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Biomedical subjects

M M Fukujima

Publications and source records attributed to M M Fukujima.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Prevention of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism following stroke: a systematic review of published articles.

We performed a systematic review of the literature on venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following cerebral infarct (CI) and haemorrhagic stroke. MEDLINE, Cochrane, LILACS and SciELO databases were scanned, and the Abstracts from Brazilian, American and European Neurology and Stroke Congresses were scrutinized for clinical trials. Moreover, the reference lists of articles and reviews were searched. A pooled analysis of two large studies with aspirin was made. Both unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins/heparinoids (LMWH) are partially effective for VTE prophylaxis after CI, and should be routinely used in patients with motor deficit and reduced mobility and no contraindications. Reduction of deep venous thrombosis is better established than the effect over pulmonary embolism or mortality. Some evidence points to a greater efficacy of LMWH. The available evidence does not support the use of mechanical methods or dextran. Aspirin may have a mild protective effect. Low-dose Warfarin might be useful in the rehabilitation setting. Strict recommendations cannot be made in patients with haemorrhagic stroke but intermittent pneumatic compression merits further study. There are important limitations of current VTE preventive strategies following stroke. Additional studies on the combination of methods after CI and of low doses of anticoagulants following cerebral haemorrhage are urgently needed.

Humans↗

Clinical impact of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with stroke without clinical evidence of cardiovascular sources of emboli.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of transeophageal echocardiography on management of patients at low-risk for cardiogenic embolism to prevent new potential cardiovascular sources of emboli. METHODS: We studied 69 patients with ischemic stroke at low-risk for cardiogenic embolism. Transeophageal echocardiography was performed to access: left atrium enlargement; communication or aneurysm of the interatrial septum; patent foramen ovale; spontaneous echo contrast or intracavitary thrombi; the presence of intraaortic atherosclerotic plaques or thrombi; significant valvar morphologic alteration or dysfunction; left ventricle enlargement, hypertrophy, or contractile abnormality. Transesophageal echocardiography altered clinical management, and we adopted anticoagulant therapy or another procedure apart from the use of acetylsalicylic acid. RESULTS: Transeophageal echocardiography detected at least one abnormality in 40 cases (58%). Clinical conduct was adjusted after the performance of transesophageal echocardiography in 11 patients (15.9%); anticoagulation was added in 10 cases and surgical correction in one patient. CONCLUSION: Transeophageal echocardiography was a very useful tool in the secondary prevention for stroke in patients at low risk for cardiogenic embolism.

Adolescent↗

[Cerebral venous thrombosis and homocystinuria: case report].

Homocystinuria presenting as cerebral venous thrombosis is not usual. We report on a 13-year-old boy who was admitted to the hospital due to severe headache, nausea, vomiting and fever (38 degrees C). The patient was Marfan like and presented left hemiparesis and meningeal irritation sings. He was mentally retarded, had severe myopia, and had right lens dislocation one month before. Cranial CT scan was suggestive of cerebral venous infarct. MRI and magnetic resonance angiography showed venous infarcts more prominent in the right thalamic projection with hemorrhagic transformation and multiple foci of cortical (occipital and parietal bilaterally) deep parietal and left capsular bleeding, secondary of thrombosis of the transverse and sigmoid venous sinuses. High levels of homocysteine were detected in the blood and urine. Homocystinuria is an autosomal recessive inborn error of methionine metabolism caused by cystathionine-beta-synthase defect in most cases. We discuss the clinical and radiological findings in this patient, analyzing the pathophysiology of the thrombotic events related to homocystinuria.

Adolescent↗

Moyamoya disease. Report of three cases in Brazilian patients.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic occlusive cerebrovascular disease of unknown etiology reported mainly in the Japanese. Most cases occur in children. The disease is rare in non-Oriental adults manifesting itself mostly as intracerebral hemorrhages. We describe MMD in 2 non-Oriental young adults and one adolescent that developed cerebral infarctions. The adults were medicated with aspirin and no medication was given to the adolescent. All patients did not deteriorate in a follow-up period from 1 to 4 years. Although rare, MMD is an important cause of stroke in young individuals and may well be underreported: only 18 patients have been reported till 1997 in Brazil. Neurologists should include MMD in differential diagnosis of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in young adults.

Adolescent↗

Malaria and stroke. Case report.

Malaria is a parasitic disease with high prevalence in several regions of the world. Infestation by Plasmodium faciparum can, in some cases, affect the central nervous system producing encephalitis resulting in death or neurological sequelae. The mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of the cerebral lesion are not totally clear and there are currently two theories (mechanical and humoral) concerning this. We report a case of malaria with an atypical evolution, with a stroke lesion in the territory of the middle cerebral artery, with no association with encephalitis. We conclude that the mechanical theory is the one applicable to this patient.

