Treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis - recommendations of the Croatian Neurological Society.

Untreated multiple sclerosis (MS) irretrievably leads to severe neurological impairment. In European health care systems, patient access to disease modifying therapies (DMT) is often confined to more advanced stages of the disease because of restrictions in reimbursement. A discrepancy in access to DMTs is evident between West and East European countries. In order to improve access to DMTs for people with MS (pwMS) living in Croatia, the Croatian Neurological Society issued new recommendations for the treatment of relapsing MS. The aim of this article is to present these recommendations. The recommendations for platform therapies are to start DMT as soon as the diagnosis is made. If poor prognostic criteria are present (≥9 T2 or FLAIR lesions on the initial brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] or ≥3 T1 lesions with postcontrast enhancement on the initial brain and spinal cord MRI or Expanded Disability Status Scale after treatment of the initial relapse ≥3), high-efficacy DMT should be initiated. If pwMS experience ≥1 relapse or ≥3 new T2 lesions while on platform therapies, they should be switched to high-efficacy DMT. Further efforts should be made to enable early and unrestricted access to high-efficacy DMT with a freedom of choice of an appropriate therapy for expert physicians and pwMS. The improvement of access to DMT achieved by the implementation of national treatment guidelines in Croatia can serve as an example to national neurological societies from other Eastern European countries to persuade payers to enable early and unrestricted treatment of pwMS.

Treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy with new generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) - our experience.

Aim To investigate influence of therapy with new generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in fastening of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) remission comparing to therapy with standard AEDs, as well as the time to remission in the presence of psychiatric comorbidities. Methods The study was conducted during the 1988-2008 period and included 113 patients (47 females and 67 males) with PTE and 113 patients (93 females and 20 males) suffering from complex partial seizures (CPS) of temporal lobe origin. In both patient groups, epileptic seizure phenotype, brain magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T and 3.0 T) and electroencephalogram were analyzed within 24 hours of epileptic seizure and after 5 years of treatment. Psychological testing was administered prior to therapy initiation. Results The patients treated with standard AEDs achieved remission in 82 (73%) cases as compared with 87 (77%) patients administered with a new generation AEDs; in the latter group, remission was achieved faster (1.85 vs. 1.6 months). In both patient groups, psychiatric comorbidity prolonged time to remission by 3.4 months. Conclusion Therapy with new generation AEDs enables achieving faster and complete remission in PTE patients.

Head trauma and posttraumatic epilepsy in Slavonski Brod, East Croatia, 1988-2008.

Posttraumatic epilepsy is result of head trauma. The aim of our research was to establish how many patients after head trauma developed posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). Retrospectively we analyzed 50 patients with head trauma different severity in period from 1989 to 2008, which we werified radiological, electroenfephalographic, and psychical changes were established according pto psychiatric examination. From 50 patient with head trauma, 40 developed seizures (3 in the firs 24 hours and 6 after first 24 hours to the end of first week, 31 after first week). By introducing antiepileptic therapy (AETh), 30 patients were seizure free, 10 patients had 1-2 epileptic seizure monthly (EPA/CPA), 10 patients got prophylactic AETh in period 6-12 months. 14 patients developed psychical changes which were verified by psychiatrist. The experience and literature show that posttraumatic epilepsy is good for treating with 1 or 2 antiepileptic, and remission is more difficult in case psychiatric comorbidity.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms in acute ischemic stroke.

Inadequate attention is being paid to the anxiety and depressive symptoms in acute stroke, although these problems are known to influence the patients' neurological outcome. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the acute stage of ischemic stroke and to identify the factors associated with such problems. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in 40 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted during a period of one month. Statistical analyses were performed by the SigmaStat (Version 2.0) software. Study results showed 55% of study patients to suffer from depressive symptoms and 40% from both anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. There was a correlation of depressive symptoms (HADS-D score) with MMSE (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.003) and BI (p < 0.001), and of anxiety symptoms (HADS-A score) with MMSE (p < 0.001) and BI (p = 0.01). There was no significant association of HADS-A and HADS-D score with other patient characteristics. In conclusion, depressive symptoms were more frequent in the acute stage ofischemic stroke. Study patients had a high prevalence of both groups of symptoms. Therefore, attention should be paid to the anxiety and depressive symptoms in stroke units and try to relieve the patients' emotional stress and personal suffering, which could improve their neurological outcome.

Neuroretinitis caused by Bartonella quintana.

A 57-year-old woman presented to the eye clinic for impaired vision on the left eye persisting for three months. Clinical examination revealed massive peripapillary exudate and stellate macular exudate, raising suspicion of a cat-scratch disease. Tetracycline therapy was introduced, followed by azithromycin and topical corticosteroids. Serologic testing for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana was performed. In the first sample, Bartonella quintana IgG titer was 128, and IgM titer 20, whereas in repeat sample the respective findings were 64 and negative. Such a titer dynamics pointed to Bartonella quintana infection. The prescribed therapy resulted in vision improvement and normalization of the clinical picture. After nine months of therapy initiation, macular exudate had almost completely disappeared. Based on the patient's history, symptoms, therapeutic response and IgM pattern, the neuroretinitis must have developed secondary to Bartonella quintana infection.

Giant aneurysm of basilar artery.

In the article we showed the patient, a woman with unruptured giant aneurysm of basilar artery, we showed the done examinations, and therapy dilemmas about what to do in the given case. We found in literature a number of examples which suggest operation treatment, but of embolisation too, some suggest conservative treatment.

Are we ready for intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke treatment in our region?

