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Biomedical subjects

Robin K Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to Robin K Wilson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Evidence that congenital hydrocephalus is a precursor to idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus in only a subset of patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the proportion of patients in a large idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) cohort with large head circumference (HC) who presumably have congenital hydrocephalus that has not become clinically apparent until late in life. METHODS: HC was measured in 158 patients diagnosed with communicating INPH and assigned to HC centile range adjusted for height and sex. The proportion of patients with INPH and HC above the 97th, 90th or 50th centiles was compared with the proportion expected in a normal population. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with HC >90th centile was significantly larger than would be expected in a normal distribution (19.6% vs 10%, p = 0.0001), as was the proportion of patients with HC >97th centile (8.9% vs 3%, p = 0.0001). The relative association between INPH and HC >97th centile was nearly tripled (relative association 2.95; CI 1.36 to 6.41), but the relative association between INPH and HC >50th centile was not significantly higher than predicted (relative association 1.13; CI 0.95 to 1.34). CONCLUSION: A significantly larger proportion of elderly adults with INPH have a HC greater than the 90th or 97th centile than predicted by population norms, supporting the concept that compensated congenital hydrocephalus that does not become symptomatic until late in life is one aetiology of INPH, but is not responsible for all INPH. The mechanism that leads to the development of INPH in most patients remains elusive.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a reversible disorder characterized by gait impairment, subcortical dementia, and urinary urgency and incontinence associated with impaired cerebrospinal fluid circulation and ventriculomegaly. Treatment with shunt surgery is most likely to increase mobility, and may also improve dementia and urinary symptoms. An international, independent study group recently published guidelines for the diagnosis and management of idiopathic NPH. This article helps geriatricians identify patients who might have NPH, and care for these patients after shunt placement.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed2006

Wernicke's encephalopathy: beyond alcoholism.

BACKGROUND: A 17-year-old pregnant woman presented to hospital at 19 weeks' gestation with an 8-week history of hyperemesis gravidarum, 16.8 kg of weight loss, and new-onset weakness, dizziness and blurred vision. Examination of the patient showed confusion, papilledema, ophthalmoparesis, nystagmus, reduced hearing and truncal ataxia. INVESTIGATIONS: Physical examination, abdominal ultrasound, fetal ultrasound, brain MRI, magnetic resonance angiography, magnetic resonance venography and cerebrospinal-fluid analysis. DIAGNOSIS: Wernicke's encephalopathy, hyperemesis gravidarum and fetal loss. MANAGEMENT: Intravenous thiamine repletion and elimination of deficiency risk factors.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗
PubMed2006

Sudden spasms following gradual lordosis--the stiff-person syndrome.

BACKGROUND: A 28-year-old woman presented to hospital after an episode of severe lower back spasms that occurred during a stressful family gathering. She had a history of progressive difficulty bending forward and increasing lumbar lordosis. INVESTIGATIONS: Physical examination, spine MRI scan, abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, electromyogram, nerve conduction studies, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, breast examination, Pap smear, transabdominal and endovaginal ultrasound. DIAGNOSIS: Stiff-person syndrome with high titer of antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase. TREATMENT: Benzodiazepines and intravenous immunoglobulins.

Adult↗