Ivana Berisavac

Clinical and epidemiological features of Guillain‐Barré syndrome in the Western Balkans

The aim of this study was to define features of Guillain‐Barré syndrome in a large cohort of patients from three Western Balkans countries. Data from adult Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) cases from 2009 to 2013 were retrospectively obtained from all tertiary health care centers. During the 5‐year period, 327 new cases of GBS were identified with a male to female ratio of 1.7 : 1. The most common GBS variants were demyelinating (65%) and axonal (12%). At nadir 45% of patients were chair‐bound, confined to bed, or required assisted ventilation, while 5% died. The crude incidence of GBS in Serbia and Montenegro was 0.93 per 100,000 population, and age‐adjusted incidence according to the world standard population was 0.86 per 100,000. Incidence was particularly high in 50‐ to 80‐year‐old men. Statistically significant seasonal variations of GBS were not observed. This study of patients with GBS in the Western Balkans allows us to prepare the health system better and to improve the management of patients. This study also opens opportunities for international collaboration and for taking part in the multinational studies on GBS.

Long-Term Prognosis in Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated with Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE It remains unclear if intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator has an impact on the survival and maintenance of a favorable effect on functional recovery over a long follow-up period. The aim of this study was to assess whether or not IVT treatment has a favorable effect on functional recovery and survival less than 1 year after a stroke. METHODS This matched cohort study included 259 patients with acute ischemic stroke (IS) who were treated with IVT and standard care and 259 patients treated with standard care alone in the stroke unit between February 2006 and January 2013. RESULTS After a median follow-up period of 3 years (range, 1-7 years), survival did not differ significantly between the groups; specifically, 56 patients (21.6%) in the thrombolysed group died versus 62 patients (23.94%) in the nonthrombolysed group (log-rank, .240, P = .624). Based on a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, older age (>70 years), stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥ 15), diabetes mellitus, and a history of atrial fibrillation were independent predictors of long-term mortality after stroke. After the follow-up period, 144 patients (55.6%) in the IVT-treated group versus 112 patients (43.2%) in the control group had an excellent outcome, with a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-1 (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-2.32). Based on a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, an excellent 3-month functional recovery was a strong predictor of favorable outcome (HR = 11.27, 95% CI = 6.45-19.63). CONCLUSION The results suggest that IVT for acute IS has a favorable effect on functional recovery more than 1 year after stroke.

Guillain-Barré syndrome in the elderly.

The aim of the study was to analyze specific features of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) in old people. The study included 403 GBS patients (62% young [<60 years], 35% young‐old [60–80 years], and 3% old‐old [>80 years]). Diagnosis of GBS was made according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS criteria). Severe disability (GBS disability score of >3) at nadir was more common in old compared with young patients (p = 0.0001) as was mortality (9% vs. 2%, respectively). Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy and hyponatremia were more common in old compared with young patients (12% vs. 6% and 27% vs. 18%, respectively, p = 0.04). A positive history for malignancy was more than three times more common in old than young patients (11% vs. 3%, respectively, p = 0.01). Disability on nadir was similar in young‐old and old‐old subjects with disability on discharge being more severe in old‐old (p = 0.04) suggesting slower recovery in this subgroup. Bulbar symptoms were more common in old‐old compared with young‐old (50% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 0.01). Comorbidities were present in virtually all old‐old patients compared with 66% of young‐old patients (p = 0.04). In conclusion, Elderly patients, and especially old‐old patients, with GBS have more severe disease with slower recovery than do younger patients.

Guillain‐Barré syndrome in elderly

The aim of the study was to analyze specific features of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) in old people. The study included 403 GBS patients (62% young [<60 years], 35% young‐old [60–80 years], and 3% old‐old [>80 years]). Diagnosis of GBS was made according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS criteria). Severe disability (GBS disability score of >3) at nadir was more common in old compared with young patients (p = 0.0001) as was mortality (9% vs. 2%, respectively). Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy and hyponatremia were more common in old compared with young patients (12% vs. 6% and 27% vs. 18%, respectively, p = 0.04). A positive history for malignancy was more than three times more common in old than young patients (11% vs. 3%, respectively, p = 0.01). Disability on nadir was similar in young‐old and old‐old subjects with disability on discharge being more severe in old‐old (p = 0.04) suggesting slower recovery in this subgroup. Bulbar symptoms were more common in old‐old compared with young‐old (50% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 0.01). Comorbidities were present in virtually all old‐old patients compared with 66% of young‐old patients (p = 0.04). In conclusion, Elderly patients, and especially old‐old patients, with GBS have more severe disease with slower recovery than do younger patients.

