{"title":"Stiff-person syndrome.","authors":"Smriti Bose, Saiju Jacob","doi":"10.1136/pn-2023-003974","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2023-003974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is an autoimmune disease associated mainly with antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) or to glycine, characterised by intermittent painful spasms, stiffness and rigidity of the proximal and truncal muscles. Neuro-ophthalmological and gastrointestinal symptoms also occur. The symptoms are caused by neuronal excitability due to impaired inhibitory (gamma amino butyric acid [GABA] and glycine) neurotransmission. SPS is part of a larger spectrum of GAD antibody-spectrum disorders, which overlaps with autoimmune epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia, myoclonus, progressive encephalomyelitis, rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) and limbic encephalitis. PERM is often caused by antibodies against the glycine receptor. Some SPS cases are paraneoplastic. Diagnostic delay is often associated with irreversible disability, and therefore, clinicians need a high degree of clinical suspicion to make an earlier diagnosis. This review updates the various clinical presentations that should raise suspicion of SPS and its related conditions and includes a diagnostic algorithm and various treatment strategies including immunotherapy and GABA-ergic drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"6-17"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142120802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anthony C Pereira, Vafa Alakbarzade, Samuel Shribman, Ginette Crossingham, Tom Moullaali, David Werring
{"title":"Stroke as a career option for neurologists.","authors":"Anthony C Pereira, Vafa Alakbarzade, Samuel Shribman, Ginette Crossingham, Tom Moullaali, David Werring","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004111","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2024-004111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stroke is one of the most common acute neurological disorders and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Evidence-based treatments over the last two decades have driven a revolution in the clinical management and design of stroke services. We need a highly skilled, multidisciplinary workforce that includes neurologists as core members to deliver modern stroke care. In the UK, the dedicated subspecialty training programme for stroke medicine has recently been integrated into the neurology curriculum. All neurologists will be trained to contribute to each aspect of the stroke care pathway. We discuss how training in stroke medicine is evolving for neurologists and the opportunities and challenges around practising stroke medicine in the UK and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"45-50"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141440944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy: a rare mimic of CNS vasculitis.","authors":"Andrew J Martin","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004246","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2024-004246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder due to mutation in the <i>TREX1</i> gene and presents with both central nervous system (CNS) and other organ dysfunction. It is often misdiagnosed as demyelination or vasculitis based on imaging features, often with potentially harmful immunotherapy given unnecessarily. This report describes two sisters with progressive hemiparesis, retinal vasculopathy and hepatic dysfunction, one of whom was initially misdiagnosed and treated for cerebral vasculitis. Imaging showed extensive and asymmetric white matter lesions with persistent diffusion restriction and contrast enhancement. Extensive autoimmune and infectious investigations were unremarkable. Both patients had a novel heterozygous variant in the <i>TREX1</i> gene, giving a diagnosis of retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy. Clinicians should consider this condition in atypical presentations of suspected demyelination or CNS vasculitis.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"66-69"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141861187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexander Hayes, Mark Wilson, Anastassia Gontsarova, Christopher Carswell
{"title":"Vestibular schwannoma causing normal pressure hydrocephalus.","authors":"Alexander Hayes, Mark Wilson, Anastassia Gontsarova, Christopher Carswell","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004240","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2024-004240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vestibular schwannoma is a common benign tumour that may cause local complications. However, vestibular schwannoma has a known association with communicating hydrocephalus presenting with symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus and requiring treatment by ventricular shunting or tumour resection. We report a 79-year-old woman who presented with subacute gait apraxia, cognitive impairment and urinary incontinence. CT and MR imaging identified a 20 mm vestibular schwannoma and communicating hydrocephalus; her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein was elevated. Her symptoms improved following ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. The mechanism by which non-obstructing vestibular schwannoma causes hydrocephalus is unclear, but hyperproteinorrachia is probably important, likely by impeding CSF resorption.