Neurologic complications of cardiac disease in athletes.

Athletic participation at all levels of proficiency is an encouraged activity. Physicians evaluating athletes are tasked with assessing the benefits and risks of participating in vigorous physical activity and should engage in shared decision making with the athlete. Identifying the neurologic sequelae is an essential part of the assessment that is often not covered.

Sequential Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissections with Prompt Resolution of Initial Insult.

Vertebral arterial dissection is a known cause of stroke in young adults. There has been a multitude of cases of bilateral vertebral dissections, including progression from one vertebral artery to another. This case reports the curious sequential nature of the healing of a previously dissected vertebral artery with subsequent dissection of the collateral vertebral artery.

Correction to: Management of Blood Pressure after Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.

Management of Blood Pressure After Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Purpose Of Review: The present manuscript examines the significance of blood pressure elevation in patients with acute ischemic stroke, the physiologic principles worthy of consideration during its treatment, and the recent empirical evidence that should guide management protocols. It also provides a sound and practical approach to treatment along the time continuum, with particular relevance to reperfusion strategies.

Recent Findings: The existing evidence shows that both insufficient and excessive blood pressures are detrimental to the outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Neurologic Complications of Fat Embolism Syndrome.

Purpose Of Review: Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare disorder with potentially devastating neurologic complications. This article reviews the history, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of FES with a focus on its neurologic aspects.

Recent Findings: The neurologic complications of FES are more commonly recognized with current diagnostic testing and increase awareness of the disorder.

Stroke due to Paradoxical Embolization Related to Fibroid Uterus Enlargement Compressing the Right Common Iliac Vein.

Stroke in young women is commonly cryptogenic or associated with an underlying hypercoagulable state (e.g., hormonal contraception).

Leucine-Rich Glioma Inactivated-1 and Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel Autoimmune Encephalitis Associated with Ischemic Stroke: A Case Report.

Autoimmune encephalitis is associated with a wide variety of antibodies and clinical presentations. Voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies are a cause of autoimmune non-paraneoplastic encephalitis characterized by memory impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and seizures. We present a case of VGKC encephalitis likely preceding an ischemic stroke.

Autopsy proven peripheral nervous system neurolymphomatosis despite negative bilateral sural nerve biopsy.

Neurolymphomatosis (NL) refers to a lymphomatous infiltration of peripheral nerves associated with central nervous system or systemic lymphoma, or alternatively, neurodiagnostic evidence of nerve enhancement and/or enlargement beyond the dural sleeve in the setting of primary central nervous system lymphoma or systemic lymphoma. NL is a rare complication of systemic cancer with heterogeneous clinical presentations and an elusive diagnosis. Diagnosis usually requires the demonstration of infiltrating malignant lymphocytes in the peripheral nerve.

Platelet antiaggregants in stroke prevention.

Antiplatelet agents are one of the main interventions for recurrent ischemic stroke prevention. Their time of use, dosage, and combination of therapy have different effects in terms of stroke risk reduction and adverse effects. This review provides an evidence-based update of the latest on antiplatelet therapy for stroke prevention.

Management of acute ischemic stroke.

Stroke is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients in the United States. A proper understanding of stroke mechanisms helps to guide specific case management. The only therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of acute ischemic stroke is initiation of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 3 hours of symptom onset.

Pearls on primary stroke center.

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. The Brain Attack Coalition (BAC) provided goals and standards for development of primary and comprehensive stroke centers. There are over 800 primary stroke centers certified by The Joint Commission.

Prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are part of the spectrum of venous thromboembolism (VTE). It is one of the most frequent medical complications in stroke patients. The risk of VTE is even higher after hemorrhagic stroke.

Telemedicine in stroke care and rehabilitation.

Telemedicine allows prompt assessment of acute stroke patients. This new technology has increased the administration of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) to eligible patients. In addition, telemedicine is being utilized in the rehabilitation of patients with cerebrovascular disease.

Commonly asked questions in the management of perioperative stroke.

Certain surgical interventions increase stroke risk. Perioperative stroke significantly increases perioperative morbidity and mortality. Several interventions, such as perioperative continuation of antithrombotic therapy during selected surgical interventions, may decrease stroke risk without significantly increasing rates of adverse effects.

Central and extrapontine myelinolysis affecting the brain and spinal cord. An unusual presentation of pancreatic encephalopathy.

Pancreatic encephalopathy refers to a gamut of neuropsychiatric symptoms complicating acute pancreatitis. Osmotic myelinolysis is a known complication of pancreatic encephalopathy. We evaluated a 58-year-old woman with pancreatic encephalopathy associated to pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis involving the brain and spinal cord.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects approximately half of patients with diabetes. Neuropathic pain is a major complaint of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy can also lead to autonomic dysfunction.

Cocaine induced hippocampi infarction.

A middle age man presented with disorientation and memory impairment due to bilateral hippocampal strokes secondary to cocaine use. This is the second report of cocaine induced hippocampi ischaemic strokes. In contrast to the previous report, this middle age man did not have cardiac arrest.

Antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention in patients with heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with an increased risk of stroke mainly due stasis leading to increased risk of thrombus formation in the left ventricle and subsequent cerebral embolism. CHF patients are also at increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) that also leads to cerebral embolism. Aggressive medical management to prevent cardiac decompensation and maintain sinus rhythm is indicated in CHF patients.

Direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors in patients with cerebrovascular disease.

Stroke is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Approximately, 795,000 strokes occur in the USA each year, 610,000 of which are first events, and 185,000 of which are recurrent events. Of all strokes, 87% are ischemic strokes.

Ischemic stroke in the setting of chronic immune thrombocytopenia in an elderly patient--a therapeutic dilemma.

Chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) carries a poor prognosis in the elderly patients. Increasing evidence proposes that a subgroup of patients with chronic ITP may be more susceptible to ischemic stroke. An 84-year-old Caucasian man with multiple ischemic stroke risk factors presented with acute onset of slurred speech, confusion, and unsteady gait.

Statins in hemorrhagic stroke.

Statin therapy has a major impact on the treatment of coronary artery disease and also has an impact on the treatment of ischemic stroke. Both clinical and experimental studies support the concept of statin actions beyond those of lipid lowering per se (pleiotrophic effects). In this article, we briefly review the clinical, experimental and biological data on the actions of statins and then review the literature regarding the impact of statin use on the two major forms of hemorrhagic stroke: aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).

Stroke- and pregnancy-induced hypertensive syndromes.

Pregnancy-induced hypertensive syndromes are an important cause of cerebrovascular diseases during pregnancy. Women with pregnancy-induced hypertensive syndromes are at an increased risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Posterior reversible encephalopathy and reversible vasoconstriction syndromes are common.

[CADASIL: a case series of 11 patients].

Introduction: The term CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) refers to a hereditary systemic microangiopathy caused by mutations of the NOTCH3 gene located on chromosome 19. It typically presents in young people with migraine attacks and recurrent ischemic strokes, leading to a progressive subcortical cognitive decline over several years.

Aim: To describe the symptoms of onset and clinical manifestations in 11 CADASIL patients diagnosed by genetic testing or skin biopsy.