Adult↗

[Subsidiary predictive tests in epileptic crisis after ischemic stroke].

We studied subsidiary laboratorial tests such as serum glucose, red blood cell count, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram (EEG), cerebrospinal fluid, and CT scan of 35 patients with cerebral infarction who developed epileptic seizures (group 1 or G1), and compared them to a group of 35 patients who had cerebral infarction but have not developed epileptic seizures (group 2 or G2). The EEG analysis showed significance in the comparison between the groups; focal identification of the electrical cerebral activity was the most frequent abnormality found in G1. Extensive infarcts were also more frequent in G1. The association of abnormal EEG and extensive lesion on CT may be considered a preditive factor for occurrence of epileptic seizures after cerebral infarction. The analysis of the other tests showed no significance on the comparison between the groups.

Adult↗

[Fibrinogen as independent risk factor for ischemic stroke].

We have studied fibrinogen levels (Clauss technique) in atherothrombotic ischemic stroke patients, in order to determine its role as a thrombogenic risk factor. Twenty nine patients (20 men and 9 women) between 25 and 79 years old were studied; they all have had a atherothrombotic stroke. They were classified into two groups according to the result of their carotid doppler ultrasonography: gl-without carotid flow reduction (n = 19) and g2-with carotid flow reduction (n = 10). The fibrinogen mean value was 269 mg/dl in gl and 353 mg/dl in g2. There were 47% of patients in gl and 80% of patients in g2 who presented levels > 300 mg/dl. The proportions of the groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). Considering the epidemiological value of 300 mg/dl, we conclude that the fibrinogen can be an independent risk factor for ischemic atherothrombotic stroke, specially in those whose carotid flow is reduced.

Adult↗

[Characteristics of epileptic seizures after ischemic stroke].

Cerebral infarctions are one of the most important causes of late onset epilepsy. We have studied 35 patients who presented epileptic seizures after ischemic stroke. All of them had the first seizure at least 24 hours after the stroke, and they had at least one recurrence of seizure. The objective was to determine the main characteristics of these seizures and to correlate them to clinical and laboratorial findings. The interval between the stroke and the first seizure was 3 to 1650 days. Late onset seizures (> 14 days) were present in 89%, they occurred predominantly 6 to 12 months after stroke. Partial seizures (31/35) were more frequent than generalized ones. Status epilepticus occurred in only 3 cases. Most of the patients (30/35) had occasional seizures (< or = 1 seizure monthly). There were no association between seizure type and the time interval between the stroke and the first seizure, neither with the seizure frequency. The most frequent EEG finding was focal slowing of cerebral activity. Pharmacological control was easily obtained. No patient needed more than one drug for seizure control.

Adult↗

[Preditive clinical factors for epileptic seizures after ischemic stroke].

Preditive clinical factors for epileptic seizures after ischemic stroke. Clinical features of 35 patients with ischemic stroke who developed epilepsy (Group 1) were compared with those of 35 patients with ischemic stroke without epilepsy (Group 2). The age of the patients did not differ between the groups. There were more men than women and more white than other races in both groups. Diabetes melitus, hypertension, transient ischemic attack, previous stroke, migraine, Chagas disease, cerebral embolism of cardiac origin and use of oral contraceptive did not differ between the groups. Smokers and alcohol users were more frequent in Group 1 (p < 0.05). Most patients of Group 1 presented with hemiparesis; none presented cerebellar or brainstem involvement. Perhaps strokes in smokers have some different aspects, that let them more epileptogenic than in non smokers.

Adult↗

[Pregnancy, puerperium and cerebrovascular disease].

Six patients who presented cerebrovascular disease during puerperium or pregnancy were studied. One of them presented hemorrhagic stroke caused by intracerebral bleeding due to pre-eclampsia. Three patients presented ischemic stroke, they all had positive serologic reactions for Chagas' disease, but only two of them had clinical cardiopathy; one of these patients had anticardiolipin antibody. The other two patients presented cerebral venous thrombosis of sagittal sinus. Both were smokers and one of them used oral contraceptive. We emphasize the importance of clinical investigation to seek for the common causes of cerebrovascular disease in young people, with special attention to Chagas disease in Brazil.

Adult↗

[Socioeconomic characteristics of patients with stroke].

We studied the socioeconomic status of 206 stroke patients seen at Escola Paulista de Medicina--São Paulo in the period of 1991-1992. We found that 25% of patients were less than 50 years old; men were married significantly more often than women; 82% of patients had less than 8 years of formal education and 60% of the families survived with US$ 98 to 198. The socioeconomic impact caused by a stroke is very important. Low education and poverty influence the treatment and prevention of the disease. The Social Assistance Service can detect and attempt to solve the social problems in order to obtain a better control of systemic diseases and risk factors for stroke, and to give orientation concerning the local resources.

Adolescent↗