Delayed cerebral ischemia and vasospasm are significant complications following SAH leading to cerebral infarction, functional disability, and death. In recent years, CTA and CTP have been used to increase the detection of delayed cerebral ischemia and vasospasm. Our aim was to perform comparative-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analyses evaluating CTA and CTP for delayed cerebral ischemia and vasospasm in aneurysmal SAH from a health care payer perspective.We developed a decision model comparing CTA and CTP with transcranial Doppler sonography for detection of vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia in SAH. The clinical pathways were based on the "Guidelines for the Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association" (2012). Outcome health states represented mortality and morbidity according to functional outcomes. Input probabilities of symptoms and serial test results from CTA and CTP, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and digital subtraction angiography were directly derived from an SAH cohort by using a multinomial logistic regression model. Expected benefits, measured as quality-adjusted life years, and costs, measured in 2012 US dollars, were calculated for each imaging strategy. Univariable, multivariable, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the independent and combined effect of input parameter uncertainty.The transcranial Doppler ultrasound strategy yielded 13.62 quality-adjusted life years at a cost of $154,719. The CTA and CTP strategy generated 13.89 quality-adjusted life years at a cost of $147,097, resulting in a gain of 0.27 quality-adjusted life years and cost savings of $7622 over the transcranial Doppler ultrasound strategy. Univariable and multivariable sensitivity analyses indicated that results were robust to plausible input parameter uncertainty. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis results yielded 96.8% of iterations in the right lower quadrant, representing higher benefits and lower costs.Our model results suggest that CTA and CTP are the preferred imaging strategy in SAH, compared with transcranial Doppler ultrasound, leading to improved clinical outcomes and lower health care costs.
Biotin is a readily available supplement that is part of the B-complex vitamins. It is an essential co-factor for five carboxylases involved in fatty acid synthesis and energy production. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of biotin ranges from 30 to 70 mcg per day. At high doses (10,000 times RDI), biotin improves clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been reported to cause interference in immunoassays resulting in abnormal thyroid function tests. Hereby we are describing the case of a patient having MS who was on high-dose biotin, seen in the clinic for a follow-up visit with thyroid function tests suggestive of Graves' disease with no signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism and completely normal physical examination. In the case we have described, the laboratory measurements suggestive of thyrotoxicosis were attributed to interference of the patient's high-dose biotin treatment with the biotin-streptavidin chemistry of the immunoassays. We observed normalization of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 measurements when the patient withheld biotin for a week. As our case illustrates, early consideration of biotin interference minimizes unnecessary repeat laboratory studies. As trials in MS are progressing, we expect to see more patients on high-dose biotin treatment with spurious laboratory measurements. Therefore, we advise careful history taking and close communication with the laboratory when the clinical picture does not match with the laboratory results.
Global cerebral edema is an independent predictor of mortality and poor outcomes after aneurysmal SAH. Global cerebral edema, a complex disease process, is thought to be associated with an altered cerebral autoregulatory response. We studied the association between cerebral hemodynamics and early global cerebral edema by using CTP.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
We retrospectively studied consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH with admission CTP performed at days 0–3. Two neuroradiologists classified global cerebral edema and hydrocephalus on NCCT performed concurrently with CTP. Global cerebral edema was defined as diffuse effacement of the sulci and/or basal cisterns or diffuse disruption of the cerebral gray-white matter junction. CTP was postprocessed into CBF and MTT maps by using a standardized method. Quantitative analysis of CTP was performed by using standard protocol with ROI sampling of the cerebral cortex. The Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney test, and independent-samples t test were used to determine statistical associations.
RESULTS:
Of the 45 patients included, 42% (19/45) had global cerebral edema and 58% (26/45) did not. Patient groups with and without global cerebral edema were well-matched for demographic and clinical data. Patients with global cerebral edema were more likely to have qualitative global CTP deficits than those without global cerebral edema (P = .001) with an OR = 13.3 (95% CI, 2.09–138.63). Patients with global cerebral edema also had a very strong trend toward statistical significance, with reduced quantitative CBF compared with patients without global cerebral edema (P = .064).
CONCLUSIONS:
Global perfusion deficits are significantly associated with global cerebral edema in the early phase after aneurysmal SAH, supporting the theory that hemodynamic disturbances occur in global cerebral edema.
Malignant hypertension (MH) has been described in association with high-dose (50 - 100 mcg) estrogen oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Although the rise in blood pressure (BP) is usually mild, some women will have a more significant increase in BP, and hypertensive emergencies may very rarely occur. We present a 21-year-old Caucasian female with a past medical history of fibromyalgia and family history of hypertension (both grandparents) who was admitted with a three-day history of headache and blurring of vision in her left eye with a BP of 210/150. Her medications, which were continued on admission, included tramadol, 100 mg twice daily (bid), and low-dose estrogen OCP. During the hospital course, she received different antihypertensive medications and her hypertension was controlled. A diagnosis of MH due to OCP was made. All antihypertensive medications were stopped, except metoprolol, and the patient was discharged home on metoprolol with a BP of 107/55 mmHg. On follow-up in the medical clinic three months later, her visual disturbances had completely resolved and her BP was 98/56 mmHg. One-third of patients aged 15 - 44 years old who develop MH are likely to be on high-dose estrogen OCP. As far as we know, our case is the third documented case of MH occurring in patients on low-dose estrogen OCP. Chronic use of oral contraceptives will slightly increase the systemic BP in most women. It is advisable to avoid OCP in high-risk patients and do regular BP checks on patients on OCP. In patients presenting with hypertension or MH while on OCP, the OCP should be discontinued.
