Pre-hospital delay in patients with ischemic stroke in the Fann Teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal in 2020.

Introduction: stroke is a cerebrovascular disease. Early reperfusion in neurovascular units can reduce its morbidity and mortality. Even when neurovascular units exist, patients usually arrive late in the emergency department. to the purpose of this study was to determine prehospital delay in patients with acute ischemic stroke and associated factors. Methods: we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in the neurology department of the Fann University Hospital in Dakar from January 1s t to June 30th, 2020. We included patients younger than 80 years seen in the emergency unit for ischemic stroke. The median time to presentation was calculated based on the time of stroke onset and that of arrival at the hospital. Multivariate analysis was used to determine factors associated with prehospital delay. Results: a total of 56 patients were enrolled, among whom 58.6% arrived at the hospital in less than 3 hours. Of them, 37.5% presented to a level 3 or 4 hospital first. Less than 34% of our patient presented to a level 2-3 hospital in less than 3 hours. Based on bi- and multivariate analysis, being married (OR = 7.2 [CI à 95%: 1.5 - 35.8]), being a female (OR = 5.5 [CI à 95%: 1.5 - 19.8]) and having stroke during week days (OR = 4.3 [CI à 95%: 1.3-13.9]) were associated with prehospital delay. Conclusion: most of our patients arrived late at a level 2 or 3 hospital. Being a married woman increased the risk of late arrival. This study highlights the importance of improving awareness in order to increase the proportion of patients potentially eligible for revascularization.

Clinical management and disease-modifying treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in African hospital centers: the TROPALS study.

Objective: To assess the availability of health workers and medications for clinical management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in African hospital centers. Availability and affordability analyses of disease-modifying treatments were performed. Methods: A multicenter observational study involving African hospitals was conducted. A standard questionnaire was developed based on the European Federation of the Neurological Societies (EFNS) guidelines. We collected data on multidisciplinary care and availability of medicines. The availability and affordability were evaluated according to the WHO guidelines. Results: Nine hospital centers from eight African countries participated. We observed a low degree of implementation of multidisciplinary care in ALS management. Riluzole was only available in centers from South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, and Togo. This treatment was unaffordable and the adjusted price was highly variable among countries. The cost of riluzole was partly or fully covered by patients, which implies a substantial economic burden. Conclusion: Our findings strengthen the need to promote multidisciplinary care in the clinical management of ALS in Africa. Disease-modifying medication should be both available and affordable. Local and international collaboration is needed to improve ALS health care access in Africa.

Are Sub-Saharan epileptic people less photosensitive? A Senegalese study of photoparoxysmal response in a reference epilepsy centre.

The photoparoxysmal response (PPR) is defined as the occurrence of generalized spike, spike-wave or polyspike-wave discharges consistently elicited by intermittent photic stimulation (IPS). PPR is not well studied in Sub-Saharan African people. We prospectively studied the epidemiological, clinical, and EEG characteristics of PPR among consecutive patients recorded at the clinical neurophysiology unit of Fann University Hospital (Dakar, Senegal). Among 6,808 EEG recordings including 3,065 pathological EEGs, we collected 56 EEGs with PPR (0.8% of all recorded EEGs and 1.8% of anormal EEGs), from 31 women and 25 men (sex ratio: 0.8). The mean age was 13.3 years (range: 8 months to 59 years). The peak of photosensitivity was found in the range of 6 to 10 years. Of the PPR cases, 12 had clinical manifestations during IPS. Generalized epilepsy was diagnosed in 23 (41%) patients and 18 (32%) had focal epilepsies. The most epileptogenic stimulation frequencies were between 12 and 24 Hz (range: 1-28 Hz). PPR were mainly triggered during eye closure (64%), and 41 patients (73% of PPR cases) were classified as Type 4 (Waltz classification). Our results confirm lower rates of photosensitivity in African Sub-Saharan people compared with others. Although the current data do not support a role of short-term ambient light levels, subject to consistent data from larger cohorts, it may be interesting to study the probable epigenetic-mediated protective role of sunshine against photosensitivity.

Clinical features and prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Africa: the TROPALS study.

