Dutch Normal-Pressure Hydrocephalus Study: the role of cerebrovascular disease

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnita J. W. Boon ◽  
Joseph T. J. Tans ◽  
Ernst J. Delwel ◽  
Saskia M. Egeler-Peerdeman ◽  
Patrick W. Hanlo ◽  
...  

Object. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cerebrovascular disease and its risk factors among patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and to assess the influence of these factors on the outcome of shunt placement.Methods. A cohort of 101 patients with NPH underwent shunt placement and was followed for 1 year. Gait disturbance and dementia were quantified using an NPH scale and handicap was determined using a modified Rankin scale (mRS). Primary outcome measures consisted of the differences between preoperative and last NPH scale and mRS scores. The presence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, peripheral vascular disease, male gender, and advancing age was recorded. Cerebrovascular disease was defined as a history of stroke or a computerized tomography (CT) scan revealing infarcts or moderate-to-severe white matter hypodense lesions.The prevalence of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease was higher in the 45 patients with cerebrovascular disease than the 56 without it. Risk factors did not influence outcome after shunt placement. Intent-to-treat analysis revealed that the mean improvement in the various scales was significantly less for patients with a history of stroke (14 patients), CT scans revealing infarctions (13), or white matter hypodense lesions (32 patients) than for those without cerebrovascular disease. The proportion of patients who responded to shunt placement was also significantly lower among patients with than those without cerebrovascular disease (p = 0.02).Conclusions. The authors identified a subgroup of patients with NPH and cerebrovascular disease who showed disappointing results after shunt placement. Cerebrovascular disease was an important predictor of poor outcome.

2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 1036-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ullrich Meier ◽  
Sven Mutze

Object. It is well known that in patients with communicating hydrocephalus or normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), ventricular size decreases following implantation of shunts with differential pressure valves. The aim of this study was to determine whether ventricular size correlates with a positive clinical outcome following shunt placement. Methods. Hydrostatic valves (dual-switch valves) were implanted in 80 patients with NPH at Unfallkrankenhaus, Berlin, between September 1997 and January 2002. One year postoperatively, these patients underwent computerized tomography scanning, and their ventricular size was ascertained using the Evans Index. Among 80% of the patients who showed no postoperative change in ventricular volume, 59% nonetheless had good to excellent clinical improvements, 17% satisfactory improvement, and 24% no improvement. Furthermore, a moderate reduction in ventricular size was observed in 14% of patients in this cohort. Among these, 36% experienced good to excellent clinical improvements, 28% satisfactory improvement, and 36% unsatisfactory improvement. A marked reduction in ventricular size was observed in 6% of the patients. Of this latter group, 60% demonstrated good to excellent outcomes, whereas 40% had unsatisfactory outcomes. Conclusions. Favorable outcomes following the implantation of a hydrostatic shunt in patients with NPH did not correlate with decreased ventricular volume 1 year after surgery. In fact, better clinical outcomes were observed in patients with little or no alteration in ventricular size, compared with those in patients with a marked decrease in ventricular size. A postoperative change in ventricular volume should be assessed differently in patients with NPH compared with those suffering from hypertensive hydrocephalus.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Anderson ◽  
Jessica J. Grant ◽  
Robert de la Paz ◽  
Steven Frucht ◽  
Robert R. Goodman

Object. The syndrome of normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) refers to the clinical triad of gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence in association with idiopathic ventriculomegaly and normal intracranial pressure. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement often yields significant clinical improvements, sometimes without apparent reduction of ventricular size. The authors hypothesized that careful volumetric measurements would show a decrease in ventricular volume in these patients. Methods. Twenty consecutive patients with NPH underwent placement of VP shunts equipped with programmable valves. In 11 patients pre- and postoperative neuroimaging was performed, which allowed volumetric analysis. Volumetric measurements of the lateral ventricles were calculated in triplicate by National Institutes of Health image-processing software to assess standard computerized tomography (CT) scans (eight patients) or magnetic resonance (MR) images (three patients) obtained before and after shunt placement. Ventricular volumes were also assessed by an independent neuroradiologist. Postoperative studies were performed at a time of clinical improvement, between 1 and 9 months postsurgery (mean 5 months). Preoperative and postoperative Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale evaluations were performed in four patients. Significant clinical improvement occurred in all patients after shunt placement (mean follow-up period 17.5 months). Although 10 (91%) of 11 patients demonstrated a calculable decrease in volume in the lateral ventricles (mean decrease 39%), formal interpretation of neuroimages indicated a definite decrease in lateral ventricular volume in only three (27%) of 11 patients. Conclusions. Volumetric measurements obtained to compare preoperative and postoperative CT or MR studies obtained in patients with NPH in whom clinical improvement was seen after shunt placement surgery show a demonstrable decrease in ventricular size. Volumetric measurements may be helpful in clinical assessment postoperatively and in guiding programmable valve pressure settings.


