| 1. |
- Andersson, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Challenges in diagnosing normal pressure hydrocephalus : evaluation of the diagnostic guidelines
- 2017
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Ingår i: eNeurologicalSci. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-6502. ; 7, s. 27-31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To evaluate the present diagnostic guidelines of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) in a sample from the general population.Methods: A total of 168 individuals (93 females, 75 males), mean age 75 years (range 66-92) with and without symptoms of iNPH underwent a CT-scan of the brain, a neurological examination with assessment of the triad symptoms, i.e. gait disturbances, memory impairment and urgency incontinence. The participants were then diagnosed as "unlikely", "possible" and "probable" iNPH according to the American-European and the Japanese guidelines, respectively. Separately, a senior consultant in neurology diagnosed each patient based on the overall clinical picture.Results: Obtaining a diagnosis of "probable iNPH" was three times more likely according to the American-European guidelines (n = 35) compared to the Japanese guidelines (n = 11) or the neurologist (n = 11). The concordance was highest (Kappa = 0.69) between the Japanese guidelines and the neurologist.Conclusions: Considerable discrepancies were found when diagnosing iNPH according to two international guidelines and a neurologist, respectively. The Japanese guidelines, which include a minimum of two triad symptoms, were most concordant with the neurologist. As a step towards widely accepted, standardized diagnostic criteria, we suggest a revision of the current guidelines, preferably into one common diagnostic system.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Johanna, 1990-, et al.
(författare)
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Depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and health-related quality of life in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus : a population-based study
- 2024
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:Maximising quality of life is a central goal for all healthcare, especially when dealing with dementing disorders. In this study we aimed to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depressive symptoms and functional impairment between individuals with and without idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) from the general population.Methods: A total of 122 individuals, 30 with iNPH (median age 75 years, 67 females) underwent neurological examinations and computed tomography of the brain with standardised rating of imaging findings and clinical symptoms. The participants completed the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the HRQoL instrument EQ5D-5L. In addition, the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate functional impairment.Results: Compared with participants without iNPH, those with iNPH reported a higher score on GDS-15 (median 3 vs 1) and mRS (median 2 vs 1) (p < 0.05). Further, those with iNPH rated lower on EQ5D-5L (index 0.79, VAS 70) than those without iNPH (index 0.86, VAS 80) (p < 0.05). In logistic regression models, low HRQoL was associated with more depressive symptoms, a higher degree of iNPH symptoms, and lower functional status.Conclusions: In this population-based sample, those with iNPH had more depressive symptoms, lower functional status, and worse quality of life compared to those without iNPH. The strongest association with low HRQoL was found for depressive symptoms, functional level, and degree of iNPH symptoms. These results underline the value of shunt surgery because of its potential to reduce symptoms and disability in iNPH and therefore improve HRQoL.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Johanna, 1990-
(författare)
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Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus : epidemiology and diagnostics
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a progressive neurological condition characterized by a deterioration of gait, cognition, and continence. The diagnosis is based on a combination of enlarged ventricles seen in neuroimaging, with typical clinical findings. iNPH often affects elderly individuals (i.e., over the age of 65). Shunt insertion is the only available treatment, with an improvement rate of up to 80%.The prevalence has previously been reported to be between 0.5 and 3% among individuals over age 65. However, most previous studies have been conducted on hospital-based materials, and there is a lack of epidemiological studies based on the general population. One of the challenges of diagnosing iNPH is that there are no common, widely accepted diagnostic criteria. There are