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.

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.

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.