Selection of patients for percutaneous closure in nonlacunar cryptogenic stroke associated with patent foramen ovale. Data from the NORDICTUS cooperative registry.

INTRODUCTION: There is an extending use of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) as therapy for PFO-associated cryptogenic strokes. The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical practice of percutaneous closure of PFO and to analyse the variables for decision-making on the selection of patients for this procedure. METHOD: A prospective observational multicentric survey was conducted using all the cases of cryptogenic stroke/transient ischaemic attack associated with PFO recorded in the NORDICTUS hospital registry during the period 2018-2021. Clinical data, radiological patterns, echocardiogram data and factors related to PFO-associated stroke (thromboembolic disease and paradoxical embolism criteria) were recorded. The indication for closure was analysed according to age (≤/> 60 years) and the characteristics of the PFO. RESULTS: In the group ≤ 60 years (n = 488), 143 patients (29.3%) underwent PFO closure. The most influential variables for this therapy were detection of a high-risk PFO (OR 4.11; IC 2.6-6.5, P < .001), criteria for paradoxical embolism (OR 2.61; IC 1.28-5.28; P = .008) and previous use of antithrombotics (OR 2.67; IC 1.38-5.18; P = .009). In the > 60 years group (n = 124), 24 patients had PFO closure (19%). The variables related to this option were history of pulmonary thromboembolism, predisposition to thromboembolic disease, paradoxical embolism criteria, and high-risk PFO. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of a high-risk PFO (large shunt, shunt with associated aneurysm) is the main criterion for a percutaneous closure-based therapy. Other conditions to consider in the eligibility of patients are the history of thromboembolic disease, paradoxical embolism criteria or the previous use of antithrombotics.

Resultados en el tratamiento del ictus en hospitales con y sin Unidad de Ictus / Stroke treatment outcomes in hospitals with and without Stroke Units

INTRODUCCIÓN: La capacidad organizativa en términos de recursos y circuitos asistenciales que permiten acortar el tiempo de respuesta ante un nuevo caso de ictus es clave para obtener un buen resultado. En este estudio se compararon el abordaje terapéutico y los resultados del tratamiento de centros de asistencia tradicional (equipos de ictus, sin Unidad de Ictus) y con Unidad de Ictus. MÉTODOS: Estudio de tipo prospectivo, cuasiexperimental (sin aleatorización de las unidades analizadas) para realizar comparaciones entre 2 centros con Unidad de Ictus y 4 centros con atención tradicional por Neurología, sobre una selección de indicadores consensuados para monitorizar la calidad de la atención en ictus. Participaron 225 pacientes. Además, se utilizaron cuestionarios autoadministrados para recoger la valoración del servicio y la asistencia sanitaria recibida por parte de los pacientes. RESULTADOS: Los centros con Unidad de Ictus mostraron menores tiempos de respuesta tras el inicio de los síntomas, tanto al tiempo para llegar al centro, como para el diagnóstico por imagen considerando la hora de llegada del paciente al hospital. La capacidad de respuesta para aplicar tratamiento con trombólisis intravenosa fue mayor entre los hospitales con Unidad de Ictus frente a los centros con atención tradicional por Neurología. CONCLUSIÓN: Los centros con Unidad de Ictus mostraron un mejor ajuste a los estándares de tiempos de respuesta de referencia en el ictus, calculados en el estudio Quick frente a los centros con atención tradicional por Neurología

INTRODUCTION: Organisational capacity in terms of resources and care circuits to shorten response times in new stroke cases is key to obtaining positive outcomes. This study compares therapeutic approaches and treatment outcomes between traditional care centres (with stroke teams and no stroke unit) and centres with stroke units. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, quasi-experimental study (without randomisation of the units analysed) to draw comparisons between 2 centres with stroke units and 4 centres providing traditional care through the neurology department, analysing a selection of agreed indicators for monitoring quality of stroke care. A total of 225 patients participated in the study. In addition, self-administered questionnaires were used to collect patients' evaluations of the service and healthcare received. RESULTS: Centres with stroke units showed shorter response times after symptom onset, both in the time taken to arrive at the centre and in the time elapsed from patient's arrival at the hospital to diagnostic imaging. Hospitals with stroke units had greater capacity to respond through the application of intravenous thrombolysis than centres delivering traditional neurological care. CONCLUSION: Centres with stroke units showed a better fit to the reference standards for stroke response time, as calculated in the Quick study, than centres providing traditional care through the neurology department

Stroke treatment outcomes in hospitals with and without Stroke Units. / Resultados en el tratamiento del ictus en hospitales con y sin Unidad de Ictus.

