Predicting sickness impact profile at six months after stroke: further results from the European multi-center CERISE study.

PURPOSE: To develop prognostic models and equations for predicting participation at six months after stroke. METHODS: This European prospective cohort study recruited 532 consecutive patients from four rehabilitation centers. Participation was assessed at six months after stroke with the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), which consists of a physical, psychosocial and independent dimension. Twenty-six independent variables on admission to the rehabilitation center and 13 additional variables measured at two months post stroke were included in the analysis. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted predicting good participation (SIP < 20%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: The prognostic models for the three dimensions provided independent predictors containing demographics, complications, diagnostic, and disability measures. Sensitivity ranged from 64-84%, specificity 66-85%, positive predictive value 70-78%, and negative predictive value 76-87%. Barthel Index on admission, Euroqol Health State at two months and Caregiver Strain Index at two months were retained in all prediction models. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of variables was found in the prognostic models of the three dimensions of the SIP at six months after stroke. Already from the early beginning of stroke rehabilitation it seems important to focus on personal activities of daily living as well as caregivers' strain. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Prognostic factors predicting participation, measured by the three dimensions of the Sickness Impact Profile at six months post stroke include demographic variables, post-stroke complications, diagnostic parameters and disability measures. Significant prognostic variables for all three dimensions of the Sickness Impact Profile were a higher Barthel Index score on admission to the rehabilitation center, a higher Euroqol Health State score at two months post stroke and a lower Caregiver Strain Index score at two months post stroke. Early stroke therapy should therefore further emphasize rehabilitation of personal activities of daily living such as mobility, walking, feeding, dressing, and toilet use, as well as considering strategies to reduce caregiver strain such as giving support, providing information and training carers.

Anxiety and depression after stroke: a 5 year follow-up.

PURPOSE: The aim was to document the prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression 5 years after stroke, across four European centres. METHOD: A cohort of 220 stroke patients was assessed at 2, 4 and 6 months and 5 years after stroke. Patients were assessed on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and measures of motor function and independence in activities of daily living. RESULTS: At 5 years, the prevalence of anxiety was 29% and depression 33%, with no significant differences between centres. The severity of anxiety and depression increased significantly between 6 months and 5 years. Higher anxiety at 6 months and centre were significantly associated with anxiety at 5 years, but not measures of functional recovery. Higher depression scores at 6 months, older age and centre, but not measures of functional recovery, were associated with depression at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression were more frequent at 5 years after stroke than at 6 months. There were significant differences between four European centres in the severity of anxiety and depression. Although the main determinant of anxiety or depression scores at 5 years was the level of anxiety or depression at 6 months, this accounted for little of the variance. Centre was also a significant predictor of mood at 5 years. There needs to be greater recognition of the development of mood disorders late after stroke and evaluation of variation in management policies across centres.

[Polyneuropathies--short and sweet]. / Polyneuropathien--kurz und bündig.

Complaints of sensory loss and (painful) tingling in a stocking distribution are not uncommon in primary care. These symptoms are especially troublesome while getting asleep. Characteristically, ankle tendon reflexes and vibration perception are diminished. These are the hallmarks of distal-symmetric sensory polyneuropathy (PNP), with diabetes mellitus being the most common cause in our patient population. PNP presents itself only after years of suboptimal glycemic control in diabetes type 1. In patients with type 2, symptoms of PNP can precede formal diagnosis of diabetes! In this mini-review we present an algorithm for diagnosis and management of PNP's in general practice.

A cost analysis of the first year after stroke - early triage and inpatient rehabilitation may reduce long term costs.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyse the costs of stroke in the first year covered by insurance companies and to correlate them with the clinical outcome data. METHODS: We contacted the insurance companies of 172 consecutive stroke patients of a single institution cohort for a detailed report of the stroke costs. A complete data set over one year was obtained from 131 patients (76%). RESULTS: Severity of stroke was significantly associated with increasing total costs (p = 0.0002). The rehabilitation clinic made up 37% of the total costs followed by nursing home with 21% and acute hospital with 21%. Mean cost of stroke per patient was 31,115 CHF in the first year. Costs per patient for inpatient rehabilitation were similar to those for the nursing home after one year; however, the Barthel-index of patients with inpatient rehabilitation increased by 42 +/- 29 points as compared to patients without inpatient rehabilitation by 23 +/- 26 points (p <0.05), and 86% resp. 81% of patients with inpatient stroke rehabilitation lived independently after 6 and 12 months respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The high level of independence after inpatient stroke rehabilitation underlines the importance of patient selection and/or rehabilitation. Therefore, long-term stroke costs may be significantly reduced by an early and careful triage in the case management after stroke and a case-dependent investment in initial costly appearing inpatient rehabilitation.

