Human ; Research

Multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy (MADSAM) is a variant of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). It presents as a chronic, asymmetrical sensory-motor polyneuropathy with features of demyelination on nerve conduction studies. Management options include intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroid infusions. Prognosis is generally favorable but there have been reports of variable response to treatment. This condition is rare and local data on CIDP and its variants is limited, hence we report a case of a 64-year-old male presenting with 3 year history of progressive asymmetric numbness and weakness of all limbs. Sensory deficits began on the left hand and had progressed to involve the distal portions of all limbs, eventually developing weakness as well. The patient underwent multiple nerve-conduction studies, all of which showed findings congruent with MADSAM. He was given intravenous high dose methylprednisolone and was maintained on mycophenolate mofetil.

This is a case of a 44 year old single, Filipino, female who presented with dysarthria, left central facial paresis, left hemianopsia and left hemiparesis. Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed an acute infarction of the right posterior cerebral artery territory. 2d echo and transesophageal echocardiography were done and vegetations were observed on the mitral, aortic and tricuspid valves giving a diagnosis of endocarditis. With the absence of fever and negative blood cultures, infective endocarditis was less likely. On further workup, computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a probable malignant ovarian mass. This finding led to a diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis as the cause of the stroke. Endocarditis as a cause of an embolic event in the brain is uncommon and nonbacterial thromobotic endocarditis is rare. It commonly affects the left sided heart valves. Multivalvular involvement which includes the right sided heart valves are rarely reported. Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis has a high mortality so therefore early detection and management is crucial and can be life-saving.

BACKGROUND

Acute migraine can be treated with rimegepant, an antagonist of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. With a focus on the Asian population as a subgroup, this metaanalysis attempts to investigate the effectiveness and safety of rimegepant for individuals suffering from severe migraines.

PubMed, MEDLINE database and Cochrane Library were used to identify valid randomized controlled trials for this study. The primary endpoint investigated was freedom from pain and freedom from the most bothersome symptom 2 hours post dose. RevMan 5.4.1 software was used to perform a meta-analysis on each outcome measure.

A total of five randomized controlled trials were incorporated, with two of them being conducted on Asian populations and published between 2014 and 2024. There were 2,516 cases in the rimegepant group and 2,668 cases in the placebo group out of the total 5,184 patients that were included. Rimegepant was found to significantly reduce the primary endpoints in acute migraine patients (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.42-1.75, P-value 0.0001; RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.08-1.66, Pvalue 0.0001), and in the acute migraine Asian patients (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.47-2.19, P-valueCONCLUSION

The use of rimegepant is effective and safe for acute migraine patients, including the Asian subgroup.

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy in patients with chronic disease such as Migraine Headache poses potential harm in patients such that psychological distress may come in. In relation to psychological distress, Migraine Headache patients with multiple drug use are at increased risk of anxiety and depression.

The main objective of the study is to determine the association between anxiety and depression to polypharmacy in migraine headache patients by using the data in the PNA One Headache Database.

We utilized the data obtained from the Philippine Neurological Association One (PNA-1) Headache Database from 2021 to 2024 and determine the association between Anxiety and Depression to Polypharmacy in patients with Migraine.

The number of medications taken by patients does not significantly differ across depression and anxiety levels, indicating that polypharmacy has no impact on patient’s depression and anxiety. However, the study found that patients with anxiety have more tendency to report more severe headache.

The study highlights that participants, primarily middle-aged women, experience chronic headaches with high pain severity, often lasting for hours. Educational attainment may influence headache management compliance with a large proportion having only elementary education. Headache onset typically begins in early adulthood, and medication effectiveness often diminishes over time suggesting potential tolerance issues. Anxiety is associated with reporting of increased headache severity while depression does not significantly impact headache characteristics or polypharmacy. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and revised treatment strategies to improve headache management outcomes.

BACKGROUND

There is growing interest in gender differences in acute stroke worldwide. However, no known studies have been published on the differences in prognosis of hyperacute intracerebral hemorrhage between genders among Asians, particularly Filipinos.

Compare gender differences in the prognosis of hyperacute intracerebral hemorrhage in terms of baseline demographic and radiologic profile, as well as, clinical outcomes.

This is a retrospective cohort study involving a chart review of all patients diagnosed with hyperacute Intracerebral Hemorrhage admitted at a tertiary hospital from January 2021 to May 2023. Patients were grouped according to their gender and baseline demographic, radiologic and clinical outcomes were assessed and compared between two groups.

