Dong-Ick Shin

MRI-based Algorithm for Acute Ischemic Stroke Subtype Classification

Background and Purpose In order to improve inter-rater reliability and minimize diagnosis of undetermined etiology for stroke subtype classification, using a stroke registry, we developed and implemented a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based algorithm for acute ischemic stroke subtype classification (MAGIC). Methods We enrolled patients who experienced an acute ischemic stroke, were hospitalized in the 14 participating centers within 7 days of onset, and had relevant lesions on MR-diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). MAGIC was designed to reflect recent advances in stroke imaging and thrombolytic therapy. The inter-rater reliability was compared with and without MAGIC to classify the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) of each stroke patient. MAGIC was then applied to all stroke patients hospitalized since July 2011, and information about stroke subtypes, other clinical characteristics, and stroke recurrence was collected via a web-based registry database. Results The overall intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) value was 0.43 (95% CI, 0.31-0.57) for MAGIC and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.18-0.42) for TOAST. Large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) was the most common cause of acute ischemic stroke (38.3%), followed by cardioembolism (CE, 22.8%), undetermined cause (UD, 22.2%), and small-vessel occlusion (SVO, 14.6%). One-year stroke recurrence rates were the highest for two or more UDs (11.80%), followed by LAA (7.30%), CE (5.60%), and SVO (2.50%). Conclusions Despite several limitations, this study shows that the MAGIC system is feasible and may be helpful to classify stroke subtype in the clinic.

Establishment of Government-Initiated Comprehensive Stroke Centers for Acute Ischemic Stroke Management in South Korea

Background and Purpose— In 2008, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea initiated the Regional Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) program to decrease the incidence and mortality of stroke nationwide. We evaluated the performance of acute ischemic stroke management after the Regional CSC program was introduced. Methods— The Ministry of Health and Welfare established 9 Regional CSCs in different provinces from 2008 to 2010. All Regional CSCs have been able to execute the critical processes independently for stroke management since 2011. The Ministry of Health and Welfare was responsible for program development and financial support, the Regional CSC for program execution, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for auditing the execution. We analyzed prospectively collected data on the required indices from 2011 and repeated the analysis the following year for comparison. Results— After the Regional CSCs were established, the first brain image was taken within 1 hour from arrival at the emergency room for all patients with stroke; the length of hospital stay decreased from 14 to 12 days; for the rapid execution of thrombolysis, the first brain image was taken within 12 minutes; intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis were started within 40 and 110 minutes, respectively, after emergency room arrival; and the hospital stay of thrombolytic patients decreased from 19 to 15 days. Conclusions— The Regional CSC program has improved the performance of acute stroke management in South Korea and can be used as a model for rapidly improving stroke management.

A case of rheumatoid meningitis: pathologic and magnetic resonance imaging findings

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is extremely rare in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Additionally, most patients with CNS involvement have chronic and severe RA. We present a report of a 66-year-old man who was diagnosed with rheumatoid meningitis and CNS vasculitis without a history of RA. His initial symptom was seizure. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed leptomeningeal enhancement.CSF analysis revealed slight increase in the number of white blood cells. An examination of viral markers and culture studies for infectious etiology were unremarkable. However, the rheumatoid factor was positive and the levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody were very high. The patient was diagnosed with rheumatoid meningitis and received steroid therapy. However, he developed CNS vasculitis. We suggested that the possibility of rheumatoid meningitis should be considered during the differential diagnosis stage in patients with uncontrolled meningitis, even though RA does not typically show CNS involvement.

Magnetic resonance imaging of pachymeningeal enhancement in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a systemic disease consisting of bilateral granulomatous panuveitis combined with cutaneous and neurologic manifestations. However, there have been few reports of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in VKH disease. A 54-year-old Korean woman presented with severe periorbital pain, blurred vision and meningismus. Ophthalmologic examination disclosed bilateral optic disc edema with peripapillary nerve fiber hemorrhages. Lumbar puncture revealed monocytic pleocytosis. After a diagnosis of VKH disease was made, the patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroid. Brain MRI showed diffusely thickened posterior ocular walls with retinal detachment and perineural infiltrative changes along the optic nerves and adjacent pachymeningeal enhancement of the anterior temporal lobes bilaterally. We report a case of VKH disease with panuveitis and meningeal involvement of the anterior temporal lobe detected by brain MRI.

