Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated With Zika Virus Infection in Martinique in 2016: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported to be associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in case reports and retrospective studies, mostly on the basis of serological tests, with the problematic cross-reacting antibodies of the Flavivirus genus. Some GBS cases do not exhibit a high level of diagnostic certainty. This prospective study aimed to describe the clinical profiles and the frequency of GBS associated with ZIKV during the ZIKV outbreak in Martinique in 2016. METHODS: We recorded prospective data from GBS meeting levels 1 or 2 of diagnostic certainty for the Brighton Collaboration, with proof of recent ZIKV infection and negative screening for etiologies of GBS. RESULTS: Of the sample of 34 patients with suspected GBS during the outbreak, 30 had a proven presence of GBS, and 23 had a recent ZIKV infection. The estimated GBS incidence rate ratio (2016 vs 2006-2015) was 4.52 (95% confidence interval, 2.80-7.64; P = .0001). Recent ZIKV infection was confirmed by urine reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in 17 cases and by serology in 6 cases. Patients, 65% of whom were male, had a median age of 61 years (interquartile range, 56-71 years) and experienced severe GBS. Electrophysiological tests were consistent with the primary demyelinating form of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: ZIKV infection is usually benign, when symptomatic, but in countries at risk of ZIKV epidemics, adequate intensive care bed capacity is required for management of severe GBS cases. Arbovirus RNA detection by RT-PCR should be part of the management of GBS cases.

Retrospective clinic and urodynamic study in the neurogenic bladder dysfunction caused by human T cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP).

INTRODUCTION: HTLV-I associated tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) and HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM) is an endemic disease in Caribbean Island. Bladder-sphincter dysfunctions are almost present. The objectives of the study are to describe clinic and urodynamic characteristics of voiding disorders in Martiniquan population, evaluate if there is a relationship between motor and urinary handicap, and evaluate prognosis factors of urologic complications. METHODS: Retrospective study of 60 patients suffering from HAM/TSP. Clinical, urodynamic datas, scale of urinary and motor handicap (Urinary Symptom Profile [USP] questionnaire and Osame Score) were collected. RESULTS: Storage symptoms were the most frequent (75%) whatever type of detrusor activity. Detrusor overactivity was the most frequent disorder (68.3%). Bladder compliance was normal in half percent of the cases. Urethral activity was increased in 47% of the cases. Detrusor sphincter dysynergia was found in 78% of the cases, post-void residual in 58% of cases. Sixty five percent of the patients present at least one urologic complication (morphologic and/or infectious) but there was no correlation with motor enablement (P = 0.3097), neither urodynamic study (P = 0.432 for detrusor overactivity, P = 0.107 for detrusor underactivity, P = 0.058 for high urethral activity, P = 0.893 for detrusor sphincter dysynergia, P = 0.850 for post-void residual volume), neither with evolution duration of HAM/TSP (P = 0.348). USP score was not in correlation with Osame score (P = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Urologic symptoms are not always in relationship with urodynamic study: a systematic urodynamic study is necessary to evaluate HAM/TSP neurogenic bladder. No clinic or urodynamic criterias are predictive of urologic complications. These patients need a close follow up. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:449-452, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Microcirculatory Assessment of Arterial Below-Knee Stumps: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Versus Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension-A Preliminary Study in Prosthesis Users.

OBJECTIVE: To examine metrologic properties of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) versus transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) for microcirculatory assessment of vascular transtibial stumps at the stabilized period of prosthesis fitting, as a preliminary step before exploring its ability to predict stump healing, considering the previously identified limits of TcPO2 (borderline area between 15 and 35mmHg). DESIGN: Prospective single-center observational study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation for peripheral artery disease, at the definitive stage of prosthesis fitting, able to perform a 2-minute walk test (N=30). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Test-retest, with the stump being evaluated in supine and inclined positions, first by NIRS (tissue saturation index [TSI], oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin) and second by TcPO2. Subjects carried out a 2-minute walk test and visual analog scales (wound healing and pain). RESULTS: Feasibility and tolerance of NIRS were satisfactory. The reliability of NIRS and TcPO2 values was good (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.7; P<.05). No significant relation was found between NIRS and TcPO2. No responsiveness (inclined vs supine) was reported (P>.05). A significant relation between TSI and the 2-minute walk test (r>.49, P<.05) was found. CONCLUSIONS: NIRS is painless, complication-free, and feasible, with good reliability. NIRS evaluates others domain than TcPO2 that are more linked to metabolic adaptation. Its capacity to predict stump healing and tolerance to early prosthesis fitting is therefore interesting to estimate in future studies.

