Browsing by Author "Sternic, N. (6603691178)"

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common heritable cause of stroke and vascular dementia in adults. We present a family from Serbia presenting with stroke and depression in the lack of vascular risk factors, with brain MRI indicating CADASIL. A novel NOTCH3 Gly89Cys mutation was located in exon 3. This report illustrates that in the setting of a positive family history with typical clinical and MRI features, even with an atypical form of pedigree, a high suspicion of CADASIL should lead to genetic testing. © 2013 Belgian Neurological Society.

[No abstract available]

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of interictal microembolic signals (MES) in patients suffering from migraine with higher cortical dysfunction (HCD), such as language and memory impairment, during an aura. Patients and methods This study was carried out on 34 migraineurs with language and memory impairment during aura (HCD group), 31 migraineurs with only visual or visual and somatosensory symptoms during aura (Control group I), and 34 healthy controls (Control group II). We used a Doppler instrument to detect microemboli. Demographic data, disease features and the detection of MES between these groups, as well as the predictors of HCD during the aura, were analyzed. Results The duration of aura was longer and the frequency of aura was higher among patients with language and memory impairment during aura compared to Control group I. MES was detected in 29.4% patients from the HCD group, which was significantly higher compared to 3.2% in Control group I and 5.9% in Control group II. Regarding the absence or presence of MES, demographic and aura features were not different in the HCD subgroups. A longer duration of aura, the presence of somatosensory symptoms during the aura and the presence of interictal MES were independent predictors of HCD during the aura. Conclusion The present findings indicate that HCD and MES are related in patients with migraine with aura. Further research is needed to better understand the exact pathophysiological mechanism. © International Headache Society 2015.

We evaluated whether patients with young-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD) (onset between 21 and 40 years) develop levodopa-induced dyskinesias and motor response fluctuations more frequently and earlier than patients with older- onset PD (onset after 40 years) by determining the period from levodopa introduction to development of dyskinesias or fluctuations in 25 young-onset (mean age at onset, 33.54 years) and in 25 matched older-onset PD patients (mean age at onset, years). Young-onset PD patients had significantly higher frequency for both dyskinesias and fluctuations after both 3 and 5 years of levodopa. Young-onset PD patients also developed both levodopa-induced dyskinesias and fluctuations earlier than older-onset PD patients. We suggest that the introduction of levodopa therapy in patients with young-onset PD should be postponed as long as possible. © 1991 American Academy of Neurology.

Objective: Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and has been linked to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), in particular. Controversy persists as to whether increased tHcy is associated with functional status and cognitive decline in these patients. Methods: Plasma tHcy, MTHFR polymorphism, vascular risk factors, functional and cognitive status and severity of lesions on MRI, assessed with the Age-Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) visual grading scale, were analyzed in 95 patients with SVD and 41 healthy control subjects. Results: Plasma tHcy levels were higher in patients with SVD (14.4 ± 5.0 μmol/L) compared to healthy SVD-free controls (8.9 ± 3.9 μmol/L). In SVD patients, tHcy levels strongly correlated with cognitive status (age-adjusted risk 5.8, 95% CI 1.3-25.3, p = 0.015), functional status (age-adjusted risk 3.2, 95% CI 1.2-8.8, p = 0.022) and severity of MRI lesions (age-adjusted risk 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4; p = 0.004). Only total ARWMC score was independently associated with increased tHcy levels (OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.1-1.4, p = 0.004). Independent predictors of WMC occurrence were tHcy levels (OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.1-1.3, p = 0.003) and mRS score (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.2-4.1, p = 0.017). Conclusions: In patients with cerebral SVD there is a positive association of increased plasma tHcy levels with clinical status and severity of WMC. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVL) is a rare form of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DBCL) frequently presenting with skin and/or central nervous system (CNS) involvement. IVL involves CNS in 75 - 85% of patients and neurological symptoms include sensory and motor deficits or neuropathies, meningoradiculitis, paresthesia, hypostenia, aphasia, dysarthria, hemiparesis, seizures, transient visual loss, vertigo and impaired cognitive function. Neuroimaging discloses CNS involvement only in half of patients with neurological symptoms because there are no pathognomonic neuroradiological findings for IVL; ischemic foci are the most com mon presentation pattern and therefore vasculitis is the most common differential diagnosis. According to all mentioned data, diagnosis of CNS IVL requires a histopathological confirmation. Brain biopsy is absolutely indicated in patients with progressive neurological deterioration with unclear abnormalities in cerebral MR imaging. A general policy is that patients with IVL should be considered to have disseminated disease and should be treated with systemic chemotherapy. In younger patients with unfavorable features the high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation should be used. Nevertheless, the course of IVL is rapidly progressive and ultimately fatal. ©2010 Dustri-Verlag Dr. K. Feistle.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVL) is a rare form of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DBCL) frequently presenting with skin and/or central nervous system (CNS) involvement. IVL involves CNS in 75 - 85% of patients and neurological symptoms include sensory and motor deficits or neuropathies, meningoradiculitis, paresthesia, hypostenia, aphasia, dysarthria, hemiparesis, seizures, transient visual loss, vertigo and impaired cognitive function. Neuroimaging discloses CNS involvement only in half of patients with neurological symptoms because there are no pathognomonic neuroradiological findings for IVL; ischemic foci are the most com mon presentation pattern and therefore vasculitis is the most common differential diagnosis. According to all mentioned data, diagnosis of CNS IVL requires a histopathological confirmation. Brain biopsy is absolutely indicated in patients with progressive neurological deterioration with unclear abnormalities in cerebral MR imaging. A general policy is that patients with IVL should be considered to have disseminated disease and should be treated with systemic chemotherapy. In younger patients with unfavorable features the high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation should be used. Nevertheless, the course of IVL is rapidly progressive and ultimately fatal. ©2010 Dustri-Verlag Dr. K. Feistle.

