Differential associations of clinical features with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.

AIM: To explore associations of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration and amyloidosis with caregiver burden, cognition and functionality in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) paired with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and healthy older people. METHODS: Consecutive outpatients with DLB were matched with outpatients with AD according to sex, cognitive scores and dementia stage, and with cognitively healthy controls according to age and sex to investigate associations of cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-ß (Aß42,Aß40,Aß38), tau, phospho-tau Thr181, ubiquitin, α-synuclein and neurofilament light with caregiver burden, functionality, reverse digit span, a clock drawing test, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Severe MMSE, adjusted for sex, age, education, dementia duration and APOE-ε4 alleles. RESULTS: Overall, 27 patients with DLB (78.98 ± 9.0 years-old; eleven APOE-ε4 +) were paired with 27 patients with AD (81.50 ± 5.8 years-old; twelve APOE-ε4 +) and 27 controls (78.98 ± 8.7 years-old; four APOE-ε4 +); two-thirds were women. In AD, Aß42/Aß38 and Aß42 were lower, while tau/Aß42 and phospho-tau Thr181/Aß42 were higher; α-synuclein/Aß42 was lower in DLB and higher in AD. The following corrected associations remained significant: in DLB, instrumental functionality was inversely associated with tau/phospho-tau Thr181 and tau/Aß42, and reverse digit span associated with α-synuclein; in AD, instrumental functionality was inversely associated with neurofilament light, clock drawing test scores inversely associated with phospho-tau Thr181/Aß42 and α-synuclein/Aß42, and Severe MMSE inversely associated with tau/Aß42 and tau/phospho-tau Thr181. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebrospinal fluid phospho-tau Thr181 in DLB was similar to AD, but not Aß42. In associations with test scores, biomarker ratios were superior to isolated biomarkers, while worse functionality was associated with axonal degeneration only in AD.

Associations of Neuropsychiatric Features with Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Amyloidogenesis and Neurodegeneration in Dementia with Lewy Bodies Compared with Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitively Healthy People.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral features may reflect proteinopathies predicting pathophysiology in neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate associations of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of amyloidogenesis and neurodegeneration with neuropsychiatric features in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) compared with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitively healthy people. METHODS: Consecutive outpatients with DLB were paired with outpatients with AD according to sex, dementia stage, and cognitive scores, and with cognitively healthy controls according to sex and age to investigate associations of cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-ß (Aß)42, Aß40, Aß38, total tau, phospho-tau Thr181, α-synuclein, ubiquitin, and neurofilament light with neuropsychiatric features according to APOEɛ4 carrier status. RESULTS: Overall, 27 patients with DLB (78.48±9.0 years old, eleven APOEɛ4 carriers) were paired with 27 patients with AD (81.00±5.8 years old, twelve APOEɛ4 carriers) and 27 controls (78.48±8.7 years old, four APOEɛ4 carriers); two thirds were women. Behavioral burden was more intense in DLB. Biomarker ratios reflecting amyloidogenesis and neurodegeneration in DLB were more similar to those in AD when patients carried APOEɛ4 alleles. After corrections for false discovery rates, the following associations remained significant: in DLB, dysphoria was associated with tauopathy and indirect measures of amyloidogenesis, while in AD, agitation, and night-time behavior disturbances were associated with tauopathy, and delusions were associated with tauopathy and indirect measures of amyloidogenesis. CONCLUSION: Biomarker ratios were superior to Aß and tau biomarkers predicting neuropsychiatric symptoms when associations with isolated biomarkers were not significant. At the end, APOEɛ4 carrier status influenced amyloidogenesis and tau pathology in DLB and in AD, and axonal degeneration only in DLB.

