Characteristics, management and outcome of stroke: Observations from the Sri Lanka Stroke Clinical Registry.

Background: Stroke registries are pivotal to the monitoring and improvement of the quality of stroke care. We report data from the initial phase of a nationally representative hospital-based stroke registry in Sri Lanka.

Methods: Based on an observational cohort design, all consecutive patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) presenting to six tertiary-care hospitals in the Western, Eastern, Southern, Northern and Central provinces of Sri Lanka within 14 days of onset were recruited.

Obstetric outcomes and effects on babies born to women treated for epilepsy during pregnancy in a resource limited setting: a comparative cohort study.

Background: Management of epilepsy during pregnancy in a resource-limited setting (RLS) is challenging. This study aimed to assess obstetric outcomes and effects on babies of women with epilepsy (WWE) exposed to Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) compared to non-exposed controls in a RLS.

Methods: Pregnant WWE were recruited from antenatal and neurology clinics of a tertiary care hospitals in Sri Lanka.

Viral aetiologies of acute encephalitis in a hospital-based South Asian population.

Background: The aetiological spectrum of acute encephalitis shows inter- and intra-geographical variations. We aimed to identify the viruses that cause infectious encephalitis in Sri Lanka, which represents a South Asian population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 99 patients with encephalitis/meningoencephalitis admitted to two tertiary-care hospitals in Colombo.

Clinical and serological study of myasthenia gravis using both radioimmunoprecipitation and cell-based assays in a South Asian population.

Background: Identification of autoantibodies has defined distinct clinico-immuno-pathological subtypes of myasthenia gravis (MG) such as AChR-antibody-positive-MG and MuSK-antibody-positive-MG. The use of more sensitive assays such as the cell-based assay (CBA) is expected to reduce the proportion of seronegative-MG. We studied the seroprevalence of AChR and MuSK antibodies using both radioimmunoprecipitation (RIA) and CBA amongst MG patients in Sri Lanka and related their antibody status to their clinical subtypes and severity.

Pregnancy and puerperium-related strokes in Asian women.

Background: Despite an increased risk of stroke in pregnancy and puerperium, the overall incidence of the condition in this population is low. Therefore, there is limited data pertaining to these patients particularly from Asian countries. Our objective was to describe the risk factors and outcomes of 110 pregnancy-related ischemic strokes from 5 Asian countries.

Predictors of cerebral venous thrombosis and arterial ischemic stroke in young Asian women.

The management and outcome of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) may be different from that of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). Clinically differentiating the 2 diseases on clinical grounds may be difficult. The main objective of this study was to identify predictors differentiating CVT from AIS in a large cohort of young Asian women, based on risk factors and investigations.

A Polypill for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a feasibility study of the World Health Organization.

Background: The feasibility of conducting a large-scale Polypill clinical trial in developing countries remains unclear. More information is needed regarding the efficacy in reducing the risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), side effects, improvement in adherence and physician/patient "acceptability" of the Polypill.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial involving three sites in Sri Lanka that enrolled a total of 216 patients without established CVD.

Hashimoto encephalopathy: clinical and MRI improvement following high-dose corticosteroid therapy.

Introduction: Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE) is an immune-mediated encephalopathy associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. Most patients with HE respond to corticosteroids. Diffuse or focal white matter changes suggesting primary demyelination on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported in only a few patients with HE.

Ischemic stroke in young Asian women: risk factors, subtypes and outcome.

Background And Objective: The objective of our study was to describe risk factors, mechanisms and outcome of young Asian women with ischemic stroke.

Methods: Twelve tertiary-care centers in 8 Asian countries participated. Women aged 15-45 years were included if they had an ischemic stroke supported by neuroimaging.

MuSK-antibody-positive myasthenia gravis in a South Asian population.

Background: MuSK-antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) is diagnosed in 0-40% of cases with generalized seronegative MG in different populations. The presence of anti-MuSK antibodies defines a distinct clinico-immuno-pathological subtype of MG. We analysed for the first time the serology and clinical characteristics of MuSK-MG in a South Asian population.