scholarly journals A Distinct Scenario of a Patient with Parkinson’s Disease and Comorbid Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (02) ◽  
pp. 127-130
Author(s):  
Halil Onder

AbstractIn literature, patients with coexistence of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and Parkinsons’s disease (PD) have been rarely reported. Herein, I illustrate the evaluation processes of a remarkable patient with PD and comorbid NPH from my experience, which I think may provide crucial perspectives regarding the management problems of these patients. Besides, the patient had also developed bipolar disorder in the follow-up course and extrapyramidal side effects related to antipsychotic medications, which further complicated the treatment process. I think that results of future reports of larger case series including the long-term follow-up of this group of patients with coexisting NPH and PD would provide substantial perspectives regarding the contributory effects of these two pathophysiologies, as well as management, of NPH in these specific patients with neurodegenerative pathology.

Neurosurgery ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Spagnoli ◽  
Lucia Innocenti ◽  
Lorenzo Bello ◽  
Mauro Pluderi ◽  
Susanna Bacigaluppi ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The influence of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) on the short- and long-term results of surgery was evaluated in a series of consecutive patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). METHODS: Patients with suspected iNPH admitted to our department between June 1996 and June 2003 were evaluated with four clinical and handicap scales. CVD and risk factors for vascular disease were rated. All patients underwent intracranial pressure monitoring via a spinal catheter. Sixty-six patients received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt with a programmable valve. Prospective assessments were programmed at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery (short-term follow-up). Long-term follow-up evaluations were arranged in June 2004 with patients and/or relatives and health/home care assistants. RESULTS: At the short-term follow-up examination, a significant clinical improvement was globally present in 89% of the patients (P < 0.05). CVD, such as leucoaraiosis or previous strokes, were present in 71% of the patients. Patients both with and without CVD and/or risk factors for vascular disease presented a significant improvement (P < 0.05) after shunting; 85 and 100% of the patients with and without CVD, respectively. At the long-term follow-up examination (mean, 52 ± 24.8 mo), 24% of the patients were dead and 8% had experienced stroke. Globally, 60% of the patients were still improved (P < 0.05); 52 and 79% of the patients with and without CVD, respectively. CONCLUSION: A high success rate in treatment of iNPH is possible in patients with and without CVD. Despite poorer short- and long-term treatment outcome of iNPH patients with CVD, a long-lasting improvement in their quality of life favors surgery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (03) ◽  
pp. 188-192
Author(s):  
Halil Onder

AbstractCo-occurrences of neurodegenerative diseases in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a remarkable topic of discussion, which has been mentioned in recent studies and it was also emphasized by the International Society for Hydrocephalus and Cerebrospinal Fluid Disorder. In this report, I illustrate two remarkable cases which were initially diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery was performed, which yielded significant improvement in the clinic of both patients in the short-term period. However, in the long-term follow-up, both of them deteriorated, and re-evaluation of the neurological examination and neuroimaging data yielded the full clinical picture of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Via the illustration of these cases and related literature data, I rediscuss some related hypotheses about the co-occurrence of these two conditions of hydrocephalus and PSP. I also suggest some distinct discussions to be clarified in future studies.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Javad Mirzayan ◽  
Goetz Luetjens ◽  
Jan Juliaan Borremans ◽  
Jens Peter Regel ◽  
Joachim Kurt Krauss

Abstract BACKGROUND Shunt surgery has been established as the only durable and effective treatment for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the “extended” long-term follow-up (> 5 years) in a prospective study cohort who underwent shunting between 1990 and 1995. A secondary objective was to determine the cause of death in these patients. METHODS Fifty-one patients were included after confirmation of the diagnosis by extensive clinical and diagnostic investigations. Surgery included ventriculoatrial or ventriculoperitoneal shunting with differential pressure valves in the majority of patients. For each of the cardinal symptoms, postoperative outcome was assessed separately with the Krauss Improvement Index, yielding a value between 0 (no benefit) and 1 (optimal benefit) for the overall outcome. RESULTS Mean age at surgery was 70.2 years (range, 50–87 years). Thirty patients were women, and 21 were men. Short-term (18.8 ± 16.6 months) follow-up was available for 50 patients. The Krauss Improvement Index was 0.66 ± 0.28. Long-term (80.9 ± 51.6 months) follow-up was available for 34 patients. The Krauss Improvement Index was 0.64 ±0.33. Twenty-nine patients died during the long-term follow-up at a mean age of 75.8 years (range, 55–95 years). The major causes of death were cardiovascular disorders: cardiac failure (n = 7) and cerebral ischemia (n = 12). Other causes were pneumonia (n = 2), acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 1), pulmonary embolism (n = 1), cancer (n = 2), renal failure (n = 1), and unknown (n = 3). There was no shunt-related mortality. CONCLUSION Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients may benefit from shunting over the long term when rigorous selection criteria are applied. Shunt-related mortality is negligible. The main cause of death is vascular comorbidity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 1674-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Larsson ◽  
Hanna Israelsson ◽  
Anders Eklund ◽  
Jan Malm