2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 728-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habib E. Ellamushi ◽  
Joan P. Grieve ◽  
H. Rolf Jäger ◽  
Neil D. Kitchen

Object. Several factors are known to increase the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and spontaneous intracerebral hematoma. However, information on the roles of these same factors in the formation of multiple aneurysms is less well defined. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with an increased risk of multiple aneurysm formation. Methods. A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients with a diagnosis of SAH and intracranial aneurysms who were admitted to a single institution between 1985 and 1997 was undertaken. The authors examined associations between risk factors (patient age and sex, menopausal state of female patients, hypertension, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, and family history of cerebrovascular disease) and the presence of multiple aneurysms by using the Fisher exact test and logistic regression analysis. Of 400 patients admitted with a diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms, 392 were included in the study (287 women and 105 men). Two hundred eighty-four patients harbored a single aneurysm and 108 harbored multiple aneurysms (2 aneurysms in 68 patients, three aneurysms in 22 patients, four aneurysms in 13 patients, and five aneurysms in five patients). Conclusions. Statistical analysis revealed that, as opposed to the occurrence of a single aneurysm, there was a significant association between the presence of multiple aneurysms and hypertension (p < 0.001), cigarette smoking (p < 0.001), family history of cerebrovascular disease (p < 0.001), female sex (p < 0.001), and postmenopausal state in female patients (p < 0.001).


2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Lise C. van Veelen-Vincent ◽  
Ernst J. Delwel ◽  
Rozemarijn Teeuw ◽  
Erkan Kurt ◽  
Dirk A. de Jong ◽  
...  

Object. Following shunt placement for treatment of normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), several patients suffered hearing loss. The authors undertook a study to analyze this outcome. Methods. Sixteen patients in whom NPH was diagnosed were treated by placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Their hearing was assessed pre- and postoperatively by using pure tone audiometry. Two thirds of the ears tested showed a postoperative hearing loss of more than 10 dB. Recovery of the hearing loss occurred 6 to 12 weeks after shunt placement in 75% of the ears examined. Conclusions. Although shunt insertion for treatment of NPH results in a decrease in hearing, most of the loss can be recovered.


1984 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 510-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norihiko Tamaki ◽  
Tadaki Kusunoki ◽  
Toshimitsu Wakabayashi ◽  
Satoshi Matsumoto

✓ Cerebral hemodynamics in 31 patients with suspected normal-pressure hydrocephalus were studied by means of the xenon-133 (133Xe) inhalation method and on dynamic computerized tomography (CT) scanning. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is reduced in all patients with dementia. Hypoperfusion was noted in a frontal distribution in these patients compared with normal individuals. There was no difference in CBF patterns between patients with good and those with poor outcome. The CBF was increased following cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting in patients who responded to that procedure: increase in flow correlated with clinical improvement, frontal and temporal lobe CBF was most markedly increased, and the CBF pattern became normal. In contrast, CBF was decreased after shunt placement in patients who were considered to have suffered from degenerative dementia, as evidenced by non-response to shunting. Dynamic computerized tomography studies demonstrated that patients with a good outcome showed a postoperative reduction in mean transit time of contrast material, most prominent in the frontal and temporal gray matter, and slight in the deep frontal structures, but not in the major cerebral vessels. Patients with poor outcome after shunting, however, had an increase in transit time in all regions. This corresponded well with the results as determined by the 133Xe inhalation method.


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 &lt; 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 &lt; 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 &lt; 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.


1980 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tung Pui Poon ◽  
Edward J. Arida ◽  
Wolodymyr P. Tyschenko

✓ The authors report a case of cerebral cysticercosis which presented with generalized nonspecific neurological signs and symptoms attributed to acute aqueductal obstruction, with concomitant intracranial hypertension. These were characteristic intracranial calcifications along with angiographically demonstrated signs of hydrocephalus. Contrast encephalography clearly demonstrated aqueductal obstruction. Pathologically, the aqueductal obstruction was shown to be due to parasitic invasion of the brain stem with compression of the aqueduct. The presence of typical intracranial calcification in conjunction with either obstructive or normal-pressure hydrocephalus should alert the observer to the possibility of cerebral cysticercosis.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seppo Juvela ◽  
Matti Porras ◽  
Kristiina Poussa

