Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2014
Case ReportsHemorrhage during pregnancy in the latency interval after stereotactic radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations.
The presentation for patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is often intracranial hemorrhage; for women, this frequently occurs during the prime childbearing years. Although previous studies have addressed the risk for AVM hemorrhage during pregnancy, such studies have not assessed the risk for hemorrhage among women who become pregnant during the latency interval between stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and documented obliteration of the lesion. The authors sought to evaluate the risk for hemorrhage in patients who become pregnant during the latency interval after SRS. ⋯ The authors present the first series of data for women with intracranial AVMs who became pregnant during the latency interval after SRS. Hemorrhage during the latency interval occurred at an annual rate of 2.5% for nonpregnant women and 11.1% for pregnant women. The data suggest that pregnancy might be a risk factor for AVM hemorrhage during the interval between SRS and AVM obliteration. However, this suggestion is not statistically significant because only 18 patients in the study population became pregnant during the latency interval. To mitigate any increased risk for hemorrhage, patients should consider deferring pregnancy until treatment conclusion and AVM obliteration.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2014
Genetic variation in soluble epoxide hydrolase: association with outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are at high risk for delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and stroke. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) play an important role in cerebral blood flow regulation and neuroprotection after brain injury. Polymorphisms in the gene for the enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), which inactivates EETs, are associated with ischemic stroke risk and neuronal survival after ischemia. This prospective observational study of patients with SAH compares vital and neurologic outcomes based on functional polymorphisms of sEH. ⋯ Genetic polymorphisms of sEH are associated with neurological and vital outcomes after aneurysmal SAH.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2014
Widening of the basilar bifurcation angle: association with presence of intracranial aneurysm, age, and female sex.
Arterial bifurcations represent preferred locations for aneurysm formation, especially when they are associated with variations in divider geometry. The authors hypothesized a link between basilar apex aneurysms and basilar bifurcation (α) and vertebrobasilar junction (VBJ) angles. ⋯ The α angle widens with age during adulthood, especially in females. This angular widening is associated with basilar bifurcation aneurysms and may predispose individuals to aneurysm initiation by diffusing the flow impingement zone away from the protective medial band region of the flow divider.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2014
Comparative StudyBiological implications of whole-brain radiotherapy versus stereotactic radiosurgery of multiple brain metastases.
The efficacy and safety of treatment with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) or with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for multiple brain metastases (> 10) are topics of ongoing debate. This study presents detailed dosimetric and biological information to investigate the possible clinical outcomes of these 2 modalities. ⋯ The dose-volume metrics presented in this study were essential to understanding the safety and efficacy of WBRT and SRS for multiple brain metastases. Whole-brain radiotherapy results in a higher incidence of radiation-related toxicities than SRS. Even in patients with > 10 brain metastases, the normal CNS tissues receive significantly lower doses in SRS. The mean normal brain dose in SRS correlated with the total volume of the lesions rather than with the number of lesions treated.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2014
Predictive value of C-reactive protein for the outcome after primary intracerebral hemorrhage.
Primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) carries high morbidity and mortality rates. Several factors have been suggested as predicting the outcome. The value of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in predicting a poor outcome is unclear, and findings have been contradictory. In their population-based cohort, the authors tested whether, independent of confounding factors, elevated CRP levels on admission (< 24 hours after ictus) are associated with an unfavorable outcome. ⋯ Elevated CRP on admission is an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome and is only slightly associated with the clinical and radiological severity of the bleeding.