Early Discharge, Outpatient Evaluation, and Home Management of Acute Respiratory Failure from COVID-19 in Martinique.

A worldwide pandemic of viral infection due to SARS-CoV-2 (and its resultant disease, COVID-19) has been ongoing since 2019. Martinique was affected by a major wave in summer 2021, with saturation of the health system forcing the implementation of home care management. We conducted a retrospective, observational study that included patients treated in the KOVIDHOM 972 program. We included adult patients with SARS-CoV2 hypoxemic pneumonia and requiring 4 L per minute or less of oxygen. In total, 418 were discharged to home with oxygen therapy after hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 hypoxemic acute pneumonia, and 416 were analyzed. Half (50.2%) were women. Mean age was 58.8 ± 13.0 years. Time from onset of symptoms to hospitalization was 9.1 ± 3.5 days, and average length of stay was 10.5 ± 7.4 days. Maximum oxygen flow during hospitalization was 6.9 ± 4.5 L/min in patients who did not require intensive care. Average oxygen flow at discharge was 1.8 ± 07 L/min. At 30 days after discharge, the readmission rate was 0.5% (95% CI: 0-1.18), and the death rate was 0.5% (95% CI 0-1.18). Our study shows a very low rate of readmission or death in COVID-19 patients discharged to home with oxygen therapy. These results highlight the possibility of safe home care in carefully selected patients. Such programs could be useful in pandemic or wide-scale emergency situations.

Obese patients with long COVID-19 display abnormal hyperventilatory response and impaired gas exchange at peak exercise.

Aim: To analyze the impact of obesity on cardiopulmonary response to exercise in people with chronic post-COVID-19 syndrome. Patients & methods: Consecutive subjects with chronic post-COVID syndrome 6 months after nonsevere acute infection were included. All patients received a complete clinical evaluation, lung function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. A total of 51 consecutive patients diagnosed with chronic post-COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Results: More than half of patients with chronic post-COVID-19 had a significant alteration in aerobic exercise capacity (VO2peak) 6 months after hospital discharge. Obese long-COVID-19 patients also displayed a marked reduction of oxygen pulse (O2pulse). Conclusion: Obese patients were more prone to have pathological pulmonary limitation and pulmonary gas exchange impairment to exercise compared with nonobese COVID-19 patients.

In this study, the cardiopulmonary response to exercise in people with chronic post-COVID-19 syndrome was analyzed. More than half of patients diagnosed with chronic post-COVID-19 had reduced exercise capacity 6 months after hospital discharge. In addition, patients with chronic post-COVID-19 syndrome who were overweight or obese displayed exaggerated hyperventilation along with an impairment of oxygenation at peak exercise.

Transfer of distal peroneus longus tendon to tibialis anterior by retrograde fixation to treat spastic equinovarus foot in adults: Surgical Technique and Preliminary Results.

We describe a retrograde transfer of the distal tendon of the peroneus longus (PL) onto the tibialis anterior (TA) tendon to treat spastic equinovarus foot (SEVF) in adults. The fact that the distal tendon insertions of the PL and TA are a mirror image makes them antagonists. The aim is to divert the distal tendon in front the inactive distal PL tendon, by fixing to the TA in the middle third of the lower leg. This transforms it into a dorsiflexor and reinforces its eversion ability. The suture level helps to avoid skin impingement when wearing shoes, and the complications inherent to transosseous fixation. In a preliminary case series of 10 patients, we found no complications at a mean follow-up of 4.7 years. The Foot Posture Index-6 improved by an average of 2.4 points. Four patients had regained active dorsiflexion. All patients reduced their use of orthotics. All patients improved according to Goal Attainment Scaling.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Revealing Moyamoya Syndrome in a Patient With May-Hegglin Anomaly.

INTRODUCTION: Moyamoya syndrome is a rare progressive cerebrovascular occlusive disease for which several associated conditions have been described. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 76-year-old woman with a history of May-Hegglin anomaly who presented with an isolated unusual diffuse headache. Initial laboratory investigations showed only thrombocytopenia (platelet count 95000/µL). Unenhanced brain computed tomography scan revealed a small subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe. Computed tomography angiography showed occlusion of the terminal portion of the left internal carotid artery (ICA) and narrowing of the terminal portion of the right ICA with abnormal collateral vessels. Conventional angiography confirmed the tight stenosis of the extremity of the right ICA, and the occlusion of the left ICA, associated with an extensive collateral network consistent with moyamoya syndrome. No aneurysm was identified. CONCLUSIONS: The rarity of these 2 diseases makes a fortuitous association very unlikely. We thus concluded that this observation could be the first reported case of May-Hegglin anomaly as a cause of moyamoya syndrome.