Object. The authors conducted a study to investigate the long-term natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and the predictive risk factors determining subsequent rupture in a patient population in which surgical selection of cases was not performed.Methods. One hundred forty-two patients with 181 unruptured aneurysms were followed from the 1950s until death or the occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage or until the years 1997 to 1998. The annual and cumulative incidence of aneurysm rupture as well as several potential risk factors predictive of rupture were studied using life-table analyses and Cox's proportional hazards regression models including time-dependent covariates.The median follow-up time was 19.7 years (range 0.8–38.9 years). During 2575 person-years of follow up, there were 33 first-time episodes of hemorrhage from previously unruptured aneurysms, for an average annual incidence of 1.3%. In 17 patients, hemorrhage led to death. The cumulative rate of bleeding was 10.5% at 10 years, 23% at 20 years, and 30.3% at 30 years after diagnosis. The diameter of the unruptured aneurysm (relative risk [RR] 1.11 per mm in diameter, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1–1.23, p = 0.05) and patient age at diagnosis inversely (RR 0.97 per year, 95% CI 0.93–1, p = 0.05) were significant independent predictors for a subsequent aneurysm rupture after adjustment for sex, hypertension, and aneurysm group. Active smoking status at the time of diagnosis was a significant risk factor for aneurysm rupture (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.04–2.06, p = 0.033) after adjustment for size of the aneurysm, patient age, sex, presence of hypertension, and aneurysm group. Active smoking status as a time-dependent covariate was an even more significant risk factor for aneurysm rupture (adjusted RR 3.04, 95% CI 1.21–7.66, p = 0.02).Conclusions. Cigarette smoking, size of the unruptured intracranial aneurysm, and age, inversely, are important factors determining risk for subsequent aneurysm rupture. The authors conclude that such unruptured aneurysms should be surgically treated regardless of their size and of a patient's smoking status, especially in young and middle-aged adults, if this is technically possible and if the patient's concurrent diseases are not contraindications. Cessation of smoking may also be a good alternative to surgery in older patients with small-sized aneurysms.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 976-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiichi Kobayashi ◽  
Naokatsu Saeki ◽  
Hiromichi Oishi ◽  
Shinji Hirai ◽  
Akira Yamaura

Object. The purpose of this study was to delineate the long-term natural history of hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (MMD).Methods. A retrospective review was conducted among 42 patients suffering from hemorrhagic MMD who had been treated conservatively without bypass surgery. The group included four patients who had undergone indirect bypass surgery after an episode of rebleeding. The follow-up period averaged 80.6 months. The clinical features of the first bleeding episode and repeated bleeding episodes were analyzed to determine the risk factors of rebleeding and poor outcome.Intraventricular hemorrhage with or without intracerebral hemorrhage was a dominant finding on computerized tomography scans during the first bleeding episode in 29 cases (69%). During the follow-up period, 14 patients experienced a second episode of bleeding, which occurred 10 years or longer after the original hemorrhage in five cases (35.7%). The annual rebleeding rate was 7.09%/person/year. The second bleeding episode was characterized by a change in which hemisphere bleeding occurred in three cases (21.4%) and by the type of bleeding in seven cases (50%). After rebleeding the rate of good recovery fell from 45.5% to 21.4% and the mortality rate rose from 6.8% to 28.6%. Rebleeding and patient age were statistically significant risk factors of poor outcome. All four patients in whom there was indirect revascularization after the second bleeding episode experienced a repeated bleeding episode within 8 years.Conclusions. The occurrence of rebleeding a long time after the first hemorrhagic episode was not uncommon. Furthermore, the change in which hemisphere and the type of bleeding that occurred after the first episode suggested the difficulty encountered in the prevention of repeated hemorrhage.


BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigenori Kanno ◽  
Kun-ichi Ogawa ◽  
Hiroaki Kikuchi ◽  
Masako Toyoshima ◽  
Nobuhito Abe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate whether default mode network (DMN) connectivity and brain white matter integrity at baseline were associated with severe cognitive impairments at baseline and poor cognitive outcomes after shunt placement in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Methods Twenty consecutive patients with iNPH whose symptoms were followed for 6 months after shunt placement and 10 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. DMN connectivity and brain white matter integrity at baseline in the patients with iNPH and HCs were detected by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with independent component analysis and diffusion tensor imaging, respectively, and these MRI indexes were compared between the patients with iNPH and HCs. Performance on neuropsychological tests for memory and executive function and on the gait test was assessed in the patients with iNPH at baseline and 6 months after shunt placement. We divided the patients with iNPH into the relatively preserved and reduced DMN connectivity groups using the MRI indexes for DMN connectivity and brain white matter integrity, and the clinical measures were compared between the relatively preserved and reduced DMN connectivity groups. Results Mean DMN connectivity in the iNPH group was significantly lower than that in the HC group and was significantly positively correlated with Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT) immediate recall scores and frontal assessment battery (FAB) scores. Mean fractional anisotropy of the whole-brain white matter skeleton in the iNPH group was significantly lower than that in the HC group. The reduced DMN connectivity group showed significantly worse performance on the RAVLT at baseline and significantly worse improvement in the RAVLT immediate recall and recognition scores and the FAB scores than the preserved DMN connectivity group. Moreover, the RAVLT recognition score highly discriminated patients with relatively preserved DMN connectivity from those with relatively reduced DMN connectivity. Conclusions Our findings indicated that iNPH patients with reduced DMN connectivity relative to the severity of brain white matter disruption have severe memory deficits at baseline and poorer cognitive outcomes after shunt placement. However, further larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.


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