| 1. |
- Vrethem, Magnus, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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Chronic symptoms are common in patients with neuroborreliosis - A questionnaire follow-up study
- 2002
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 106:4, s. 205-208
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives - The existence of chronic neuroborreliosis is controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the existence and kind of persistent symptoms in patients previously treated because of neurological symptoms as a result of neuroborreliosis. Material and methods - A total of 106 patients with neuroborreliosis, according to established criteria, and a control group of 123 patients with Borrelia induced erythema migrans diagnosed in a general practitioner office were studied. A questionnaire was sent to patients and controls concerning their health situation. Time from onset of neurological symptoms to the questionnaire sendout was 32 months (mean) for the patients with neuroborreliosis and 33 months (mean) for the controls. Results - Fifty per cent of the individuals in the patient group compared with 16% of the individuals in the control group showed persistent complaints after their Borrelia infection (P < 0.0001). The most significant differences between the groups were the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as headache, attention problems, memory difficulties and depression. Paresthesia, pain and persistent facial palsy was also significantly more common in patients treated because of neuroborreliosis. Conclusion - Our study shows that persisting neurological symptoms are common after a neuroborreliosis infection. The pathological mechanisms that lay behind the development of chronic symptoms, however, are still uncertain.
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| 2. |
- Vrethem, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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IgA antibodies against tissue transglutaminase, endomysium and gliadin in idiopathic polyneuropathy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : John Wiley and Sons. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 127:2, s. 109-115
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To study the prevalence of antibodies of IgA class against tissue transglutaminase (tTG), endomysium (EMA) and gliadin (AGA) in patients with chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP) and to characterize the patients clinically and neurophysiologically. Methods Of 182 patients, 126 patients agreed to blood sampling. Sera were analysed by ELISAs detecting anti-tTG and AGA, whereas EMA was analysed by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed by data from medical records and patient interviews. Results Nine of 126 patients (7%) were seropositive in at least one test (five with positive anti-tTG and/or EMA and four with positive AGA only). One patient with elevated levels of all specificities had laboratory signs of malabsorption and gastrointestinal complaints with abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Conclusions Elevated levels of IgA-AGA were slightly more frequent in patients with CIAP (4%) compared to 2.5% in 1866 healthy blood donors. Highly specific serological markers indicative of coeliac disease (CD) (anti-tTG and EMA) were somewhat more common in our patients with CIAP (4%) than expected from normal reference values and from studies of the prevalence of CD in the general population. Even though these findings may indicate a relationship, the aetiological importance is unclear.
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| 3. |
- Vrethem, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Polyneuropathy associated with IgM vs IgG monoclonal gammopathy: comparison between clinical and electrophysiological findings
- 2010
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 122:1, s. 52-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective - The neuropathy associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathy (IgM-MG) is regarded as a sensorimotor, mainly demyelinating neuropathy. It is not fully known whether the neuropathy in IgG-MG is caused by the same mechanisms and shows the same electrophysiological characteristics. We aimed at making a comparison between clinical and neurophysiological findings in these two conditions. Patients and methods - Twenty-seven patients with IgM-associated neuropathy [18 with anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) antibodies] were compared with 15 age-matched patients with IgG-associated neuropathy. Results - Patients with IgM-associated neuropathy (especially those with anti-MAG antibodies) had significantly clinically more severe disabilities with involvement of both motor and sensory functions compared with patients with IgG-associated neuropathy in whom clinical sensory disturbances were more prominent than motor dysfunction. Motor and sensory conduction velocities were significantly lower and distal latencies significantly longer in the IgM group than in the IgG group concerning the median, ulnar and peroneal nerves. Fifty-four per cent of the patients in the IgM group did not present a sensory response of the median nerve vs 13% in the IgG group. There was also a significant difference concerning absent responses from the peroneal and sural nerves in the IgM vs IgG group (peroneal: 48% vs 13%, sural: 88% vs 27%). Conclusion - Polyneuropathy associated with IgM-MG, especially when associated with anti-MAG antibodies, appears to have more of a demyelinating involvement that meets the criteria for demyelination. This was not as clear in those associated with IgG. The IgG neuropathy showed less and milder deficit in the electrophysiological studies.
