Risk factors for deep venous thrombosis in tetraparesic mentally retarded patients.

OBJECTIVES: The risk factors and incidence of deep venous thrombosis were studied in a population of para- and tetraparesic patients institutionalized for long durations. METHODS: Retrospectively, the antecedents and risk factors of deep venous thrombosis were collected for each patient. RESULTS: Data were available for 57 patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 18 years. None of the patients presented thromboembolic pathology. Ninety-three per cent of the patients were spastic tetraparesic, 7% were spastic paraparesic. Sixty per cent of the patients presented added risk factors, mostly orthopaedic surgery, bone fractures and hormonal treatments. CONCLUSION: Spasticity probably plays a role in preventing deep venous thrombosis in paralysed patients, but it does not fully explain the absence of deep venous thrombosis in this population.

[Neurocysticercosis in the South-East of France 1988-1998]. / Neurocysticercose dans le Sud-Est de la France entre 1988 et 1998.

OBJECTIVE: Neurocysticercosis is commonly observed in developing countries but can also occur in industrialized countries. The aim of this work was to analyze diagnostic and therapeutic data on cases of neurocysticercosis diagnosed in southeastern France over the last 10 years. METHODS: We collected data from patient files and compared them with those reported in the literature. RESULTS: We collected 29 cases of neurocysticercosis diagnosed in southeastern France between 1988 and 1999. None of the patients had acquired the disease in France. Seizures were the most common inaugural sign. Four patients had skin lesions and very few had radiologically identifiable muscle calcifications. CT scan and MRI provided the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis and contributed to follow-up. Brain imaging showed cyst formation and calcifications. Cysticercosis serology was positive in only 52% of our patients. Antiparasite treatments with albendazole provided improvement in most patients although aggravation was observed in 4 despite a well-conducted regimen. There was one death. CONCLUSION: Neurological manifestations, particularly seizures, in a patient returning from an endemic zone should prompt search for neurocysticercosis with brain CT and MRI. Regression of clinical and radiological signs with treatment confirms the diagnosis.