic abnormalities and weight gain are an important problem in patients with schizophrenia. An instrument to evaluate body image and self-esteem related to weight has recently been developed (B-WISE). The first objective was to evaluate whether the findings of the original validation study could be confirmed in a European sample. The second objective was to explore the association of B-WISE scores with the metabolic syndrome and glucose abnormalities. METHODS: A Dutch translation of B-WISE was tested in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia (n=300) who underwent an extensive metabolic screening. RESULTS: The original findings with B-WISE were confirmed in an independent sample. Scores on B-WISE differed significantly as a function of BMI. Scores on B-WISE also differentiated patients with and without the metabolic syndrome and glucose abnormalities. Patients experiencing a recent weight gain had lower self-esteem and poorer psychosocial adaptation. CONCLUSION: B-WISE could be a useful instrument to evaluate the subjective psychosocial consequences associated with current weight and weight gain in patients with schizophrenia.