Consensus statement of the Spanish Society of Neurology on the treatment of multiple sclerosis and holistic patient management in 2023.

The last consensus statement of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Demyelinating Diseases Study Group on the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) was issued in 2016. Although many of the positions taken remain valid, there have been significant changes in the management and treatment of MS, both due to the approval of new drugs with different action mechanisms and due to the evolution of previously fixed concepts. This has enabled new approaches to specific situations such as pregnancy and vaccination, and the inclusion of new variables in clinical decision-making, such as the early use of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMT), consideration of the patient's perspective, and the use of such novel technologies as remote monitoring. In the light of these changes, this updated consensus statement, developed according to the Delphi method, seeks to reflect the new paradigm in the management of patients with MS, based on the available scientific evidence and the clinical expertise of the participants. The most significant recommendations are that immunomodulatory DMT be started in patients with radiologically isolated syndrome with persistent radiological activity, that patient perspectives be considered, and that the term "lines of therapy" no longer be used in the classification of DMTs (> 90% consensus). Following diagnosis of MS, the first DMT should be selected according to the presence/absence of factors of poor prognosis (whether epidemiological, clinical, radiological, or biomarkers) for the occurrence of new relapses or progression of disability; high-efficacy DMTs may be considered from disease onset.

Incidence and predictive factors of delirium in hospitalised neurological patients.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is a condition with a high prevalence in hospitalised patients (10%-30%), and it has important prognostic implications. There are few prospective studies of the incidence of delirium in Spain, and most of these were carried out in surgical wards or intensive care units. Our objective is to calculate the incidence of delirium in a neurological department and describe characteristics of affected patients. METHODS: Longitudinal descriptive study including all patients admitted to the neurology department in an 8-week period. The CAM score for diagnosing delirium was recorded on the first, second and fifth day of hospitalisation and we recorded demographic data, medical history, analytical data (including inflammatory markers), use of anticholinergic treatments, cognitive and functional state at admission, reason for admission, length of stay, and other events during hospitalisation. RESULTS: We studied 115 patients and found an incidence of delirium of 16.52%. There was a significant correlation between delirium and age, cognitive state at admission according to the Pfeiffer test, functional situation at admission according to the Canadian Neurological Scale, kidney failure, history of stroke, anticholinergic treatment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. These patients were also hospitalised for longer periods of time. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm a high incidence of delirium in our geographical area. Although additional studies with larger samples are needed, we would like to emphasise the importance of several risk factors which may enable early detection of patients who are at risk for developing delirium during hospitalisation. This would permit preventive action and early treatment for these patients.

[Atypical evolution of liver hemangioma: a report of two cases]. / Evolución atípica del hemangioma hepático: a propósito de dos casos.

We present and illustrate two cases of atypical evolution of liver hemangiomas studied with magnetic resonance imaging. In the first case, the lesion was associated with capsular retraction and became progressively smaller until it completely disappeared. The second case involved a woman taking birth control pills in whom the lesion grew progressively larger, doubling its diameter.

Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Neurología sobre el tratamiento de la esclerosis múltiple y manejo holístico del paciente 2023 / Consensus statement of the Spanish Society of Neurology on the treatment of multiple sclerosis and holistic patient management in 2023

El último documento de consenso del Grupo de Estudio de Enfermedades Desmielinizantes de la Sociedad Española de Neurología sobre el tratamiento de la esclerosis múltiple (EM) data del año 2016. Aunque muchas consideraciones continúan todavía vigentes, desde entonces se han producido cambios significativos en el manejo y tratamiento de esta enfermedad, motivados no solo por la aprobación de nuevos fármacos con diferentes mecanismos de acción, sino también por la evolución de conceptos otrora consolidados. Esto ha permitido abordar situaciones especiales como el embarazo y la vacunación desde otra perspectiva, e incluir nuevas variables en la toma de decisiones en práctica clínica, como plantear tratamiento modificador de la enfermedad (TME) de alta eficacia en fases tempranas, considerar la perspectiva del paciente y utilizar nuevas tecnologías como monitorización remota. Estos cambios han motivado la presente actualización del consenso mediante metodología Delphi, con el objetivo de reflejar el nuevo paradigma de manejo del paciente con EM basándose en la evidencia científica y la experiencia clínica de los participantes. Entre las principales conclusiones destacan como recomendaciones: iniciar TME inmunomodulador en el síndrome radiológico aislado con actividad radiológica persistente, evaluar la perspectiva del paciente y abandonar la terminología «líneas de tratamiento» en la clasificación de los TME (consenso mayor del 90%). Tras el diagnóstico de EM la elección del primer TME debería considerar la presencia/ausencia de factores de mal pronóstico (epidemiológicos, clínicos, radiológicos y biomarcadores) para la aparición de nuevos brotes o progresión de discapacidad, pudiendo plantear desde el inicio TME de alta eficacia. (AU)