currently two different diagnostic guidelines: the American-European guidelines and the Japanese ones, which makes it harder to compare different studies.The aim of this thesis was to determine the prevalence of iNPH in population-based materials and to evaluate the differences between the diagnostic guidelines. Furthermore, we wanted to assess the quality of life and depressive symptoms among individuals with iNPH compared to those without. In addition, we assessed longitudinal changes in the clinical and radiological findings of iNPH.We asked 1,000 individuals aged 65 and older to participate in the study by answering a questionnaire containing typical iNPH symptoms. We invited all participants who had marked at least two symptoms on the questionnaire for further investigation, in addition to a randomly selected group with fewer than two symptoms. A total of 168 participants underwent clinical examinations and computed tomography (CT) of the brain. We followed up with the same cohort two years later with repeated testing, with the addition of questionnaires on depressive symptoms and quality of life. A total of 122 individuals remained in the 2-year follow-up cohort. The clinical examinations included an iNPH-specific grading scale for symptoms and neurological examinations.The prevalence of iNPH for those 65 years and older was 3.7% according to the American-European guidelines and 1.5% according to the Japanese guidelines. The prevalence was higher for those over age 80, with no differences between the sexes. Furthermore, participants with iNPH had more depressive symptoms and lower quality of life than those without iNPH. Radiological findings and symptoms progressed slightly over two years, and those with symptom deterioration had an even higher degree of radiological progress compared to those with stationary or improved symptoms.This thesis shows that iNPH is fairly common in a normal population of elderly individuals. There is disagreement between the current diagnostic guidelines, which underscores the need for revisions, preferably into one common diagnostic system. In this thesis, individuals with iNPH had a lower functional status, more depressive symptoms, and lower quality of life than those without iNPH.Moreover, iNPH progresses slightly in both symptoms and radiological signs over two years, which underlines the value of clinical follow-up for asymptomatic individuals with radiological signs of iNPH. Finally, iNPH is probably underdiagnosed and an important diagnosis to consider in an elderly person with gait and balance impairments.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus : A prospective, population-based study
- 2019
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library Science. - 1932-6203. ; 14:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) causing gait impairment, dementia and urinary incontinence among the elderly, is probably under-diagnosed and under-treated. Despite being known since the 1960s, there is still a lack of prospective, population-based studies on the prevalence of iNPH. Such studies are warranted to minimize selection bias and estimate the true prevalence of the disease.Methods: The prevalence of iNPH was determined in a randomly selected sample of residents, aged 65 years and older, in the Swedish county of Jämtland. Out of 1,000 individuals invited to participate, 673 (67.3%) completed a questionnaire with seven questions on iNPH symptoms. A subgroup, with and without self-reported symptoms, participated in clinical and radiological evaluations and were diagnosed according to international guidelines. Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure was not performed as it was considered too invasive.Results: Those who reported at least two symptoms in the questionnaire (n = 117) and 51 randomly selected individuals with 0–1 symptom participated in further examinations. Out of them, 25 individuals received the diagnosis probable iNPH according to American-European guidelines (except for the criterion of CSF opening pressure) corresponding to a prevalence of 3.7%. The prevalence of iNPH was four times higher among those aged 80 years and older (8.9%) than among those aged 65–79 years (2.1%) (p <0.001). The difference in prevalence between men (4.6%) and women (2.9%) was not significant (p = 0.24). When iNPH was diagnosed according to the Japanese guidelines the prevalence was 1.5%Conclusions: In this prospective, population-based study the prevalence of iNPH was 3.7% among individuals 65 years and older, and more common in the higher age group, 80 years and above. INPH should be increasingly recognized since it is a fairly common condition and an important cause of gait impairment and dementia among the elderly that can be effectively treated by shunt surgery.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Kennet, et al.
