Publications by authors named "Abdulrahman AlTahan"

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has several clinical variants. The sensory presentations of GBS are atypical but well-recognized. We report a patient who presented with predominantly sensory symptoms associated with reversible conduction failure (RCF).

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Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare neuropathic pain disorder associated with severe pain, muscle weakness, limb edema and hyperhidrosis. Predisposing factors include fracture, surgery, stroke and spinal cord injury. CRPS may recur in the same limb or spread to other limbs to complicate management.

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BACKGROUND Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a serious opportunistic infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality. Its incidence in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has risen since the introduction of disease modifying drugs. In the absence of a specific treatment, the outcome depends heavily on early diagnosis, which illustrates the importance of the role of characteristic brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

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Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) delay or may prevent the progression of patients with high-risk clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS), and from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS. Current evidence on the effects of DMT on disability in MS is supported by the use of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), which is dominated by ambulation, and usually used as a secondary outcome measure. Less is known about the long-term effects of DMTs on other aspects of functional status, particularly cognition, which is a key determinant of ability to work.

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For decades, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) has been the principal measure of disability in clinical trials in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in clinical practice. However, this test is dominated by effects on ambulation. Composite endpoints may provide a more sensitive measure of MS-related disability through the measurement of additional neurological functions.

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The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is now considered to be medium-to-high in the Middle East and is rising, particularly among women. While the characteristics of the disease and the response of patients to disease-modifying therapies are generally comparable between the Middle East and other areas, significant barriers to achieving optimal care for MS exist in these developing nations. A group of physicians involved in the management of MS in ten Middle Eastern countries met to consider the future of MS care in the region, using a structured process to reach a consensus.

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Objectives: To describe the pattern of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), and evaluate its local diagnostic and management practices. To define factors responsible for the delay in reaching a diagnosis and initiating treatment.

Methods: Patients with the diagnosis of CIDP attending King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 1986 and 2006 were retrospectively studied, in relation to diagnosis and management.

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We analyzed the features of opsoclonus syndrome as a manifestation of post viral encephalopathy in 3 patients (one child and 2 adults). This is the first report of opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome in the Arabian Peninsula. Symptoms appeared a few days after a viral-like illness in all patients.

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Objective: To assess the value of brainstem auditory evoked potentials and event related evoked potential (3rd positive component of evoked related potentials with latency of 300 millisecond, in evaluating cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic respiratory failure.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory failure of mild to moderate severity, were assessed regarding their mental function, utilizing mini-mental state examination, arterial blood gases including PH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, and both brainstem auditory evoked potentials and event related evoked potential response. Twenty-five normal subjects, matched for age and sex, were also studied as a control group.

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