| 1. |
- Ahmadpour, Doryaneh, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Inventory study of an early pandemic COVID- 19 cohort in South-Eastern Sweden, focusing on neurological manifestations
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203 .- 1932-6203. ; 18:1 January
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 have been reported previously as outcomes of the infection. The purpose of current study was to investigate the occurrence of neurological signs and symptoms in COVID-19 patients, in the county ofÖstergötland in southeastern Sweden. Methods This is a retrospective, observational cohort study. Data were collected between March 2020 and June 2020. Information was extracted from medical records by a trained research assistant and physician and all data were validated by a senior neurologist. Results Seventy-four percent of patients developed at least one neurological symptom during the acute phase of the infection. Headache (43%) was the most common neurological symptom, followed by anosmia and/or ageusia (33%), confusion (28%), hallucinations (17%), dizziness (16%), sleep disorders in terms of insomnia and OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) (9%), myopathy and neuropathy (8%) and numbness and tingling (5%). Patients treated in the ICU had a higher male presentation (73%). Several risk factors in terms of co-morbidities, were identified. Hypertension (54.5%), depression and anxiety (51%), sleep disorders in terms of insomnia and OSAS (30%), cardiovascular morbidity (28%), autoimmune diseases (25%), chronic lung diseases (24%) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (23%) founded as possible risk factors. Conclusion Neurological symptoms were found in the vast majority (74%) of the patients. Accordingly, attention to neurological, mental and sleep disturbances is warranted with involvement of neurological expertise, in order to avoid further complications and long-term neurological effect of COVID-19. Furthermore, risk factors for more severe COVID-19, in terms of possible co-morbidities that identified in this study should get appropriate attention to optimizing treatment strategies in COVID-19 patients.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Boberg, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced prefrontal cortex and sympathetic nervous system activity correlate with fatigue after aHSCT
- 2022
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Ingår i: Bone Marrow Transplantation. - : Macmillan Publishers Ltd.. - 0268-3369 .- 1476-5365. ; 57, s. 360-369
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-term fatigue and cognitive dysfunction affects 35% of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) survivors, suggesting a dysfunctional prefrontal cortex. In this study, we assessed prefrontal cortex and sympathetic nervous system activity in aHSCT patients with fatigue (n = 12), non-fatigued patients (n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 27). Measurement of near-infrared spectroscopy and electrodermal activity was carried out at rest and during cognitive performance (Stroop, verbal fluency and emotion regulation tasks). Prefrontal cortex and sympathetic nervous system activity were also analyzed in response to dopamine and noradrenaline increase after a single dose of methylphenidate. Baseline cognitive performance was similar in the two patient groups. However, after methylphenidate, only non-fatigued patients improved in Stroop accuracy and had better verbal fluency task performance compared to the fatigued group. Task-related activation of prefrontal cortex in fatigued patients was lower compared to non-fatigued patients during all cognitive tests, both before and after methylphenidate administration. During the Stroop task, reaction time, prefrontal cortex activation, and sympathetic nervous system activity were all lower in fatigued patients compared to healthy controls, but similar in non-fatigued patients and healthy controls.Reduced prefrontal cortex activity and sympathetic arousal suggests novel treatment targets to improve fatigue after aHSCT.
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| 4. |
- Burkill, Sarah, et al.
(författare)
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Pharmacological Treatments Preceding Diagnosis Of Progressive Multifocal Leukencephalopathy
- 2016
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Ingår i: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1053-8569 .- 1099-1557. ; 25:Suppl. 3, s. 496-497
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Progressive multifocal leukencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, often fatal viral disease, which affects the white matter of the brain. It is caused by John Cunningham (JC) polyomavirus, which is present in most people and is usually harm-less. For immunocompromised persons, such as those who are taking immunosuppressive treatments, the risk of JC virus causing PML is increased, although still rare. As PML diagnosis is not always accurate, epidemiology of PML, including the true incidence and patient characteristics, is incompletely described.Objectives: To identify pharmacological treatments preceding diagnosis of definitive, probable and possible PML, after excluding incorrect PML diagnoses by medical record review.Methods: Patients with a PML diagnosis in Sweden between 1988 and 2013 were identified through the Patient register using ICD 9 code 046D and ICD 10code A81.2 (n = 281). Medical records were reviewed and information on clinical characteristics and pharmacological treatments were collected. Each of the diagnoses was determined as definite PML, possible PML, probable PML or non-PML based on the consensus statement for the AAN neuroinfectious disease section published in 2013. (PMCID: 3662270).Results: Medical records for 251 patients (89%) were available and examined. In total, 84 (33%) of the 251 PML diagnoses were confirmed. For those with a record of being exposed to immunosuppressant drugs, 60 (65%) of the 92 records were confirmed as being definite PML. Among 12 patients exposed to rituximab 11 (92%) had definite and 1 (8%) had probable PML. For the 9 natalizumab users, 8 (89%) had definite PML and 1 (11%) was diagnosed incorrectly.Conclusions: A substantial proportion of PML diagnoses recorded in Sweden are incorrect, however amongst those exposed to immunosuppressants such as rituximab and natalizumab the majority of diagnoses are correct. Assessing immunosuppressive drug history could be an important part of the diagnostic processes for PML.
