The impact of patients' pre-treatment expectations on immunosuppressive treatment outcomes in myasthenia gravis: A pilot correlational study.

Introduction/aims: The impact of treatment expectations on active treatment outcomes has not been specifically investigated in neuromuscular disorders. We thus explored in myasthenia gravis (MG) the contribution of patients' pre-treatment expectations combined with an immunosuppressant drug on treatment outcomes.

Methods: This pilot correlational study involved 17 patients with generalized MG, scheduled to start immunosuppressant azathioprine.

Efficacy of rituximab in anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein demyelinating polyneuropathy: Clinical, hematological and neurophysiological correlations during 2 years of follow-up.

Background And Purpose: We evaluated the clinical and neurophysiological efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in a neurophysiologically homogeneous group of patients with monoclonal gammopathy and immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibody (anti-MAG) demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Methods: Twenty three anti-MAG-positive polyneuropathic patients were prospectively evaluated before and for 2 years after treatment with RTX 375 mg/m . The Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) disability scale (INCAT-ds), modified INCAT sensory score (mISS), Medical Research Council sum score, Patients' Global Impression of Change scale were used, IgM levels were assessed and extensive electrophysiological examinations were performed before (T0) and 1 year (T1) and 2 years (T2) after RTX treatment.

Italian Real-Life Experience of Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Treated with Patisiran.

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is a multisystemic, rare, inherited, progressive and adult-onset disease, affecting the sensorimotor nerves, heart, autonomic function and other organs. The actual scenario of pharmaceutical approaches for ATTRv amyloidosis includes five main groups: TTR stabilizers, TTR mRNA silencers, TTR fibril disruptors, inhibitor of TTR fibril seeding and gene therapy. Patisiran is a small, double-stranded interfering RNA encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle, able to penetrate into hepatocytes, where it selectively targets TTR mRNA, reducing TTR production.

Early reversible leukoencephalopathy and unilateral sixth cranial nerve palsy in mild COVID-19 infection.

Objectives: To provide new insights into neurological manifestations of COVID-19. We describe a patient with mild COVID-19 associated with diplopia from right sixth cranial nerve palsy and early diffuse leukoencephalopathy, successfully treated with intravenous methylprednisolone.

Methods: The patient was evaluated for diplopia that occurred 1 day after the onset of fever, myalgia, and headache.