Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · May 2001
ReviewNeurosarcoidosis: a review of its intracranial manifestation.
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown cause and with a worldwide distribution. Involvement of the central nervous system occurs in a relatively small number of patients with sarcoidosis. Isolated neurosarcoidosis without signs of systemic disease is a rarity. ⋯ Therapy consists of immunosuppressive agents and should be initiated with corticosteroids. Other immunosuppressive drugs should be added in severe cases or after frequent recurrences. We review here all aspects of intracranial neurosarcoidosis from the clinical point of view, with special emphasis on presentation, diagnostic procedures, differential diagnostic considerations and treatment.
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Journal of neurology · Apr 2001
ReviewEvidence-based medicine: botulinum toxin A in migraine and tension-type headache.
The therapeutic effect of botulinum toxin in headache was observed coincidentally. The rationale for this new indication initially met with a great deal of scepticism, because the toxin's mechanism of action, cholinergic chemodenervation, does not fit the pathophysiological concept of migraine and other forms of headache. ⋯ In addition the use of botulinum toxin for cluster-headache and secondary headache is discussed. Further large scale studies will be regarded to demonstrate the long-term efficacy.
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Journal of neurology · Apr 2000
ReviewThalamic, pallidal, or subthalamic surgery for Parkinson's disease?
Levodopa is a highly effective treatment of all motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, long-term treatment with levodopa can lead to motor fluctuations and levodopa-induced dyskinesias. Motor side effects can become so disabling as to warrant surgical treatment. ⋯ The efficacy and safety of unilateral pallidotomy is well established. DBS has a lower morbidity and is safe enough to be performed bilaterally. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) presently seems to be the most promising target for DBS in advanced stage PD.
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In contrast to arterial stroke, cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an infrequent condition which presents with a wide spectrum of signs and with a highly variable mode of onset. The clinician must therefore consider it systematically in all brain syndromes and perform the appropriate neuroimaging investigations: computed tomography (CT) with computed tomography angiography and/or magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance angiography and, if necessary intra-arterial angiography. ⋯ Local thrombolysis is indicated if there is deterioration due to thrombosis extension despite adequate anticoagulation. Diagnosis and treatment of CVT should be considered as an emergency because of the considerable potential for full recovery in this condition.
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Journal of neurology · Feb 2000
ReviewTreatment and outcome of severe intraventricular extension in patients with subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage: a systematic review of the literature.
Severe intraventricular hemorrhage caused by extension from subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage leads to hydrocephalus and often to poor outcome. We conducted a systematic review to compare conservative treatment, extraventricular drainage, and extraventricular drainage combined with fibrinolysis. We carried out a search in Medline of the literature between January 1966 and December 1998 and an additional hand-search from January 1990 to December 1998. ⋯ Outcome is thus poor in patients with intraventricular extension of subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage. This meta-analysis suggests that treatment with ventricular drainage combined with fibrinolytics may improve outcome for such patients, although this impression is derived only from an indirect comparison between observational studies. A randomized clinical trial is warranted.