Brainstem auditory pathway of children with acute lymphoid leukemia on chemotherapy with methotrexate.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the auditory pathway in the brainstem of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia submitted to chemotherapy (by intravenous or intrathecal infusion). METHODS: Fourteen children aged between 2 and 12 years with diagnosis of acute lymphoid leukemia were evaluated. The following procedures were used: meatoscopy, acoustic immitance measurements, tonal audiometry, vocal audiometry, transient otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response. RESULTS: From the 14 children with normal auditory thresholds, 35.71% showed an alteration in auditory brainstem response, with a predominance of hearing impairment in the lower brainstem. It was found that 80% of the children with alteration had used intrathecal methotrexate less than 30 days and that 40% had the highest cumulative intravenous methotrexate doses. CONCLUSION: Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia submitted to chemotherapy, present auditory pathway impairment in the brainstem, with a predominance of a low brainstem.

Multiple sclerosis has a distinct lipid signature in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) has changed over the last decade, but remains a composite of clinical assessment and magnetic resonance imaging to prove dissemination of lesions in time and space. The intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulin may be a nonspecific marker and there are no plasma biomarkers that are useful in the diagnosis of MS, presenting additional challenges to their early detection. METHODS: We performed a preliminary untargeted qualitative lipidomics mass spectrometry analysis, comparing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples from patients with MS, other inflammatory neurological diseases and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. RESULTS: Lipid identification revealed that fatty acids and sphingolipids were the most abundant classes of lipids in the CSF and that glycerolipids and fatty acids were the main class of lipids in the plasma of patients with MS. The area under the curve was 0.995 (0.912-1) and 0.78 (0.583-0.917), respectively. The permutation test indicated that this ion combination was useful for distinguishing MS from other inflammatory diseases (p < 0.001 and 0.055, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the CSF and plasma from patients with MS bear a unique lipid signature that can be useful as a diagnostic biomarker.

A new index for the assessment of transverse sinus stenosis for diagnosing idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the role of MR venography (MRV) for detecting transverse sinus stenosis, to determine the importance of this finding in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), and to propose an index that contributes to this diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed consecutive intracranial MRV of patients aged >18 years diagnosed with IIH according to the diagnostic criteria, between January 2010 and July 2012. The assessments were randomly analyzed by three radiologists. Stenoses in the right and left transverse sinuses were independently classified according to the following scale: 0, normal; 1, stenosis <33%; 2, stenosis 33-66%; 3, stenosis >66%; and 4, hypoplasia or agenesis. We established an index based on multiplication of the stenosis scale values for each transverse sinus. A point and range estimate of the sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was performed to obtain cut-off points to differentiate between controls and patients. RESULTS: 63 individuals were included in this study: 32 (50.8%) diagnosed with IIH (31 (96.9%) women and 1 (3.1%) man) and 31 (49.2%) controls. According to all of the examiners, the IIH group showed a higher degree of stenosis than the control group. Index values ≥4 for a diagnosis of IIH had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.7% and 93.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MRV should be used to assess patients with suspected IIH, and bilateral transverse sinus stenosis should be considered for the diagnosis. The stenosis classifying index proposed here is a fast and accessible method for diagnosing IIH.

[Cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of spinal schistosomiasis]. / Líquido cefalorraquidiano no diagnóstico da esquistossomose raquimedular.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes in spinal schistosomiasis have been described. Its characteristic features are mild to moderate pleocytosis, presence of eosinophils, slight to moderate protein increase, elevated gamma globulin concentration and a positive immune assay. Nevertheless, these abnormalities are not always present together and therefore difficulties may arise in the assessment of the diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the importance of each CSF alteration concerning the diagnosis in 22 cases of spinal schistosomiasis. According to the results, only 20% of the cases had all the five feature that are considered to be characteristic of spinal schistosomiasis. Abnormal cell count was present in 86%, protein increase in 77.3%, immunoglobulin G increase in 60,8%, eosinophils were present in 36.8% and indirect fluorescent antibody test was positive in 68.2%. In three cases all CSF parameters studied were within the normal limits. As the most specific test among those described was the indirect fluorescent antibody test, it should be regarded for the diagnosis.

