Neurology Commons^™

Clinical Practice Guidelines For The Management Of Ischemic Stroke In Pakistan, Saad Shafqat

Section of Neurology

Ischemic stroke represents a huge global burden, being the leading cause of physical disability and the third leading cause of death worldwide¹. Although rigorous epidemiological data from Pakistan are lacking, stroke is certainly the commonest reason for admission to a neurology ward in our part of the world, as elsewhere. Recent years have seen a number of new developments in the clinical approach to stroke, including in the areas of diagnostic work-up, acute treatment and secondary prevention. These developments enable the formulation of clinical practice guidelines for achieving standardized management of ischemic stroke, with the overall aini of …

Cost Of Acute Stroke Care At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan, B. A. Khealani, Z. F. Javed, N. A. Syed, Saad Shafqat, Mohammad Wasay

Section of Neurology

Objective:To evaluate cost of acute stroke care and its determinants at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi and to find out predictors of high cost care. Acute stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Cost of care is the single most important determinant in availability of acute stroke care at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.It is also an important factor in development of public health policies and medical insurance plans. Average nnual income in Pakistan is 4881 rupees (U$ 85).
Methods: Medical and billing records of 443 patients with acute stroke were retrospectively reviewed from …

Moyamoya Disease: An Elusive Diagnosis, K. B. Asumal, N. Akhtar, N. A. Syed, Saad Shafqat, S. M. Baig

Section of Neurology

Moyamoya disease is an idiopathic vasculopathy, affecting vessels of Circle of Willis.1 It usually manifests as stroke, but can also cause seizures and cognitive impairment.2 Ischemic strokes are common in children and hemorrhagic strokes in adults.1 We describe our experience with moyamoya disease in four patients who presented with ischemic strokes, at an academic tertiary care center and emphasize that this diagnosis should be considered in young patients, especially children, who present with stroke.

Radiologic Features Of Hallervorden Spatz Disease, K B. Asumal, M Wasay, S N. Ali

Section of Neurology

Hallervorden Spatz Disease is a rare familial neurodegenerative disorder, which primarily affects children but also can occur in adults1 . Major clinical features are abnormal involuntary movements and cognitive impairment2 . Diagnosis is based on clinical and radiological features. The radiological features are hypointense signals in globus pallidus and substantia niagra on MR! of brain3 . Occasionally the pallidal hypointense signals surround hyperintense signals, this is known as “tigereye-sign”4 and is postulated to be specific for Hallervorden Spatz Disease. We report two brothers with such MRI findings.

Ischemic Stroke In Young Adults Of South Asia, A A. Razzaq, B A. Khan, S M. Baig

Section of Neurology

Objective: To study the risk factors, etiology and management of ischemic stroke in young adults in a South Asian population.

Methods: Retrospective study conducted at a large tertiary hospital in Karachi. One hundred and eighteen patients between fifteen and forty-five years admitted over a five year period with a diagnosis of ischemic infarct constituted the study population. The study variables included the full clinical spectrum, spanning historical, laboratory, radiological and outcome parameters.

Results: Forty-three percent of patients were hypertensive and 30% were diabetic. The combination of diabetes and hypertension was found in 19.5% of patients, intra-cranial and carotid …

Takayasu's Arteritis Presenting As Ischemic Stroke--Case Report, B A. Khealani, S M. Baig

Section of Neurology

Takayasu’s Arteritis is a chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory disease that primarily affects large blood vessels such as aorta and its branches.1 Neurological symptoms occur in about 50% of cases but stroke occurs in about 10% of patients with Takayasu’s Arteritis2 . We report two such cases and emphasize the need for thorough evaluation of young patients with stroke to establish the underlying etiology.

Predictors Of Mortality In Brain Abscess, H U. Qureshi, A A. Habib, A A. Siddiqui, T Mozaffar, A R. Sarwari

Section of Neurosurgery

Objective: Brain abscess carries significant morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to elucidate the clinical presentation of brain abscess and to assess predictors of mortality in these patients.
Methods: All patients with a brain abscess presenting to the Aga Khan University Hospital, a tertiary care referral center in Karachi, Pakistan, were studied retrospectively. Statistical analysis involved univariate analysis and a logistic regression model.
Results: Among the 66 patients analyzed, a distant metastatic focus of infection was the most commonly identified predisposing factor (29%). Otogenic infection was the commonest contiguous source and sinusitis was noticeably absent. Multiple abscesses were frequent (35%). …

Bilateral Cervical Radiculopathy As A Presentation Of Spinal Tuberculosis: Report Of Two Cases, G R. Sharma, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Giant Hypothalamic Hamartoma And Associated Seizure Types, M K. Chishti, Ashfaq A. Razzaq

