NUTRISEP: Assessment of the nutritional status of patients with multiple sclerosis and link to fatigue.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common complaint in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and reduces quality of life. Several hypotheses for the pathogenesis of fatigue in MS are proposed ranging from neurological lesions to malnutrition, but none has been conclusively validated through clinical research. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to examine the correlation between fatigue and nutritional status and dietary habits in PwMS. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted at 10 French MS centers and enrolling PwMS with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 7. Plasma level of albumin, magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamin D and B12 evaluated nutritional status. A semi-structured eating behavior questionnaire has been developed to evaluate dietary habits. Evaluation of fatigue used specific questionnaire (EMIF-SEP). Quality of sleep was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS), depression with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II); dysphagia by DYsphagia in MUltiple Sclerosis questionnaire (DYMUS) and taste disorders by gustometry. Association between nutritional deficiencies and different data such as socio-demographic data, disease characteristics, swallowing and taste disorders, food intake, depression and sleep quality was investigated. RESULTS: A total of 352 patients mean age: 48.1±10.1 years, mean duration of MS: 15.3±9.1 years and median EDSS: 4 were analyzed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses showed a statistically significant correlation between fatigue and depression and use of sleeping pills, while none of the variables related to dietary habits or nutritional status correlated significantly with fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary habits and nutritional status have little impact on fatigue and general population nutrition recommendations remain the rule for PwMS. In cases of fatigue, specific attention should be paid to depression and use of sleeping pills.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: treatments with simvastatin, lovastatin, and chenodeoxycholic acid in 3 siblings.

We report 3 sisters treated for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. We treated one, with a severe neurologic form of the illness, with chenodeoxycholic acid, then lovastatin and simvastatin. These drugs had different efficacy and tolerance, but induced no clinical improvement. Her sisters, without neurologic symptoms, received chenodeoxycholic acid, which normalized the cholestanol level. Optimal treatment of this illness must begin before there is significant clinical symptomatology.

Embolization with particles in thoracic intramedullary arteriovenous malformations: long-term angiographic and clinical results.

To evaluate the long-term results of endovascular treatment with particles in the management of thoracic intramedullary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), the authors retrospectively reviewed the angiographic and clinical findings in 35 patients. Follow-up was 1-15 years (mean, 6 years) in 28 patients and 6-10 months (mean, 7 months) in seven. A total of 158 embolization procedures were performed in 35 patients. Revascularization occurred frequently, necessitating multiple endovascular sessions. Long-term clinical evaluation showed clinical improvement, compared with the initial status before treatment, in 63% of the patients. Clinical aggravation due to embolization was observed in seven patients (20%) after 12 of the 158 endovascular sessions (8%). These results are better than those reported after surgery and indicate that embolization with particles is an efficient and safe tool in the treatment of thoracic intramedullary AVMs.

[Cerebral ischemic accidents and chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation of cancerous origin]. / Accidents ischemiques cérébraux et coagulation intravasculaire disséminée chronique d'origine cancéreuse.

Cerebral infarcts in 3 patients revealed the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIVC) of cancerous origin before any clinical manifestations of the neoplasm. Neurologic manifestations of these consumption coagulopathies almost constantly produce a picture of diffuse encephalopathy, expression of disseminated microinfarcts; however, transient or constituted focalized ischemic accidents by occlusion of a medium sized artery are also possible, and this in the absence of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis. Biologic diagnosis of DIVC is not always simple, and screening tests (platelet count, prothrombin and fibrinogen levels) can remain within normal limits during chronic forms, as a result of a subjacent inflammatory syndrome, frequently associated with cancer. Two other specific serum tests are therefore of fundamental interest: assay of fibrin degradation products and tests for soluble complexes.

[Cerebral vascular accidents in anticoagulant therapy]. / Les accidents vasculaires cérébraux au cours des traitements anticoagulants.

Thirty-three patients hospitalized as they presented with cerebral vascular lesions during anticoagulant therapy (25 intracerebral hemorrhages, 7 subdural hematoma, and one ischemia lesion). Frequency of intra-cerebral hemorrhages along with anticoagulant therapy was about 11 p. 100, this of subdural hematoma ranged from 12 to 38 p. 100. Intra-cerebral hemorrhages failed to show any peculiar topography and volume was variable. A predisposing factor thus existed in about 50 p. 100 of cases: high blood pressure or arterial aneurysm. Previous cranial traumatism was only demonstrated in 48 p. 100 patients presenting with a subdural hematoma. Prognosis as for these intracranial hemorrhages might be compared to this of hemorrhagic lesions appearing under other etiologic conditions. Ischemia lesion was secondary to a severe thrombopenia to heparin.

[Myelopathy manifesting as macroglobulinemia]. / Myélopathie révélatrice d'une macroglobulinémie.

Slowly progressive cervical cord symptoms over a 2 year period led to the diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinemia in a 32 year old man. Diagnosis was made on the finding of circulating monoclonal IgM and lymphocyte infiltration of the bone marrow. Perimedullary infiltration of cervico-dorsal cord was visualized by CT scan. No other tumor tissue was found. Intrathecal secretion of IgM in the CSF was demonstrated. Cervico-dorsal cord radiotherapy followed by systemic chemotherapy led to a rapid improvement in the neurological signs. Reports of spinal cord lesions in Waldenström macroglobulinemia are rare and the relationship of this condition with respect to so-called secreting neurolymphomatosis is discussed.

[Intramedullary astrocytoma and ependymoma in the adult. Do therapeutic tactics influence the long-term results? Evaluation of 23 surgically treated cases and discussion of the literature]. / Astrocytomes et épendymomes intramédullaires de l'adulte. La tactique thérapeutique influe-t-elle sur les résultats a long terme? Bilan de 23 cas opérés et discussion de la littérature.

The authors tried to determine the best treatment of intramedullary tumors nowadays. They studied a personal series of 23 intraspinal ependymomas and astrocytomas. 15 patients had a mean long term follow-up of 5 1/2 years. Among these, only patients with ependymomas were clinically cured or dramatically improved (30%). On the contrary, no patients operated on an astrocytoma received benefit of the surgical procedure. This study was compared to most of the recent series of the literature , the results of which are superimposable . Concerning an intraspinal ependymoma, a logical attitude is to proceed, under optic magnification, to the most complete excision as possible, as long as a well individualized plan of cleavage is visible. Radiotherapy is indicated only in case of incomplete excision or recidive. Concerning an astrocytoma, a total excision is almost always impossible since it is an infiltrating tumor. It appears more dangerous than advantageous to try to take off as much tumor as possible. Radiotherapy appears inefficient.