Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders With Early Onset.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is a severe and disabling disease that manifests with severe relapses of optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive myelitis, and/or brainstem syndromes. The disease is complex and, although onset typically occurs in middle age, children and adolescents may be affected. The present study adds to the literature through detailed clinical data from 36 Brazilian patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder starting before age 21. This was a retrospective assessment of medical records from 14 specialized units in Brazil. The results showed that the course of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder was worse in patients with disease onset before the age of 12 years. Gender and ethnic background did not influence disability accumulation. Over a median period of 8 years, 14% of the patients who presented the initial symptoms of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder before the age of 21 years died. In conclusion, the present study adds to the reports from other authors examining the severity of early-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Clinical characteristics of 153 Brazilian patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

BACKGROUND: The 2015 criteria for diagnosing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have encouraged several groups across the world to report on their patients using these criteria. The disease typically manifests with severe relapses of optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive myelitis and/or brainstem syndromes, often leading to severe disability. Some patients are seropositive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4), others are positive for anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), while a few are negative for both biomarkers. The disease is complex, and only now are specific therapeutic clinical trials being carried out. The present study adds to the literature through detailed clinical data from 153 medical records of Brazilian patients. METHODS: Retrospective assessment of medical records from nine specialized units in Brazil. RESULTS: NMOSD was more prevalent in females (4.1:1), who had significantly fewer relapses than males (p = 0.007) but presented similar levels of disability over time. African ancestry was associated with higher levels of disability throughout the disease course (p < 0.001), although the number of relapses was similar to that observed in white patients. Concomitant autoimmune diseases were relatively rare in this population (6.5%). Positivity for anti-AQP4 antibodies was identified in 62% of the patients tested, while 3% presented anti-MOG antibodies. Anti-AQP4 antibodies were not associated to worse disease course. The last medical record showed that six patients had died and 13 were wheelchair-bound. Seventy percent of the patients did not respond to first-line therapy (azathioprine and/or corticosteroids), and five patients continued to relapse even after four different courses of treatment. CONCLUSION: The present study adds to the reports from other countries presenting original data on Brazilian patients diagnosed with NMOSD according to the 2015 criteria.

Headache-related disability among medical students in Amazon: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of headache in medical students, and quantify the degree of disability through HIT-6 and MIDAS SCALE. METHOD: The criteria established by International Headache Society were used and the HIT-6 and MIDAS, to asses disability. RESULTS: 140 medical students from UFAM were evaluated. 16.43% cases of migraine headache, 6.43% of probable migraine, and 23.57% of tension headaches were detected. 6.42% reported an absence of headache; and another 11.42% had secondary headache. According to the HIT-6 questionnaire, in 7.14% and 18.57% of the students, headaches were classified as having substantial to severe impact, respectively. CONCLUSION: Migraine and probable migraine had higher scores than the other types of headache and, therefore, led to higher levels of disability. The present study did not find a significant correlation between student semester, age or extracurricular activities on the impact generated by headache.

Headache-related disability among medical students in Amazon: a cross-sectional study / Incapacidade relacionada à cefaleia em estudantes de medicina no Amazonas: um estudo transversal

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the prevalence of headache in medical students, and quantify the degree of disability through HIT-6 and MIDAS scale. Method The criteria established by International Headache Society were used and the HIT-6 and MIDAS, to asses disability. Results 140 medical students from UFAM were evaluated. 16.43% cases of migraine headache, 6.43% of probable migraine, and 23.57% of tension headaches were detected. 6.42% reported an absence of headache; and another 11.42% had secondary headache. According to the HIT-6 questionnaire, in 7.14% and 18.57% of the students, headaches were classified as having substantial to severe impact, respectively. Conclusion Migraine and probable migraine had higher scores than the other types of headache and, therefore, led to higher levels of disability. The present study did not find a significant correlation between student semester, age or extracurricular activities on the impact generated by headache.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a prevalência de cefaleia em estudantes médicos e quantificar o grau de incapacidade através das escalas HIT-6 e MIDAS. Método Os critérios da Sociedade Internacional de Cefaleia foram usados e as escalas Hit-6 e MIDAS foram usadas para medir a incapacidade. Resultados 140 estudantes de medicina da UFAM foram avaliados. 16.43% eram migrânea, 6.43% de provável migrânea e 23.57% de cefaleia tipo tensional. 6,42% relataram ausência de cefaleia e 11.42% possuíam cefaleia secundária. De acordo com o questionário HIT-6 em 7,14% e 18,57% dos estudantes, a cefaleia foram classificadas como impacto substancial e grave respectivamente. Conclusão Migrânea e provável migrânea tiveram escores mais elevados do que os outros tipos de cefaleia e maiores níveis de incapacidade. O estudo não encontrou uma associação significante entre o período de graduação, idade ou das atividades extracurriculares com o impacto gerado pela cefaleia.