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Neoplastic Growth Of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Presenting With Impending Cerebral Herniation: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature On De Novo Growth Of Cavernomas, Arshad A. Siddiqui, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: Cerebral cavernomas are rare vascular anomalies and their expansile growth has been considered to be mainly due to recurrent hemorrhages. They are not generally reported to show aggressive behavior.
Case description: A 27-year-old male presented with headache, visual disturbances, and a 17-year history of seizures. He was known to have a temporal lobe lesion on CT scan, consistent with a diagnosis of cavernous malformation but with no relevant family history. Serial clinical and radiological follow-up revealed a progressive increase in the size of the lesion with formation of a growing cyst of 7 cm in diameter, which produced mass …

Histological Pattern Of Central Nervous System Neoplasms, Z. Ahmed, S. Muzaffar, Naila Kayani, Shahid Pervez, A. S. Husainy, S. H. Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective:

To see in a large series of patients the histological pattern of CNS neoplasms and to provide a comprehensive data about the frequency of CNS neoplasms in Pakistani patients and to give a clearer idea about their prevalence.

Method:

Retrospective study of all consecutive cases of CNS neoplasms diagnosed at The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) between 1st January 1994 and 31st December, 1999.

Setting:

The section of Histopathology, AKUH, Karachi.

Observation:

Our series included a large number of cases i.e., 1110 . There are very few local studies on CNS tumours and none so large . Our data …

Vestibular Schwannomas: Clinical Presentation, Management And Outcome, M S. Awan, H U. Qureshi, A A. Sheikh, M M. Ali

Section of Neurosurgery

Objective: To review the demographic trends clinical spectrum, diagnosis, management and outcome of patients with vestibular Schwannoma and to identify areas where improvements are needed.
Methods: All patients with vestibular schwannoma admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital over the past 11 years were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: The age range of majority of 22 patients analyzed, was 41-50 years (23%). Hearing loss was the most common presenting symptom (96%). Other clinical features included cranial nerve palsies (59%) and headache (55%). Fifty percent had signs of raised intracranial pressure. Neuroimaging revealed "Stage IV b" (tumor distorting the brainstem and compressing the …

Foreign Body Granuloma After Craniotomy For Tumor: A Diagnostic Dilemma, Ashfaq A. Razzaq, M. K. N. Chishti

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Gram Negative Meningitis Resulting From Rupture Of A Spinal Epidural Abscess Into The Subarachnoid Space, S Lodhi, T Mozaffar, A R. Sarwari

Section of Neurology

No abstract provided.

Cerebellopontine Angle Medulloblastoma, Naim-Ur-Rahman, A Jamjoom, M Al-Rayess, Z A. Jamjoom

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Central Nervous System Lymphomas: A Histologic And Immunophenotypic Analysis, Suhail Muzaffar, M. Shahid Siddiqui, Irshad Nabi Soomro, Shahid Pervez, Naila Kayani Naila Kayani, Sheema H. Hasan Sheema H. Hasan Sheema H. Hasan, Lmran Siddiqui Lmran Siddiqui

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To observe the spectrum of non-Hodkin’s lymphomas involving the central nervous system including morphological subtypes and immunophenotypic status.

Setting: Retrospective analysis of eleven years (1986 to 1996) data from surgical pathology files of Department of Pathology.

Results: orty-three cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas were diagnosed during the period of eleven years (from 1986 to 1996), all of which were diffuse types. A total of 1177 Central Nervous CNS biopsies were examined, out of which 937 cases were diagnosed as CNS neoplasms, the remaining were non-neoplastic in nature. Among 937 CNS neoplasms, 43 cases (4.6%) were reported as non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. As …

Carotid Doppler Ultrasonography In Young Stroke Patients, A A. Razzaq, B A. Khan, C K. Jadoon, S M. Baig

Section of Neurology

Background: The present study focuses on the role of carotid doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in the diagnosis and management of carotid stenosis in young stroke patients.

Methods: The findings of carotid doppler in 45 ischemic stroke patients between 15-45 years of age were reviewed retrospectively. The variables of interest for this study included risk factors for atherosclerotic disease, primary abnormality detected on carotid doppler ultrasonography (ulceration vs. stenosis), degree of stenosis and the type of plaque (soft vs. calcified).

Results: The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 50% and 35% respectively. The rate of carotid stenosis in the …

Ct And Mr Imaging In Young Stroke Patients, A A. Razzaq, B A. Khan, S Baig

Section of Neurology

Background: This study investigates the role of CT and MR imaging in the diagnosis and management of young stroke patients.

Methods: CT scan findings of 108 patients and MR findings of 30 patients between 15-45 years of age were reviewed retrospectively. The variables included the territory of infarct on CT and MR imaging, the cortical distribution and size of infarct.

