The critical role of histology in distinguishing sarcoidosis from common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID) in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia.

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID) are a rare group of primary immune defects, where the underlying cause is unknown. Approximately 10-20% of patients with typical CVID have a granulomatous variant, which has closely overlapping features with sarcoidosis.

Case Presentation: Here we describe a young man who sequentially developed refractory Evans syndrome, cauda equina syndrome and most recently renal impairment.

Early Secondary Prevention in Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this study was to review recent literature on the early secondary prevention in transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke.

Recent Findings: The result of Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events and the secondary analysis of Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke (POINT) have shown that treatment with clopidogrel and aspirin for 21 days reduced the risk of recurrent stroke with no significant increase in bleeding risk. Triple antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel, and dipyridamole resulted in a significant increase in major (including fatal) bleeding with no significant reduction in the recurrent stroke or TIA.

Ulnar neuropathy with abnormal non-localizing electrophysiology: Clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasound findings.

Objective: To systematically study demographic, clinical, electrophysiological and nerve ultrasound characteristics of ulnar neuropathy with abnormal non-localizing electrophysiology (NL-UN) and further define the utility of ultrasound over and above the conventional electro-diagnostic approach.

Method: NL-UNs were prospectively identified from 113 consecutive referrals with suspected ulnar neuropathy. All received electro-diagnostic tests and ulnar nerve ultrasound.

Endovascular clot retrieval for acute ischaemic stroke: the Auckland City Hospital experience.

Aims: In acute ischaemic stroke, endovascular therapy with the Solitaire FR stent retriever has been shown to double recanalisation rates and the numbers of patients who recover to be functionally independent, when compared to standard therapy. We present the Auckland City Hospital experience of clot retrieval.

Methods: Previously independent ischaemic stroke patients with contraindications to, or no response following, i.