The last consensus statement of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Demyelinating Diseases Study Group on the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) was issued in 2016. Although many of the positions taken remain valid, there have been significant changes in the management and treatment of MS, both due to the approval of new drugs with different action mechanisms and due to the evolution of previously fixed concepts. This has enabled new approaches to specific situations such as pregnancy and vaccination, and the inclusion of new variables in clinical decision-making, such as the early use of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMT), consideration of the patient's perspective, and the use of such novel technologies as remote monitoring. In the light of these changes, this updated consensus statement, developed according to the Delphi method, seeks to reflect the new paradigm in the management of patients with MS, based on the available scientific evidence and the clinical expertise of the participants. The most significant recommendations are that immunomodulatory DMT be started in patients with radiologically isolated syndrome with persistent radiological activity, that patient perspectives be considered, and that the term “lines of therapy” no longer be used in the classification of DMTs (> 90% consensus). Following diagnosis of MS, the first DMT should be selected according to the presence/absence of factors of poor prognosis (whether epidemiological, clinical, radiological, or biomarkers) for the occurrence of new relapses or progression of disability; high-efficacy DMTs may be considered from disease onset. (AU)

[Sexual dysfunction management in multiple sclerosis]. / Abordaje de la disfunción sexual en la esclerosis múltiple.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction is a frequent disorder associated to multiple sclerosis, that contributes to the worsening of life quality of these patients. AIM: To ascertain how it is managed in a demyelinating disease unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was done an anonymous poll to multiple sclerosis patients in a demyelinating disease unit. The following variables were analysed: age, sex, marital status, education degree, sexual dysfunction, vesical dysfunction, gait disturbances and duration of illness. RESULTS: 67 of 97 patients answered. 74.6% females. Average age was 43.7 years. Average developing time was 11.3 years. 58% of the patients had vesical dysfunction. 43% had sexual dysfunction. There was relation with statistical significance between sexual and vesical dysfunction but not among the rest of variables. 63% of the patients with sexual dysfunction had never talked about this problem with their doctors. That the patient talked about sexual dysfunction was related with the fact that the neurologist asked for or not, and if sexual dysfunction was an important problem for the patient. The neurologist had asked for dysfunction sexual symptoms to 30% of the patients, and this was more frequent if the patient was male and if he or she had gait disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction is a frequent and important problem for patients with multiple sclerosis. According to our results, this problem is raised up in an insufficient manner as much for patients as for neurologists.

[Shattered kidney in a patient with asymptomatic chronic hydronephrosis. Case report and literature review]. / Estallido renal en paciente con hidronefrosis crónica asintomática. A propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The incidence of renal anomalies in patients who suffer a renal trauma is around 4.4 and 19%. We introduce a case of a patient whose first sign of a chronic hydronefrosis was a renal burst secondary to an abdominal trauma.

Efectos de un programa autónomo de locomoción refleja adaptado a la recuperación de la mano del paciente neurológico crónico adulto. Estudio piloto pretest-postest / Effects of the autonomous application of an adapted reflex locomotion program on the neurological hand of the chronic adult patient. Pretest–posttest pilot trial