There is an increase in the number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) reported as developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) while on intensive immunosuppressive therapy. A 39-year-old HIV-negative woman with a 10-year history of SLE presented with progressive left-side weakness while on maintenance therapy with oral prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). On several occasions low CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts were found (68/μL). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large lesion in the right subcortical fronto-parietal region and a smaller one in the left frontal subcortex, corresponding to the PML. In cerebrospinal fluid, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for JC virus (JCV) was negative, but anti-JCV antibodies were highly positive. Diagnosis of probable PML was made and MMF was withdrawn. The patient's condition improved with marked reduction of left-side weakness and an increase in CD4+ T-lymphocyte count (141/μL). Follow-up MRI showed regression of lesions and over the next 6 months the patient remained stable. In spite of the grave prognosis associated with PML, SLE patients can have an excellent outcome if immunosuppressants are discontinued as soon as the correct diagnosis is made. SLE patients with associated low CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts should be monitored for the development of PML during immunosuppressive therapy in particular. © The Author(s), 2011.

Background: The vascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk for vascular cognitive decline (VCD), but also with Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective: To investigate vascular risk factors in relation to AD and VCD, with a non-invasive neurosonological methods in a clinical settings. Results: A total of 296 patients with AD and 237 patients with VCD were included in the study. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and white matter changes (p < 0.001) were significantly more prevalent in VCD, although they were also present in AD patients. No statistically significant differences were obtained between groups regarding coronary disease, atrial fibrillation, average degree of carotid artery stenosis and carotid intima-media thickness (cITM). However, the patients with AD had carotid artery stenosis > 50% (p = 0.007) and present plaques (p < 0.001) more frequently compared to vascular group. The significant associations between robust cognitive measure and vascular factors, diabetes mellitus, carotid stenosis, cITM, and type of plaques were identified only in VCD, but not in AD group. Conclusions: The vascular risk factors were more prevalent in VCD group, although they were also present in AD. With few treatment options available in AD, it may be important not to neglect the vascular risk factors. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Background: The vascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk for vascular cognitive decline (VCD), but also with Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective: To investigate vascular risk factors in relation to AD and VCD, with a non-invasive neurosonological methods in a clinical settings. Results: A total of 296 patients with AD and 237 patients with VCD were included in the study. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and white matter changes (p < 0.001) were significantly more prevalent in VCD, although they were also present in AD patients. No statistically significant differences were obtained between groups regarding coronary disease, atrial fibrillation, average degree of carotid artery stenosis and carotid intima-media thickness (cITM). However, the patients with AD had carotid artery stenosis > 50% (p = 0.007) and present plaques (p < 0.001) more frequently compared to vascular group. The significant associations between robust cognitive measure and vascular factors, diabetes mellitus, carotid stenosis, cITM, and type of plaques were identified only in VCD, but not in AD group. Conclusions: The vascular risk factors were more prevalent in VCD group, although they were also present in AD. With few treatment options available in AD, it may be important not to neglect the vascular risk factors. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.