INTRODUCTION: Organisational capacity in terms of resources and care circuits to shorten response times in new stroke cases is key to obtaining positive outcomes. This study compares therapeutic approaches and treatment outcomes between traditional care centres (with stroke teams and no stroke unit) and centres with stroke units. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, quasi-experimental study (without randomisation of the units analysed) to draw comparisons between 2 centres with stroke units and 4 centres providing traditional care through the neurology department, analysing a selection of agreed indicators for monitoring quality of stroke care. A total of 225 patients participated in the study. In addition, self-administered questionnaires were used to collect patients' evaluations of the service and healthcare received. RESULTS: Centres with stroke units showed shorter response times after symptom onset, both in the time taken to arrive at the centre and in the time elapsed from patient's arrival at the hospital to diagnostic imaging. Hospitals with stroke units had greater capacity to respond through the application of intravenous thrombolysis than centres delivering traditional neurological care. CONCLUSION: Centres with stroke units showed a better fit to the reference standards for stroke response time, as calculated in the Quick study, than centres providing traditional care through the neurology department.

[Nasal congestion as an autonomic symptom accompanying migraine attacks]. / Congestion nasal como sintoma autonomico acompañante de crisis migranosas.

TITLE: Congestion nasal como sintoma autonomico acompañante de crisis migranosas.

Familial Hemiplegic Migraine with Severe Attacks: A New Report with ATP1A2 Mutation.

Introduction. Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is a rare disorder characterized by migraine attacks with motor weakness during the aura phase. Mutations in CACNA1A, ATP1A2, SCN1A, and PRRT2 genes have been described. Methods. To describe a mutation in ATP1A2 gene in a FHM case with especially severe and prolonged symptomatology. Results. 22-year-old woman was admitted due to migraine-type headache and sudden onset of right-sided weakness and aphasia; she had similar episodes in her childhood. Her mother was diagnosed with hemiplegic migraine without genetic confirmation. She presented with fever, decreased consciousness, left gaze preference, mixed aphasia, right facial palsy, right hemiplegia, and left crural paresis. Computed tomography (CT) showed no lesion and CT perfusion study evidenced oligohemia in left hemisphere. A normal brain magnetic resonance (MR) was obtained. Impaired consciousness and dysphasia began to improve three days after admission and mild dysphasia and right hemiparesis lasted for 10 days. No recurrences were reported during a follow-up of two years. We identified a variant in heterozygous state in ATP1A2 gene (p.Thr364Met), pathogenic according to different prediction algorithms (SIFT, PolyPhen2, MutationTaster, and Condel). Conclusion. Prolonged and severe attacks with diffuse hypoperfusion in a FHM seemed to be specially related to ATP1A2 mutations, and p.T364M should be considered.

Bloqueo anestésico de nervios pericraneales como tratamiento preventivo de migraña: experiencia en una serie de 60 pacientes / Pericranial nerve blockade as a preventive treatment for migraine: Experience in 60 patients

Introducción: El bloqueo anestésico de nervios pericraneales es utilizado con frecuencia en el tratamiento de diferentes cefaleas. No hay evidencia acerca de su indicación en pacientes migrañosos. Pretendemos evaluar su eficacia como tratamiento preventivo de migraña con criterios determinados. Métodos: Entre enero del 2009 y mayo del 2013 se ofreció este tratamiento a migrañosos con fracaso o intolerancia de fármacos preventivos. Seleccionamos a aquellos con sensibilidad a la palpación en al menos un nervio supraorbitario u occipital mayor. A los 3 meses, consideramos la respuesta completa (sin dolor), parcial (reducción al menos de un 50% en severidad y/o frecuencia de episodios) o ausente. Resultados: Se practicó un bloqueo anestésico en 60 pacientes (52 mujeres, 8 varones, edad media ± desviación estándar: 40,6 ± 12,4 años, rango 19-76). El procedimiento más habitual fue el bloqueo de ambos nervios occipitales y supraorbitarios. Hubo respuesta completa de al menos 2 semanas en 23 (38,3%), parcial en 24 (40%) y ausente en 13 (21,7%). En el grupo con respuesta completa, la edad y el tiempo de evolución de la migraña eran significativamente inferiores. Sin efectos adversos significativos. Tiempo de respuesta entre 2 semanas y 3 meses. Conclusiones: El bloqueo anestésico de nervios pericraneales utilizando la sensibilidad a la palpación como criterio de selección es un procedimiento seguro y potencialmente eficaz como tratamiento preventivo de migraña. Las mayores respuestas en nuestra serie se observan en pacientes jóvenes con menos tiempo de evolución de la migraña

Introduction: Anaesthetic blockade of pericranial nerves is frequently used to treat headache disorders. There is no evidence on indication of this treatment for migraine. We aim to evaluate its effectiveness as a preventive treatment for migraine using specific indication criteria. Methods: Between January 2009 and May 2013 we offered pericranial nerve blockade to migraine patients with a history of preventive drug intolerance or failure. We selected patients with tenderness to palpation of at least one greater occipital nerve (GON) or supraorbital nerve (SON). Responses at 3 months were categorised as complete response (no pain), partial response (reduction of at least 50% in severity or frequency of headache episodes), or no response. Results: Anaesthetic blockade was performed in 60 patients (52 females, 8 males; mean age 40.6 ± 12.4 years, range 19-76). The most common procedure was blockade of GON and SON on both sides. Complete response lasting at least 2 weeks was recorded in 23 patients (38.3%), with partial response in 24 patients (40%), and no response in 13 (21.7%). In the group presenting complete response, age and length of history of migraine were significantly lower. No severe side effects were detected. Response time ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months. Conclusions: Pericranial nerves blockade using tenderness to palpation as an inclusion criterion is safe and potentially effective as prophylactic treatment for migraine. The best responses in our series were observed in younger patients with shorter histories of migraine

