Neurologic Manifestations of the World Health Organization's List Of

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Neurologic Manifestations of the World Health Organization's List Of REVIEW published: 22 February 2021 doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.634827 Neurologic Manifestations of the World Health Organization’s List of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases Caleb R. S. McEntire 1, Kun-Wei Song 1, Robert P. McInnis 1, John Y. Rhee 1, Michael Young 1, Erika Williams 1, Leah L. Wibecan 2, Neal Nolan 1, Amanda M. Nagy 2, Jeffrey Gluckstein 1, Shibani S. Mukerji 3 and Farrah J. Mateen 3* 1 Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-Brigham Neurology Residency Program, Boston, MA, United States, 2 Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-Brigham Pediatric Neurology Residency Program, Boston, MA, United States, 3 Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors the spread of diseases globally and maintains a list of diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential. Currently listed diseases include Chikungunya, cholera, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease, Hendra virus infection, influenza, Lassa fever, Marburg virus disease, Neisseria meningitis, Edited by: Peter R. Williamson, MERS-CoV, monkeypox, Nipah virus infection, novel coronavirus (COVID-19), plague, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rift Valley fever, SARS, smallpox, tularemia, yellow fever, and Zika virus disease. The United States associated pathogens are increasingly important on the global stage. The majority of Reviewed by: these diseases have neurological manifestations. Those with less frequent neurological Sophie Cho, National Institutes of Health Clinical manifestations may also have important consequences. This is highlighted now in Center (NIH), United States particular through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and reinforces that pathogens with Veronique Nussenblatt, National Institutes of Health (NIH), the potential to spread rapidly and widely, in spite of concerted global efforts, may affect United States the nervous system. We searched the scientific literature, dating from 1934 to August *Correspondence: 2020, to compile data on the cause, epidemiology, clinical presentation, neuroimaging Farrah J. Mateen features, and treatment of each of the diseases of epidemic or pandemic potential as [email protected] viewed through a neurologist’s lens. We included articles with an abstract or full text Specialty section: in English in this topical and scoping review. Diseases with epidemic and pandemic This article was submitted to potential can be spread directly from human to human, animal to human, via mosquitoes Neuroinfectious Diseases, a section of the journal or other insects, or via environmental contamination. Manifestations include central Frontiers in Neurology neurologic conditions (meningitis, encephalitis, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, seizures), Received: 29 November 2020 peripheral and cranial nerve syndromes (sensory neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, Accepted: 25 January 2021 Published: 22 February 2021 ophthalmoplegia), post-infectious syndromes (acute inflammatory polyneuropathy), and Citation: congenital syndromes (fetal microcephaly), among others. Some diseases have not McEntire CRS, Song K-W, McInnis RP, been well-characterized from a neurological standpoint, but all have at least scattered Rhee JY, Young M, Williams E, case reports of neurological features. Some of the diseases have curative treatments Wibecan LL, Nolan N, Nagy AM, Gluckstein J, Mukerji SS and available while in other cases, supportive care remains the only management option. Mateen FJ (2021) Neurologic Regardless of the pathogen, prompt, and aggressive measures to control the spread of Manifestations of the World Health Organization’s List of Pandemic and these agents are the most important factors in lowering the overall morbidity and mortality Epidemic Diseases. they can cause. Front. Neurol. 12:634827. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.634827 Keywords: epidemic, pandemic, neuroviral epidemics, clinical neurology, tropical medicine Frontiers in Neurology | www.frontiersin.org 1 February 2021 | Volume 12 | Article 634827 McEntire et al. Neurological Manifestations of Epidemics INTRODUCTION palsy, sensorineural deafness, optic neuritis, and more (4, 5). Approximately 75% of adult and pediatric cases have a pure The World Health Organization (WHO) provides guidance on central nervous system (CNS) phenotype, while ∼13% have a diseases that are international threats to populations with a pure peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorder. Approximately focus on diseases of epidemic and pandemic potential (1). Close 9% have disorders of both the CNS and PNS. observation of these infectious diseases is required to ensure The time course of neurologic signs varies by the syndrome; prevention, foster early detection, mitigate further spread, and encephalopathy often appears concurrently with initial systemic provide supportive care to those affected. To date, of all of the symptoms, occasionally lagging by 1 to 2 days. Spinal disease, millions of pathogens globally, only ∼20 infections are listed with weakness and occasional paresthesias of multiple limbs, can as having epidemic or pandemic potential by the WHO. While appearatsymptomaticonsetorwithadelayofupto3weeks.GBS some may be familiar to the neurologist, others may be only appears weeks after the initial illness, consistent with its usual known to practitioners in tropical settings or locations where few presentation (5). neurologists practice. Here we synthesize the available knowledge The exact proportion of individuals infected with on the neurological manifestations of the WHO’s listed diseases Chikungunya who exhibit neurologic involvement is unclear, of epidemic and pandemic potential by pathogen. but it appears to be the most common “atypical” involvement in severe disease. Case series during epidemics have reported MATERIALS AND METHODS neurologic involvement ranging from 0.1% (5) to 16.3% (6). A neurological disorder was the primary issue in 61% (7) and 79% Searches were performed using the keywords of the disease and (8) of more severely affected patients in intensive care units. infectious organism (if different) as well as the terms “neurology,” Diagnosis of chikungunya is with real-time reverse- “brain,” “nervous system,” and related terms for each of the listed transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or disease of epidemic or pandemic potential on the WHO website enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the serum as of April 1, 2020. Search engines included PubMed, Google depending on the timing of testing. Within 5 days of initial Scholar, and the reference lists of articles found through those symptom onset, serum RT-PCR for viral RNA has up to 100% searches. All searches took place in spring 2020 with updates sensitivity and 98% specificity, while ELISA for immunoglobulin continuing as more information became available, particularly on M (IgM) is appropriate for patients who have shown clinical evolving pandemics, such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, Ebola Virus symptoms for at least 6–8 days (9, 10). Viral RNA has not been disease, and Neisseria meningitidis meningitis until September shown in the CSF of affected individuals, although viral particles 2020. Articles in English or with an abstract in English were have been found in glial cells of infected mice (11). Treatment included, using data sources dating from 1934 until present. of the disease is supportive care, including rest and fluids, as well as acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Data Availability Statement to alleviate arthralgias. Corticosteroids have been used in some Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were published case reports but with no data for their efficacy (5). GBS created or analyzed in this study. should be treated as per its standard protocols with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) or plasmapheresis. RESULTS Cholera Epidemic and Pandemic Diseases Cholera was classified as a pandemic by the WHO in 2010 in Chikungunya light of the disease causing an estimated 28,800–130,000 deaths Chikungunya virus is a positive-sense alphavirus most often per year and affecting 3–5 million individuals globally (12). The spread by Aedes mosquitos as a direct infection to humans, causative organism Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative, comma although it can rarely pass through maternal-fetal transmission shaped bacterium most commonly found in seawater and known or blood products. Chikungunya presents with a systemic course to have a number of serogroups. Specifically, serogroups O1 and that is relatively uniform across individuals, but neurologic O139 have been implicated in the majority of intestinal infections manifestations can be more heterogeneous. Its systemic course that are most common worldwide (13). Non-O1 serotypes have begins with an incubation period from 1 to 12 days and long been associated with more invasive disease phenotype and then progresses to fever, malaise, and headache, as well as a extraintestinal involvement (14). characteristic symmetric arthralgia in as many as 90% of patients Infants and neonates make up the majority of cholera cases (2). Chikungunya means “that which bends up” in Kimakonde, with neurologic sequelae, presenting with V. cholerae meningitis, the language of the ethnic group in whom the disease was first abscess, or both. In some cases there appears to have been a identified (3), referring to the stooped posture individuals with specific causative risk factor, as in one case where an individual the disease adopt due to joint pain (Tables 1, 2). had eviscerated fish from a nearby reservoir
Recommended publications
  • The Diagnosis of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
    Journal ofNeurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 1990;53:365-372 365 J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry: first published as 10.1136/jnnp.53.5.365 on 1 May 1990. Downloaded from OCCASIONAL REVIEW The diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage M Vermeulen, J van Gijn Lumbar puncture (LP) has for a long time been of 55 patients with SAH who had LP, before the mainstay of diagnosis in patients who CT scanning and within 12 hours of the bleed. presented with symptoms or signs of subarach- Intracranial haematomas with brain shift was noid haemorrhage (SAH). At present, com- proven by operation or subsequent CT scan- puted tomography (CT) has replaced LP for ning in six of the seven patients, and it was this indication. In this review we shall outline suspected in the remaining patient who stop- the reasons for this change in diagnostic ped breathing at the end of the procedure.5 approach. In the first place, there are draw- Rebleeding may have occurred in some ofthese backs in starting with an LP. One of these is patients. that patients with SAH may harbour an We therefore agree with Hillman that it is intracerebral haematoma, even if they are fully advisable to perform a CT scan first in all conscious, and that withdrawal of cerebro- patients who present within 72 hours of a spinal fluid (CSF) may occasionally precipitate suspected SAH, even if this requires referral to brain shift and herniation. Another disadvan- another centre.4 tage of LP is the difficulty in distinguishing It could be argued that by first performing between a traumatic tap and true subarachnoid CT the diagnosis may be delayed and that this haemorrhage.
    [Show full text]
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid in Critical Illness
    Cerebrospinal Fluid in Critical Illness B. VENKATESH, P. SCOTT, M. ZIEGENFUSS Intensive Care Facility, Division of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND ABSTRACT Objective: To detail the physiology, pathophysiology and recent advances in diagnostic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in critical illness, and briefly review the pharmacokinetics and pharmaco- dynamics of drugs in the CSF when administered by the intravenous and intrathecal route. Data Sources: A review of articles published in peer reviewed journals from 1966 to 1999 and identified through a MEDLINE search on the cerebrospinal fluid. Summary of review: The examination of the CSF has become an integral part of the assessment of the critically ill neurological or neurosurgical patient. Its greatest value lies in the evaluation of meningitis. Recent publications describe the availability of new laboratory tests on the CSF in addition to the conventional cell count, protein sugar and microbiology studies. Whilst these additional tests have improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of the critically ill neurological/neurosurgical patient, they have a limited role in providing diagnostic or prognostic information. The literature pertaining to the use of these tests is reviewed together with a description of the alterations in CSF in critical illness. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs in the CSF, when administered by the intravenous and the intrathecal route, are also reviewed. Conclusions: The diagnostic utility of CSF investigation in critical illness is currently limited to the diagnosis of an infectious process. Studies that have demonstrated some usefulness of CSF analysis in predicting outcome in critical illness have not been able to show their superiority to conventional clinical examination.
