| 1. |
- Andrén, Kerstin, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Long-term effects of complications and vascular comorbidity in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a quality registry study
- 2018
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In: Journal of Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 265:1, s. 178-186
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is little knowledge about the factors influencing the long-term outcome after surgery for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). To evaluate the effects of reoperation due to complications and of vascular comorbidity (hypertension, diabetes, stroke and heart disease) on the outcome in iNPH patients, 2-6 years after shunt surgery. We included 979 patients from the Swedish Hydrocephalus Quality Registry (SHQR), operated on for iNPH during 2004-2011. The patients were followed yearly by mailed questionnaires, including a self-assessed modified Rankin Scale (smRS) and a subjective comparison between their present and their preoperative health condition. The replies were grouped according to the length of follow-up after surgery. Data on clinical evaluations, vascular comorbidity, and reoperations were extracted from the SHQR. On the smRS, 40% (38-41) of the patients were improved 2-6 years after surgery and around 60% reported their general health condition to be better than preoperatively. Reoperation did not influence the outcome after 2-6 years. The presence of vascular comorbidity had no negative impact on the outcome after 2-6 years, assessed as improvement on the smRS or subjective improvement of the health condition, except after 6 years when patients with hypertension and a history of stroke showed a less favorable development on the smRS. This registry-based study shows no negative impact of complications and only minor effects of vascular comorbidity on the long-term outcome in iNPH.
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| 2. |
- Andrén, Kerstin, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Survival in treated idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
- 2020
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In: Journal of Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 267
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective To describe survival and causes of death in 979 treated iNPH patients from the Swedish Hydrocephalus Quality Registry (SHQR), and to examine the influence of comorbidities, symptom severity and postoperative outcome. Methods All 979 patients operated for iNPH 2004-2011 and registered in the SHQR were included. A matched control group of 4890 persons from the general population was selected by Statistics Sweden. Data from the Swedish Cause of Death Registry was obtained for patients and controls. Results At a median 5.9 (IQR 4.2-8.1) year follow-up, 37% of the iNPH patients and 23% of the controls had died. Mortality was increased in iNPH patients by a hazard ratio of 1.81, 95% CI 1.61-2.04, p < 0.001. More pronounced symptoms in the preoperative ordinal gait scale and the Mini-mental State Examination were the most important independent predictors of mortality along with the prevalence of heart disease. Patients who improved in both the gait scale and in the modified Rankin Scale postoperatively (n = 144) had a similar survival as the general population (p = 0.391). Deaths due to cerebrovascular disease or dementia were more common in iNPH patients, while more controls died because of neoplasms or disorders of the circulatory system. Conclusions Mortality in operated iNPH patients is 1.8 times increased compared to the general population, a lower figure than previously reported. The survival of iNPH patients who improve in gait and functional independence is similar to that of the general population, indicating that shunt surgery for iNPH, besides improving symptoms and signs, can normalize survival.
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| 3. |
- Eklund, Sanna, et al.
(author)
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10-year mortality, causes of death and cardiovascular comorbidities in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
- 2024
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In: Journal of Neurology. - : Springer Nature. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 271, s. 1311-1319
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The objective was to investigate 10-year mortality, causes of death and cardiovascular comorbidity in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and to evaluate their mutual associations.Methods: This prospective cohort study included 176 CSF-shunted iNPH patients, and 368 age- and sex-matched controls. At inclusion, participants were medically examined, had blood analyzed and answered a questionnaire. The vascular comorbidities investigated were smoking, diabetes, body mass index, blood pressure (BP), hyperlipidemia, kidney function, atrial fibrillation and, cerebro- and cardiovascular disease.Results: Survival was observed for a mean period of 10.3 ± 0.84 years. Shunted iNPH patients had an increased risk of death compared to controls (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.5, 95% CI 1.86–3.36; p < 0.001). After 10 years, 50% (n = 88) of iNPH patients and 24% (n = 88) of the controls were dead (p < 0.001). The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, falls and neurological diseases were higher in iNPH (p < 0.05). The most common cause of death in iNPH was cardiovascular diseases (14% vs 7% for controls). Seven out of nine iNPH dying from falls had subdural hematomas. Systolic BP (HR = 0.985 95% CI 0.972–0.997, p = 0.018), atrial fibrillation (HR = 2.652, 95% CI 1.506–4.872, p < 0.001) and creatinine (HR = 1.018, 95% CI 1.010–1.027, p < 0.001) were independently associated with mortality for iNPH.Discussion: This long-term and population-matched cohort study indicates that in spite of CSF-shunt treatment, iNPH has shorter life expectancy. It may be important to treat iNPH in supplementary ways to reduce mortality. Both cardiovascular comorbidities and lethal falls are contributing to the excess mortality in iNPH and reducing these preventable risks should be an established part of the treatment plan.
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| 4. |
- Georgiopoulos, Charalampos, et al.
(author)
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The diagnostic value of dopamine transporter imaging and olfactory testing in patients with parkinsonian syndromes.