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"70-74"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142037258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy: a rare cause of epilepsy, ataxia and chorea.","authors":"Karthik Harisankar, Jagdeep Singh, Sahil Mehta, Vivek Lal","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004213","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2024-004213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 34-year-old woman presented with insidious onset and gradually progressive cerebellar ataxia over 10 years, with generalised convulsions. On examination, there were myoclonic jerks, choreiform movements and cerebellar syndrome. Her family history suggested an autosomal dominant inheritance with anticipation. Genetic analysis for trinucleotide repeat disorders led to a diagnosis of dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (60 CAG repeats in the atrophin-1 gene). This rare spinocerebellar ataxia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inherited ataxia when combined with seizures and chorea. Other features suggesting a repeat expansion disorder are variable phenotypes within the same family and possible anticipation.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"63-65"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141564772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Francisca Rocha, Hamish D C Bain, Neil Stone, David Meya, Lucia Darie, Ahmed K Toma, Michael P T Lunn, Arpan R Mehta, Charles Coughlan
{"title":"Reframing the clinical phenotype and management of cryptococcal meningitis.","authors":"Maria Francisca Rocha, Hamish D C Bain, Neil Stone, David Meya, Lucia Darie, Ahmed K Toma, Michael P T Lunn, Arpan R Mehta, Charles Coughlan","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004133","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2024-004133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryptococcal meningitis is an important global health problem, resulting from infection with the yeast <i>Cryptococcus</i>, especially <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> and <i>Cryptococcus gattii</i>, which cause a spectrum of disease ranging from pulmonary and skin lesions to life-threatening central nervous system involvement. The diagnosis and management of cryptococcal meningitis have substantially changed in recent years. Cryptococcal meningitis often occurs in people living with advanced HIV infection, though in high-income countries with robust HIV detection and treatment programmes, it increasingly occurs in other groups, notably solid-organ transplant recipients, other immunosuppressed patients and even immunocompetent hosts. This review outlines the clinical presentation, management and prognosis of cryptococcal meningitis, including its salient differences in people living with HIV compared with HIV-negative patients. We discuss the importance of managing raised intracranial pressure and highlight the advantages of improved multidisciplinary team working involving neurologists, infectious disease specialists and neurosurgeons.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"25-39"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141601951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Helen Devine, Priya Bhatnagar, Anne Chambers, David Ledingham, Clare Bolton, Gary Reynolds, Fiona Rayner, Timothy D Griffiths
{"title":"Bright ears on MRI: an imaging clue to relapsing polychondritis-associated encephalopathy.","authors":"Helen Devine, Priya Bhatnagar, Anne Chambers, David Ledingham, Clare Bolton, Gary Reynolds, Fiona Rayner, Timothy D Griffiths","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004320","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2024-004320","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"84-86"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142509912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waqar Rashid, Olga Ciccarelli, Siobhan M Leary, Tarunya Arun, Anisha Doshi, Nikos Evangelou, Helen L Ford, Jeremy Hobart, Saiju Jacob, Paolo Antonio Muraro, Katy Murray, Jacqueline Palace, Ruth Dobson
{"title":"Using disease-modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis: Association of British Neurologists (ABN) 2024 guidance.","authors":"Waqar Rashid, Olga Ciccarelli, Siobhan M Leary, Tarunya Arun, Anisha Doshi, Nikos Evangelou, Helen L Ford, Jeremy Hobart, Saiju Jacob, Paolo Antonio Muraro, Katy Murray, Jacqueline Palace, Ruth Dobson","doi":"10.1136/pn-2024-004228","DOIUrl":"10.1136/pn-2024-004228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Association of British Neurologists last published guidelines on disease-modifying treatment (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2015. Since then, additional DMTs have been licensed and approved for prescribing within the National Health Service for relapsing-remitting MS, early primary progressive MS and active secondary progressive MS. This updated guidance provides a consensus-based approach to using DMTs. We provide recommendations for eligibility, starting, monitoring, switching and stopping of DMTs; pregnancy; equitable access to DMT; autologous haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation; and use of generics. We highlight best practice where it exists and discuss future priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":39343,"journal":{"name":"PRACTICAL NEUROLOGY","volume":" ","pages":"18-24"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}