    [Show full text]
  • Thunderclap Headache and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
    Thunderclap Headache and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage W David Freeman, MD No conflicts of interest or disclosures Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Neurocrit Care. 2017 Sep;27(Suppl 1):116- 123. doi: 10.1007/s12028-017-0458-8. Objectives •Recognize the symptoms (thunderclap headache) and Subarachnoid signs of SAH Hemorrhage •Initiate workup for suspected SAH •Initial management of SAH patient Case • 39 year old woman presents with severe headache, uncertain time of onset, associated with nausea • PMH: long history of migraine headaches • Meds: • Reports taking ibuprofen prior to ED, with moderate improvement of headache • Taking warfarin for a pelvic DVT - year prior during pregnancy • Exam: sleepy, yet follows commands, left eye droop and dilated pupil, moving all extremities • BP 160/95 mmHg, RR 24/min, HR 98/min • Breathing shallow and rapid, airway protection uncertain Initial Checklist in Emergency Dept. ☐ Brain Imaging ☐ Labs: PT/PTT, CBC, electrolytes, BUN, Cr, troponin, toxicology screen ☐ 12 lead ECG ☐ Blood pressure goal established ☐ Consult neurosurgery ☐ Address hydrocephalus SAH Algorithm Neurocrit Care. 2017 Sep;27(Suppl 1):116- 123. doi: 10.1007/s12028-017-0458-8. SAH Symptoms and Signs CLASSIC NOT-SO-CLASSIC Abrupt onset of severe headache (HA), HA is not reported as abrupt (patient may i.e. thunderclap not remember event well) “Worst or first” headache of one’s life HA responds well to non-narcotic that is instantaneously maximal at onset analgesics (“thunderclap” after lightening strike) May have nausea, vomiting and neck pain HA
    [Show full text]
  • Effect of Methemoglobin Formation on the MR Appearance of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage1
    William G. Bradley, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. Effect of Methemoglobin Formation Paul G. Schmidt, Ph.D. on the MR Appearance of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage1 Subarachnoid hemorrhage has a much T HE EARLIEST reports of magnetic resonance (MR) images of in- higher intensity in magnetic resonance tracranial hemorrhage (1, 2) suggested a relatively intense ap- (MR) images with the passage of time. peanance of the hemorrhage relative to the surrounding brain. This Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage is diff i- was attributed to the short Ti relaxation time of the presumably cult to see; within 1 week its appearance paramagnetic, iron-containing hemoglobin. Figure 1 illustrates this has become intensified on Ti-weighted appearance in a patient imaged 1 week after rupture of an aneurysm images. Different concentrations of blood in an anterior communicating artery, with resulting intraparenchy- and lysed red blood cells in cerebrospinal mal hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The short Ti charac- fluid (CSF) were examined spectroscopi- ten of the injured area is enhanced relative to surrounding brain on cally but did not significantly alter Ti a Ti-weighted spin-echo image. and T2 relaxation of CSF acutely. Ultra- As experience was gained, subsequent reports (3, 4) indicated violet visible spectroscopy of bloody CSF that acute intracranial hemorrhage could be much more difficult to stored hypoxically for 3 days showed the detect on MR images. This was attributed by Sipponen et al. (3) to a presence of methemoglobin. The iron in lack of Ti shortening during the acute phase; however, they at- methemoglobin is paramagnetic; in com- tempted no explanation of this phenomenon.
    [Show full text]
  • D40. Cerebrospinal Fluid.Pdf
    CEREBROSPINAL FLUID D40 (1) Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Last updated: June 3, 2019 PHYSIOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 1 CSF PRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 CSF REABSORPTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 PARAMETERS ........................................................................................................................................... 2 NORMAL ................................................................................................................................................ 2 OPENING PRESSURE ................................................................................................................................ 3 COLOR ................................................................................................................................................... 3 BLOODY CSF ......................................................................................................................................... 3 VISCOSITY & TURBIDITY ....................................................................................................................... 4 CELLS ...................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid and Hydrocephalus: Physiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Andreas K
