Vol 23, No 11 (2021)

Ischemic stroke is an extremely heterogeneous disease: there are more than 200 causes of cerebral catastrophe. Early identification of the pathogenetic mechanism (subtype) of ischemic stroke allows planning an individual secondary prevention strategy, which includes a wide range of pharmaceutical and surgical methods. The article presents the characteristics of cardioembolic (associated with atrial fibrillation and flutter, prosthetic valves, chronic heart failure, left ventricle thrombus, infective endocarditis, open foramen ovale, etc.), atherothrombotic (due to extra- and intracranial atherosclerosis), lacunar and cryptogenic stroke, as well as less common causes of the disease, in particular cervical or cerebral artery dissection. Issues of secondary prevention of stroke according to the pathogenetic subtype are described and summarized as an algorithm. The article is illustrated with clinical examples.

The article reflects the current achievements in the field of reperfusion therapy for ischemic stroke. The data are presented that allow a practicing neurologist to make informed decisions about intravenous thrombolysis in difficult clinical situations: minor stroke, suspected stroke "mask", atypical clinical picture, patient's age over 80 years, posterior circulation stroke, isolated dizziness, severe neurological deficit, large artery occlusion, chronic neuroimaging changes, polymorbidity and low functional level before stroke. It has been shown that an increase in the number of candidates for intravenous thrombolysis can be achieved by intensifying the selection of patients within the 4.5-hour therapeutic window, which primarily implies the optimization of local stroke treatment protocols with a reduction in the door-to-needle time, as well as, in the short term, expanding the therapeutic window. Approaches to reduce the risk of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation are discussed. We are also talking about a rare but life-threatening complication – angioedema. Thus, the intensification of intravenous thrombolysis, as well as an increase in its effectiveness and safety are the primary tasks of each stroke department.

Background. Limited access to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) which is the most effective and safe treatment approach for chronic insomnia leads to the elaboration of shortened and interned delivered CBT-I methods. Investigation of effectiveness predictors of the new methods is important for their better result.

Aim. Investigation of effectiveness predictors for pharmacotherapy and CBT-I based brief behavioral therapy for insomnia (BBT-I).

Materials and methods. The data for the analysis were acquired from a randomized study of 42 participants with chronic insomnia who received either zopiclone 7.5 mg or BBT-I for 2 weeks. The difference of the insomnia severity index from pre- to post-treatment was the main outcome measure. Potential predictors included demographic and medical history data, objective sleep characteristics, baseline scores of Beck depression inventory (BDI), Spielberger anxiety scale, Toronto alexithymia scale, sleep hygiene index, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep scale, Epworth sleepiness scale. Univariate linear regression analysis was used for prognostic analysis. To identify predictors of treatment outcome after the treatment course and after the 2 weeks follow-up we used multiple linear regression models with interaction.

Results. In the prognostic analysis higher amount of awakenings during the night and a higher proportion of the 1 stage NREM sleep measured objectively correlated with better outcome E=0.2202 (p=0.05) and E=0.55 (p=0.039) respectively. Older age and higher baseline BDI score significantly worsened the outcome: E=0.233 (p=0.047) and E=0.2 (р=1.55e-06) respectively. Clinical predictors of the BBT-I effectiveness were an absence of the sleep onset problems and absence of GABA hypnotics use in medical history and the higher baseline daytime sleepiness.

Conclusion. Neurophysiological (frequency of awakenings, percentage of the sleep stage N1) and clinical (severity of depression, age, daytime sleepiness) predictors of the effectiveness of BBT-I were revealed. This findings will help to select the patients who should undergo a shortened course of CBT-I.

Background. Discogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy (DLSR) is less common than lumbar musculoskeletal pain, but more often accompanied by a long disabilities. To improve patient management with DLSR, the study of conservative and surgical management of patients in real clinical practice is required.

Aim. Optimization of patient management aimed at surgical treatment.

Materials and methods. Surgical treatment (microdiskectomy) due to the ineffectiveness of conservative DLSR was suffered by 90 patients (33 men, 57 women, average age – 59.78±12 years). The duration of the disease to operation ranged from 2 to 14 weeks and was an average of 6±3 weeks. The intensity of pain was evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS), disability on Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) before the operation, after 10 days, 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery.

Results. Patients were not informed about the favorable course of the DLSR, the possibilities of natural (without surgical intervention) of the regression of the disk hernia, as well as expediency to maintain all types of activity, avoid a long bed mode. After microdiskectomy after 10 days, significant reliable (p≤0.01) decrease in pain with 7 (95% confidence interval – CI 7–8) to 4 (95% CI 3–4) points for VAS and reduction of disability with 13 (95% CI 12–16) to 9 (95% CI 7–11) RMDQ points, from 63 (95% CI 61–65) to 32 (95% CI 30–34) % by ODI. After 1, 3 and 6 months, a further decrease in pain was observed [6 months to 3 (95% CI 2–3) points for VAS] and a decrease in disability [6 months to 5 (95% CI 4–7) points for RMDQ and up to 18 (95% CI 17–19) % on ODI]. To reduce the intensity of pain 6 months after the operation, it was significantly (p≤0.05) influenced the initial intensity of pain according to VAS and conducting kinesitherapy after the operation. To reduce the disability in RMDQ after 6 months, the initial disability in RMDQ and the conduct of kinesitherapy after surgery was significantly (p≤0.05) influenced.

