Reasons to switch: a noninterventional study evaluating immunotherapy switches in a large German multicentre cohort of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: With a large array of disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), identifying the optimal treatment option for the individual patient is challenging and switching of immunotherapies is often required. The objective of this study was to systematically investigate reasons for DMT switching in patients on immunotherapies for mild/moderate MS, and provide real-life insights into currently applied therapeutic strategies.

Methods: This noninterventional, cross-sectional study (ML29913) at 50 sites in Germany included RRMS patients on therapies for mild/moderate MS who switched immunotherapy in the years 2014-2017.

Safety and therapeutical benefit of hemicraniectomy combined with mild hypothermia in comparison with hemicraniectomy alone in patients with malignant ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Both for hemicraniectomy and for hypothermia, several reports describe a beneficial effect in patients with malignant supratentorial cerebral ischemia. We compared the safety and the clinical outcome in patients with a malignant supratentorial infarction who were treated with hemicraniectomy alone (HA) or received a combination therapy with hemicraniectomy and hypothermia of 35 degrees C (HH), respectively.

Methods: In a prospective and randomized study, 25 consecutive patients were treated after an ischemic infarction of more than two thirds of one hemisphere by HA (n=13 patients) or the HH combination therapy (n=12 patients).

[Clinical symptomatology, diagnostics, and treatment in patients with tuberculous meningoencephalitis].

Background: Tuberculous meningoencephalitis (TBM) is still associated with a high mortality. The relative rareness of TBM in Western European countries and the accompanying heterogeneous and unspecific clinical symptoms often result in a delayed diagnosis.

Patients And Methods: We present six HIV-negative patients (age 37-72 years) with a laboratory-confirmed or clinically probable diagnosis of TBM.

Transcranial color-coded sonography in basilar artery stenting.

Basilar artery (BA) stenting is an emerging technique with promising results in revascularization of severe arteriosclerotic stenoses. Because of the limitations associated with other noninvasive techniques, we applied transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) in the follow-up. Successful stent application in two cases of acute basilar occlusion caused by thrombosis on pre-existing severe midbasilar stenoses was initially confirmed by angiography.