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Biomedical subjects

V Biousse

Publications and source records attributed to V Biousse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Neuro-ophthalmology of mitochondrial diseases.

The afferent and efferent visual pathways within the central nervous system are frequently involved in mitochondrial diseases. Neuro-ophthalmic signs figure prominently and may be the presenting or even sole manifestation of these disorders. The four most common neuro-ophthalmic abnormalities seen in mitochondrial disorders are bilateral optic neuropathy, ophthalmoplegia with ptosis, pigmentary retinopathy, and retrochiasmal visual loss.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗

Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of head trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the neuro-ophthalmic findings in a group of patients with head trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients given a diagnosis code of head trauma in the neuroophthalmology unit at Emory University between 1991 and 1999. RESULTS: A total of 326 consecutive patients were reviewed (203 [63%] men and 123 [37.0%] women). Age ranged from 2 to 86 years, with a mean of 30 years. Motor vehicle accident was the most common cause of head trauma, occurring in 195 (59.8%) patients. An abnormal neuro-ophthalmic examination was noted in 185 of 326 patients (56.7%). Loss of consciousness was not associated with any outcome, but the presence of a neuroimaging abnormality, particularly intracranial hemorrhage, was significantly associated with specific neuroophthalmic deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Head trauma causes a number of neuroophthalmic manifestations. The afferent and efferent pathways are vulnerable to traumatic injury, although the efferent system is more commonly affected. Loss of consciousness may not be a reliable predictor of specific neuro-ophthalmic outcomes, but neuroimaging abnormalities may.

Adolescent↗

Precipitating factors in pituitary apoplexy.

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but life threatening condition caused by sudden haemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland. Potential precipitating factors in the occurrence of acute pituitary apoplexy in 30 consecutive patients were identified and compared with the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with and without associated factors. Six patients had a previously known pituitary adenoma. All patients complained of severe headaches, associated with neuro-ophthalmological symptoms and signs in 83% and altered mental status in 30%. Potential risk factors were identified in nine patients (30%). When there was an associated factor, the clinical presentation was no different than in patients without such factors although altered mental status may be more frequent in patients with associated diseases. In these patients, the visual prognosis was worse and the diagnosis was more difficult to establish. Acute pituitary apoplexy is unpredictable and should be considered in any patient with abrupt neuro-ophthalmological deterioration associated with headache. Patients with pituitary apoplexy often have an associated disease that confounds recognition and treatment despite a typical presentation.

Adenoma↗

[Benign intracranial hypertension].

Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is characterized by an elevation of the intracranial pressure not associated with an intracranial process or hydrocephaly, and with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contents. The elevation of the intracranial pressure is isolated; therefore, diseases such as cerebral venous thrombosis or dural fistulas should not be considered as etiologies of BIH. The exact definition of BIH remains debated, and other terms such as "pseudotumor cerebri" or "idiopathic intracranial hypertension" are often used in the literature. Although we agree that BIH is usually not a so benign disease, we suggest that BIH is still the most appropriate term to describe this entity which should be classified as "secondary BIH" or "idiopathic BIH" depending on whether there are precipitating factors for the development of BIH or not. We also propose new diagnostic criteria emphasizing the need for investigations for the diagnostic of secondary and idiopathic BIH. The management of patients with BIH depends mainly on the presence and severity of ocular symptoms and signs on which the prognostic of the disease is based. Repeated lumbar punctures associated with acetazolamide and weight loss are usually efficient enough. However a surgical treatment (optic nerve sheath fenestration or lumboperitoneal shunt) is required when appropriate medical management does not prevent progressive alteration of vision (visual loss or visual field defect), or when the patients complains of severe, refractory headaches. Careful follow-up with repeated formal visual field testing may help preventing a devastating visual loss in these patients.

Eye Diseases↗

Intracranial vascular abnormalities.

Intracranial vascular abnormalities such as intracranial aneurysms, carotid-cavernous fistulas, AVMs, and cavernous malformations commonly produce neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs. Unruptured aneurysms can compress the third cranial nerve and anterior visual pathways. Subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured aneurysms can result in Terson's syndrome and papilledema. Direct and indirect carotid-cavernous fistulas most commonly cause the classic triad of proptosis, conjunctival chemosis, and cranial bruit but can masquerade as chronic conjunctivitis. AVMs, with or without hemorrhage, may compress portions of the retrochiasmal pathways, causing visual field loss. Cavernous malformations, when in the brainstem, commonly cause abnormalities of supranuclear, nuclear, and fascicular ocular motility. The ophthalmologist may be the first physician to encounter clinical manifestations of intracranial vascular abnormalities that may herald devastating neurologic complications. Prompt diagnosis facilitates appropriate management and therapy.

Eye Diseases↗

Arterial wall properties in carotid artery dissection: an ultrasound study.