OBJECTIVEAdverse events related to shunt surgery are common and might have a negative effect on outcome in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH). The authors’ objectives were to establish the frequencies of epilepsy, headache, and abdominal pain and determine their impact on patient quality of life (QOL), in long-term follow-up after shunt surgery for INPH.METHODSOne hundred seventy-six shunt-treated patients with INPH (mean age 74 years) and 368 age- and sex-matched controls from the population were included. The mean follow-up time after surgery was 21 months (range 6–45 months). Each participant answered a questionnaire regarding present frequency and severity of headache and abdominal pain. Confirmed diagnoses of epilepsy and all prescriptions for antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) before and after shunt surgery for INPH were gathered from national registries. Equivalent presurgical and postsurgical time periods were constructed for the controls based on the date of surgery (the division date for controls is referred to as virtual surgery). All registry data covered a mean period of 6 years (range 3–8 years) before surgery/virtual surgery and 4 years (range 2–6 years) after surgery/virtual surgery. Provoked epileptic seizures were excluded. Patient QOL was assessed with the EuroQoL 5-dimension 5-level instrument.RESULTSEpilepsy was more common in shunt-treated patients with INPH than in controls (4.5% vs 1.1%, respectively; p = 0.023), as was treatment with AEDs (14.8% vs 7.3%, respectively; p = 0.010). No difference was found between the populations before surgery/virtual surgery (epilepsy, 2.3% [INPH] vs 1.1% [control], p = 0.280; AED treatment, 8.5% [INPH] vs 5.4% [control], p = 0.235). New-onset epilepsy and new AED treatment after surgery/virtual surgery were more common in INPH (epilepsy, 2.3% [INPH] vs 0.0% [control], p = 0.011; AED, 8.5% [INPH] vs 3.3% [control], p = 0.015). At follow-up, more patients with INPH than controls experienced headache several times per month or more often (36.1% vs 11.6%, respectively; p < 0.001). Patients with INPH and unilateral headache had more right-sided headaches than controls (p = 0.038). Postural headache was experienced by 16% (n = 27 of 169) of the patients with INPH. Twenty percent (n = 35) of the patients with INPH had persistent abdominal pain. Headache was not correlated to lower QOL. The study was underpowered to draw conclusions regarding QOL in patients with INPH who had epilepsy and abdominal pain, but the finding of no net difference in mean QOL indicates that no correlation between them existed.CONCLUSIONSEpilepsy, headache, and abdominal pain are common in long-term follow-up in patients after shunt surgery for INPH and are more common among patients with INPH than in the general population. All adverse events, including mild and moderate ones, should be considered during postoperative follow-ups and in the development of new methods for shunt placement.


Author(s):  
Liana Tripto-Shkolnik ◽  
Yair Liel ◽  
Naama Yekutiel ◽  
Inbal Goldshtein

AbstractDenosumab discontinuation is associated with rapid reversal of bone turnover suppression and with a considerable increase in fracture risk, including a risk for multiple vertebral fractures (MVF). Long-term follow-up of patients who sustained MVF after denosumab discontinuation has not been reported. This case-series was aimed to provide a long-term follow-up on the management and outcome of denosumab discontinuers who initially presented with multiple vertebral fractures. Denosumab discontinuers were identified from a computerized database of a large healthcare provider. Baseline and follow-up clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were obtained from the computerized database and electronic medical records. The post-denosumab discontinuers MVF patients consisted of 12 women aged 71±12. Osteoporotic fractures were prevalent before denosumab discontinuation in 6 of the patients. The majority received bisphosphonates before denosumab. MVF occurred 134±76 days after denosumab discontinuation. The patients were followed for a median of 36.5 (IQR 28.2, 42.5) months after MVF. Two patients passed-away. Two patients suffered recurrent vertebral fractures. Following MVF, patients were treated inconsistently with denosumab, teriparatide, oral, and intravenous bisphosphonates, in various sequences. Two patients underwent vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty. This long-term follow-up of real-world patients with MVF following denosumab discontinuation reveals that management is inconsistent, and recurrent fractures are not uncommon. It calls for clear management guidelines for patients with MVF after denosumab discontinuation and for special attention to this high-risk group.


Dermatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jurr Boer

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are still often disappointed with the current treatments offered and there is a clear demand for more effective options. Since the late 1990s there has been a revival in the use of radiotherapy (RT) for different benign diseases, including HS. During the past 20 years one case series and some scattered case reports have described promising results of RT. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> To evaluate the long-term efficacy of RT in early-stage HS. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A postal survey-based long-term follow-up with simple factual questions of partly retrospective and partly contemporary characteristics was performed. Sixty-four patients (96 axillae), diagnosed with mild to moderate HS were irradiated with a orthovoltage unit with 100 kV, 3 mm Al or 200 kV, 0.5 Cu filtering, respectively. Four to six biweekly fractional doses ranging from 0.75 to 1 Gy up to a total dose of 6 Gy in one series, and in chronic cases followed by four daily fractions of 2 Gy up to a total dose of 14 Gy, were given. Late treatment toxicity and the rate of remission of the disease were evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The overall response rate of the survey was 64.1% with 40.6% (26/64) valid, complete questionnaires. In total, 40 axillae were irradiated in these 26 patients. After a median follow-up of 40 years (range 32–52) complete remission of the lesions occurred in 34 of the 40 sites (85%). None of the 26 patients with 40 irradiated sites reported adverse effects at the time of the survey. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> RT appears to be an effective treatment for early and mild HS in the majority of patients. In this case series, no side effects were reported after a median follow-up period of 40 years.


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