Antecedentes: La recuperación de la función de la mano es uno de los aspectos más complejos para los pacientes que han sufrido las secuelas de un daño neurológico. Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos a corto plazo sobre el miembro superior afectado de la realización autónoma de un ejercicio de locomoción refleja adaptado a la sedestación en el paciente neurológico crónico. Método: Diseño pretest-postest. Participaron 13 pacientes (8 mujeres) con edad media de 47,61 (DE 16,03). Posibilidad de pinza y abducción de hombro mínima de 30°. Se realizaron 3sesiones en 2semanas consecutivas, entrenando al paciente para realizar el ejercicio en su casa sin ayuda. Se valora el efecto de la terapia antes y después de la primera sesión, a las 2semanas y 3meses después. Se midieron la prensión con el test de Sollerman y la velocidad y la función global del brazo afecto con el Box-Block test. Resultados: En la 1.ª sesión en Box-Block pasó de 18,6 a 22,6 cubos (p <0,002). Resultados mantenidos en 2.ª y 3.ª evaluación. En el Sollerman test, pasó de una media de 41,4 a 46,9 puntos (p <0,003) en 1.ª evaluación y 47,15 puntos en 2.ª (p <0,002). A los 3meses se mantienen los efectos (0,005). Conclusiones: La aplicación de un programa de locomoción refleja adaptado a la sedestación en pacientes con secuelas en el miembro superior, ofrece la posibilidad al paciente de autogestionar la terapia aumentando su intensidad. Se mejoran con ello la función y la movilidad del miembro superior a corto plazo. (AU)

Background: The recovery of hand function is one of the most complex aspects for patients who have suffered the sequelae of neurological damage. Objective: To evaluate the short-term effects on the affected upper limb of the autonomous performance of a reflex locomotion exercise adapted to sitting in chronic neurological patients. Method: Pretest–postest design. Thirteen patients (8 women) participated with a mean age of 47.61 (SD 16.03). Possibility of clamping and minimum shoulder abduction of 30°. Three sessions were held in 2consecutive weeks, training the patient to perform the exercise at home without assistance. The effect of the therapy is assessed before and after the first session, at 2weeks and 3months later. Grip was measured with the Sollerman test, and the speed and global function of the affected arm with the Box–Block test. Results: In the 1st session in Box–Block it went from 18.6 to 22.6 cubes (P<.002). Results maintained in 2nd and 3rd evaluation. In the Sollerman test, it went from an average of 41.4–46.9 pts. (p<.003) in 1st evaluation, and 47.15 pts. in 2nd (P<0.002). After 3months the effects are maintained (.005). Conclusions: The application of a reflex locomotion program adapted to sitting in patients with sequelae in the upper limb, offers the patient the possibility of self-managing therapy by increasing its intensity. This improves the function and mobility of the upper limb in the short term. (AU)

Current-limiting and ultrafast system for the characterization of resistive random access memories.

A new system for the ultrafast characterization of resistive switching phenomenon is developed to acquire the current during the Set and Reset process in a microsecond time scale. A new electronic circuit has been developed as a part of the main setup system, which is capable of (i) applying a hardware current limit ranging from nanoampers up to miliampers and (ii) converting the Set and Reset exponential gate current range into an equivalent linear voltage. The complete system setup allows measuring with a microsecond resolution. Some examples demonstrate that, with the developed setup, an in-depth analysis of resistive switching phenomenon and random telegraph noise can be made.

[Diagnostic role of magnetic resonance in the renal involvement in nocturnal paroxysmal hemoglobinuria]. / Papel diagnóstico de la resonancia magnética en la afectación renal en la hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna.

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria or Machiafava-Micheli disease is an acquired clonal stem cell disorder characterized by defective haematopoiesis, which results in an increased sensitivity of the erythrocytes to complement-mediated intravascular haemolysis. Renal damage is rare but it can lead to chronic renal failure. Micro-infarctions due to repeated episodes of microvascular thrombosis and cortical haemosiderosis are thought to be the main contributors to the development of chronic renal failure in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Magnetic resonance imaging provides characteristic images of the kidney. We describe a patient with cortical haemosiderosis and show the magnetic resonance features.