Brainstem auditory pathway of children with acute lymphoid leukemia on chemotherapy with methotrexate / Via auditiva em tronco encefálico de crianças com leucemia linfoide aguda em quimioterapia com metotrexato

Abstract Objective: Investigate the auditory pathway in the brainstem of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia submitted to chemotherapy (by intravenous or intrathecal infusion). Methods: Fourteen children aged between 2 and 12 years with diagnosis of acute lymphoid leukemia were evaluated. The following procedures were used: meatoscopy, acoustic immitance measurements, tonal audiometry, vocal audiometry, transient otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response. Results: From the 14 children with normal auditory thresholds, 35.71% showed an alteration in auditory brainstem response, with a predominance of hearing impairment in the lower brainstem. It was found that 80% of the children with alteration had used intrathecal methotrexate less than 30 days and that 40% had the highest cumulative intravenous methotrexate doses. Conclusion: Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia submitted to chemotherapy, present auditory pathway impairment in the brainstem, with a predominance of a low brainstem.

Resumo Objetivo: Investigar a via auditiva em tronco encefálico de crianças com leucemia linfoide aguda submetidas à quimioterapia (por infusão intravenosa ou por via intratecal). Métodos: Foram avaliadas 14 crianças com idade entre 2 e 12 anos, com diagnóstico de leucemia linfoide aguda. Foram utilizados os seguintes procedimentos: meatoscopia, medidas de imitância acústica, audiometria tonal, audiometria vocal, emissões otoacústicas transientes e potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico. Resultados: Das 14 crianças com limiares auditivos normais, 35,71% demonstraram alteração no Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefálico, com predomínio de comprometimento de via auditiva em tronco encefálico baixo. Verificou-se que 80% das crianças com alteração haviam feito uso do metotrexato via intratecal a menos de 30 dias e que 40% tinham as maiores doses acumulativas de metotrexato por via endovenosa. Conclusão: Crianças com leucemia linfoide aguda submetidas à quimioterapia apresentam comprometimento na via auditiva em tronco encefálico, com predomínio em tronco encefálico baixo.

Balance and motor coordination are not fully developed in 7-year-old blind children.

Visually impaired children show difficulties in recognizing their own bodies, objects around then and the spatial parameters that are essential for independent movement. This study analyzes the neuro-psychomotor development of a group of congenitally visually impaired children as compared to children with normal sight. We have evaluated two groups of seven-year-olds by means of neurological evolution examination (NEE). The group studied comprised 20 blind children and the control group comprised 20 children with normal sight, and they were paired up according to age and gender. In some tests, the blind children were guided by touch. The visually impaired children performed worse in tests evaluating balance and appendage coordination compared to normal sighted children (p< 0.001), and this suggests that visual deficiency impairs children's neuro-psychomotor development.

Multiple sclerosis has a distinct lipid signature in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid / Esclerose múltipla tem uma assinatura lipídica distinta no plasma e no líquido cefalorraquiano

ABSTRACT The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) has changed over the last decade, but remains a composite of clinical assessment and magnetic resonance imaging to prove dissemination of lesions in time and space. The intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulin may be a nonspecific marker and there are no plasma biomarkers that are useful in the diagnosis of MS, presenting additional challenges to their early detection. Methods We performed a preliminary untargeted qualitative lipidomics mass spectrometry analysis, comparing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples from patients with MS, other inflammatory neurological diseases and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Results Lipid identification revealed that fatty acids and sphingolipids were the most abundant classes of lipids in the CSF and that glycerolipids and fatty acids were the main class of lipids in the plasma of patients with MS. The area under the curve was 0.995 (0.912-1) and 0.78 (0.583-0.917), respectively. The permutation test indicated that this ion combination was useful for distinguishing MS from other inflammatory diseases (p < 0.001 and 0.055, respectively). Conclusion This study concluded that the CSF and plasma from patients with MS bear a unique lipid signature that can be useful as a diagnostic biomarker.

