Ocrelizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis: A Danish population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Real-world evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) is limited. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab treatment for MS in a real-world setting. METHODS: A nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted where clinical and magnetic resonance imaging data of MS patients enrolled prospectively in the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry who initiated ocrelizumab treatment between January 2018 and November 2020 were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1104 patients (85.7% relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS], 8.8% secondary progressive MS [SPMS], 5.5% primary progressive MS [PPMS]) were included, with a median follow-up period of 1.3 years. At baseline, the mean age was 41.4 years in the RRMS group, 44.5 years in the PPMS group and 50.3 years in the SPMS group. Median Expanded Disability Status Scale score was 2.5, 3.5 and 5.5, respectively. Most RRMS and SPMS patients had received previous disease-modifying therapies (87.5% and 91.8%, respectively), whereas PPMS patients were mostly treatment naïve (78.7%). After ocrelizumab initiation, 9.3% of the patients experienced a relapse and 8.7% a 24 weeks confirmed disability worsening. Conversely, 16.7% showed a 24 weeks confirmed disability improvement. After ~1 year of treatment, most patients (94.5%) were free of magnetic resonance imaging activity. Ocrelizumab was generally well tolerated, as side effects were only reported for 10% of patients, mostly consisting of infusion-related reactions and infections. CONCLUSIONS: It is shown that most MS patients treated with ocrelizumab are clinically stabilized and with an adverse event profile consistent with the experience from the pivotal clinical trials.

[Challenge of the management of severe trauma of cervical spine in sub-developed country]. / Problématique de la prise en charge des traumatismes graves du rachis cervical en pays sous-développé

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The management of cervical spine injuries requires a multidisciplinary approach based on emergency management and rehabilitation. In our context this chain fails, especially on the post-hospital care. Our goal is to explain the difficulties we had in the management of these patients in Dakar. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study (2005-2009) included 99 patients admitted for severe cervical spinal cord injury in two hospitals in Dakar. The clinical signs, treatment and outcome were studied. The follow up was between 3 and 54 months. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 36.1 years and the traffic accidents were the main etiology (73.7%). Medical transport of patients was done in 65.7% with an admission average time of 64.86 hours. On admission, 57.6% of patients had Frankel score A or B. Dislocations (59.6%) and Tear drop fractures (16.2%) were the main lesions. The surgery was performed in 83.8% with a mean interval of 128.84 hours after the trauma. Outpatient rehabilitation was offered whatever the patient's neurological status. Recovery was complete in 20.2% and partial in 31.3% with a mortality rate of 37.4%. Most deaths occurred between 1 and 6 months (59.5%) mainly due to decubitus complications (56.8%). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of the management of severe spinal cord injuries is based on reducing the preoperative time and rehabilitation.

[Intramedullary tuberculoma of the conus: a case report]. / Tuberculome du cône médullaire: à propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

Tuberculomas of the spinal cord are rare. The objective of this study was to illustrate the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculomas of the conus medullaris. They must be suspected in patients with a clinical context and a typical spinal cord mass lesion. Treatment is primarily medical. Surgery is reserved for cases of rapid neurological deterioration or doubts concerning the diagnosis. We report a case of intramedullary tuberculoma of the conus in a 27-year-old woman with paresthesias and weakness of the lower limbs who had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. The spinal MR showed a characteristic intramedullary ring-enhancing lesion. She improved neurologically one month after the beginning of the antituberculous drugs and a laminectomy. Seven months later, the patient is asymptomatic and the lesion has nearly completely disappeared completely.

[A rare lesion of the central nervous system: inflammatory pseudotumor]. / Une lésion rare du système nerveux central: la pseudotumeur inflammatoire.

Inflammatory pseudotumor is an uncommon tumor, initially described in the lung, but which can involve various organs. It is a controversial entity. We report the case of a 19-year-old-man with an inflammatory pseudotumor localized in the central nervous system, revealed by epilepsy. Characteristically, the inflammatory pseudotumor is an inflammatory mass leading to manifestations related to its localization. Relatively ubiquitous, this tumor is seldom described in the central nervous system. This uncommon lesion is part of a heterogeneous group of entities which are difficult to diagnose for both surgical pathologists and clinicians.

[Abscess of the posterior cranial fossa. Report of 4 cases]. / Les abcès de la fosse cérébrale postérieure à propos de 4 cas.

The posterior cerebral fossa is an uncommon location for cerebral abscess. In most cases diagnosis is made at the encapsulation stage with the risk of life-threatening tonsillar herniation. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe our experience in the management of four cases of abscess located in the posterior cerebral fossa between January 2000 and December 2004. All patients benefited from clinical examination and radiological study (CT-scan). Surgical treatment performed in all cases consisted of trepano-puncture of the abscess. The minimum duration of post-operative follow-up was 6 months. Mean patient age was 38.75 years. All patients presented infectious syndrome and intracranial hypertension. The male:female sex ratio was 3:1. A history of chronic middle ear otitis was noted in two patients. Diagnosis of abscess in the posterior cerebral fossa was confirmed by CT-scan in 2 cases. Cholesteatoma and triventricular hydrocephaly were noted in 2 cases. All patients benefited from trepano-puncture of the abscess. Bacteriologic study of pus was positive for Staphylococcus aureus in 1 case, and Providencia Sp associated with Bactéroïdes fragilis in another. Second-stage radical mastoidectomy was performed in 2 cases. One patient died. The outcome was favorable in 3 cases. Because of the small size of the posterior cerebral fossa, abscess in that location requires emergency treatment. Delay can be life-threatening due to the risk of obstructive hydrocephaly and tonsillar herniation.

Les abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure; a propos de 4 cas

L'abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure est une localisation inhabituelle des abces encephaliques. Son diagnostic se fait generalement au stade d'encapsulation avec le risque possible d'engagement amygdalien mettant en jeu le pronostic vital. Nous rapportons notre experience dans la prise en charge des abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure a travers une serie de 4 cas. Il s'agit d'une serie retrospective de 4 patients; colliges de Janvier 2000 a Decembre 2004. Tous les patients ont beneficie d'un examen clinique et d'une exploration radiologique (tomodensitometrie). L'intervention operatoire realisee dans tous les cas; a consiste en une trepano-ponction de l'abces. Le suivi post-operatoire a ete assure pour une duree minimale de 6 mois. L'age moyen etait de 38;75 ans. Le sex-ratio etait de 3/1. L'antecedent d'otite moyenne chronique a ete note dans 2 cas. Le syndrome infectieux et l'hypertension intra-cranienne etaient constants. Le syndrome cerebelleux a ete note dans 2 cas. La tomodensitometrie a permis de confirmer le diagnostic d'abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure. Un cholesteatome et une hydrocephalie tri ventriculaire ont ete notes dans 2 cas. Tous les patients ont beneficie d'une trepano-ponction de l'abces. L'examen bacteriologique du pus a permis d'isoler un Staphylococcus aureus dans 1 cas; et un Providencia sp associe au Bacteroides fragilis dans un autre. Une mastoidectomie radicale a ete pratiquee a distance dans 2 cas. L'evolution a ete bonne dans 3 cas. Un cas de deces a ete enregistre. La localisation de l'abces dans la fosse cerebrale posterieure qui est une loge exigue; signe l'urgence de la prise en charge. Tout retard met en jeu le pronostic vital par le risque d'hydrocephalie obstructive et d'engagement amygdalien