[Lupus anticoagulant antibody (LAC) and juvenile cerebral ischemic attack: a clinical case]. / Anticorpo anticoagulante lupus (LAC) e ictus ischemico cerebrale giovanile: un contributo clinico.

The lupus anticoagulant (LAC) is an acquired circulating serum immunoglobulin that prolongs all phospholipid-dependent coagulation tests. It has been recently associated with focal cerebral ischemia. We present here a case of LAC associated multiple cerebral ischemic events in a young adult and discuss laboratory criteria for a reliable diagnosis. In order to detect the presence of LAC, both the activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT), the kaolin clotting time (Exner assay) and the tissue thromboplastin inhibition assay (Schleider assay) should be evaluated. We conclude that LAC should be looked for in all young stroke patients with otherwise unexplained cerebral infarctions.

Can association between transient global amnesia and migraine tell us something about the pathophysiology of transient global amnesia?

The paper deals with the pathophysiological mechanism involved in classic migraine and in transient global amnesia. It is concluded that a primary neuronal mechanism, possibly the spreading depression of Leao, is the most likely explanation of both the syndromes.

Exposure times for colour discrimination in the parafoveal field: a new procedure to detect subtle visual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

A new procedure to test colour discrimination in the parafoveal field is described. This method was used on 25 healthy controls and 25 subjects having a definite clinical or laboratory-supported diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, with or without a previous history of optic neuritis. The test proved to be sensitive in detecting visual dysfunction even in some patients in whom the standard technique of pattern-reversal evoked potential recordings yielded a normal result.