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| 5. |
- Burman, Joachim, et al.
(författare)
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Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for aggressive multiple sclerosis : the Swedish experience
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. - London, United Kingdom : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0022-3050 .- 1468-330X. ; 85:10, s. 1116-1121
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a viable option for treatment of aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS). No randomised controlled trial has been performed, and thus, experiences from systematic and sustained follow-up of treated patients constitute important information about safety and efficacy. In this observational study, we describe the characteristics and outcome of the Swedish patients treated with HSCT for MS.Methods: Neurologists from the major hospitals in Sweden filled out a follow-up form with prospectively collected data. Fifty-two patients were identified in total; 48 were included in the study and evaluated for safety and side effects; 41 patients had at least 1 year of follow-up and were further analysed for clinical and radiological outcome. In this cohort, 34 patients (83%) had relapsing-remitting MS, and mean follow-up time was 47 months.Results: At 5 years, relapse-free survival was 87%; MRI event-free survival 85%; expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score progression-free survival 77%; and disease-free survival (no relapses, no new MRI lesions and no EDSS progression) 68%. Presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions prior to HSCT was associated with a favourable outcome (disease-free survival 79% vs 46%, p=0.028). There was no mortality. The most common long-term side effects were herpes zoster reactivation (15%) and thyroid disease (8.4%).Conclusions: HSCT is a very effective treatment of inflammatory active MS and can be performed with a high degree of safety at experienced centres.
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| 6. |
- Engelborghs, Sebastiaan, et al.
(författare)
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Consensus guidelines for lumbar puncture in patients with neurological diseases
- 2017
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring. - : Wiley. - 2352-8729. ; 8, s. 111-126
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction Cerebrospinal fluid collection by lumbar puncture (LP) is performed in the diagnostic workup of several neurological brain diseases. Reluctance to perform the procedure is among others due to a lack of standards and guidelines to minimize the risk of complications, such as post-LP headache or back pain. Methods We provide consensus guidelines for the LP procedure to minimize the risk of complications. The recommendations are based on (1) data from a large multicenter LP feasibility study (evidence level II-2), (2) systematic literature review on LP needle characteristics and post-LP complications (evidence level II-2), (3) discussion of best practice within the Joint Programme Neurodegenerative Disease Research Biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's Disease and Biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis consortia (evidence level III). Results Our consensus guidelines address contraindications, as well as patient-related and procedure-related risk factors that can influence the development of post-LP complications. Discussion When an LP is performed correctly, the procedure is well tolerated and accepted with a low complication rate.