Acute stroke is the leading cause of disability in modern society. Early treatment is crucial to maximize the benefit of stroke intervention. Effective thrombolytic therapy is dependent on timely intervention and guidelines for the recommended use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy within 3 hours after onset of stroke symptoms. The aim of the study was to assess whether we are ready for the introduction of thrombolysis in our region. We investigated retrospectively the time from symptom onset to hospital arrival (delay time) for patients with acute stroke in our region. Medical histories of all patients admitted to the Department in 2006 with acute stroke symptoms were studied. Statistical analysis was performed by use of the SigmaStat (version 2.0) software. Study results showed that a very high rate of patients presented after 24 hours of stroke onset (35%); 15% of all acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients arrived within 3 hours of stroke onset. Due to other exclusion criteria established, only 4% of all AIS patients were eligible for intravenous thrombolysis. Most patients arrived in the hospital too late to get maximum benefit from the emerging stroke therapies. This may be due to the failure to recognize signs and symptoms or the lack of awareness of the potential treatment benefits. Our further efforts should be focused on increasing public awareness of the stroke signs and symptoms and on reducing delay time.

[Hospitalization of children with traumatic brain wounds in Brodposavina county]. / Hospitalizacija djece s traumatskim ozljedama mozga na podrucju Brodsko-posavske zupanije.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of acquired disability and death in children. Retrospective analysis showed 350 children, 128 (36.6%) girls and 222 (63.4%) boys who were hospitalized for injury of neurocranium in a 5 year-period in Dr. Josip Bencevic General Hospital in Slavonski Brod. Most of them had both contusion and commotion (46.8%), followed by just contusion of the head (12.5%) and fractures of the skull (10.5%). The haemorrhages and hemathomas were less common (epidural, subdural, SAH) (3.2%). The procedures performed showed that in almost all children X-rays had been performed (99.7%). The most commonly X-rays performed were those of the head (craniogram) and/or cervical spine, followed by CT, EEG, ultrasound and NMR. The occurence of complications was recorded in only 2% of injured children (seizure, syncopa, febrile convulsions). Analysis of treatment methods showed that in most children (89.6%) therapy was conservative. The injured children were hospitalizated mostly for 2 days (34.5%) or 3 days (32.5%), while longer hospitalization was less common. Regarding extra consultation of other specialists (besides neurosurgeons), the most commonly consulted were pediatrician, surgeon/traumatologist, specialist of ENT/maxilofacial surgery, neuropediatrician, pediatric surgeon, ophthalmologist and others. It can be said that the prognosis of TBI in children depends on the age, neurological status and kind of injury, and on the quality of care, which involves availability of neurosurgeons and other specialists.

[Ocular dirofilariasis: a case report]. / Okularna dirofilarioza--prikaz bolesnice.

A case of ocular dirofilariasis in a female patient is presented. The zoonosis caused by parasites of the genus Dirofilaria is relatively rare in humans, with a higher incidence in south and central Europe, Asia and Africa. In Europe, dirofilariasis is mostly caused by the species Dirofilaria repens. In the past 50 years, the number of individuals involved has been on an increase, with about 780 cases reported in the literature to date. Dirofilaria is a parasite found in the dog, cat, racoon and bear. The parasite replicates in the animal's body and enters circulation in the form of microfilariae. These microfilariae reach the insect's digestive tract and are transmitted to another animal or human with subsequent mosquito bites. When transmitted to humans, the parasite is found in the skin and subcutaneous tissue, mucous membranes, and less frequently visceral organs. Concerning ocular involvement, infections of the eye and adnexa oculi and tumorous noninfectious growth of eyelid or orbit have been described to date. The symptoms of the disease vary and include local pain, proptosis, diplopia, palpebral and conjunctival edema, redness, feeling of foreign body, and impaired vision. The diagnosis is generally made by histologic identification of the parasite micro- and macroscopic characteristics, Dirofilaria DNA analysis by the method of polymerase chain reaction, and serology (ELISA) demonstrating the presence of Dirofilaria antibodies in serum. Treatment includes surgical excision of the parasite as an appropriate and efficient therapeutic procedure. A 76-old-female patient presented to outpatient ophthalmology clinic for occasional sensation of pain, rubbing and redness in her right eye. Initial therapy was introduced, resulting in short-lasting improvement. In two weeks, the patient was re-examined for recurrence of discomforts. Slit lamp examination performed temporally revealed a whitish motile, live parasite under the injected and chemotic bulbar conjunctiva. Upon surgical extirpation of the parasite, the diagnosis of dirofilariasis was verified by microbiologic identification.

The effect of stress hormones on cerebral hemodynamics in patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

The aim of the study was to assess the possible correlation between catecholamine and cortisol levels and changes in cerebral hemodynamics in patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study included 50 patients with chronic PTSD first ever hospitalized for psychiatric treatment and 50 healthy control subjects. All study subjects were aged 30-50. In PTSD patients, 24-h urine levels of the epinephrine and norepinephrine metabolites vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and cortisol were determined and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography was performed on day 1 of hospital stay and repeated after 21-day psychiatric medicamentous treatment. On initial testing, increased level of 24-h VMA, decreased cortisol level and elevated mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) in the circle of Willis vessels were recorded in 25 (50.00%) patients. Repeat findings obtained after 21-day psychopharmaceutical therapy showed increased 24-h VMA, decreased cortisol and elevated MBFV in the circle of Willis vessels in seven (14.00%) patients (initial vs. repeat testing, P = 0.0002). Such parameters were not recorded in any of the control subjects (initial PTSD patient testing vs. control group, P = 0.0000). Study results pointed to a significant correlation between increased catecholamine levels, decreased cortisol level and elevated MBFV in the circle of Willis vessels caused by cerebral vasospasm. Psychiatric medicamentous therapy administered for three weeks significantly reduced the proportion of patients with concurrently altered cerebral hemodynamics, increased levels of catecholamine metabolites and decreased level of cortisol.