BACKGROUND: Cervical artery dissection is often attributed to an underlying arteriopathy related to a generalized extracellular matrix defect. OBJECTIVE: The authors compared the hemodynamic and morphologic properties of the carotid artery, as assessed noninvasively by ultrasonography, in patients with spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) and control subjects. METHOD: Twenty-six patients who experienced ICAD more than 6 months before evaluation were compared with 26 controls matched for age, sex, and height. Cases and controls had ultrasound measurement of common carotid artery diameter and diameter change during the cardiac cycle, bulbar and suprabulbar internal carotid artery diameters, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness. The unaffected carotid artery in cases was compared with the carotid artery of the same side in controls. RESULTS: Common carotid artery relative diameter change was significantly higher in cases than controls, whereas other measurements were not significantly different between the groups. In multivariate analyses, the highest tertile of common carotid artery relative diameter change was associated with the risk of ICAD (OR, 10.0; 95% CI, 1.8 to 54.2; p = 0.002) CONCLUSION: An underlying arteriopathy, presumably related to an extracellular matrix defect, may be present in patients with spontaneous ICAD.

Adult↗

[Neurological complications after roller coaster rides: an emerging new risk?].

OBJECTIVE: To describe neurological complications occurring after roller-coaster rides. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report 6 cases of complications occurring after roller-coaster rides and analyze published data. RESULTS: Complications seen our patients included 5 cervicoencephalic arterial dissections, one with brainstem dysfunction due to extending syringobulbia. Reported data include one cervicoencephalic arterial dissection, one case of carotid artery occlusion, 3 cases of subdural hematoma, one with subarachnoid hemorrhage, one with cerebrospinal fluid leak, and one with Brown-Séquard syndrome secondary to an enterogenous cyst of the spinal cord. In all patients, pain was the first symptom experienced. In 71.4% of cases, it occurred immediately after the trauma. Marfanís syndrome may be the only risk factor identifiable prior to exposure. The mechanisms of most complications are poorly understood but are likely to involve sudden head and neck flexion-extension movements. CONCLUSION: Neurological complications occurring after roller-coaster rides are highly uncommon, but may leave invalidating sequelae or be fatal. Clinicians should be aware of these complications so these patients can be given proper care early, particularly at the stage when pain is the only sign. Early management could help limit the consequences of these complications.

Adult↗

Isolated comitant esotropia and Chiari I malformation.

PURPOSE: To report four patients with isolated comitant esotropia and Chiari I malformation and discuss the most appropriate management. METHODS: Case reports and literature review. RESULTS: All four patients (5, 14, 16, and 37 years of age) presented with an isolated comitant esotropia that led to the diagnosis of Chiari I malformation. The first two patients underwent uncomplicated neurosurgical decompression of their malformation, followed by complete resolution of their esotropia. The third patient underwent strabismus surgery and experienced initial resolution of the esotropia, but eventual recurrence resulted in the strabismus surgery being repeated 5 years later. The fourth patient had strabismus surgery with resolution of the esotropia but only 2 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although management of patients with Chiari I malformation and severe neurologic findings typically includes surgical decompression, management is less straightforward in cases with subtle findings or in which ocular findings are isolated. The decision to perform neurosurgical decompression or strabismus surgery should still be made on a case-by-case basis, with the understanding that strabismus surgery may provide only temporary ocular alignment.

Adolescent↗

Stages of improvement in visual fields after pituitary tumor resection.

PURPOSE: To use static threshold perimetry to examine the stages of improvement and the potential for late improvement of visual fields after surgical resection of pituitary adenomas causing visual loss from compression of the anterior visual pathways. METHODS: Retrospective review of charts of patients with pituitary tumors and abnormal static threshold perimetry before or soon after treatment who had subsequent visual fields. Quantification of the visual field mean deviation overall, superotemporally, and inferotemporally was performed and compared between visits. Postoperative visits were considered in five time periods: visit 1 (surgery to 1 week), visit 2 (1 month to 4 months), visit 3 (6 months to 1 year), visit 4 (2 years), and visit 5 (3 or more years). RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included (33 men and 29 women; mean age 54 years [SD +/- 15 years; range, 22 to 83 years]). At visit 1, the relative improvement of the overall mean deviation for the right eye was 30.8% (P =.01) and for the left eye was 13.7% (P =.3067). At visit 2, the relative improvement of the overall mean deviation for the right eye was 30. 4% (P =.0142) and for the left eye was 32.6% (P =.0092). At visits 1 and 2, the inferotemporal quadrants were the quadrants with greatest improvement (visit 1, right eye, 37.8% [P =.0082]; visit 2, left eye, 30.8% [P =.0074]). At visits 3, 4, and 5, an overall trend toward mild improvement was observed with statistical significance only for the inferotemporal quadrant of the left eye from visit 2 to visit 3, which improved 19.7% (P =.0270). CONCLUSION: The pattern of recovery of visual function after decompression of the anterior visual pathways suggests at least three phases of improvement. The early fast phase (surgery to 1 week) of improvement may lead to normalization of visual fields in some individuals. The early slow phase (1 month to 4 months) is the period of most notable improvement. A late phase (6 months to 3 years) of mild improvement does not appear significant overall but may be marked in some individuals. Each of these phases may have one or more mechanisms underlying the observed improvement.

Adenoma↗

Central retinal artery occlusion associated with head or neck pain revealing spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection.