OBJECTIVE: We describe and compare the sociodemographic and clinical features, treatments, and prognoses and survival times of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Africa. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a multicentre, hospital-based cohort study in Africa. Patients with ALS diagnosed in the neurology departments of participating hospitals from 2005 to 2017 were included. Subgroup analysis was performed by subcontinent. Survival analyses were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Nine centres from eight African countries participated. A total of 185 patients with ALS were included: 114 from Northern Africa, 41 from Western Africa and 30 from Southern Africa. A male predominance (male to female ratio 2.9) was evident. The median age at onset was 53.0 years (IQR 44.5-64.0 years). The onset was bulbar in 22.7%. Only 47 patients (26.3%) received riluzole, mainly in Northern and Western Africa. The median survival from the time of diagnosis was 14.0 months (95% CI 10.7 to 17.2 months). The median survival was longer in Northern Africa (19.0 months, 95% CI 10.8 to 27.2 months) than in Western (4.0 months, 95% CI 0.8 to 7.1 months) and Southern (11.0 months, 95% CI 5.6 to 16.4 months) Africa (Breslow test, p<0.0001). Both subcontinental location and riluzole treatment independently affected survival. CONCLUSION: More African patients with ALS were male and younger and exhibited a lower proportion of bulbar onset compared with patients with ALS from Western nations. Survival was consistent with that in Western registers but far shorter than what would be expected for young patients with ALS. The research improves our understanding of the disease in Africa.

[Lipid and glucose profile in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular accidents in Dakar]. / Le profil lipidique et glucidique des accidents vasculaires cérébraux ischémiques à Dakar.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is defined as the rapid development of localized or global clinical signs of neurological dysfunction with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin. A variety of risk factors have been identified and associated with the occurrence of Ischemic CVA, including glucose and lipid metabolism disturbances. We conducted a retrospective study at the Clinic of Neurology, Fann. Our study focused on medical records of patients with ICVA confirmed by imaging, hospitalized from January 1 to December 31 2010. All patients underwent complete lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL; LDL level was calculated using Friedwald formula), kidney function tests and fasting blood sugar test were performed within 48 hours of admission. Data were analysed using univariate technique and then using bivariate technique tanks to SPSS 16.0 software. We collected 235 files. We here report a case series of patients between ages 10-99 years, with an average age of 67,06 years. Males were 42,55%, sex-ratio was 0,74 in favour of women. 26% of cases had impaired fasting glucose levels during the acute phase of ICVA. The lipid profile showed an increase in total cholesterol level in 52.34% of patients. Low levels of HDL cholesterol were found in 34.47% of patients. Hypertriglyceridemia was only observed in 3% of patients. LDL levels were high in 12,76% of patients. Atherogenicity index was high in 25,53% of patients. Disturbances of blood glucose and lipid profile are often associated with ICVA and should be taken into account to ensure better secondary prevention.

Managing neurocysticercosis: challenges and solutions.

Taenia solium neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a major cause of neurological morbidity in the world. Variability in the neuropathology and clinical presentation of NCC often make it difficult to diagnose and manage. Diagnosis of NCC can be challenging especially in endemic and resource-limited countries where laboratory and imaging techniques are often lacking. NCC management can also be challenging as current treatment options are limited and involve symptomatic agents, antiparasitic agents, or surgery. Although antiparasitic treatment probably reduces the number of active lesions and long-term seizure frequency, its efficacy is limited and strategies to improve treatment regimens are warranted. Treatment decisions should be individualized in relation to the type of NCC. Initial measures should focus on symptomatic management, with antiparasitic therapy only to be considered later on, when appropriate. Symptomatic treatment remains the cornerstone in NCC management which should not only focuses on epilepsy, but also on other manifestations that cause considerable burden (recurrent headaches, cognitive decline). Accurate patients' categorization, better antiparasitic regimens, and definition of new clinical outcomes for trials on NCC could improve management quality and prognosis of NCC. Prevention strategies targeting tapeworm carriers and infected pigs are yielding good results in local models. If local elimination of transmission is confirmed and replicated, this will open the door to cysticercosis eradication efforts worldwide.

