Cerebral venous thrombosis in Kuwait. Clinical presentation, risk factors, and management.

Objective: To explore the pattern of clinical presentations, risk factors, and the sinuses involved in cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) treated in a tertiary neurological center in Kuwait.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of cases of CVT treated at Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait, from January 2000 to October 2010. The records of 71 patients were retrieved and entered in a database.

Family caregiver quality of life in multiple sclerosis among Kuwaitis: a controlled study.

Background: Research interest in the quality of life (QOL) of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been spurred by the need to broaden outcome measures. Far less of this interest has been directed at the family caregivers, who bear most of the burden of care. The objectives of the study were: First, to compare the subjective QOL of family caregivers of persons with relapsing remitting and progressive MS, with those of a matched general population sample and caregivers of diabetes and psychiatric patients.

Corticosteroids can help distinguish between Guillain-Barré syndrome and first attack of chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy: an illustrative case report.

Objective: To report a case of acquired demyelinating neuropathy that failed to improve upon treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and plasmapheresis but responded dramatically to corticosteroids, illustrating the occasional difficulty in distinguishing Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) from a first attack of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: A 25-year-old previously healthy man was admitted with a 5-day history of ascending areflexic paralysis of all 4 limbs and diagnosed with GBS. On admission, he was administered intravenous immunoglobulins at a dosage of 400 mg/kg/day for 5 days yet continued to worsen.

Single-fiber electromyography of masseter muscle in myasthenia gravis.

Jitter after axonal microstimulation in the masseter muscle was studied in 30 consecutive patients (12 women) with myasthenia gravis (MG). Patients' mean age was 42.3 (12-75), median disease duration was 3 months (1-72), and onset was ocular (15 cases), oculobulbar (7), bulbar (6), or generalized (2).

Relationship of depression, disability, and family caregiver attitudes to the quality of life of Kuwaiti persons with multiple sclerosis: a controlled study.

Background: Assessment of subjective quality of life (QOL) of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) could facilitate the detection of psychosocial aspects of disease that may otherwise go unrecognized. The objectives of the study were to (i) compare the QOL ratings of relapsing remitting (RRMS) and progressive (PMS) types of MS with those of a general population group and the impression of their family caregivers; and (ii) assess the association of demographic, clinical, treatment, depression, and caregiver variables with patients' QOL.

Methods: Consecutive clinic attendees at the national neurology hospital were assessed with the 26 -item WHOQOL Instrument, Beck's Depression Inventory and Expanded Disability Scale.

Stimulated jitter in the masseter muscle: normative values.

Nineteen healthy volunteers (median age, 25; range, 18-51 years) were enrolled in a study to obtain normative values for stimulated jitter in the masseter muscle. Axonal microstimulation was performed via a monopolar needle electrode introduced in the masseter 2-2.5 cm above the mandibular angle on the line connecting it with the lateral canthus.

Guillain-Barré syndrome in a patient with hereditary spastic paraparesis. A case report.

Objective: To report the unusual occurrence of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in a case of hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) and describe its effect on the preexisting clinical picture as well as the importance of early recognition and treatment.

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: A 41-year-old man known to have HSP developed an acute and rapid deterioration of muscle power associated with paresthesia in both upper and lower limbs. Clinical examination revealed flaccid quadriparesis with areflexia.