(författare)
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Measurement of CSF dynamics with oscillating pressure infusion
- 2013
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 128:1, s. 17-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction Infusion tests are used to diagnose and select patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) for shunt surgery. The test characterizes cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and estimates parameters of the cerebrospinal fluid system, the pressure-volume index (PVI) and the outflow conductance (Cout). The Oscillating Pressure Infusion (OPI) method was developed to improve the test and reduce the investigation time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the new OPI method by comparing it with an established reference method. Methods Forty-seven patients (age 71.2 +/- 8.9years) with communicating hydrocephalus underwent a preoperative lumbar infusion investigation with two consecutive infusion protocols, reference (42min) and new (20min), that is, 94 infusion tests in total. The OPI method estimated Cout and PVI simultaneously. A real-time analysis of reliability was applied to investigate the possibility of infusion time reduction. Results The difference in Cout between the methods was 1.2 +/- 1.8l/s/kPa (Rout=-0.8 +/- 3.5mmHg/ml/min), P<0.05, n=47. With the reliability analysis, the preset 20min of active infusion could have been even further reduced for 19 patients to between 10 and 19min. PVI was estimated to 16.1 +/- 6.9ml, n=47. Conclusions The novel Oscillating Pressure Infusion method produced real-time estimates of Cout including estimates of reliability that was in good agreement with the reference method and allows for a reduced and individualized investigation time.
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| 7. |
- Andrén, Kerstin, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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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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Ingår i: Journal of Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 265:1, s. 178-186
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 8. |
- Andrén, Kerstin, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Survival in treated idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 267, s. 640-648
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 9. |
- Andrén, Kerstin, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Symptoms and signs did not predict outcome after surgery: a prospective study of 143 patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
- 2024
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY. - : SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectiveTo determine the utility of symptoms, signs, comorbidities and background variables for the prediction of outcome of treatment in iNPH. MethodsA prospective observational study of consecutively included iNPH patients, who underwent neurological, physiotherapeutic and neuropsychological assessments before and after shunt surgery. The primary outcome measure was the total change on the iNPH scale, and patients were defined as improved postoperatively if they had improved by at least five points on that scale. Results143 iNPH patients were included, and 73% of those were improved after surgery. None of the examined symptoms or signs could predict which patients would improve after shunt surgery. A dominant subjective complaint of memory problems at baseline was predictive of non-improvement. The reported comorbidities, duration of symptoms and BMI were the same in improved and non-improved patients. Each of the symptom domains (gait, neuropsychology, balance, and continence) as well as the total iNPH scale score improved significantly (from median 53 to 69, p < 0.001). The proportions of patients with shuffling gait, broad-based gait, paratonic rigidity and retropulsion all decreased significantly. DiscussionThis study confirms that the recorded clinical signs, symptoms, and impairments in the adopted clinical tests are characteristic findings in iNPH, based on that most of them improved after shunt surgery. However, our clinical data did not enable predictions of whether patients would respond to shunt surgery, indicating that the phenotype is unrelated to the reversibility of the iNPH state and should mainly support diagnosis. Absence of specific signs should not be used to exclude patients from treatment.
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| 10. |
- Berglin, Cecilia Engmer, et al.
(författare)
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Local treatment of the inner ear : A study of three different polymers aimed for middle ear administration
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Oto-Laryngologica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0001-6489 .- 1651-2251. ; 135:10, s. 985-994
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conclusion: A formulation based on sodium hyaluronate (NaHYA) was the most promising candidate vehicle for intra-tympanic drug administration regarding conductive hearing loss, inflammatory reactions, and elimination. Objectives: Recent advances in inner ear research support the idea of using the middle ear cavity for drug administration to target the inner ear. This paper presents rheological and safety assessments of three candidate polymer formulations for intra-tympanic drug administration. Method: The formulations were based on sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC), sodium hyaluronate (NaHYA), and poloxamer 407 (POL). Rheological studies were performed with a controlled rate instrument of the couette type. Safety studies were performed in guinea pigs subjected to an intra-tympanic injection of the formulations. Hearing function was explored with ABR before and 1, 2, and 3 weeks after the injection. Elimination of the formulations marked with coal was explored with an endoscopic digital camera 1, 2, and 3 weeks after injection. Middle and inner ear morphology was examined with light microscopy 6 days after injection. Results: The results speak in favor of NaHYA, since it did not cause prolonged hearing threshold elevations. The results of the elimination and morphological investigations support the conclusion of NaHYA being the most promising candidate for intra-tympanic administration.
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