RESUMO Embora o diagnóstico da EM tenha se modificado na última década, ainda tem como requisito básico a demonstração da disseminação no tempo e no espaço, através do quadro clínico e do exame de ressonância magnética. A síntese intratecal de imunoglobulina pode ser um marcador inespecífico e não há biomarcadores plasmáticos que sejam úteis no diagnóstico da EM, impondo desafios à sua detecção precoce. Métodos Realizamos uma análise lipidômica preliminar por espectrometria de massas, não direcionada, qualitativa, comparando amostras de LCR e plasma de pacientes com EM, outras doenças neurológicas inflamatórias e hipertensão intracraniana idiopática (HII). Resultados A identificação lipídica revelou que os ácidos graxos e esfingolipídios foram as classes mais abundantes de lipídios no LCR e que glicerolipídios e ácidos graxos foram a principal classe de lipídios no plasma de pacientes com EM. A AUC foi de 0,995 (0,912-1) e 0,78 (0,583-0,917), respectivamente. O teste de permutação indicou que essa combinação de íons foi útil para distinguir a EM de outras doenças inflamatórias (p < 0,001 e 0,055, respectivamente). Conclusão Este estudo sugere que o líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) e o plasma de pacientes com EM possuem uma assinatura lipídica única, pode ser útil como um biomarcador diagnóstico.

Why should we use atraumatic needles in lumbar puncture?

Diagnostic lumbar puncture is essential to the diagnosis of central nervous system infections, subarachnoid haemorrhage and others neurological diseases. Myeloradicular involvement or life-threatening adverse events due to the procedure are rare, but less severe complications are more frequent. Post-lumbar puncture headache is the most common complication, by spinal fluid leakage due to delayed closure of a dural defect. Therefore, the development of fine needles, with differentiated atraumatic bevel, has contributed to minimize that problem. These generically called atraumatic needles cause less deformation of the dura mater then the Quincke(®) ones. So, why don't we use these atraumatic needles?

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the context of CNS demyelinating diseases.

The central nervous system demyelinating diseases are a group of disorders with different etiologies, characterized by inflammatory lesions that are associated with loss of myelin and eventually axonal damage. In this group the most studied ones are multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optic (NMO) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). The cerebrospinal fluid is essential to differentiate between these different syndromes and to define multiple sclerosis, helping to assess the probability of Clinical Isolated Syndrome turn into multiple sclerosis.

Auditory evoked potentials and multiple sclerosis.

UNLABELLED: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease that can affect several areas of the central nervous system. Damage along the auditory pathway can alter its integrity significantly. Therefore, it is important to investigate the auditory pathway, from the brainstem to the cortex, in individuals with MS. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize auditory evoked potentials in adults with MS of the remittent-recurrent type. METHOD: The study comprised 25 individuals with MS, between 25 and 55 years, and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (research and control groups). Subjects underwent audiological and electrophysiological evaluations. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the results of the auditory brainstem response and the latency of the Na and P300 waves. CONCLUSION: Individuals with MS present abnormalities in auditory evoked potentials indicating dysfunction of different regions of the central auditory nervous system.

Cognitive potential--P300 in patients with right hemisphere ischemic lesion.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive potential--P300 assessment in individuals with right hemisphere ischemic lesion due to ischemic stroke. AIM: To characterize the cognitive potential--P300 in right-handed individuals with right hemisphere ischemic lesion, and to compare such data to those obtained in normal individuals. METHOD: Anamnesis, conventional audiologic assessment and cognitive potential (P300) were carried out in 17 subjects with right hemisphere lesions (research group) and in 25 normal individuals (control group), aged between 20 and 70 years. RESULTS: In the qualitative analysis of the P300 data, there was no statistically significant difference between groups for the normal result. In the quantitative analysis, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of P300 wave latency, with the research group presenting higher latencies. In addition, there was a trend for a statistically significant difference between the right and left ears in the research group--increased P300 wave latency in the right ear. CONCLUSION: Right-handed individuals with right hemisphere lesion and normal hearing presented electrophysiological hearing results indicative of central auditory nervous system deficits. Alterations were observed in regions generating this potential (cortical and subcortical areas). Hearing difficulties were not perceived by these individuals, suggesting that this signal can probably be related to an auditory heminegligence. Further studies that evaluate the central auditory pathway of individuals with right hemisphere ischemic lesion are needed in order to better characterize the electrophysiological findings.

Why should we use atraumatic needles in lumbar puncture? / Por que usar agulhas atraumaticas em puncao lombar?