Results: About 80% of the patients had infarcts of the carotid territory and 20% the vertebro-basilar distribution. More than half of the infarcts were cortical (56%). The yield of MR imaging was much higher for deeper structures such …

Moyamoya Disease Presenting With Intracranial Haemorrhage, Ali Akbar, Aftab Qureshi, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Spinal Cord Compression: Histologic Spectrum Of Lesions, I. N. Soomro, N.Kayani N.Kayani, Shahid Pervez, A. S. Hussainy, R. Ahmed, S. Muzaffar, S. A. Aziz, S. H. Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Histologic diagnosis ultimately determines the prognosis and treatment of lesions causing spinal cord compression. Modem imaging techniques have revolutionized the procedure of localizing lesions pre¬senting with signs and symptoms of spinal cord compression. As a result, these lesions are more accessible for fine needle aspiration and biopsy. A quick diagnosis is possible if cytologic preparation is made. Similarly, intraoperative frozen section facility not only provides rapid diagnosis, but also offers oppor tunity of appropriate management decision there and then. Histology in many cases needs help of special stains and immunocytochemistry. This study looks at the histologic spectrum of these lesions, …

Primary Spinal T-Cell Rich B-Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report, Suhail Muzaffar Suhail Muzaffar, Irshad Nabi Soomro, Naila Kayani, Shahid Siddiqui, Yousuf A. Husein, Rashid Jooma

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Constitutive Alzheimer's-Type Tau Epitopes In A Neuritogenic Rat Cns Cell Line, Mary P. Lambert, Shasta Sabo, Chi Zhang, S. Ather Enam, William L. Klein

Section of Neurosurgery

Paired helical filaments (PHFs) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) largely comprise hyperphosphorylated forms of the cytoskeletal protein tau. AD-type tau phosphoepitopes, detected by various monoclonal antibodies, are absent from normal adult neurons, but recent studies have shown that their expression may contribute to neuritogenesis and axon differentiation in the developing nervous system. Therefore, we have examined a brain nerve cell line that is spontaneously neuritogenic for possible expression of AD-type tau epitopes. The neuritogenic rat brain cell line B103 was found to constitutively produce two AD-related epitopes of tau, detected by cellular immunofluorescence studies with the PHF-1 and Alz-50 monoclonal antibodies. …

Cloning And Expression Of A Novel Na(+)-Dependent Neutral Amino Acid Transporter Structurally Related To Mammalian Na+/Glutamate Cotransporters, Saad Shafqat, Balaji Tamarappoo, Michael S Kilberg, Ram S Puranam, James O. Mcnamara, Ana Guadaño -Ferraz, R.T. Fremeau

Section of Neurology

A cDNA has been isolated from human hippocampus that appears to encode a novel Na(+)-dependent, Cl(-)-independent, neutral amino acid transporter. The putative protein, designated SATT, is 529 amino acids long and exhibits significant amino acid sequence identity (39-44%) with mammalian L-glutamate transporters. Expression of SATT cDNA in HeLa cells induced stereospecific uptake of L-serine, L-alanine, and L-threonine that was not inhibited by excess (3 mM) 2-(methylamino)-isobutyric acid, a specific substrate for the System A amino acid transporter. SATT expression in HeLa cells did not induce the transport of radiolabeled L-cysteine, L-glutamate, or related dicarboxylates. Northern blot hybridization revealed high levels …

Molecular Characterization Of Neurotransmitter Transporters, Saad Shafqat, M Velaz- Faircloth, A Guadaño- -Ferraz, R T Fremeau

Section of Neurology

No abstract provided.

Prognostic Factors In Ganglionic And Thalamic Haemorrhages: A Clinical And Radiological Study., Aziz Sonawalla, Z Abbas, Mohammed Ataullah Khan

Department of Medicine

Clinical and radiological features of 43 patients admitted for ganglionic (21) and thalamic (22) haemorrhages were studied to ascertain the factors that would determine prognosis in the acute stage of the illness. Nineteen patients died, 16 of them in the first week. The adverse clinical factors were an altered state of consciousness, decorticate/decerebrate posturing, ataxic respiration, abnormalities of gaze and presence of bilateral Babinski's sign. Adverse radiological factors were the presence of thalamic haemorrhage of 3 cm or more, intraventricular spread of the haemorrhage and midline shift of 0.5 cm of more. The significance of these findings is discussed.

The Undrained Brain: The Other Side Of The Foreign Medical Graduate Resident Issue, C M. Smythe

Section of Neurology

No abstract provided.

Save A Life- Diagnose Subarachnoid Haemorrhage!, Rashid Jooma, Iqtidar H. Bhatti

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Dexamethasone And The Serious Head Injury, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Intracranial Tumour In An Infant Presenting As Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Rashid Jooma, D N. Grant

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Spinal Disease Presenting As Acute Abdominal Pain, M J. Torrens, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.