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| 4. |
- Borgström, Max, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in Retinal Thickness and Brain Volume during 6.8-Year Escalating Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : WILEY. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 2023
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Different disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) have disparate effects on disability outcomes. Sweden has a leading position globally in initiating high-efficacy DMT instead of escalating DMT from 1(st)-line to high-efficacy DMT. With optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal changes can be measured at a few micrometer level. OCT has been increasingly applied in diagnosing MS and monitoring disease course and therapeutic effect. Objective. We investigate the effects of 1(st)-line versus high-efficacy DMT for MS on retinal and brain atrophy and on functional outcomes during 6.8 years of escalating DMT. Materials and Methods. In this prospective longitudinal observational study, 18 MS patients were followed up for 6.8 years. Twelve of the patients were untreated at baseline. All patients underwent 1(st)-line DMT for median duration of 2.4 years and then switched to high-efficacy DMT for a median duration of 2.9 years. Findings from neurological examinations, MRI, and OCT measures were registered 2-4 times per year. Results. Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness was significantly reduced during 1(st)-line DMT (73.75 mu m, p < 0.01) compared to baseline (76.38 mu m). During high-efficacy DMT, thickness reduction was slower (73.27 mu m, p < 0.05), and MRI contrast-loading lesions vanished (p < 0.01). However, brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) decreased during high-efficacy DMT compared to 1(st)-line DMT. Estimated models showed similar results. Conclusion. GCIPL decline was most profound during 1(st)-line DMT and diminished during high-efficacy DMT. MRI contrast lesions vanished during high-efficacy DMT. However, brain atrophy continued regardless of high-efficacy DMT.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Bruhn, H., et al.
(författare)
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Improved survival of Swedish glioblastoma patients treated according to Stupp
- 2018
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : WILEY. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 138:4, s. 332-337
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectivesThe median survival in glioblastoma (GBM) patients used to be less than 1year. Surgical removal of the tumor with subsequent concomitant radiation/temozolomide (the Stupp regimen) has been shown to prolong survival. The Stupp protocol was implemented in the county of Jonkoping in 2006. The purpose of this study was to examine if the Stupp treatment has prolonged overall survival, in an unselected patient cohort with histologically verified GBM. Material and MethodThis study includes all patients from the county of Jonkoping, with a diagnosis of GBM from January 2001 to December 2012. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts, 2001-2005 and 2006-2012, that is before and after implementation of the Stupp regimen. By reviewing the medical case notes, the dates of the histological diagnosis and of death were identified. The median and mean overall survival and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were calculated and compared between the 2 cohorts. ResultsThe mean survival was 110days longer in the cohort treated according to the Stupp regimen. Four patients in the 2006-2012 cohort and 1 patient in the 2001-2005 cohort are still alive. When comparing survival in patients with radical surgery vs biopsy, those that underwent radical surgery survived longer. The significance was slightly greater in the 2001-2005 cohort (mean 163 vs 344days, Pamp;lt;.001) than in the 2006-2012 cohort (mean 220 vs 397days, P=.02). ConclusionSurvival significantly improved after the implementation of the Stupp regimen in the study region of Sweden.
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| 7. |
- Bruhn, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Initial cognitive impairment predicts shorter survival of patients with glioblastoma
- 2022
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 145:1, s. 94-101
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives Seizures as presenting symptom of glioblastoma (GBM) are known to predict prolonged survival, whereas the clinical impact of other initial symptoms is less known. Our main objective was to evaluate the influence of different presenting symptoms on survival in a clinical setting. We also assessed lead times, tumour size and localization. Methods Medical records of 189 GBM patients were reviewed regarding the first medical appointment, presenting symptom/s, date of diagnostic radiology and survival. Tumour size, localization and treatment data were retrieved. Overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Mann-Whitney U test. Cox regression was used for risk estimation. Results Cognitive impairment as the initial symptom was often misinterpreted in primary health care leading to a delayed diagnosis. Initial global symptoms (66% of all patients) were associated with reduced survival compared to no global symptoms (median 8.4 months vs. 12.6 months). Those with the most common cognitive dysfunctions: change of behaviour, memory impairment and/or disorientation had a reduced median survival to 6.4 months. In contrast, seizures (32%) were associated with longer survival (median 11.2 months vs. 8.3 months). Global symptoms were associated with larger tumours than seizures, but tumour size had no linear association with survival. The setting of the first medical appointment was evenly distributed between primary health care and emergency units. Conclusion Patients with GBM presenting with cognitive symptoms are challenging to identify, have larger tumours and reduced survival. In contrast, epileptic seizures as the first symptom are associated with longer survival and smaller tumours.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Vågberg, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for the use of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing and monitoring the treatment of multiple sclerosis: recommendations of the Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Association and the Swedish Neuroradiological Society
- 2017
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - Hoboken, USA : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 135:1, s. 17-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with inflammatory lesions in the brain and spinal cord. The detection of such inflammatory lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important in the consideration of the diagnosis and differential diagnoses of MS, as well as in the monitoring of disease activity and predicting treatment efficacy. Although there is strong evidence supporting the use of MRI for both the diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity, there is a lack of evidence regarding which MRI protocols to use, the frequency of examinations, and in what clinical situations to consider MRI examination. A national workshop to discuss these issues was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2015, which resulted in a Swedish consensus statement regarding the use of MRI in the care of individuals with MS. The aim of this consensus statement is to provide practical advice for the use of MRI in this setting. The recommendations are based on a review of relevant literature and the clinical experience of workshop attendees. It is our hope that these recommendations will benefit individuals with MS and guide healthcare professionals responsible for their care.
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