Conclusion. Patients with DLSR should be informed about the favorable course of the disease, the possibilities of natural (without surgical intervention) of the regression of the disc hernia; after performing surgical treatment, it is advisable to the kinesitherapy, capable of improving the functional recovery of patients.

Painful diabetic neuropathy is observed in almost half of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and is associated with a decrease in the quality of life, emotional disorders, sleep disorders. The achievement and maintenance of the normal level of glucose in the blood is the basis for the prevention and treatment of DM, but this often does not allow the patient from pain and other clinical manifestations of neuropathy. Drug diabetic neuropathy therapy methods are discussed, the results of randomized placebo controlled studies on the efficiency and side effects of various drugs are analyzed. It is noted that pregabalin and gabapenitin, as antidepressants – duloxetin, venlafaxin and amitriptyline, are most effective as anti-epileptic agents. In our country, with painful diabetic neuropathy, the preparations of a-lipoic acid are widely used. Analyzed data on efficacy and complications of the use of transcutaneus electrical nerves stimulation and spinal cord stimulation with pain diabetic neuropathy refractory to drug therapy. It is noted that many patients with pain diabetic neuropathy have combined diseases, detection and effective treatment of which can lead to an improvement in the state of patients and reduce the manifestations of neuropathy.

The article presents a case of a patient with chronic migraine, neck pain, drug-induced headache and generalized anxiety disorder. We analyzed the relationship between migraines and neck pain. The article discusses the interdisciplinary treatment of chronic migraine, which included educational conversation, detoxification therapy, rational relief of migraine attacks, preventive pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The latter allowed to change the patient's perception of the disease, reduce anxiety and catastrophization of pain, cope with fears, stop taking benzodiazepines, reduce the intake of pain relievers, and increase daily activity and productivity at work. Clinical efficacy (reduction in the frequency of headaches per month by 50% or more) was achieved after 3 months of treatment. Long-term (12 months) follow-up of the patient showed long-term clinical effect of the interdisciplinary treatment.

Tardive dyskinesia is a group of hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders, following the administration of dopamine receptor-blocking drugs. The severity of these syndromes varies from soft forms to the development of life-degrading situations. Phenomenologically tardive dyskinesia can be represented both in isolation and in various combinations. Recognition of these syndromes early in the development of tardive dyskinesia can optimize therapeutic treatment and reduce the risk of severe complications. As a means of treatment, deutetrabenazine or valbenazine are used as first-line drugs, with resistance to therapy and in severe cases, drugs of other groups are used (amantadine, baclofen, botulinum toxin type A, clonazepam, donepezil, gabapentin, ginkgo biloba, levetiracetam, melatonin, pregabalin, thiamine, verapamil, vitamin B₆, vitamin E). Our own experience of 12 patients with tardive dystonia showed the effeciency of local injections of botulinum toxin.

A clinical case of effective treatment of fibromyalgia in a 58-year-old patient by an interdisciplinary team of neurologists and a psychiatrist-psychotherapist is presented. For 5 years before being hospitalized at the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) Clinic of Nervous System Diseases, a patient suffering from widespread chronic pain in the back and extremities was not diagnosed with fibromyalgia, she underwent numerous expensive examinations and various methods of therapy that were not effective, worsened her condition and increased the intensity of the pain syndrome. The establishment of fibromyalgia, the identification of concomitant mental disorders, allowed the use of pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacological methods of treatment (cognitive behavioral therapy, kinesiotherapy), which led to a persistent improvement in the condition, a decrease in pain syndrome during 6 months of follow-up.

This article presents a clinical review of a patient with an extremely rare assotiation of opticoneuromyelitis and skin melanoma. The paper noted the typical clinical and neuroimaging signs of opticoneuromyelitis and the rare manifestations of myelitic syndrome such as segmental muscle hypertonicity and hand hyperkinesis. The question remains open as to whether these two processes in a patient are linked by a single pathogenesis in the form of a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome or whether two independent diseases are represent there. Two observations of a combination of melanoma and opticoneuromyelitis as a manifestation of the paraneoplastic syndrome have been analysed in the literature. The article highlights the difficulties in the treatment of this patient, as the immunomodulatory therapy used for both diseases has a different vectorial focus. Immunosuppression is recommended for the treatment of opticoneuromyelitis, while immune activation is recommended for melanoma.