Predicting Prognosis of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH): Performance of ICH Score Is Not Improved by Adding Oral Anticoagulant Use

Contains fulltext : 190056.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Transdural Thoracic Disk Herniation with Longitudinal Slitlike Dural Defect Causing Intracranial Hypotension: Report of 2 Cases

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hypotension (IH) has a widely variable clinical and radiologic presentation. Secondary IH may be caused by degenerative spine disorders and in particular by thoracic disk herniations (TDHs).METHODS: We present 2 patients with a transdural TDH, a secondary IH, and superficial siderosis in 1.RESULTS: Case 1 presented with headache, cognitive decline, staggering gait, bilateral subdural effusions, cerebral sagging, an extradural spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection suggesting secondary IH, and a calcified TDH at T9-T10. Case 2 presented with intermittent pain at the craniocervical junction provoked exclusively by specific physical activities, superficial siderosis mainly in the posterior fossa, an extradural spinal CSF collection, and a calcified TDH at T7-T8 yet no intracranial signs of IH. In both cases, using strict thoracoscopic technique, we removed a transdural TDH and reconstructed an underlying longitudinal slitlike dural defect with smooth lining. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans confirmed a dramatically improved situation without residual extradural intraspinal CSF collection or signs of IH.CONCLUSIONS: This paper adds to the evidence that some cases of IH and even superficial siderosis are caused by transdural erosion of a TDH that may be otherwise asymptomatic. The dura may degenerate due to chronic compression, and a longitudinal slitlike dural defect with smooth lining may develop, causing continuous (Case 1) or intermittent (Case 2) intraspinal CSF leakage. To the best of our knowledge, such dural defects closely resembling the ones observed in idiopathic spinal cord herniation have never been demonstrated on intraoperative endoscopic video in IH patients

Mortality after primary intracerebral hemorrhage in relation to post-stroke seizures

Contains fulltext : 182353.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Seizures after intracerebral hemorrhage are repeatedly seen. Whether the development of seizures after intracerebral hemorrhage affects survival in the long term is unknown. This study aims to determine the relation between seizures (i.e., with and without anti-epileptic therapy) and long-term mortality risk in a large patient population with intracerebral hemorrhage. We retrospectively included patients with a non-traumatic ICH in all three hospitals in the South Limburg region in the Netherlands between January 1st 2004 and December 31st 2009, and we assessed all-cause mortality until March 14th 2016. Patient who did not survive the first seven days after intracerebral hemorrhage were excluded from analyses. We used Cox multivariate analyses to determine independent predictors of mortality. Of 1214 patients, 783 hemorrhagic stroke patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, amongst whom 37 (4.7%) patients developed early seizures (within 7 days after hemorrhage) and 77 (9.8%) developed late seizures (more than 7 days after hemorrhage). Seizure development was not significantly related to mortality risk after correction for conventional vascular risk factors and hemorrhage severity. However, we found a small but independent relation between the use of anti-epileptic drugs and a lower long-term mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.11-0.91). In our large population, seizures and epilepsy did not relate independently to an increased mortality risk after hemorrhage

Medication use in poststroke epilepsy:A descriptive study on switching of antiepileptic drug treatment

Objective: Currently, as evidence-based guidelines are lacking, in patients with poststroke epilepsy (PSE), the choice of the first antiepileptic drug (AED) is left over to shared decision by the treating physician and patient. Although, it is not uncommon that patients with PSE subsequently switch their first prescribed AED to another AED, reasons for those switches are not reported yet. In the present study, we therefore assessed the reasons for switching the first prescribed AED in patients with PSE. Method: We gathered a hospital-based case series of 53 adult patients with poststroke epilepsy and assessed the use of AEDs, comedication, and the reasons for switches between AEDs during treatment. We also determined the daily drug dose (DDD) at the switching moment. Results: During a median follow-up of 62 months (Interquartile range [IQR] 69 months), 21 patients (40%) switched their first prescribed AED. Seven patients switched AED at least once because of ineffectivity only or a combination of ineffectivity and side effects, whereas 14 patients switched AED at least once because of side effects only. The DDD was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in case of medication switches due to ineffectivity (median 1.20, IQR 0.33) compared to switching due to side effects (median 0.67, IQR 0.07). There was no difference in the use of comedication between the group that switched because of ineffectivity compared to the group that switched because of side effects. Conclusion: In our case series, up to 40% of patients with epilepsy after stroke needed to switch their first prescribed AED, mostly because of side effects in lower dosage ranges

Medication use in poststroke epilepsy:a descriptive study on switching of antiepileptic drug treatment

\u3cp\u3eObjective: Currently, as evidence-based guidelines are lacking, in patients with poststroke epilepsy (PSE), the choice of the first antiepileptic drug (AED) is left over to shared decision by the treating physician and patient. Although, it is not uncommon that patients with PSE subsequently switch their first prescribed AED to another AED, reasons for those switches are not reported yet. In the present study, we therefore assessed the reasons for switching the first prescribed AED in patients with PSE. Method: We gathered a hospital-based case series of 53 adult patients with poststroke epilepsy and assessed the use of AEDs, comedication, and the reasons for switches between AEDs during treatment. We also determined the daily drug dose (DDD) at the switching moment. Results: During a median follow-up of 62 months (Interquartile range [IQR] 69 months), 21 patients (40%) switched their first prescribed AED. Seven patients switched AED at least once because of ineffectivity only or a combination of ineffectivity and side effects, whereas 14 patients switched AED at least once because of side effects only. The DDD was significantly (p &lt; 0.001) higher in case of medication switches due to ineffectivity (median 1.20, IQR 0.33) compared to switching due to side effects (median 0.67, IQR 0.07). There was no difference in the use of comedication between the group that switched because of ineffectivity compared to the group that switched because of side effects. Conclusion: In our case series, up to 40% of patients with epilepsy after stroke needed to switch their first prescribed AED, mostly because of side effects in lower dosage ranges.\u3c/p\u3