[Early presentation of crises and the development of epilepsy in cerebral intra-parenchymatous hemorrhage]. / Presentación precoz de crisis y evolución de la epilepsia en la hemorragia intraparenquimatosa cerebral.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of a total of 283 patients with spontaneous or hypertensive cerebral intraparenchymatous hemorrhage, 18 (6.3%), with no previous epilepsy, had crises whilst being followed-up for a period of between 2 and 7 years. In 14 cases the hematoma was lobar and 4 involved the basal ganglia or thalamus. In 8 cases (2.8% of all hemorrhage), these crises occurred during the first 24 hours, or as a first symptom of intraparenchymatous hemorrhage. One patient presented with status epilepticus with generalized crises and two had subentrant secondarily generalized partial crises at the time of the ictus. Treatment with anti-epileptic drugs was started in 13 patients. Twelve patients (4.2% of the hemorrhages) developed symptomatic epilepsy with partial crises with or without secondary generalization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The maximum rate of recurrence was four crises per year. However, in one patient, reduction of the dose of medication led to the appearance of status epilepticus. Patients with crises of late onset developed epilepsy more often than those who had early crises. In those with crises there was a predominance of bilobular involvement with participation of the parietal lobe and extension of the hematoma or oedema to the cerebral cortex.

[Biopercular lesion with inverse dissociation]. / Lesión biopercular con disociación inversa.

Foix-Chavany-Marie Syndrome or anterior opercular syndrome constitutes the cortical form of pseudobulbar palsy. Its most common etiology is stroke in the region of either operculum. Clinically it can be characterized by severe dysarthria and facio-pharyngo-glosso-masticatory dysplasia with automatic-voluntary dissociation. An inversion of this classical dissociation can be seen in patients with emotional paralysis in the face, in whom asymmetry of emotional expression but conservation of voluntary movement can be seen. The lesional topography of this inverse dissociation corresponds to the supplementary motor area. both processes support the existence of an anatomical base which is different for emotional movements and voluntary types. We describe the clinical case of a 65 year old woman with a history of breast cancer who presented a subacute and progressive clinical picture of dysphagia and severe dysarthria. Upon neurological examination slight velo-palato-pharyngea was noticed; most relevant was paralysis of the facial muscles for either emotional or automatic movements while voluntary innervation was maintained. Neuroradiological studies show the presence of brain metastasis located in both Roland opercula. Although the neuroanatomic bases for automatic-voluntary dissociation remain unclear, our case lends weight to the evidence that impulses for voluntary and emotional movements originate in different cortical areas or else take a different route through the brain. We have been unable to find any cases of biopercular lesion with inverse dissociation described in the literature we reviewed.

[Leukocytes and primary intracerebral hemorrhage]. / Leucocitos y hemorragia intracerebral primaria.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The association between the leucocyte count and prognosis observed in ischemic cerebrovascular disease and subarachnoid hemorrhage has rarely been reported in primary intracerebral hemorrhage. The objective of our study is to assess the importance of the number of leukocytes in the peripheral blood during the first 24 hours for prognosis of mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We made a prospective analysis of supratentorial primary intracerebral hemorrhages seen during the first 24 hours during the period 1987-1994. We evaluated the relationship between age, sex, size of hematoma, blood found in the ventricles, level of consciousness on admission, survival and prognosis after 30 days, level of glucaemia, arterial hypertension and leucocyte count. RESULTS: We considered 186 primary intracerebral hemorrhages (64% men and 36% women); the average age was 64 years (Standard Deviation: 10 years). There were 63% deep and 37% lobar hemorrhages. Thirty five percent of the patients died. Leucocytosis was associated with survival (p = 0.003), prognosis (p = 0.0005) and intraventricular bleeding (p = 0.03). We found a significant relationship between the size of the hematoma (r = 0.256; df = 186; p < 0.0001), level of glycaemia on admission (r = 0.282; df = 186; p < 0.0001), level of consciousness (r = -0.263; df = 186, p < 0.0001) and leukocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: The peripheral blood leucocyte count was significantly associated with prognosis and increased mortality. It may therefore be considered to be another parameter of bad prognosis in primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

[Fibrosarcoma of the penis]. / Fibrosarcoma del pene.

A fibrosarcoma of the penis is an infrequent finding. This paper contributes one case found in the perineo-scrotal region emphasising some aspects of local staging procedures, as well as the differential diagnosis with other mesenchymal tumours; there is no validated treatment protocol, although there is widespread agreement that extensive surgical excision should be performed, such as was performed in this patient.

