Valproate pregnancy prevention scheme: what are the barriers to enrolling patients and how do we meet them?

Background: The UK Medicines Health products Regulation Agency instructs that valproate prescriptions should be restricted in women of childbearing age to those consenting to the Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP). We assessed the compliance and barriers to the valproate PPP.

Methods: We retrospectively audited NHS Grampian's compliance with PPP guidelines among women of childbearing potential prescribed valproate between October 2017 and March 2018.

Evaluation of telemedicine for new outpatient neurological consultations.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has broadened the use of teleneurology, how this compares with face-to-face (F2F) clinics is unclear. This study compared virtual with F2F new neurological consultations.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated new outpatient consultations in neurology clinics in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Role of Renal Dysfunction as a Prognostic Factor in Acute Stroke Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Northeastern Nigeria.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and stroke share many common risk factors, and the presence of CKD confers added risk factors for stroke. With increasing interest and understanding of the close relationship between the kidney and the brain, this study aims to assess the prevalence and impact of renal dysfunction on outcomes acute stroke patients. This is a prospective hospital-based study carried out in the neurology unit of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.

Neuromyelitis optica and myasthenia gravis in a young Nigerian girl.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and myasthenia gravis (MG) are rare autoimmune disorders. The coexistence of the two disorders, although rare, has been documented. This is a case report of a 16-year-old student who presented with recurrent episodes of transverse myelitis and optic neuritis, 8 years after diagnosis of MG.

Factors predicting post-stroke aphasia recovery.

Background: Aphasia is an important stroke sequel that impacts negatively on the HQoL of stroke patients. Although a number of stroke patients with aphasia will have good functional recovery, many are left with language deficits.

Method: Papers were identified through PubMed and MEDLINE search, with keywords such as: 'stroke', 'aphasia', 'post-stroke aphasia', 'factors that predict aphasia recovery', 'aphasia outcomes' and 'aphasia prognosis'.

Seizure occurrence, pregnancy outcome among women with active convulsive epilepsy: one year prospective study.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy, seizure frequency and the outcome of pregnancy amongst a cohort of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at two tertiary hospitals.

Methods: An observational cohort study conducted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and State Specialist Hospital, Northeast Nigeria. Pregnant women attending antenatal care were screened for previous history of active convulsive epilepsy, and recruited consecutively according to a specified protocol.