Diagnostic lumbar puncture is essential to the diagnosis of central nervous system infections, subarachnoid haemorrhage and others neurological diseases. Myeloradicular involvement or life-threatening adverse events due to the procedure are rare, but less severe complications are more frequent. Post-lumbar puncture headache is the most common complication, by spinal fluid leakage due to delayed closure of a dural defect. Therefore, the development of fine needles, with differentiated atraumatic bevel, has contributed to minimize that problem. These generically called atraumatic needles cause less deformation of the dura mater then the Quincke® ones. So, why don't we use these atraumatic needles?.

A punção lombar é essencial para o diagnóstico de infecções do sistema nervoso central, hemorragia subaracnoídea e outras doenças neurológicas. O comprometimento mielorradicular ou efeitos adversos que envolvam risco de vida como consequência do procedimento são raros, mas complicações leves são mais frequentes. Cefaléia pós-punção lombar é a complicação mais comum, secundária a escoamento do líquido cefalorraquiano por fechamento tardio de uma lesão dural. Consequentemente, o desenvolvimento de agulhas finas, com bisel atraumático, tem contribuído para minimizar o problema. Estas agulhas, chamadas genericamente de atraumáticas, causam menos deformação da dura-mater que as agulhas tipo Quincke®. Então, porque não usar estas agulhas atraumáticas?.

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the context of CNS demyelinating diseases / Analise do liquido cefalorraquiano no contexto das doencas desmielinizantes do SNC

The central nervous system demyelinating diseases are a group of disorders with different etiologies, characterized by inflammatory lesions that are associated with loss of myelin and eventually axonal damage. In this group the most studied ones are multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optic (NMO) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). The cerebrospinal fluid is essential to differentiate between these different syndromes and to define multiple sclerosis, helping to assess the probability of Clinical Isolated Syndrome turn into multiple sclerosis.

As doenças desmielinizantes do sistema nervoso central são um grupo de desordens de diferentes etiologias, caracterizadas por lesões inflamatórias associadas a perda da mielina e eventualmente dano axonal. Neste grupo de doenças, as mais estudadas são a esclerose múltipla (EM), a neuromielite óptica e a encefalomielite aguda disseminada. O estudo de liquido cefalorraquiano é essencial para o diagnóstico diferencial entre as diferentes síndromes e para a definição de EM, ajudando a estimar a probabilidade da transformação da síndrome clínica isolada em EM.

Auditory evoked potentials and multiple sclerosis / Potenciais evocados auditivos e esclerose múltipla

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease that can affect several areas of the central nervous system. Damage along the auditory pathway can alter its integrity significantly. Therefore, it is important to investigate the auditory pathway, from the brainstem to the cortex, in individuals with MS. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize auditory evoked potentials in adults with MS of the remittent-recurrent type. METHOD: The study comprised 25 individuals with MS, between 25 and 55 years, and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (research and control groups). Subjects underwent audiological and electrophysiological evaluations. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the results of the auditory brainstem response and the latency of the Na and P300 waves. CONCLUSION: Individuals with MS present abnormalities in auditory evoked potentials indicating dysfunction of different regions of the central auditory nervous system.

A esclerose múltipla é uma doença inflamatória desmielinizante que pode se desenvolver em diversas regiões do sistema nervoso central. O comprometimento da via auditiva central pode alterar significativamente a integridade desta e, portanto, a investigação desta região em indivíduos com esclerose múltipla, desde o tronco encefálico até o córtex, torna-se importante. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar os resultados dos potenciais evocados auditivos em adultos com esclerose múltipla do tipo remitente-recorrente. MÉTODO: Foram submetidos às avaliações audiológica e eletrofisiológica 25 indivíduos pertencentes ao grupo controle e 25 ao grupo pesquisa, com idades entre 25 e 55 anos. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos quanto à ocorrência de resultados normais e alterados no potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico e latências das ondas Na e P300. CONCLUSÃO: Indivíduos com esclerose múltipla apresentam alterações nos potenciais evocados auditivos, indicando comprometimento de diferentes regiões do sistema nervoso auditivo central.