Reversible Splenium Lesion of the Corpus Callosum in Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Failure Syndrome

This is the first case of virus-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy in which the pathogen was Hantaan virus. A 53-yr-old man presented fever, renal failure and a hemorrhagic tendency and he was diagnosed with hemorrhagic fever with renal failure syndrome (HFRS). In the course of his illness, mild neurologic symptoms such as dizziness and confusion developed and magnetic resonance images revealed a reversible lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum. This case suggests that HFRS patients with neurologic symptoms like dizziness and mental slowing should be considered to have structural brain lesions and to require brain imaging studies.

Predictive Value of Pulse Pressure in Acute Ischemic Stroke for Future Major Vascular Events

Background and Purpose— This study aimed to investigate whether pulse pressure (PP) obtained during the acute stage of ischemic stroke can be used as a predictor for future major vascular events. Methods— Using a multicenter prospective stroke registry database, patients who were hospitalized for ischemic stroke within 48 hours of onset were enrolled in this study. We analyzed blood pressure (BP) data measured during the first 3 days from onset. Primary and secondary outcomes were time to a composite of stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, all-cause death, and time to stroke recurrence, respectively. Results— Of 9840 patients, 4.3% experienced stroke recurrence, 0.2% myocardial infarction, and 7.3% death during a 1-year follow-up period. In Cox proportional hazards models including both linear and quadratic terms of PP, PP had a nonlinear J-shaped relationship with primary (for a quadratic term of PP, P=0.004) and secondary (P<0.001) outcomes. The overall effects of PP and other BP parameters on primary and secondary outcomes were also significant (P<0.05). When predictive power of BP parameters was compared using a statistic of −2 log-likelihood differences, PP was a stronger predictor than systolic BP (8.49 versus 5.91; 6.32 versus 4.56), diastolic BP (11.42 versus 11.05; 10.07 versus 4.56), and mean atrial pressure (8.75 versus 5.91; 7.03 versus 4.56) for the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Conclusions— Our study shows that PP when measured in the acute period of ischemic stroke has nonlinear J-shaped relationships with major vascular events and stroke recurrence, and may have a stronger predictive power than other commonly used BP parameters.

Alien hand syndrome after epilepsia partialis continua: FDG PET and MRI studies

Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is clinically defined as a syndrome of continuous focal jerking of a body part, usually a distal limb, occurring over hours, days, or even years. It is considered the status epilepticus equivalent of simple partial motor seizures. A 48-year-old right-handed man with a history of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage was admitted for right-sided hemiplegia and drowsiness after complex partial status epilepticus. An EEG showed periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges over the left hemisphere. Brain MRI revealed extensive multifocal encephalomalaciac changes in the left temporo-parieto-occpital lobe and both frontal lobes with some hemorrhagic residual change. After administration of a loading dose of intravenous phenytoin, his mental status returned to normal. However, his weakness only partially improved. [(18)F]Fluorodeoxyglucose PET (FDG-PET) demonstrated severe hypometabolism in the left cerebral hemisphere, including the basal ganglia and thalamus, with cerebellar diaschisis. At the 3-month follow-up, he complained of symptoms of alien hand phenomenon. Follow-up MRI revealed more extensive encephalomalaciac changes in previously noted regions with thinning of the posterior end of the body of the corpus callosum. Moreover, FDG-PET demonstrated persistent severe hypometabolism over the left cerebral hemisphere. We suggest that the alien hand phenomenon was a result of thinning of the corpus callosum related to EPC.

