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Tünde Csépány

Publications and source records attributed to Tünde Csépány.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Long-term application of the multiple sclerosis functional composite test in Debrecen, Hungary].

INTRODUCTION: The multiple sclerosis functional composite (MSFC) has been recommended by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a new clinical outcome measure. It is based on measurements in three clinical dimensions: leg function/ambulation (timed 25-foot walk), arm function (9 hole peg test) and cognitive function (paced auditory serial addition test). Scores on component measures are converted to standard scores (Z-scores), that reflect patient performance. This method has not yet been introduced into routine clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since March 2000 over the five years period the MSFC calculation was applied to 17 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (age mean: 37.4 +/- 10.8 years, duration of the disease: 5.5 +/- 4.9 years, EDSS: 2.7 +/- 1.4) seen at the neuroimmunological outpatient clinic to evaluate its usefulness and its correlation with the traditionally applied expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Thirteen patients received immunomodulatory treatment (interferon beta and glatiramer acetate), one patient received immunosuppressant therapy (azathioprine), and there was one patient, who developed secondary-progressive phase and we changed the interferon treatment to mitoxantrone. MSFC and EDSS were measured at 3., 6., 9, 12., 18 and 60 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The prospective study confirmed a strong correlation between EDSS and MSFC in multiple sclerosis. The MSFC was more sensitive to clinical changes than EDSS. Our results after 18 months of follow up are already published. After five years arm/hand function and leg function/ambulation were the most sensitive measures for disease progression. In contrast with the literature we did not experience correlation with cognitive changes. CONSEQUENCES: We demonstrated strong correlation between MSFC and EDSS after a longer period. MSFC is a simple method, suitable for follow-up of multiple sclerosis patients in everyday clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Primary cerebral angiitis: a case history and literature review of its diagnosis].

The authors present a case history of primary cerebral angiitis with four years of follow-up. The early diagnosis was based on typical clinical symptoms, brain MRI, intracerebral MRA and histology of sural nerve biopsy. Electroneurography suggested peripheral involvement, although the patient did not have clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy. Glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive treatment resulted in remission. The diagnostic difficulties of primary cerebral vasculitis are also summarized in the discussion.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Application of the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite in Debrecen].

INTRODUCTION: The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) has been recommended by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a new clinical outcome measure. It is based on measurements in three clinical dimensions: leg function/ambulation (timed 25-foot walk), arm function (9-hole peg test), and cognitive function (paced auditory serial addition test). Scores on component measures are converted to standard scores (Z-scores) that reflect patient performance. This method has not yet been introduced into routine clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHOD: MSFC calculation was applied to 17 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (age mean: 37.4+/-10.8 years; duration of the disease: 5.5+/-4.9 years, EDSS: 2.7+/-1.4) seen at the neuroimmunological outpatient clinic to evaluate its usefulness and its correlation with the traditionally applied Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and with patient-reported quality of life. Fifteen patients received immunomodulatory treatment (interferon beta and glatiramer acetate). MSFC and EDSS were measured at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months, and questionnaires on quality of life were filled in by the patients at 0, 6, 12, 18 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The prospective study confirmed a strong correlation between EDSS and MSFC (Spearman correlation test, p=0.03, 0.004, 0.002, 0.004, 0.0008, 0.002; R=-0.54, -0.66, 0.68, -0.65, -0.73, -0.69) in multiple sclerosis. The MSFC was more sensitive to clinical changes than EDSS. The extent of changes on the two scales correlated only after 18 months (p<0.005, R=-0.65). The arm/hand function was the most sensitive measure for disease progression. There was no correlation between the quality of life and either of the two other clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: MSFC is a simple method, suitable for follow-up of multiple sclerosis patients in everyday clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Is the primary antiphospholipid syndrome a forerunner of SLE?].

INTRODUCTION: Antiphospholipid syndrome is a multi-organ autoimmune disorder, characterized by arterial and venous thrombotic events, and a well-defined group of recurrent foetal wasteage due to pathologic antibodies against phospholipids and protein co-factors. Antiphospholipid antibodies can be formed in primary antiphospholipid syndrome, but also in other conditions, most often in systemic lupus erythematosus. This may modify the outcome of lupus increasing the risk for thrombotic complications. Less is known about the outcome in primary antiphospholipid syndrome, whether it may precede the development of systemic lupus. AIMS: Authors hereby describe the case of four patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome in whom the disease progressed to systemic lupus erythematosus. RESULTS: Lupus followed the primary antiphospholipid syndrome within around a three-year period. It was indicated by the appearance of different antinuclear autoantibodies and clinical complications, such as polyarthritis, nephritis and hematologic disturbances. All of the patients presented cerebrovascular accident as the thrombotic manifestation. All but one, were around forty years old, and had a milder form of lupus. Symptoms of the antiphospholipid syndrome determined the outcome. On the other hand, a typical lupus developed in the youngest patient. CONCLUSIONS: According to present cases antiphospholipid syndrome may be considered as the initiative phase of SLE, but APS being a separate entity also may associate to lupus. Present observations indicate the importance of follow-up the patients with APS by immunologic respect. Future prospective, multi-centre studies with larger number of cases are needed to provide further evidence on the fact that patients with APS may acquire other autoimmune disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Activity of natural coagulation inhibitor proteins in the acute phase of ischaemic stroke].