- 2015
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In: Journal of Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 262:9, s. 2154-2163
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of olfactory testing and presynaptic dopamine imaging in diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS); to evaluate if the combination of these two diagnostic tools can improve their diagnostic value. A prospective investigation of 24 PD patients, 16 APS patients and 15 patients with non-parkinsonian syndromes was performed during an 18-month period. Single photon emission computed tomography with the presynaptic radioligand (123)I-FP-CIT (DaTSCAN(®)) and olfactory testing with the Brief 12-item Smell Identification Test (B-SIT) were performed in all patients. DaTSCAN was analysed semi-quantitatively, by calculating two different striatal uptake ratios, and visually according to a predefined ranking scale. B-SIT score was significantly lower for PD patients, but not significantly different between APS and non-parkinsonism. The visual assessment of DaTSCAN had higher sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy compared to olfactory testing. Most PD patients (75 %) had visually predominant dopamine depletion in putamen, while most APS patients (56 %) had visually severe dopamine depletion both in putamen and in caudate nucleus. The combination of DaTSCAN and B-SIT led to a higher rate of correctly classified patients. Olfactory testing can distinguish PD from non-parkinsonism, but not PD from APS or APS from non-parkinsonism. DaTSCAN is more efficient than olfactory testing and can be valuable in differentiating PD from APS. However, combining olfactory testing and DaTSCAN imaging has a higher predictive value than these two methods separately.
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| 5. |
- Hagell, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Apomorphine formulation may influence subcutaneous complications from continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion in Parkinson's disease
- 2020
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In: Journal of Neurology. - : D. Steinkopff-Verlag. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 267:11, s. 3411-3417
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Continuous subcutaneous (s.c.) apomorphine infusion is an effective therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD), but a limitation is the formation of troublesome s.c. nodules. Various chemically non-identical apomorphine formulations are available. Anecdotal experiences have suggested that shifting from one of these (Apo-Go PumpFill®; apoGPF) to another (Apomorphine PharmSwed®; apoPS) may influence the occurrence and severity of s.c. nodules. We, therefore, followed 15 people with advanced PD (median PD-duration, 15 years; median "off"-phase Hoehn and Yahr, IV) on apoGPF and with troublesome s.c. nodules who were switched to apoPS. Data were collected at baseline, at the time of switching, and at a median of 1, 2.5, and 7.3 months post-switch. Total nodule numbers (P < 0.001), size (P < 0.001), consistency (P < 0.001), skin changes (P = 0.058), and pain (P ≤ 0.032) improved over the observation period. PD severity and dyskinesias tended to improve and increase, respectively. Apomorphine doses were stable, but levodopa doses increased by 100 mg/day. Patient-reported apomorphine efficacy tended to increase and all participants remained on apoPS throughout the observation period; with the main patient-reported reason being improved nodules. These observations suggest that patients with s.c. nodules caused by apoGPF may benefit from switching to apoPS in terms of s.c. nodule occurrence and severity. Alternatively, observed benefits may have been due to the switch itself. As nodule formation is a limiting factor in apomorphine treatment, a controlled prospective study comparing local tolerance with different formulations is warranted.
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| 9. |
- Palhagen, Sven, et al.
(author)
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Monoamines, BDNF, IL-6 and corticosterone in CSF in patients with Parkinsons disease and major depression
- 2010
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In: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY. - : Springer Science Business Media. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 257:4, s. 524-532
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The biochemical basis of major depression (MD) in Parkinsons disease (PD) is largely unknown. To increase our understanding of MD in PD patients, the levels of monoamine metabolites (HVA, 5-HIAA and MHPG), BDNF, orexin-A, IL-6 and corticosterone were examined in cerebrospinal fluid. The analyses were performed in MD patients with (n = 11) and without (n = 12) PD at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment with the antidepressant citalopram, and in patients with solely PD (n = 14) at baseline and after 12 weeks. The major findings were that PD patients with MD had significantly lower baseline levels of MHPG, corticosterone and IL-6 when compared to patients with solely MD. In response to citalopram treatment, patients with solely MD exhibited an expected decrease in 5-HIAA and MHPG levels which was not found in PD patients with MD. Moreover, the levels of BDNF and IL-6 were lower in PD patients with MD compared with patients with solely MD after treatment with citalopram. Thus, the biochemical basis and the response to citalopram differ between PD patients with MD and patients with solely MD.
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| 10. |
- Pyykko, Ilmari, et al.
(author)
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Do patients with Menieres disease have attacks of syncope?
- 2017
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In: Journal of Neurology. - : SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 264, s. S48-S54
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors for syncope among patients with Menieres disease (MD). An attack of syncope was defined as a sudden and transient loss of consciousness, which subsides spontaneously and without a localizing neurological deficit. The study used an across-sectional survey design. Information from a database consisting of 961 individuals was collected from the Finnish Meniere Association. The data contained case histories, general health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and impact measurements of the complaints. In the current study sample, syncope occurred in 12.3% of the patients with MD. It was more prevalent among elderly persons and among those with a longer duration of MD. Syncope was significantly associated with disturbances of otolith function reflected as Tumarkin attacks, gait and balance problems, environmental change of pressure, and physical strain. It was also associated with visual blurring; in fact, patients with otolith dysfunction in MD often experience visual field changes. It was also associated with headache, but not with migraine. Syncope was experienced as frightening and HRQoL was significantly worsened. The patient had higher anxiety scores, and suffered more from fatigue. The results demonstrate that neurally mediated syncope occurs in patients with an advanced form of MD who suffer from Tumarkin attacks due to failure in otolith function. The mechanism seems to be triggered through the vestibular sympathetic reflex when the otolith system fails due to disrupted utricular otolithic membrane mediate erroneous positional information from the otolith organ to the vasomotor centres in the brain stem and medulla.
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