No statistical difference was found between stroke risk factors between the two groups. However, males tend to have higher percentages of intraventricular extension (29.2 %. (n=28) vs 30.6% (n=11) and increased hematoma volume compared to their female counterparts (n=39, 83% vs n=11, 68%). In addition, males had a higher number of ICU admissions (42.7% (n= 41) vs. 33.3% (n= 12) and mortality (46.9%( n=45) vs. 30.6% (n=11), though the results were not statistically significant.

In patients with hyperacute intracerebral hemorrhage, gender does not influence on its radiologic and clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the gold standard of care for large vessel occlusion strokes, but is underutilized in developing countries.

This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent EVT during the period of September 2018 to April 2023. Data collected were demographics, underlying co-morbidities, use of anti-thrombotics/coagulants, CT or MR ASPECTS, thrombolysis prior to EVT, technique, timing, TICI score, occlusion site, discharge and 90-day MRS.

Of the 1,595 stroke patients, 57 (3%) cases underwent EVT. The mean age was 65 with a male to female ratio of 6:5. Hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes were the common comorbidities. Majority of patients (90%, n=54) presented with moderate to severe disability (MRS 3-5). Majority were in the anterior circulation (89%, n=51). Stentriever technique was mostly used (59% n=34) with a 77% (n=44) recanalization rate. Early neurologic improvement (ENI) was seen in 7% (n=4), 2 of which translated to a favorable outcome after 90-days. Mortality occurred in 24% (n=14) of cases, mostly from neurological complications. 24% (n=14) had favorable outcome of MRS 0-2 after 90 days. Among those grouped in the unfavorable outcome, 53% (n=23) were MRS 3, still showing marked improvement of quality of life.

EVT outcomes in this study is aligned with the landmark trials which exhibited a number needed to treat of 2.8-7.4. This local data highlights that EVT is a possible and effective treatment for large vessel strokes despite wide gap in accessibility and use in the country.

Association ; Neurologists ; Neurology ; Philippines

Cortical blindness, a consequence of bilateral occipital lobe lesions, typically manifests with partial or complete visual loss. It is often associated with the intriguing phenomenon of visual anosognosia, wherein patients paradoxically deny their profound visual loss, which would often lead to confabulation. This constellation of clinical findings points to Anton’s Syndrome. Bilateral occipital infarcts are the most common cause of cortical blindness, and the cooccurrence of visual anosognosia is frequently reported in these cases. We present a unique case of a 65-year-old right- handed Filipino male who experienced sudden, acute cortical blindness resulting from simultaneous bilateral occipital infarcts of likely cardioembolic origin secondary to atrial fibrillation. Despite the cortical blindness, the patient explicitly acknowledged his blindness and was not demonstrating signs of denial or confabulation. The patient’s neurological examination was otherwise notable only for the visual impairment, without other focal deficits. This clinical presentation stands in contrast to the typical features of Anton's syndrome. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute infarcts in both occipital lobes and the right pons. This unusual presentation underscores the heterogeneity in the clinical expression of posterior circulation strokes. This case contributes valuable insights into the complex neural pathways involved between visual information processing, its awareness, and speech production following bilateral occipital infarction. This is the Philippines’ unprecedented case of bilateral visual loss after simultaneous acute bilateral occipital infarcts occurring without accompanying visual anosognosia.

BACKGROUND

Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is a devastating neurological emergency with high morbidity and mortality, and fewer than 10% of survivors achieve full recovery (mRS 0). Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) as a clinical manifestation of SRSE is rare in adults. Longterm seizure remission after SRSE, especially with documented serial EEG normalization, is seldom reported.

A 49-year-old woman with no prior comorbidities presented with focal motor seizures of the left upper limb that evolved into EPC and SRSE. The ictal EEG revealed right central (C4) epileptiform discharges correlating with contralateral motor activity and secondary left temporal spread. Despite treatment with multiple antiseizure medications and escalation to triple-anesthetic therapy (midazolam, propofol, thiopental), seizures persisted for six weeks. Complications included suspected propofol infusion syndrome, hypernatremia, stress-related gastrointestinal bleeding, multidrug-resistant pneumonia and bacteremia (K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, MRSA, A. baumannii), thiopental-induced agranulocytosis, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Seizures gradually abated, and she was successfully extubated. Serial EEGs showed progressive resolution, from hemispheric polyspike discharges to normalized alpha rhythm, paralleling recovery. Follow-up MRI revealed resolution of cortical hyperintensities with residual right hippocampal atrophy. Over two years, antiseizure medications were tapered to valproate monotherapy. She remained seizure-free with normal EEGs and full functional independence (mRS 0).

This case illustrates a rare trajectory of adult-onset EPC evolving into SRSE with complete neurologic and electrophysiologic recovery. It underscores the value of serial EEG monitoring, vigilant critical care, and long-term follow-up in achieving remission even in resource-limited settings.