[Hemangioma of the adrenal gland]. / Hemangioma de la glándula suprarrenal.

Adrenal gland haemangioma is an uncommon tumour which finding usually occurs by chance. This paper presents one case of cavernous haemangioma in this location on which surgery was performed successfully. The basic aspects of the case are revised from a pathohistological and diagnostic point of view intended to attempt to suspect its presence preoperatively.

[Complications of inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile carcinoma. Origin, management, and prevention]. / Complicaciones en las linfadenectomías inguinales por carcinoma del pene. Origen, manejo y prevención.

Since inguinal lymphadenectomy (LFD) technique in the treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the penis was first described, control of its high mobility has been one of the concerns for oncological urologists. Our group has reviewed the complications of 21 inguinal LFDs performed since 1982 in our centre and found that two thirds of these procedures had at least one complication, the most frequent being lower limb lymphedema (28.5%) among those appearing late, and healing alterations (38%) together with fluid collections or persistent lymphorrhea (33.3%) among the early ones. Other complications were infection, local recurrence and haemorrhage of the femoral vessels. Most authors agree on the high morbidity of this technique. We highlight the origin, management and prevention of each of these complications so as to reduce their frequency while placing inguinal LFD in its real position within the therapeutic approach of epidermoid carcinoma of the penis.

[Gangrenous cystitis induced by giant bladder calculus]. / Cistitis gangrenosa inducida por un cálculo vesical gigante.

Presentation of one case of gangrenous cystitis or vesical gangrene induced by the presence of a large vesical calculus in a patient with neurogenic bladder. Remarks on the patho-etiology, symptoms and treatment of this rare entity entailing a truly surgical emergence.

[Obstructive uropathy in Gardner syndrome: a new case and an alternative therapeutic option]. / Uropatía obstructiva en el síndrome de Gardner: un nuevo caso y otra opción terapéutica.

Gardner's Syndrome comprises numerous pathological entities, one of which is the intraabdominal desmoid tumour which can provoke obstructive uropathy through ureteral trapping. Contribution of one case treated with resection of the trapped ureter, reanastomosis and plasty with peritoneal flap. Discussion of the diagnosis, evolution, and the different therapeutical choices found in the literature.

[Reliability of CAT in the local staging of tumors of the upper urothelium]. / Fiabilidad de la TAC en el estadiaje local de los tumores del urotelio superior.

Presentation of a retrospective study where the reliability of computerized axial tomography (CAT) used in preoperative local diagnostic definition of 20 upper urothelium tumours (UUT) radically treated between 1985 and 1991 is analyzed. Of them, only 70% were located by CAT and, of these, only 56% (45% of total) obtained a clear correlation with their local infiltration stage. Thus, it is concluded that CAT alone is not a good method for the preoperative evaluation of UUTs, at least when it comes to indicate their likely conservative treatment.

[Usefulness++ of total parenteral nutrition in radical surgery for bladder cancer]. / Utilidad de la nutrición parenteral total en la cirugía radical del cáncer vesical.

Thirty patients diagnosed with non-metastatic infiltrating vesical cancer (pT2-3, NoMo) due to receive radical cystectomy and transintestinal urinary by-pass, underwent Pre-operative Nutritional Assessment (PRNA), Cystectomy, post-operative Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), and Post-operative Nutritional Assessment (PONA) in day 7. The purposes of this prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial were: to identify, prior to surgery, undernourished patients, to assess the effectiveness of post-operative TPN with regard to a decrease in morbidity and mortality, and to evaluate the influence of a deficient nutritional condition in the occurrence of post-operative complications. It was found the 16.6% patients were undernourished prior to surgery, 80% of which showed complications, while only 28% patients considered to be in a normal state of nutrition had complications (there were no fistulae, intraabdominal abscesses, and abdominal sepsis). 6.6% complications were TPN-related. The conclusions were: the percentage of patients with malnutrition prior to surgery is large enough to justify a routine PRNA; TPN decreases morbidity and mortality in patients with previous good nutritional state but not in those with malnutrition; undernourished patients have a very high rate of complications and surgery should be delayed until a acceptable state of nutrition is achieved.