    cancercontroljournal.org Vol. 24, No. 1, January 2017 H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AN NCI COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER Cerebrospinal Fluid and Hydrocephalus: Physiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Andreas K. Filis, MD, Kamran Aghayev, MD, and Frank D. Vrionis, MD, PhD Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Radiological Findings of Neoplastic Meningitis Georgios Rigakos, MD, Chrysoula I. Liakou, MD, Naillid Felipe, et al Neoplastic Meningitis Due to Lung, Breast, and Melanoma Metastases Emilie Le Rhun, MD, Sophie Taillibert, MD, and Marc C. Chamberlain, MD Diagnosis and Management of Leukemic and Lymphomatous Meningitis Hemant Murthy, MD, Claudio Anasetti, MD, and Ernesto Ayala, MD Experimental Treatments for Leptomeningeal Metastases From Solid Malignancies Solmaz Sahebjam, MD, Peter A. Forsyth, MD, Keiran S. Smalley, PhD, et al Surgical Treatment for Leptomeningeal Disease Andrey A. Volkov, DO, Andreas K. Filis, MD, and Frank D. Vrionis, MD, PhD Cancer Control is included in Index Medicus/MEDLINE Editorial Board Members Editor: Conor C. Lynch, PhD Production Team: Assistant Member Lodovico Balducci, MD Veronica Nemeth Tumor Biology Senior Member Editorial Coordinator Program Leader, Senior Adult Oncology Program Kristen J. Otto, MD Sherri Damlo Moffitt Cancer Center Associate Member Managing Medical Editor Head and Neck and Endocrine Oncology Diane McEnaney Deputy Editor: Graphic Design Consultant Julio M. Pow-Sang, MD Michael A. Poch, MD Senior Member Assistant Member Associate Editor of Chair, Department of Genitourinary Oncology Genitourinary Oncology Educational Projects Director of Moffitt Robotics Program Jeffery S. Russell, MD, PhD John M. York, PharmD Moffitt Cancer Center Assistant Member Akita Biomedical Consulting Endocrine Tumor Oncology 1111 Bailey Drive Editor Emeritus: Elizabeth M.
    [Show full text]
  • Thunderclap Headache
    Thunderclap headache A.A.Okhovat,MD Assistant Professor of Neurology Tehran University of Medical Sciences Sina Hospital definition: ▷A headache that is very severe and has abrupt onset, reaching maximum intensity in less than 1 minute. ▷not defined solely by its high-intensity pain, but also by the rapidity with which it reaches maximum intensity. ▷Its explosive and unexpected nature. Epidemiology: ▷incidence ~43 per 100,000 adults per year. Differential Diagnosis: ▷Most Common Causes of Thunderclap Headache: -Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome -Subarachnoid hemorrhage ▷Less Common Causes of Thunderclap Headache: -Cerebral infection -Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis -Cervical artery dissection -Complicated sinusitis -Hypertensive crisis -Intracerebral hemorrhage -Ischemic stroke -Spontaneous intracranial hypotension -Subdural hematoma ▷Uncommon Causes of Thunderclap Headache: -Aqueductal stenosis -Brain tumor -Giant cell arteritis -Pituitary apoplexy -Pheochromocytoma -Retroclival hematoma -Third ventricle colloid cyst ▷Possible Causes of Thunderclap Headache: -Primary or idiopathic thunderclap headache -Unruptured intracranial aneurysm CLINICAL PRESENTATION ▷differentiated from other severe headaches, such as migraine or cluster, by the rapidity with which they reach their maximum intensity. ▷cannot be differentiated from other headache types based solely upon the intensity of the headache. Key points in PHx ▷altered level of consciousness ▷visual symptoms ▷papilledema ▷meningismus ▷Fever ▷tinnitus, auditory muffling ▷Horner
    [Show full text]
  • Pdf/ 14 Tolias CM, Choksey MS
    J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2013; 43:207–14 Paper http://dx.doi.org/10.4997/JRCPE.2013.304 © 2013 Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh A pilot survey of decisions by acute medicine staff CLINICAL after thunderclap headache 1B Dobb, 2J Cooper 1Specialty Registrar, Acute Medicine; 2Consultant, Emergency Medicine, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK ABSTRACT Correspondence to B Dobb Introduction and aims: Traditionally, neurologically pristine patients with a Acute Medicine thunderclap headache are investigated with a non-contrast computed tomography Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, (CT) brain scan, which if negative is followed by a lumbar puncture (LP) to exclude Foresterhill, Aberdeen important secondary causes, particularly subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). AB25 2ZN, UK However, misdiagnosis of such patients is still a cause of significant human and financial cost and a regular reason for medical litigation. This study explores the tel. +44 (0)785 435 0744 e-mail [email protected] approach of emergency medicine and acute medicine clinicians to the investigation of a patient with thunderclap headache. Methods: Clinicians were invited to complete an online survey based on a clinical vignette of a 45-year-old man presenting with a thunderclap headache who had a pristine neurological examination. Results: A total of 160 clinicians responded. The majority (89%) elected to perform a non-contrast CT brain as their first investigation, though five clinicians discharged the patient without investigation. If the CT was negative, only 84% would then proceed to LP, but 20% would undertake this investigation before 12 hours from headache onset. Conclusions: Most clinicians investigate neurologically intact patients with thunderclap headache following a CT/LP strategy, but deviations from recommended practice are common.