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| 8. |
- Iacobaeus, Ellen
(författare)
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Establishment and applications of a multiple sclerosis biobank : analysis of biomarkers and therapeutic complications in MS
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Biomarkers for disease activity and prognosis in multiple sclerosis (MS) are lacking. We established a MS biobank consisting of paired cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF) and peripheral blood samples from MS patients and controls. A standardized procedure for sampling and data collection was developed when forming the European network for MS biomarker research (BioMS) and applied when processing samples and data. The MS biobank was then used for the following studies: In paper I, we analyzed the basal viral load of JC virus (JCV) DNA in untreated MS patients and controls in aspects of PML risk. In our system, a low JCV DNA replication could occasionally be found in CSF or plasma in MS patients and controls without clinical signs of PML. We concluded that JCV analysis, in untreated MS patients, is not useful for identification of patients with higher risk of PML. In paper II a comparison of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and neurofilament subunits in CSF as biomarkers for axonal damage in MS was performed. We observed that CSFNAA might serve as a biomarker for axonal damage during later stages of disease. Increased levels of CSF neurofilament light chain (NfL) correlated to acute axonal damage associated with inflammation whereas high levels of CSF neurofilament heavy chain (NfH) was indicative of irreversible axonal damage. The combined analysis of all biomarkers identified a higher number of MS patients with an abnormal biomarker panel compared to analysis of a single biomarker. In paper III we used a new assay for detection of anti-myelin antibodies in CSF and report that approximately 50% of the MS patients had increased anti-myelin antibodyreactivity in CSF and that their levels correlated to the number of MRI lesions in MS patients. In paper IV, we analyzed the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in CSF cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from MS patients and controls and demonstrated that both relapsing-remitting MS patients (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS patients (SPMS) had decreased levels of VEGF-A in CSF. In addition, SPMS also displayed a significant decrease of VEGF-A in PBMCs which was associated with an altered peripheral blood monocyte phenotype. We conclude that decreased PBMCs VEGF-A may be a new biomarker for SPMS. In paper V we performed a large genetic association study in MS patients and controls and demonstrated that IL7R gene variants influence the risk of MS. Functional analysis showed that MS patients had an increase of IL7R and IL7 mRNA expression in CSF cells compared to controls. These findings suggest that IL7-IL7R signaling might be involved in the dysregulated immune response in MS. In summary, we present an example of a genetic biomarker for risk of disease. We related different markers for neurodegeneration to disease stage, explored two possible immune related markers, and analyzed a treatment related complication in MS. The papers included in this thesis are examples of the value of quality biobanking for clinical research.
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| 9. |
- Iacobaeus, Ellen, et al.
(författare)
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The national incidence of PML in Sweden, 1988-2013
- 2018
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Ingår i: Neurology. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0028-3878 .- 1526-632X. ; 90:6, s. E498-E506
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the incidence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and patient characteristics in Sweden between 1988 and 2013.Methods: All PML diagnoses in Sweden between 1988 and 2013 were identified in the National Patient Register. Information to validate the diagnosis and patient characteristics was obtained from medical records.Results: Medical record review classified 108 out of 250 patients (43%) as definite (n = 84), probable (n = 4), or possible (n = 20) PML according to diagnostic criteria. Accurate diagnoses were more common in records obtained from neurology departments (82% of patients seen in neurology departments) compared with other departments (31%) (p < 0.001). The incidence of PML increased from a largely stable level at 0.026 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.021-0.031) per 100,000 individuals per year during 1988-2010 to 0.11 (95% CI 083-0.137) during 2011-2013, during which time there was a notable increase (p < 0.001). Hematologic malignancies (n = 34), HIV/AIDS (n = 33), and autoimmune disease (n = 23) were the most common underlying diseases. Treatment with a monoclonal antibody prior to PML diagnosis was identified in 26 patients.Conclusion: An increased incidence of PML in Sweden was observed and coincided with the prior use of monoclonal antibody treatment. The high level of misdiagnosis emphasizes the importance of immediate contact with a neurology center upon suspicion of PML.
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| 10. |
- Kits, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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Fatal Acute Hemorrhagic Encephalomyelitis and Antiphospholipid Antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination : A Case Report
- 2022
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Ingår i: Vaccines. - : MDPI. - 2076-393X. ; 10:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Acute hemorrhagic encephalomyelitis (AHEM) is a rare hyperacute form of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). The disease is characterized by fulminant inflammation and demyelination in the brain and spinal cord and is often preceded by an infection or vaccination. This case report presents a 53-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis and ongoing treatment with methotrexate and etanercept who developed fatal AHEM following the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The disease course was complicated by multiorgan thromboembolic disease and the presence of high/moderate levels of cardiolipin IgG antibodies and anti-beta-2 glycoprotein 1 IgG antibodies suggesting a possible antiphospholipid syndrome. Treatment with immunosuppressive therapies failed to improve the course. The report comprises comprehensive clinical, neuroimaging, and neuropathological findings. The case highlights diagnostic challenges in a patient with several preceding risk factors, including autoimmune disease, immunotherapy, and vaccination, with possible pathophysiological implications. The temporal association with the COVID-19 vaccination may suggest possible causality although evidence cannot be ascertained. Reporting possible adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination is important to identify at-risk populations and to accomplish control of the current pandemic.
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