Carotid endarterectomy: a Southern North Island regional consensus statement.

Aims: The aim of this project was to employ interdepartmental and cross district health board collaboration to reach a regional consensus on the management of patients who may benefit from carotid endarterectomy.

Methods: All regional stroke physicians, neurologists, and vascular surgeons met to review relevant literature and local audits and to discuss best management strategies suited to the region.

Results: A consensus statement was agreed upon and is presented here along with a summary of the supporting scientific evidence.

Juvenile Alpers disease.

Background: Alpers disease is commonly associated with polymerase gamma deficiency and usually affects infants or young children.

Objective: To report a juvenile case of Alpers disease due to mutations in the polymerase gamma gene (POLG1).

Design: Clinical, pathologic, biochemical, and molecular analysis.

Neurological complications of Werner's syndrome.

Patients with Werner's syndrome have the appearance of premature ageing. Neurological complications are usually regarded as uncommon. The neurological manifestations in three patients with cardinal features of Werner's syndrome, including short stature, premature greying and baldness, thin arms and legs, cataracts and scleroderma-like skin changes, are presented.