INTRODUCTION: Decreased activity of natural anticoagulants (antithrombin-lll, protein C, protein S) rarely causes cerebral ischaemia, however it can be found frequently in acute phase of ischaemic stroke. The authors' aim was to investigate whether the decreased activity of natural anticoagulants is accompanied by worsening of symptoms in ischaemic stroke. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Sixty-eight acute ischaemic stroke patients were investigated. Severity of symptoms were assessed and followed by the NIH Stroke Scale. Antithrombin-Ill, protein C, protein S activities, and concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured within 48 hours after onset of ischaemic stroke. RESULTS: Progressing stroke was found in 29% of patients. Decreased activity of at least one natural anticoagulant proteins was present in 31% of patients. Progression of stroke symptoms occurred in 76% of patients with decreased natural anticoagulant activity, while this proportion was only 9% in those with normal natural coagulation inhibitor protein activity (p < 0.01). Progressing stroke was also more frequent in patients with elevated CRP value (60%) than in those with normal CRP level (11%; p < 0.05). Decreased activity of natural anticoagulants was more frequent in patients with elevated CRP concentration compared with patients with normal CRP. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate the importance of decreased activity of natural anticoagulants in acute phase of ischaemic stroke. This abnormality was present in about 1/3 of stroke patients. The decreased activity of natural coagulant inhibitor proteins may play an important role in development of progressing stroke thus indicating unfavourable outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

[Immunomodulatory therapy in multiple sclerosis].

During the past decade, several disease-modifying agents have been established and have become available for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The disease-modifying agents could be grouped into immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies altering the long-term course of multiple sclerosis. Therapy is now available for relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive and progressive-relapsing multiple sclerosis. Different disease-modifying agents became also available for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Hungary which makes the therapeutic decision difficult. This overview might help to give an answer for different questions in the management of multiple sclerosis: Which agent to choose? When to initiate the therapy? Which dose to apply? Are the drugs safe? How long to treat the patients with immunomodulatory drugs? We give a review from the literature to assess the efficacy of disease-modifying therapies and to compare the data from phase three trials of interferon beta1b, two preparations of interferon beta1a or glatiramer acetate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We analyzed the efficacy and safety of these agents on physical, inflammatory and cognitive measures of disease activity. Comparison of study results indicated similar effects of immunomodulatory agents on relapse-related and inflammatory measures in relapsing multiple sclerosis. Interferon beta1a slowed the progression of disability in relapsing multiple sclerosis. One interferon beta1a preparation (intramuscularly injected) demonstrated efficacy in slowing progression of cognitive dysfunction. The interferons reduced relapses at early phase of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, but their efficacy have not yet been proven in the later phase of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis without relapses. Mitoxantrone demonstrated efficacy in slowing the progression of disability in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. All of the disease modifying agents are safe and tolerable, if the indication is correct and the patients are strictly controlled.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2003

MRI findings in central nervous system systemic lupus erythematosus are associated with immunoserological parameters and hypertension.

Involvement of the brain is one of the most important complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To investigate the correlation between abnormal cranial MRI findings and age, duration of SLE, neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations, hypertensive status, and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (PA) in patients with SLE we evaluated the MRI results of 81 SLE patients in nine NP clinical subgroups.Immunoserological status was described by the presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA), and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). The MRI findings were categorized as normal [41], cerebral atrophy [15], small subcortical hyperintensity [7], and infarct larger than 10mm [18]. Mean age differed among the clinical subgroups (ANOVA, p = 0.002), whereas there was no age difference among the subgroups based on MRI and immunoserological results. Patients with hypertension (33/81) were a mean of 6 years older at the time of examination (p = 0.033) and had stroke more frequently, than normotensive ones (p = 0.0015). MRI abnormalities were more frequent in patients with LA positivity (p < 0.01) than in those without these antibodies, and in the hypertensive than in the normotensive subgroup (p = 0.00041). The presence of PA was associated with abnormal MRI even after controlling for the effect of age and hypertensive status (p = 0.011). In our study the MRI findings in central nervous system SLE were independent of the age of patients and the age at the diagnosis of SLE, and were not influenced by the duration of SLE; however, they were associated with immunoserological parameters and hypertension.

Adult↗