Multicentric epidemiological study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause, characterized by the simultaneous involvement of the upper and lower motor neurons. Epidemiological studies have estimated its annual incidence between 0.31 and 3.2 and its prevalence between 0.8 and 8.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The epidemiological information in our country is limited to specialized centers. The present study presents the results of an epidemiological study in ELA performed in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA). Methods: A multicentric retrospective study was conducted. Patients with defined and probable ALS according to the El Escorial Criteria, evaluated between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013, who lived in the CABA at the onset of symptoms, were included. The calculation of the incidence was based on the 2010 census. Results: We included 103 patients (55 men), with a mean age of 64 years. The onset of symptoms was in the lower limbs at 39%, upper extremities at 25% and bulbar at 26%. The initial symptom was weakness in 58% and dysarthria in 20%; 9% had dementia associated with ALS. The mean time to diagnosis was 14.5 months. Thirty new cases/patients were diagnosed between 01/06/2012 and 01/06/2013, with an incidence rate of 1.04 per 100,000 inhabitants. Conclusions: The epidemiological characteristics of ALS in CABA are similar to those reported in the universal literature. Further studies are needed to determine if these findings are applicable to the rest of the Argentine population.Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause, characterized by the simultaneous involvement of the upper and lower motor neurons. Epidemiological studies have estimated its annual incidence between 0.31 and 3.2 and its prevalence between 0.8 and 8.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The epidemiological information in our country is limited to specialized centers. The present study presents the results of an epidemiological study in ELA performed in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA). Methods: A multicentric retrospective study was conducted. Patients with defined and probable ALS according to the El Escorial Criteria, evaluated between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013, who lived in the CABA at the onset of symptoms, were included. The calculation of the incidence was based on the 2010 census. Results: We included 103 patients (55 men), with a mean age of 64 years. The onset of symptoms was in the lower limbs at 39%, upper extremities at 25% and bulbar at 26%. The initial symptom was weakness in 58% and dysarthria in 20%; 9% had dementia associated with ALS. The mean time to diagnosis was 14.5 months. Thirty new cases/patients were diagnosed between 01/06/2012 and 01/06/2013, with an incidence rate of 1.04 per 100,000 inhabitants. Conclusions: The epidemiological characteristics of ALS in CABA are similar to those reported in the universal literature. Further studies are needed to determine if these findings are applicable to the rest of the Argentine population.Fil: Pérez Akly, Manuel. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Schiava, Marianela. Unidad Asistencial Doctor César Milstein; ArgentinaFil: Melcom, Mario. Fundación para la Investigación en Neuroepidemiología; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Gabriel. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Gargiulo Monachelli, Gisella Mariana. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Bettini, Mariela. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Reisin, Ricardo. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Bendersky, Mariana. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Barroso, Fabio. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Brand, Patricio. Fundación para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas "Raúl Carrea"; ArgentinaFil: de Ambrosi, Bruno. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Di Egidio, Marianna. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Fiorotto, Luis. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Jáuregui, Agustín. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Landriscina, Paula. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Marchesoni, Cintia. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Mazia, Claudio. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Roberto. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Rugiero, Marcelo. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Salutto, Valeria Luján. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Tillard, Belén. Sociedad Neurológica; ArgentinaFil: Fulgenzi, Ernesto. Sociedad Neurológica; Argentin

Usefulness of the identification of antibodies in peripheral neuropathies, neuronopathies and ganglionopathies: review

Introducción: En los últimos anos ˜ la identificación de anticuerpos y gammapatías monoclonales ha permitido comprender la fisiopatología y favorecer el diagnóstico y tratamiento de una multiplicidad de neuropatías inmunomediadas. Objetivo: Describir los anticuerpos de mayor relevancia clínica en las neuropatías, ganglionopatías y neuronopatías inmunomediadas caracterizando en cada caso su valor fisiopatológico o diagnóstico, así como la sensibilidad y especificidad de los métodos utilizados para su determinación. Desarrollo: Se analizarán los anticuerpos identificados en 1) síndrome de Guillain-Barré; 2) polineuropatía inflamatoria desmielinizante crónica (PDIC), 3) neuropatía motora con bloqueo multifocal (NMM); 4) CANOMAD (neuropatía atáxica crónica, oftalmoplejía, proteína IgM monoclonal, aglutininas frías y anticuerpos disialosil); 5) ganglionopatías y neuronopatías y la utilidad de identificar las gammapatías monoclonales. Conclusiones: Los anticuerpos y las gammapatías monoclonales son herramientas que han permitido mejorar el diagnóstico y la comprensión fisiopatológica de las neuropatías inmunomediadas y algunas criptogénicas, así como orientar el tratamiento más adecuado.Introduction: Over the last several years the identification of both antineural antibodies and monoclonal gammopathies allowed a better understanding of pathophysiology and improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of many different immune mediated neuropathies. Objective: To describe the antineural antibodies of greater clinical utility in the diagnosis of immune mediated neuropathies and neuronopathies. In each case we underline their value in either the pathophysiology or diagnosis of these disorders as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic techniques currently in use. Development: We will review the antibodies identified in 1) Guillain-Barré syndrome; 2) Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP); 3) Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN); 4) Chronic Ataxic Neuropathy Ophthalmoplegia M-protein Agglutination Disialosyl antibodies syndrome (CANOMAD); 5) Ganglionopathies and Neuropathies and the value of identifying monoclonal gammopathies. Conclusions: The antibodies and monoclonal gammopathies are useful tools in both the diagnosis and understanding of the mechanisms involved in immune mediated and cryptogenic neuropathies and orienting treatment.Fil: Reisin, Ricardo C.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Salutto, Valeria Luján. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Aguirre, Florencia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Valeria. Hospital Italiano. Departamento de Medicina. Servicio de Neurologia.; ArgentinaFil: Barroso, Fabio. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Bendersky, Mariana. Hospital Italiano. Departamento de Medicina. Servicio de Neurologia.; ArgentinaFil: Berardo, Andrés. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Bettini, Mariela. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Borrelli, Mariano M.. Ministerio de Defensa. Ejército Argentino. Hospital Militar Central Cirujano Mayor "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Chaves, Marcelo. Hospital San Martín de Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Cisneros, Elisa M.. Complejo Medico Policial Bartolome Churruca Andres Visca; ArgentinaFil: Conti, Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Crespo, José M.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: di Egidio, Mariana. Hospital Enrique Tornú; ArgentinaFil: Figueredo, María Alejandra. Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos San Roque de Gonnet; ArgentinaFil: Gargiulo Monachelli, Gisella Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Jáuregui, Agustín. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Landriscina, Paula. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: León Cejas, Luciana. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Perea, María del Carmen. Hospital Rivadavia; ArgentinaFil: Pirra, Laura. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Pivetta, Paola. Complejo Medico Policial Bartolome Churruca Andres Visca; ArgentinaFil: Quarracino, Cecilia. Complejo Medico Policial Bartolome Churruca Andres Visca; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rattagan, María Lucía. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Roberto. Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos Presidente Peron; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Alejandro. Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Gabriel E.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Rugiero, Marcelo. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Tillard, Belen. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Zuberhbuler, Paz. Hospital Alvarez; Argentin