PURPOSE: To report two cases of head or neck pain and central retinal artery occlusion associated with spontaneous dissection of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. METHODS: Case reports. RESULTS: We describe two cases of sudden visual loss caused by central retinal artery occlusion. Both cases were preceded by ipsilateral headaches or neck pain and tinnitus. The patient had no other neurological signs or history of trauma. In both cases, cerebral angiography revealed ipsilateral internal carotid artery dissection. CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral headache or neck pain with tinnitus preceding central retinal artery occlusion is highly suggestive of internal carotid artery dissection. Early diagnosis and treatment may reduce the risk of hemispheric stroke.

Adult↗

Third nerve palsies.

The diagnosis and management of third nerve dysfunction varies according to the age of the patient, characteristics of the third nerve palsy, and presence of associated symptoms and signs. Indeed, third nerve palsies may be partial or complete, congenital or acquired, isolated or accompanied by signs of more extensive neurological involvement. They can result from lesions located anywhere from the oculomotor nucleus to the termination of the third nerve in the extra-ocular muscles within the orbit. Recent advances in noninvasive neuroimaging facilitate early diagnosis; however, management of a patient presenting with an isolated third nerve palsy remains a challenge.

Humans↗

Update on ischemic stroke.

Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, exceeded only by heart disease. Epidemiologic studies have greatly enhanced our understanding of the factors that increase stroke risk. There have also been many recent developments in the understanding of the various etiologies of stroke as well as specific new treatments. The characteristic sudden onset and rapid tissue damage make stroke particularly challenging to treat. The most promising therapy for acute ischemic stroke is the use of a thrombolytic agent. This has been the focus of recent large trials and remains a challenging treatment for cerebral ischemic stroke as well as for retinal artery occlusion. Because neuro-ophthalmic symptoms and signs such as vision loss and diplopia are common in patients with stroke, patients are often seen by ophthalmologists prior to their primary care physicians or neurologists. The ophthalmologist should be aware of some of the new diagnostic and therapeutic issues in the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke. This review emphasizes some of the controversial topics published during the past few years.

Brain Ischemia↗

Coffee and doughnut maculopathy: a cause of acute central ring scotomas.

AIMS: To report the clinical features of five patients with non-progressive central ring scotomas of acute onset associated with excellent retained visual acuity. METHODS: Complete neuro-ophthalmological examinations were performed. Visual fields were performed by tangent screen, Goldmann, or Humphrey perimetry. In some cases further testing was carried out including fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, ERG, VEP, and neuroimaging. RESULTS: The patients were three women and two men whose ages ranged from 25 to 57 years. Four patients were heavy caffeine consumers while the fifth patient experienced an episode of hypotension. Vision loss was acute in all cases. The onset of vision loss was bilateral/simultaneous in three cases, bilateral/sequential in one case, and unilateral in one case. All affected eyes retained visual acuities of 20/25 or better. Colour vision was subnormal in three of four cases. Visual field defects were characterised by a central ring scotoma having an outer diameter less than 10 degrees. Fundus examination demonstrated temporal optic nerve pallor in three patients (five of 10 affected eyes) and reddish, petaloid macular lesions in one patient. Good visual acuity was maintained for the duration of follow up in all five patients. CONCLUSION: Central ring scotomas with excellent retained visual acuity may present as an acute, bilateral syndrome in patients who are heavy caffeine consumers. The configuration of visual field loss and its location, combined with the presence of temporal pallor in five eyes, suggest that the defect localises to the inner layers of the macula. While these cases could be considered an expansion of the clinical spectrum of acute macular neuroretinopathy, some may represent a distinct entity.

Adult↗

Isolated Horner's syndrome and syringomyelia.

Although syringomyelia has been associated with Horner's syndrome, it is typically associated with other neurological findings such as upper limb weakness or numbness. A patient is described who had an isolated Horner's syndrome as the only manifestation of syringomyelia. A 76 year old woman was discovered to have right upper lid ptosis and right pupillary miosis. Neurological examination was unremarkable, and pharmacological testing was consistent with localisation of the lesion to a first or second order sympathetic neuron. Neuroimaging disclosed a Chiari I malformation with a syrinx extending to the C2 to C4 level. An isolated Horner's syndrome may be the presenting manifestation of syringomyelia.

Aged↗

MR angiography for the long-term follow-up of dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery.

OBJECTIVE: We used MR angiography to examine and follow up the changes of dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 101 consecutive patients with dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial ICA. Twenty patients with 26 spontaneous dissecting aneurysms were followed up with MR angiography every 1-2 years (men, 16; women, four; age range, 28-67 years; mean age, 51 years). RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 41 months (range, 10-93 months). At MR angiography follow-up, 20 aneurysms did not change, four decreased from their original size by 33-53% (mean, 43%), and two resolved. One patient had an asymptomatic recurrent dissecting aneurysm of the extracranial ICA. Clinically, no patient had a thromboembolic stroke or transient ischemic attack during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: MR angiography revealed that dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial ICA remain stable, decrease in size, or resolve--but they do not increase in size.

Adult↗