    [Show full text]
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis and Interpretation in Neurocritical Care for Acute Neurological Conditions Ajay Prasad Hrishi1, Manikandan Sethuraman2
    NEUROCRITICAL CARE Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis and Interpretation in Neurocritical Care for Acute Neurological Conditions Ajay Prasad Hrishi1, Manikandan Sethuraman2 ABSTRACT Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid circulating in the intracranial and spinal compartments. Under normal conditions, the composition of CSF remains constant. However, in various neurological disease especially in acute conditions, the composition, quantity and its pressure can be altered. By measuring the levels of various CSF components using relevant techniques, diagnosis, severity and prognostication of neurological conditions like infections, subarachnoid hemorrhage, demyelinating conditions, tumor like conditions, etc. can be done. In this review, alterations in CSF components and its relevance to the emergency care physician to help in the management of patients are enumerated. Keywords: Acute neurological condition, Cerebrospinal fluid analysis, Demyelination: trauma, Meningitis, SAH Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine (2019): 10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23187 INTRODUCTION 1,2Department of Anaesthesiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear fluid which is formed as a ultra Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India filtrate of plasma. CSF is present in both the intracranial and spinal Corresponding Author: Manikandan Sethuraman, Department of compartments. It is continuously being secreted by the choroid Anaesthesiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences plexus at a constant rate inside the ventricles of the brain and and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Phone: circulates in the subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord +919446334711, e-mail: [email protected] through CSF pathways. The total volume of CSF in the adult is How to cite this article: Hrishi AP, Sethuraman M.
    [Show full text]
  • Differentiation Between Traumatic Tap and Aneurysmal BMJ: First Published As 10.1136/Bmj.H568 on 18 February 2015
    RESEARCH OPEN ACCESS Differentiation between traumatic tap and aneurysmal BMJ: first published as 10.1136/bmj.h568 on 18 February 2015. Downloaded from subarachnoid hemorrhage: prospective cohort study Jeffrey J Perry,1 Bader Alyahya,1 Marco L A Sivilotti,2 Michael J Bullard,3 Marcel Émond,4 Jane Sutherland,5 Andrew Worster,6 Corinne Hohl,7 Jacques S Lee,8 Mary A Eisenhauer,9 Merril Pauls,10 Howard Lesiuk,11 George A Wells,12 Ian G Stiell1 For numbered affiliations see ABSTRACT end of article. OBJECTIVES 100 000 person years.1 2 When a patient presents to the Correspondence to: J J Perry, To describe the findings in cerebrospinal fluid from emergency department with sudden severe headache, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, patients with acute headache that could distinguish traditional teaching is to perform computed tomography F647, Ottawa Hospital, 1053, Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, subarachnoid hemorrhage from the effects of a of the brain and, if the results are negative for subarach- Canada K1Y 4E9 jperry@ ohri.ca traumatic lumbar puncture. noid hemorrhage, carry out a lumbar puncture to ana- 3–6 Additional material is published DESIGN lyze the cerebrospinal fluid to exclude that diagnosis. online only. To view please visit The sensitivity of modern thin sliced computed tomogra- the journal online (http:// A substudy of a prospective multicenter cohort study. phy for subarachnoid hemorrhage is 100% (95% confi- dx.doi.org/10.1136/BMJ.h568) SETTING dence interval 97% to 100%) when it is performed within Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h568 12 Canadian academic emergency departments, from six hours of onset of the headache.