Potencial Cognitivo P300 em pacientes com lesão isquêmica do hemisfério direito / Cognitive Potential - P300 in patients with right hemisphere ischemic lesion

BACKGROUND: cognitive potential - P300 assessment in individuals with right hemisphere ischemic lesion due to ischemic stroke. AIM: to characterize the cognitive potential - P300 in right-handed individuals with right hemisphere ischemic lesion, and to compare such data to those obtained in normal individuals. METHOD: anamnesis, conventional audiologic assessment and cognitive potential (P300) were carried out in 17 subjects with right hemisphere lesions (research group) and in 25 normal individuals (control group), aged between 20 and 70 years. RESULTS: in the qualitative analysis of the P300 data, there was no statistically significant difference between groups for the normal result. In the quantitative analysis, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of P300 wave latency, with the research group presenting higher latencies. In addition, there was a trend for a statistically significant difference between the right and left ears in the research group - increased P300 wave latency in the right ear. CONCLUSION: right-handed individuals with right hemisphere lesion and normal hearing presented electrophysiological hearing results indicative of central auditory nervous system deficits. Alterations were observed in regions generating this potential (cortical and subcortical areas). Hearing difficulties were not perceived by these individuals, suggesting that this signal can probably be related to an auditory heminegligence. Further studies that evaluate the central auditory pathway of individuals with right hemisphere ischemic lesion are needed in order to better characterize the electrophysiological findings.

TEMA: avaliação do potencial cognitivo P300 em indivíduos com lesão de hemisfério direito provocada por acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico. OBJETIVO: caracterizar os achados do potencial cognitivo P300 em indivíduos destros com lesão isquêmica do hemisfério cerebral direito, bem como comparar seus resultados aos obtidos em indivíduos normais. MÉTODO: foram realizadas anamnese, avaliação audiológica convencional e potencial cognitivo (P300), em 17 indivíduos com lesão do hemisfério direito (grupo pesquisa) e 25 normais (grupo controle), com idades entre 20 e 70 anos. RESULTADOS: na análise dos dados qualitativos do P300, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos para o resultado normal. Para a análise dos dados quantitativos, ocorreu diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos com relação à latência da onda P300, sendo que o grupo pesquisa apresentou latência maior. Além disso, houve uma tendência estatisticamente significante entre as orelhas direita e esquerda dentro do grupo pesquisa, mostrando aumento de latência da onda P300 na orelha direita. CONCLUSÃO: Indivíduos destros com lesão de hemisfério direito e limiares auditivos normais, apresentaram resultados eletrofisiológicos da audição indicativos de déficit no sistema nervoso auditivo central. Foram observados comprometimentos nas regiões geradoras deste potencial (áreas subcorticais e corticais). Dificuldades auditivas não foram percebidas pelos indivíduos, sugerindo que, provavelmente tal sinal possa estar relacionado à uma heminegligência auditiva. Tornam-se necessários mais estudos que avaliem a via auditiva central destes indivíduos para uma melhor caracterização dos achados eletrofisiológicos.

Líquido cefalorraquidiano no diagnóstico da esquistossomose raquimedular / Cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of spinal schistosomiasis

As três espécies de esquistossoma podem comprometer o sistema nervoso. O S. mansoni é responsável pela esquistossomose no Brasil, sendo a mielopatia uma forma grave desta helmintose. O propósito deste trabalho é analisar as alterações do líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) para dar mais subsídios para o diagnóstico da esquistossomose raquimedular. Fizeram parte deste estudo 22 amostras de LCR de pacientes com esquistossomose espinal. Os resultados das análises destas amostras mostraram que a associação de alterações do LCR com quadro inflamatório e RIFI-IgM positiva ocorreu em 88 por cento dos pacientes, que o eosinófilo esteve presente em apenas 7 amostras (36,8 por cento), e que 3 dos 22 pacientes estudados apresentaram LCR normal. Conclui-se que o exame de LCR é coadjuvante muito útil para o diagnóstico da neuroesquistossomose.