Pericranial nerve blockade as a preventive treatment for migraine: Experience in 60 patients. / Bloqueo anestésico de nervios pericraneales como tratamiento preventivo de migraña: experiencia en una serie de 60 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Anaesthetic blockade of pericranial nerves is frequently used to treat headache disorders. There is no evidence on indication of this treatment for migraine. We aim to evaluate its effectiveness as a preventive treatment for migraine using specific indication criteria. METHODS: Between January 2009 and May 2013 we offered pericranial nerve blockade to migraine patients with a history of preventive drug intolerance or failure. We selected patients with tenderness to palpation of at least one greater occipital nerve (GON) or supraorbital nerve (SON). Responses at 3 months were categorised as complete response (no pain), partial response (reduction of at least 50% in severity or frequency of headache episodes), or no response. RESULTS: Anaesthetic blockade was performed in 60 patients (52 females, 8 males; mean age 40.6 ± 12.4 years, range 19-76). The most common procedure was blockade of GON and SON on both sides. Complete response lasting at least 2 weeks was recorded in 23 patients (38.3%), with partial response in 24 patients (40%), and no response in 13 (21.7%). In the group presenting complete response, age and length of history of migraine were significantly lower. No severe side effects were detected. Response time ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Pericranial nerves blockade using tenderness to palpation as an inclusion criterion is safe and potentially effective as prophylactic treatment for migraine. The best responses in our series were observed in younger patients with shorter histories of migraine.

Investigación traslacional: papel en neurología / Translational research and its role in neurology

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Neuralgia del infraorbitario: un diagnóstico a considerar en pacientes con dolor malar / Infraorbital neuralgia: a diagnostic possibility in patients with zygomatic arch pain

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Urgencias en trastornos del movimiento que cursan con rigidez / Movement disorder emergencies accompanied by rigidity

Introducción. En el año 2002 se definieron las urgencias en trastornos del movimiento como cualquier trastorno neurológico, agudo o subagudo, en el que la presentación clínica está dominada por un trastorno del movimiento primario, y donde un fallo en el diagnóstico precoz puede resultar en una morbimortalidad importante. En este trabajo se revisarán aquellas urgencias en trastornos del movimiento que cursan con rigidez. En primer lugar las distonías agudas, siguiendo con el Síndrome Neuroléptico Maligno y por último una miscelánea de patologías. Objetivo. Revisar los avances más notorios publicados en la literatura científica en los últimos años en aquellas patologías que cursan con rigidez. Desarrollo. Se ha revisado la literatura de los últimos años y se presentan los avances más significativos en la patogenia, diagnóstico, y tratamiento, así como las principales perspectivas futuras en dichos campos (AU)

Introduction. In 2002 movement disorder emergencies were defined as any neurological disorder, either acute or subacute, in which the clinical presentation is dominated by a primary movement disorder, and where misdiagnosis in the early stages can result in important morbidity and mortality rates. This work reviews those movement disorder emergencies that are accompanied by rigidity. These are considered in the following order: first, acute dystonias, followed by neuroleptic malignant syndrome and, lastly, an assortment of other pathologies. Aims. The purpose of this study is to review the most significant advances in pathologies accompanied by rigidity that have recently been reported in the scientific literature. Development. The literature from the last few years was reviewed and we present the most significant advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, as well as the main future perspectives in those fields (AU)

Smoking as a precipitating factor for migraine: a survey in medical students.

Our aim was to analyse the relationship between migraine and smoking in medical students. Medical students who had already received teaching on migraine were asked to answer an ad hoc questionnaire. A total of 361 students filled in the questionnaire: 245 (68%) were women. International Headache Society criteria were fulfilled by 58 (prevalence of migraine 16%) students. A total of 74 (20%) were current smokers: 21 males (18% of men were smokers) and 53 females (22% smokers). Within those 58 students with migraine, 17 (29%) smoke: only 2 were males (14% of males with migraine smoked) while the remaining 15 were females (34% of women with migraine smoked). Within those 17 students who were smokers and migraineurs, 12 (71%) thought that smoking worsens migraine and 10 (59%) that smoking precipitates attacks. The minimum number of cigarettes which subjectively precipitates attacks was 5. Migraine prevalence in the 20s in Spain is 16%. Our data obtained in medical students suggest that smoking can be a precipitating factor for migraine attacks, as the prevalence of active smoking is one-third higher in migraineurs and as there seems to be a relationship between the number of cigarettes and the development of migraine attacks.