Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Case ReportsPost-transplantation HTLV-1 myelopathy in three recipients from a single donor.
This paper reports for the first time three cases of infection by HTLV-I via organ transplantation; all the organs coming from the same asymptomatic infected donor. The need is considered for the implementation of compulsory screenings for HTLV antibodies on organ donors and on blood banks. ⋯ It is argued that, although in Spain and other European countries there is not compulsory screening for HTLV antibodies because of the studies that show a low seroprevalence, in view of the cases here reported, and to avoid the serious consequences that such infection has on transplanted patients, compulsory screenings, both on organ donors and on blood banks, should be implemented.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCorticosteroids do not prevent optic nerve atrophy following optic neuritis.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Comparative StudyNeuropsychological assessment in HTLV-1 infection: a comparative study among TSP/HAM, asymptomatic carriers, and healthy controls.
Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) can cause tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) and adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma. More recently other diseases such as isolated peripheral polyneuropathy, myopathy, artropathy, and uveitis have been associated with this retrovirus. Only a few uncontrolled studies, without necessary exclusion criteria, have described mild cognitive deficits among TSP/HAM patients. To further clarify this the authors evaluated, through neuropsychological testing patients with TSP/HAM and asymptomatic infected carriers, comparing both groups with healthy controls. ⋯ TSP/HAM as well as asymptomatic infection can be associated with mild cognitive deficits. This finding, if confirmed by further studies, will permit the inclusion of cognitive impairment among the neurological manifestations of HTLV-1.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Prospective Belgian study of neurodegenerative and vascular dementia: APOE genotype effects.
The authors conducted a prospective study of neurodegenerative and vascular dementia in Belgium. Strict diagnostic inclusion criteria were used to include well defined patients and controls. The results of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype effect on risk and clinical characteristics are presented. ⋯ This study confirmed the risk association between APOE epsilon 4 and AD. The observation that APOE epsilon 4 is associated with mixed dementia reflected the role of AD in the aetiopathogenesis of this condition. Although MCI is an aetiologically heterogeneous syndrome, the increased APOE epsilon 4 frequencies indicated that a large proportion of the MCI patients included in the study might be predisposed to develop AD.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Pituitary deficiency following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.
To investigate the incidence and severity of pituitary insufficiency after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. ⋯ Persistent pituitary dysfunction may be more common after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage than has so far been recognised and warrants further investigation, given the possibility that some health and neurobehavioural problems in these patients could result from hormone deficiency.