No published epidemiologic data on multiple sclerosis (MS) in Qatar exist. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence, demographics and clinical characteristics of MS in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. We analyzed data for Qatari MS patients fulfilling the McDonald diagnostic criteria. A total of 154 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On 31 April 2010, the crude prevalence of MS in Qatar was 64.57 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI: 58.31-70.37). The female-to-male ratio was 1.33:1. A positive family history was found in 10.4% of included MS patients. We conclude that Qatar is now a medium-to-high risk area for MS, with some important differences in clinical characteristics as compared to other countries in the region.
Patients with SAH are at increased risk of delayed infarction. Early detection and treatment of delayed infarction remain challenging. We assessed blood-brain barrier permeability, measured as permeability surface area product, by using CTP in patients with SAH with delayed infarction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
We performed a retrospective study of patients with SAH with delayed infarction on follow-up NCCT. CTP was performed before the development of delayed infarction. CTP data were postprocessed into permeability surface area product, CBF, and MTT maps. Coregistration was performed to align the infarcted region on the follow-up NCCT with the corresponding location on the CTP maps obtained before infarction. Permeability surface area product, CBF, and MTT values were then obtained in the location of the subsequent infarction. The contralateral noninfarcted region was compared with the affected side in each patient. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were performed to determine statistical significance. Clinical data were collected at the time of CTP and at the time of follow-up NCCT.
RESULTS:
Twenty-one patients with SAH were included in the study. There was a statistically significant increase in permeability surface area product in the regions of subsequent infarction compared with the contralateral control regions (P < .0001). However, CBF and MTT values were not significantly different in these 2 regions. Subsequent follow-up NCCT demonstrated new delayed infarction in all 21 patients, at which time 38% of patients had new focal neurologic deficits.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study reveals a statistically significant increase in permeability surface area product preceding delayed infarction in patients with SAH. Further investigation of early permeability changes in SAH may provide new insights into the prediction of delayed infarction.
Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are abnormal communication between coronary arteries and the pulmonary trunk or with adjacent heart structures. Coronary pulmonary artery fistulas (CPAFs) can be congenital or acquired. Mostly, CAFs are found as incidental findings on angiographic evaluation. The management of CPAFs varies from case to case depending on size, anatomical location, patient's clinical presentation, and presence of coronary steal phenomenon. We present two cases of CPAFs; one of them had coronary steal phenomena at a young age with no past medical history of coronary artery disease, and the patient underwent transcatheter coil embolization to close the fistula. In other cases, a fistulous connection between the left anterior descending (LAD) and the pulmonary trunk was found incidentally on computed tomography (CT) of the heart and based on a small-sized fistula and symptomatic improvement, the patient was discharged with conservative management. CPAFs are rare cardiac anomalies but can give rise to severe hemodynamic complications, so this should be a part of the initial differential diagnosis if the patient does not have significant coronary artery disease. Percutaneous closure or surgical correction is indicated if the patients are symptomatic or have secondary complications.
7357 Background: Toxicity is still a major problem with platinum-based doublet combinations used in the chemotherapy of advanced NSCLC. We already reported an encouraging activity of the combination of vinorelbine plus ifosfamide, with less toxicity than platinum-based regimens. In the present study, we assessed a triplet combination of gemcitabine plus ifosfamide plus vinorelbine (GIN) in chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC and PS ≤ 2. Methods: GIN (day 1 and day 15: i.v. gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2; day 1 to day 3: i.v ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2 i.v. with mesna) was administered at 3 week-intervals for a maximum of 6 cycles. Patients were monitored for tumor response (CT scan) and toxicity. Results: Mean age of the 30 patients included was 60 (40–72) years. Median number of cycles per patient was 4 (1–6). Most frequent side effects were grade 3–4 neutropenia (43% of patients; febrile neutropenia in 3%), grade 2 asthenia (42%), moderate nausea-vomiting (14%) and grade 2 constipation (7%). No toxic deaths occurred. Partial response was observed in 9 (33%; CI 24–42 %) of 27 evaluable patients, stable disease in 8 (29 %), and progressive disease in 10 (37%). Survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 49% and 33%, respectively, and median survival 10.8 months. Conclusions: In advanced NSCLC, adding a third drug to platinum-based chemotherapy doublets has failed to improve the response and survival rates, while resulting in increased toxicity. In contrast, the addition of gemcitabine to the nonplatinum doublet ifosfamide plus vinorelbine may be a well-tolerated outpatient regimen. Median survival was equivalent to that reported using platinum-based chemotherapies. Modification of the administration schedule might increase the response rate, thus providing a valuable alternative to the more toxic platinum-based regimens. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