Return to Paid Work after Ischemic Stroke in Patients Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis

Background: There are no available data confirming the efficacy of intravenous thrombolytic (IVT) treatment on the return to work as one of important outcome measure after acute ischemic stroke (IS). The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of IVT treatment on the return to work after stroke. Methods: This matched cohort study included 279 patients with acute IS (146 treated with IVT and 133 matched patients without IVT) admitted to the Stroke Unit between 2007 and 2013. All patients were working in paid employment immediately before stroke onset. The main outcome measure was return to full-time paid work during follow-up period. Results: After a median follow-up period of 3 years (range 1-7 years), the prevalence of stroke survivors returning to paid work was 42.1% in the IVT group and 33.3% in the non-IVT group (hazard ratio 1.28, 95% CI 0.86-1.91), and IVT treatment was associated with a higher chance of returning to full-time jobs (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.21-3.51). After adjustment for possible variables, IVT was an independent predictor of returning to full-time jobs. Conclusion: IVT treatment was a positive predictor of returning to full-time work after stroke.

Long-term medication persistence in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis

OBJECTIVE There are no data regarding long-term medication persistence in stroke survivors treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), which is one of the most important determinants of treatment success. Our objective was to determine long-term medication persistence in stroke patients treated with IVT. METHODS This retrospective observational study included 203 IVT-treated and 197 non-IVT treated patients with acute ischemic strokes (IS) admitted to the Stroke Unit between January 2007 and January 2013. RESULTS During a median follow-up period of 3 years (range 1-7 years), 56 (21.6%) patients in the IVT-group and 62 (23.9%) patients in the non-IVT-group died. There was a higher medication persistence for all secondary stroke prevention medications (anti-thrombotic agents, anti-hypertensive drugs, statins and hypoglycemic drugs) in the IVT-group compared to the non-IVT group (88.7% vs. 69.0%; OR=3.68, 95% CI=2.17-6.23). After adjusting for baseline characteristics and possible confounders IVT was the independent predictor of medication persistence (OR=2.93, 95% CI=1.48-5.81, p=0.002). Higher medication persistence was observed in patients with favorable long-term functional outcome, both in the IVT-group (OR=4.37, 95% CI=1.83-10.40, p<0.001) and the non-IVT-group (OR=3.46, 95% CI=1.84-6.52, p<0.001). CONCLUSION Medication persistence was higher among IVT-treated patients compared to non-IVT-treated patients. The higher rate of non- medication persistence was recorded among patients with more pronounced disabilities after stroke.

How to recognize and treat metabolic encephalopathy in Neurology intensive care unit

Metabolic encephalopathy (ME) represents a syndrome of temporary or permanent disturbance of brain functions that occurs in different diseases and varies in clinical presentation. It can be manifested in a range from very mild mental disorders to deep coma and death. Clinically, it is characterized by a variety of psychiatric and neurological symptoms and signs. The most common causes of ME are: hypoxia, ischemia, systemic diseases and toxic agents. ME is the most frequent in elderly people who have previously been exhausted by chronic illnesses and prolonged stay in bed. ME is a very common complication in patients treated in intensive care units. Treatment and prognosis of the disease are varied and depend on aetiology, as well as on the type and severity of clinical presentation. Mortality of patients with septic encephalopathy ranges from 16-65%, while the one-year survival of patients with encephalopathy and liver cirrhosis is less than 50%.

The association of arachnoid cysts and focal epilepsy: Hospital based case control study

OBJECTIVE Arachnoid cysts (ACs) are common findings in brain MRI. Our aim was to examine frequency and distribution of ACs in patients with focal epilepsy, compared to healthy control subjects, and to investigate the association of AC and electro-clinical features of focal epilepsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective case-control study, using data from 180 patients that underwent video-EEG monitoring between 2009 and 2012, and of 114 healthy controlled subjects. Analysis of electro-clinical data and structural MRI images was conducted. RESULTS A significantly higher proportion of ACs in the focal epilepsy group (19/180; 10.5%) compared to healthy control subjects (3/114; 2.6%) (p=0.012) was identified. Significant congruence of semiological features or interictal and ictal EEG with AC localization was identified in only one MRI nonlesional patient with temporal cyst localization. CONCLUSION ACs are seen more often in patients with focal epilepsy. Explicit association between focal epilepsy and AC is possible but exceptional. More likely, focal epilepsy and AC share a common etiological ancestor but represent distant and distinct entities.

Diabetes mellitus may affect short-term outcome of Guillain-Barré syndrome

We sought to determine influence of diabetes mellitus on Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) course and short‐term prognosis. Among the 257 GBS patients included in this retrospective study, diabetes mellitus was present in 17%. The degree of disability at admission and on discharge was assessed according to the GBS Disability Scale (mild disability = 0–3, severe disability = 4–6). Even after correction for age, diabetes mellitus was significantly associated with more severe disability at nadir (odds ratio, OR = 3.4, p < 0.05) and on discharge (OR = 2.0, p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis with multiple factors included showed that age and presence of diabetes were significant predictors of severe disability at nadir (adjusted R2 = 0.21, p < 0.05), and on discharge (adjusted R2 = 0.19, p < 0.05). The presence of diabetes mellitus affects short‐term prognosis of GBS, independent of age.

Surgical management of meningoencephalocele in temporal bone associated with pharmacoresistant epilepsy: report of two cases

Abstract We report good outcome after surgical treatment of two patients with meningoencephalocele associated with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Surgical management of meningoencephaloceles may result in seizure freedom, although optimal surgical strategy is still controversial.