Combined therapeutic application of botulinum toxin type A, low-frequency rTMS, and intensive occupational therapy for post-stroke spastic upper limb hemiparesis

BACKGROUND

For spastic upper limb hemiparesis after stroke, we developed triple-element protocol of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) injection, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS), and intensive occupational therapy (OT). Aim. To investigate the safety and feasibility of the protocol. Design. A preliminary study. Setting. At a university hospital. Population. Fourteen post-stroke patients with spastic upper limb hemiparesis (mean age: 54.9±9.2 years, time after onset: 87.1±48.2 months, ±SD).

METHODS

In all patients, BoNTA was injected into spastic muscles of the affected upper limb (maximum total dose: 240 units). Four weeks later, they were hospitalized to receive 22 sessions of 20-min LF-rTMS and 120-min intensive OT daily over 15 days. Motor function of the affected upper limb was evaluated mainly using Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), motor activity log (MAL), and the severity of spasticity was measured with modified Ashworth scale (MAS) at BoNTA injection, discharge and four weeks post-discharge.

RESULTS

All patients completed the protocol without any adverse effects. The FMA score and MAL scores, but not WMFT performance time, improved significantly at discharge. The MAS score of all examined muscles decreased significantly between BoNTA and discharge. The beneficial effect of the protocol on motor function and spasticity was almost maintained until four weeks after discharge.

CONCLUSION

The protocol is safe and feasible, although further larger studies are needed to confirm its efficacy.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

The protocol is a potentially useful neurorehabilitative approach for this patient population.

Varicose veins associated with CADASIL result from a novel mutation in the Notch3 gene

No genetically diagnosed cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) pedigrees with venous insufficiency have been described. In a CADASIL pedigree with varicose veins, the authors have identified a novel heterozygous mutation in the 3' splice acceptor site of intron 15 of the Notch3 gene. This, based on mRNA analysis, resulted in skipping of exon 16 including eight cysteine residues of EGF-like repeats.

Cervical cord compression by the anomalous vertebral artery presenting with neuralgic pain. Case report

The authors report the case of a 59-year-old woman with progressive neck and arm pain that initially appeared in the neck and later extended to the shoulder and upper extremity. This pain was caused by compression of the cervical cord between the atlas and axis by the vertebral artery, and disappeared promptly following microvascular decompression.

[Lower thoracic disc herniation with acutely developed vesicorectal dysfunction: case report]

Thoracic disc herniation is a rare and slowly progressive disease which most commonly occurs at the lower thoracic spine without any preceding trauma. We reported a case with acutely developed vesicorectal dysfunction due to a ruptured disc at Th 11-12. This symptom disappeared soon after disc removal via the transpedicular approach combined with transversectomy. This 45-year-old woman suddenly suffered, without previous trauma, from severe back pain radiating down to the posterior thighs. Since difficulty in urination and defecatory incontinence succeeded two days later, she was transferred to our hospital. Neurological examination on admission revealed anesthesia below S1, hypotonic bladder with almost perfectly preserved urinary sensation, complete lack of anal reflex, and only weak motor function in the lower extremities. Both knee and ankle jerks were diminished bilaterally. A herniated disc was initially suspected at L5-S1 on the MRI, but denied by both myelography and CT myelography. These studies showed a disc hernia compressing the cord at Th 11-12 on the left side. Since the hernia was located centrolaterally, we employed the transpedicular approach. To make removal of the more centrally located hernia easier, we further added transversectomy of the twelfth vertebra. This hernia was successfully removed under the operating microscope without further damage to the cord being incurred. We did not perform any instrumental fixation, because we thought preservation of the rib and costvertebral joint could contribute to the stability of the spine. Her vesicorectal symptom subsided immediately after the operation. She was free of any symptoms except for the remaining mild perianal numbness a year and seven months postoperatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A case report of simultaneous multiple intracerebral hematomas]

A case of multiple spontaneous intracerebral hematomas is presented. A 67-year-old man with 7 years history of hypertension had sudden clumsiness in his right hand and an hour later dysarthria appeared. A CT scan taken 3 hours after the onset revealed two well demarcated high density areas in the left putamen and in the parietal subcortex. A diagnosis of multiple intracerebral hematomas was made. On neurological examination he was midly stuporous (13 points of Glasgow Coma Scale). Dysarthria, right hemiparesis and right extensor plantar response were seen. CT scan of 6 hours later disclosed the same findings as the previous study. He recovered well and neurologically free in a few days. On the following CT scans both hematomas were isodense 2 weeks later, and ring-like enhancement effect was noted. CT scan showed normal appearance 7 weeks later. On MRI using 0.5 T unit t-1 and t-2 weighted spin echo images of these hematomas also showed the similar chronological changes. The history, these CT and MRI studies suggest that two hematomas of this case occurred almost simultaneously in one cerebral hemisphere. No causative factors such as blood dyscrasias, AVM, angioma, septicemia, malignancies or sinus thrombosis was identified. We consider that a hypertensive intracerebral hematoma of the putamen was followed by the parietal intracerebral hematoma within a few hours, although amyloid angiopathy was not completely excluded because no cerebral biopsy of the lesion was performed.