Escalating immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis--new aspects and practical application.

Recent clinical studies in multiple sclerosis (MS) provide new data on the treatment of clinically isolated syndromes, on secondary progression, on direct comparison of immunomodulatory treatments and on dosing issues. All these studies have important implications for the optimized care of MS patients. The multiple sclerosis therapy consensus group (MSTCG) critically evaluated the available data and provides recommendations for the application of immunoprophylactic therapies.

Three cases of hindbrain herniation in adults with comments on some diagnostic difficulties.

In discussing the clinical features and surgical treatment of adult patients with Arnold Chiari deformity type I the authors focus on the differential diagnosis from demyelinating disease and present three illustrative cases. Out of 118 patients initially diagnosed as having demyelinating disease and admitted to our hospital between December 1991 and April 1993, three were subsequently found to have the Arnold Chiari deformity on MRI. The delay until correct diagnosis amounted to 10, 16 and 32 years, respectively.

[Patient education in multiple sclerosis: experiences and wishes of affected patients].

110 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) were asked about their experiences and their preferences concerning patient information. 85% were informed about diagnosis by physicians. The time from the occurrence of first symptoms until information about the diagnosis was 5.

[Thrombolysis in acute occlusion of cerebral blood vessels].

Thrombolysis may achieve recanalization in cases of occlusion of the cerebral vessels. If therapy is initiated in good time, development of cerebral infarction may be at least partially prevented. Thrombolytic treatment was performed in 14 patients at the Wagner-Jauregg Hospital within a period of one year.

[Single-photon emission-computed tomography in the differential diagnosis of dementia].

To assess the value of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the differential diagnosis of dementia SPECT and conventional computed tomography were performed in 77 patients (50 men, 27 women, mean age 59 [28-90] years) with dementia diagnosed by a battery of psychometric tests. In 13 out of 15 patients with dementia of Alzheimer type SPECT showed a typical Alzheimer pattern (bilateral parietotemporal perfusion defects). Both patients with dementia of Pick type had definite decreases in frontal perfusion.