    [Show full text]
  • Nonconvulsive Seizures After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Multimodal Detection and Outcomes
    ORIGINAL ARTICLE Nonconvulsive Seizures after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Multimodal Detection and Outcomes Jan Claassen, MD, PhD,1,2,3 Adler Perotte, MD,4 David Albers, PhD,4 Samantha Kleinberg, PhD,4 J. Michael Schmidt, PhD,1 Bin Tu, MD,2 Neeraj Badjatia, MD,1,3 Hector Lantigua, MD,1 Lawrence J. Hirsch, MD,2 Stephan A. Mayer, MD,1,3 E. Sander Connolly, MD,3 and George Hripcsak, MD4 Objective: Seizures have been implicated as a cause of secondary brain injury, but the systemic and cerebral physio- logic effects of seizures after acute brain injury are poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed intracortical electroencephalographic (EEG) and multimodality physiological recordings in 48 comatose subarachnoid hemorrhage patients to better characterize the physiological response to seizures after acute brain injury. Results: Intracortical seizures were seen in 38% of patients, and 8% had surface seizures. Intracortical seizures were accompanied by elevated heart rate (p 5 0.001), blood pressure (p < 0.001), and respiratory rate (p < 0.001). There were trends for rising cerebral perfusion pressure (p 5 0.03) and intracranial pressure (p 5 0.06) seen after seizure onset. Intracortical seizure–associated increases in global brain metabolism, partial brain tissue oxygenation, and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) did not reach significance, but a trend for a pronounced delayed rCBF rise was seen for surface seizures (p 5 0.08). Functional outcome was very poor for patients with severe background attenua- tion without seizures and best for those without severe attenuation or seizures (77% vs 0% dead or severely disabled, respectively). Outcome was intermediate for those with seizures independent of the background EEG and worse for those with intracortical only seizures when compared to those with intracortical and scalp seizures (50% and 25% death or severe disability, respectively).
    [Show full text]
  • Spontaneous Spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks: a Review
    Neurosurg Focus 9 (1):Article 8, 2000, Click here to return to Table of Contents Spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks: a review WOUTER I. SCHIEVINK, M.D. Cedars-Sinai Neurosurgical Institute, Los Angeles, and Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Irvine, California Spontaneous intracranial hypotension has become a well-recognized clinical entity, but it remains an uncommonly, and probably underdiagnosed, cause of headache; its estimated prevalence is only one in 50,000 individuals. The clin- ical spectrum of spontaneous intracranial hypotension is quite variable and includes headache, neck stiffness, cranial nerve dysfunction, radicular arm pain, and symptoms of diencephalic or hindbrain herniation. Leakage of the spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the most common cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. A combination of an underlying weakness of the spinal meninges and a more or less trivial traumatic event is often found to cause this event in these patients. Typical magnetic resonance imaging findings include diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement, sub- dural fluid collections, and downward displacement of the brain, sometimes mimicking a Chiari I malformation. Opening pressure is often, but not always, low, and examination of CSF may reveal pleocytosis, an elevated protein count, and xanthochromia. The use of myelography computerized tomography scanning is the most reliable method for the accurate localization of the CSF leak. Most CSF leaks are found at the cervicothoracic junction or in the tho- racic spine. The initial treatment of choice is a lumbar epidural blood patch, regardless of the location of the CSF leak. If the epidural blood patch fails, the blood patch procedure can be repeated at the lumbar level, or a blood patch can be directed at the exact site of the leak.
    [Show full text]