Epilespie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent au Senegal

Introduction L'epilepsie constitue un probleme de sante publique au Senegal avec une prevalence de 8;3 a 14/1000. Elle concerne principalement les enfants. L'objectif de ce travail est d'etudier les aspects biographiques; phenotypiques et evolutifs de la maladie epileptique dans une cohorte d'enfants au Senegal. Methodologie Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective de dossiers d'enfants epileptiques suivis regulierement au CHU de FANN et a l'Hopital d'Enfants Albert Royer; de Juillet 2003 a decembre 2010. Les criteres d'inclusion etaient: epileptiques ages de moins de 18 ans; regulierement suivis depuis au moins 3 ans; ayant un traitement adapte; a dose efficace; avec une bonne observance therapeutique. Resultats Nous avons collige 522 enfants; ages de 3 mois a 16 ans; avec un sex-ratio de 1;7 en faveur des garcons. L'epilepsie etait idiopathique chez 57% des enfants et non idiopathique chez 43% des patients. Les facteurs etiologiques etaient domines par la consanguinite parentale; les anomalies de la grossesse et de l'accouchement; les infections du systeme nerveux central. Dans le groupe des epilepsies idiopathiques la consanguinite parentale et l'epilepsie familiale etaient retrouvees respectivement chez 64 enfants (21;62%) et 20 enfants (6;75%). Neuf enfants (3%) presentaient un trouble du langage isole; alors qu'un seul enfant (0;33%) avait un deficit cognitif global. Dans le groupe des epilepsies non idiopathiques; les signes associes a l'epilepsie etaient les troubles du langage (15;70%); du comportement (15%) et des deficits moteurs (10;32%). 22;41% des enfants scolarises avaient des difficultes d'apprentissage menant parfois a des redoublements scolaires ou une exclusion. Conclusion La classification syndromique a l'epilepsie est necessaire pour une bonne prevision pronostique et therapeutique. Le caractere idiopathique ou non en est pour une grande place; correle le plus souvent a une epilepsie familial ou une consanguinite ou affection perinatal ou infectieuse du systeme nerveux central

Prise en charge des douleurs neuropathiques au Sénegal : expérience du centre national d'appareillage orthopédique de Dakar

Introduction : Les douleurs neuropathiques sont graves et de prise en charge difficile. L'efficacité du traitement est jugée sur l'amélioration de la qualité de vie.Objectifs : Déterminer la fréquence des douleurs neuropathiques et apprécier l'efficacité de thérapeutiques utilisées et les difficultés à l'instauration des recommandation dans un centre à Dakar.Méthodologie : Une étude prospective de 4 mois a été menée au Centre National d'Appareillage Orthopédique dont l'objectif a été d'apprécier les obstacles à l'instauration des recommandations internationales sur la prise en charge des douleurs neuropathiques. Les patients reçus pour des douleurs chroniques ont répondu aux questionnaires DN4 et ceux qui ont eu des douleurs neuropathiques inclus. L'intensité de la douleur, le retentissement fonctionnel, et la qualité du sommeil, ont été évalués avant et après traitement. Les effets secondaires des médicaments, les raisons d'une non adhérence au traitement ont été notés et la conformité des examens complémentaires vérifiée.Résultats : 53 patients avec un âge moyen de 50,22 ans ont été inclus. L'EVA moyen a été de 5,75. La marche a été anormale dans 33,96% des cas, impossible (4 cas), la montée et descente des escaliers impossible (18,83%), le périmètre de marche inferieur à 1000m (18,86%) et 13,20% des patients incapables de ramasser un objet à terre. Les activités professionnelles suspendues dans 2 cas et le sommeil perturbé dans 33,96% des cas. Le traitement de première intention a été l'Amitriptyline (54,71%) et a été responsable d'effets secondaires dans 3 cas. Après un recul de 2 mois, la reprise effective des différentes activités a été obtenue dans 94,53%.Discussion et Conclusion : Même si la diminution de l'EVA au cours des douleurs neuropathiques sous traitement est parfois minime, le retentissement sur la qualité de vie doit être apprécié avant de conclure à une inefficacité thérapeutique. Le choix des molécules doit tenir compte de l'accessibilité du médicament. La rééducation doit être effectuée surtout en cas de retentissement fonctionnel et/ ou d'association à d'autres déficiences neurologiques