Bilateral deep brain stimulation of the pallidum for myoclonus-dystonia due to ε-sarcoglycan mutations: a pilot study.

International audienceOBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of bilateral deep brain stimulation of the internal pallidum in patients with myoclonus-dystonia due to genetically proved ε-sarcoglycan (SGCE-M-D) deficiency. DESIGN: Patients with documented SGCE-M-D undergoing bilateral deep brain stimulation of the internal pallidum were recruited. Standardized assessments of M-D were videorecorded before surgery and 6 to 9 months and 15 to 18 months after surgery, using the movement and disability subscales of the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale and the Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale. The analysis was based on blinded evaluation of the recordings. SETTING: Movement disorder unit in a university hospital in Paris. PATIENTS: Five consecutive patients with documented SGCE-M-D. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Myoclonus and dystonia scores at follow-up. RESULTS: The median myoclonus score decreased from 76 before surgery (range, 38-116) to 10 at 6 to 9 months after surgery (range, 6-31). The median dystonia score decreased from 30.0 before surgery (range, 18.5-53.0) to 4.5 after surgery (range, 3.5-16.0). Disability was also improved and symptoms remained stable between the postoperative evaluations. No adverse effects occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral deep brain stimulation of the internal pallidum is safe and highly effective in this homogeneous population of patients with SGCE-M-D. This therapeutic option should therefore be considered for patients with severe, drug-resistant forms of the disorder

Neuroprognostication of Consciousness Recovery in a Patient with COVID-19 Related Encephalitis: Preliminary Findings from a Multimodal Approach

International audiencePredicting the functional recovery of patients with severe neurological condition due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a challenging task. Only limited outcome data are available, the pathophysiology is poorly understood, and the time-course of recovery is still largely unknown. Here, we report the case of a patient with COVID-19 associated encephalitis presenting as a prolonged state of unresponsiveness for two months, who finally fully recovered consciousness, functional communication, and autonomy after immunotherapy. In a multimodal approach, a high-density resting state EEG revealed a rich brain activity in spite of a severe clinical presentation. Using our previously validated algorithms, we could predict a possible improvement of consciousness in this patient. This case report illustrates the value of a multimodal approach capitalizing on advanced brain-imaging and bedside electrophysiology techniques to improve prognosis accuracy in this complex and new aetiology

Recommendations for the use of electroencephalography and evoked potentials in comatose patients

International audiencePredicting the outcome of a comatose or poorly responsive patient is a major issue for intensive care unit teams, in order to give the most accurate information to the family and to choose the best therapeutic option. However, determining the level of cortical activity in patients with disorders of consciousness is a real challenge. Reliable criteria are required to help clinicians in the decision-making process, especially in the acute phase of coma. In this paper, we propose recommendations for recording and interpreting electroencephalography and evoked potentials in comatose patients based on the literature and the clinical experience of a group of neurophysiologists trained in the management of comatose patients. We propose methodological guidelines and discuss prognostic value of each test as well as the limitations concerning recording and interpretation. Recommendations for the strategy and timing of neurophysiological assessments are also proposed according to various clinical situations