Recurrent optic neuritis and neuromyelitis optica-IgG following first and second human papillomavirus vaccinations

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is widely used to prevent cervical cancer caused by certain types of HPV in girls and young women. Demyelinating disorders within months following HPV innoculation have been reported, but the causal link between HPV vaccination and the onset of demyelinating disorders have not been certain. We report a case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) that was noteworthy because optic neuritis (ON) occurred in a very close temporal association with both the first and second HPV vaccinations, which might suggest an association between HPV vaccination and the development of NMO-IgG and recurrent ON. This emphasizes the necessity for continuing surveillance for adverse events after HPV vaccination.

Evaluation of the Effect of Hemoglobin or Hematocrit Level on Dural Sinus Density Using Unenhanced Computed Tomography

Purpose To identify the relationship between hemoglobin (Hgb) or hematocrit (Hct) level and dural sinus density using unenhanced computed tomography (UECT). Materials and Methods Patients who were performed UECT and had records of a complete blood count within 24 hours from UECT were included (n=122). We measured the Hounsfield unit (HU) of the dural sinus at the right sigmoid sinus, left sigmoid sinus and 2 points of the superior sagittal sinus. Quantitative measurement of dural sinus density using the circle regions of interest (ROI) method was calculated as average ROI values at 3 or 4 points. Simple regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between mean HU and Hgb or mean HU and Hct. Results The mean densities of the dural sinuses ranged from 24.67 to 53.67 HU (mean, 43.28 HU). There was a strong correlation between mean density and Hgb level (r=0.832) and between mean density and Hct level (r=0.840). Conclusion Dural sinus density on UECT is closely related to Hgb and Hct levels. Therefore, the Hgb or Hct levels can be used to determine whether the dural sinus density is within the normal range or pathological conditions such as venous thrombosis.

Clinical characteristics of headache or facial pain prior to the development of acute herpes zoster of the head

OBJECTIVES When physicians encounter patients with headache or facial pain (preeruptive pain) associated with acute herpes zoster of the head, especially before the appearance of characteristic skin eruptions (preeruptive phase), they typically find it difficult to make clinical impressions and apply appropriate diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics of headache or facial pain associated with acute herpes zoster of the head and to elucidate the association between the manifestation of these symptoms in the preeruptive phase and incoming herpes zoster. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 152 patients with acute herpes zoster involving only the head who presented within 10days of rash onset at Chungbuk National University Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Chungcheongbuk-do in South Korea, between January 2011 and December 2015. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 54.3±19.8years. One hundred patients had herpes zoster in the trigeminal nerve, 34 in the nervus intermedius, and 18 in the upper cervical nerves. Preeruptive pain was present in 112 (73.7%) patients and had a mean duration of 3.0±1.3days (range, 1-6days). Severity of pain was associated with the presence of preeruptive pain (p=0.040). Headache or facial pain was limited to the ipsilateral side of the face and head in all patients, except for two who had with severe symptoms of meningitis, and was of moderate to severe intensity (90.1%). Pain of a stabbing nature was observed in 128 (84.2%) patients, and 146 (96.1%) reported experiencing this type of pain for the first time. Pain awakened 94 (61.8%) patients from sleep. Sixty-one (54.5%) of the 112 patients with preeruptive pain visited a hospital during the preeruptive phase; their preeruptive phase was significantly longer (p<0.001) and more frequently awakened them from sleep (p=0.008). Their presumptive diagnoses were as follows: tension-type headache (n=20, 32.8%); no decision (n=18, 29.5%); herpes zoster (n=5, 8.2%); migraine (n=3, 4.9%); pain associated with upper respiratory tract infection (n=3, 4.9%); parotitis (n=2, 3.3%); dry eye (n=2, 3.3%); and other (n=1 each: trigeminal neuralgia, glaucoma, pharyngitis, vestibular neuronitis, tonsillitis, teeth problems, otitis media, and occipital neuralgia). CONCLUSION These results suggest that the typical pain of acute herpes zoster of the head has a stabbing quality, is felt unilaterally, is moderate to severe, often awakens patients from sleep, and has not been previously experienced by most patients. When encountering patients with these features accompanied by pain onset of less than one week, acute herpes zoster of the head should be considered, even without characteristic vesicles, after excluding other secondary causes by appropriate diagnostic workup.