{"title":"Opioids and Cannabinoids in Neurology Practice.","authors":"Friedhelm Sandbrink, Nathaniel M Schuster","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001487","DOIUrl":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001487","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Opioid and cannabinoid therapies for chronic pain conditions including neuropathic pain are controversial. Understanding patient and prescribing factors contributing to risks and implementing risk mitigation strategies optimizes outcomes.</p><p><strong>Latest developments: </strong>The ongoing transformation from a biomedical model of pain care toward a biopsychosocial model has been accompanied by a shift away from opioid therapy for pain, in particular for chronic pain. Opioid overdose deaths and opioid use disorder have greatly increased in the last several decades, initially because of increases in opioid prescribing and more recently associated with illicit drug use, in particular fentanyl derivatives. Opioid risk mitigation strategies may reduce risks related to opioid prescribing and tapering or discontinuation. Opioid therapy guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have become the consensus best practice for opioid therapy. Regulatory agencies and licensing medical boards have implemented restrictions and other mandates regarding opioid therapy. Meanwhile, interest in and use of cannabinoids for chronic pain has grown in the United States.</p><p><strong>Essential points: </strong>Opioid therapy is generally not recommended for the chronic treatment of neuropathic pain conditions. Opioids may be considered for temporary use in patients with severe pain related to selected neuropathic pain conditions (such as postherpetic neuralgia), and only as part of a multimodal treatment regimen. Opioid risk mitigation strategies include careful patient selection and evaluation, patient education and informed consent, querying the state prescription drug monitoring programs, urine drug testing, and issuance of naloxone as potential rescue medication. Close follow-up when initiating or adjusting opioid therapy and frequent reevaluation during long-term opioid therapy is required. There is evidence for the efficacy of cannabinoids for neuropathic pain, with meaningful response rates in select patient populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 5","pages":"1447-1474"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142512721","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":"Postreading Self-Assessment and CME Test.","authors":"Nuri Jacoby, James M W Owens","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1212/CON.0000000000001479","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 5","pages":"1547-1557"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142899250","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":"Autoimmune Neurology and the Edge of the Map.","authors":"Lyell K Jones","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001491","DOIUrl":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001491","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 4","pages":"958-959"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876709","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":"Therapeutic Approach to Autoimmune Neurologic Disorders.","authors":"Stacey L Clardy, Tammy L Smith","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001463","DOIUrl":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Autoimmune neurologic disorders encompass a broad category of diseases characterized by immune system attack of the central, peripheral, or autonomic nervous systems. This article provides information on both acute and maintenance immunotherapy used to treat autoimmune neurologic disorders as well as a review of symptomatic management and special considerations when caring for patients with these diseases.</p><p><strong>Latest developments: </strong>Over the past 20 years, more than 50 antibodies have been identified and associated with autoimmune neurologic disorders. Although advances in diagnostic testing have allowed for more rapid diagnosis, the therapeutic approach to these disorders has largely continued to rely on expert opinion, case series, and case reports. With US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of biologic agents to treat neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myasthenia gravis as well as ongoing clinical trials for the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis, the landscape of immunotherapy options continues to expand. Consideration of the unique pathogenesis of individual autoimmune neurologic disorders as well as the mechanism of action of the diverse range of treatment options can help guide treatment decisions today while evidence from clinical trials informs new therapeutics in the future.</p><p><strong>Essential points: </strong>Recognizing patients who have a clinical history and examination findings concerning for autoimmune neurologic disorders and conducting a thorough and directed imaging and laboratory evaluation aimed at ruling out mimics, identifying specific autoimmune syndromes, and screening for factors that may have an impact on immunotherapy choices early in the clinical course are essential to providing optimal care for these patients. Providers must consider immunotherapy, symptomatic treatment, and a multidisciplinary approach that addresses each patient's unique needs when treating patients with autoimmune neurologic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 4","pages":"1226-1258"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876679","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":"Paraneoplastic Neurologic Disorders.","authors":"Anastasia Zekeridou","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001449","DOIUrl":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001449","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article reviews the clinical presentations, neural antibody associations, and oncologic accompaniments of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes and neurologic autoimmunity in the context of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) cancer immunotherapy.</p><p><strong>Latest developments: </strong>Neural antibody discovery has improved the diagnosis of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes. Neural antibodies also delineate the underlying disease pathophysiology and thus inform outcomes and treatments. Neural antibodies specific for extracellular proteins have pathogenic potential, whereas antibodies specific for intracellular targets are biomarkers of a cytotoxic T-cell immune response. A recent update in paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome criteria suggests high- and intermediate-risk phenotypes as well as neural antibodies to improve diagnostic accuracy in patients with paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes; a score was created based on this categorization. The introduction of ICI cancer immunotherapy has led to an increase in cancer-related neurologic autoimmunity with distinct clinical phenotypes.</p><p><strong>Essential points: </strong>Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes reflect an ongoing immunologic response to cancer mediated by effector T cells or antibodies. Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes can present with manifestations at any level of the neuraxis, and neural antibodies aid diagnosis, focus cancer screening, and inform prognosis and therapy. In patients with high clinical suspicion of a paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome, cancer screening and treatment should be undertaken, regardless of the presence of a neural antibody. ICI therapy has led to immune-mediated neurologic complications. Recognition and treatment lead to improved outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 4","pages":"1021-1051"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876674","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":"Pediatric Autoimmune Neurologic Disorders.","authors":"Yael Hacohen","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001464","DOIUrl":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001464","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article discusses common principles in diagnosing and managing autoimmune neurologic conditions in children.</p><p><strong>Latest developments: </strong>The key to improving outcomes in all patients with autoimmune neurologic diseases is making an early diagnosis, promptly initiating treatment, and identifying patients who will benefit from long-term maintenance treatment. Some neuroinflammatory syndromes can be diagnosed with an antibody biomarker (eg, aquaporin-4 antibodies, N-methyl-d-aspartate [NMDA] receptor antibodies), whereas others require clinical diagnostic criteria (eg, multiple sclerosis, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome). A proportion of children will be labeled as seronegative, and further investigations for other inflammatory or monogenetic etiologies need to be carried out in parallel with treating the central nervous system inflammation. Time to treatment and treatment escalation were shown to correlate with outcomes in many patients with these disorders. The choice and duration of treatment should be evaluated considering side effects and risks in the short and long terms. The presence of a highly inflammatory disease process in children supports the use of highly effective disease-modifying therapies in pediatrics.</p><p><strong>Essential points: </strong>The phenotypes of pediatric autoimmune neurologic conditions may change across different age groups, as the brain is still actively developing. In general, the presentation in children is more inflammatory, but overall disability is lower, likely because of better neuroplasticity and repair. Convincing evidence has increasingly emerged to support the biological rationale that effective immunosuppressive therapies used in adult neuroimmunology are equally effective in children.</p>","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 4","pages":"1160-1188"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876675","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":"NMOSD and MOGAD.","authors":"Elia Sechi","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001454","DOIUrl":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001454","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article reviews the clinical features, MRI characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). The main differences between these disorders and multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), are also highlighted.</p><p><strong>Latest developments: </strong>The past 20 years have seen important advances in understanding rare demyelinating CNS disorders associated with AQP4 IgG and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) IgG. The rapidly expanding repertoire of immunosuppressive agents approved for the treatment of AQP4-NMOSD and emerging as potentially beneficial in MOGAD mandates prompt recognition of these diseases. Most of the recent literature has focused on the identification of clinical and MRI features that help distinguish these diseases from each other and MS, simultaneously highlighting major diagnostic pitfalls that may lead to misdiagnosis. An awareness of the limitations of currently available assays for AQP4 IgG and MOG IgG detection is fundamental for identifying rare false antibody positivity and avoiding inappropriate treatments. For this purpose, diagnostic criteria have been created to help the clinician interpret antibody testing results and recognize the clinical and MRI phenotypes associated with AQP4-NMOSD and MOGAD.</p><p><strong>Essential points: </strong>An awareness of the specific clinical and MRI features associated with AQP4-NMOSD and MOGAD and the limitations of currently available antibody testing assays is crucial for a correct diagnosis and differentiation from MS. The growing availability of effective treatment options will lead to personalized therapies and improved outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 4","pages":"1052-1087"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876672","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":"Autoimmune Encephalitis.","authors":"Sarosh R Irani","doi":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001448","DOIUrl":"10.1212/CON.0000000000001448","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article focuses on the clinical features and diagnostic evaluations that accurately identify patients with ever-expanding forms of antibody-defined encephalitis. Forms of autoimmune encephalitis are more prevalent than infectious encephalitis and represent treatable neurologic syndromes for which early immunotherapies lead to the best outcomes.</p><p><strong>Latest developments: </strong>A clinically driven approach to identifying many autoimmune encephalitis syndromes is feasible, given the typically distinctive features associated with each antibody. Patient demographics alongside the presence and nature of seizures, cognitive impairment, psychiatric disturbances, movement disorders, and peripheral features provide a valuable set of clinical tools to guide the detection and interpretation of highly specific antibodies. In turn, these clinical features in combination with serologic findings and selective paraclinical testing, direct the rationale for the administration of immunotherapies. Observational studies provide the mainstay of evidence guiding first- and second-line immunotherapy administration in autoimmune encephalitis and, whereas these typically result in some clinical improvements, almost all patients have residual neuropsychiatric deficits, and many experience clinical relapses. An improved pathophysiologic understanding and ongoing clinical trials can help to address these unmet medical needs.</p><p><strong>Essential points: </strong>Antibodies against central nervous system proteins characterize various autoimmune encephalitis syndromes. The most common targets include leucine-rich glioma inactivated protein 1 (LGI1), N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, contactin-associated proteinlike 2 (CASPR2), and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65). Each antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis typically presents with a recognizable blend of clinical and investigation features, which help differentiate each from alternative diagnoses. The rapid expansion of recognized antibodies and some clinical overlaps support panel-based antibody testing. The clinical-serologic picture guides the immunotherapy regime and offers valuable prognostic information. Patient care should be delivered in conjunction with autoimmune encephalitis experts.</p>","PeriodicalId":52475,"journal":{"name":"CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology","volume":"30 4","pages":"995-1020"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876707","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}