[Vasculitis and mononeuritis multiplex]. / Vaskulitis und Mononeuritis multiplex.

In 1991, a 67 year old patient, suffering from an adenocarcinoma of the colon, had to undergo hemicolectomy. In the five following years, isolated metastases developed in the liver and have been surgically removed. In 1997, acute mononeuritis multiplex appeared and nerve biopsy revealed vasculitis. There were no signs of inflammatory rheumatic illness, collagenosis, cryglobulinemia, infection or hypersensitivity to medication. We have therefore postulated a relation between the vasculitis and the malignancy. Tumorous relapse could however not be detected at that time. Under immunosuppressive therapy, the neurological deficiencies receded partially, though the carcinoma of the colon reappeared with systemic metastases in the wake of the vasculitis. Diagnostic measures and the relationship between malignancy and vasculitis are discussed.

[Postpolio syndrome: retrospective study in a former polio clinic]. / Das Postpoliosyndrom: retrospektive Studie an einer ehemaligen Polioklinik.

Delayed consequences of polio virus infection are of growing interest because of the increasing incidence of new symptoms in patients who previously had poliomyelitis. We examined 121 patients with an earlier diagnosis of acute anterior poliomyelitis for features of the postpolio syndrome using the criteria of Halstead and found evidence of the syndrome in 68.07% of the patients. Meaningful management of these patients requires recognition of the clinical features of the condition and a collaborative approach involving physicians, physiotherapists, psychotherapists and social workers.

Electrophysiological characterization of pre- and postoperative facial nerve function in patients with acoustic neuroma using electrical and magnetic stimulation techniques.

Facial nerve function was examined in patients who underwent posterior fossa surgery for unilateral acoustic neuroma. Examinations took place prior to surgery (n = 47 patients), early after surgery (0-12 days, n = 16 of 47 patients), and late after surgery (187-1505 days, n = 29 of 47 patients). Clinical signs of facial palsy were present to a variable extent in 13 of 47 patients before, in 12 of 16 patients early, and in 18 of 29 patients later after surgery. Electrophysiologically, the facial nerve was stimulated electrically at the stylomastoid fossa and magnetically at its proximal intracanalicular segment. In addition, the face-associated motor cortex was stimulated magnetically. In patients with facial palsy, any of these stimulation methods resulted in a decreased amplitude of the response in the nasalis muscle. The decrease showed a linear relationship to the clinical grade of palsy, pre- and postoperatively. Corticomuscular latencies remained unchanged. We conclude that: (i) the electrophysiological characteristics of facial nerve lesions due to compression by acoustic neuromas or due to a complication of neuroma removal are those of a purely axonal neuropathy; (ii) the three stimulation techniques have a similar diagnostic yield, thus making the use of all three of them redundant; and (iii) the electrophysiological techniques allowed no prediction of the final facial nerve function.

Treatment of neurocysticercosis.

The clinical and laboratory data of 88 black patients with computed tomographic (CT) evidence of active neurocysticercosis were analysed. The CT appearance of neurocysticercosis was distinctive in the majority. Seizures, chronic headache and neuropsychiatric changes were the most common clinical presentations. Hydrocephalus was diagnosed in 17 patients (9 obstructive and 8 communicating) and cerebral infarction with focal neurological deficit occurred in 4 cases. All patients were treated with praziquantel (Biltricide: Bayer Miles). There was complete cyst clearance after two courses in 14 patients and in 16 cases the mean percentage reduction in cyst number was 85.88% and in cyst size 80.84%. In 1 patient there was no response to treatment. Although praziquantel was effective in parenchymal neurocysticercosis, it was ineffectual in the treatment of 5 patients with cysticercal meningitis. There were 2 deaths in the series.