Multiple sclerosis is an increasingly prevalent disease, representing the leading cause of non-traumatic neurological disease in Europe and North America. The most common symptoms include gait deficits, balance and coordination impairments, fatigue, spasticity, dysphagia and an overactive bladder. Neurorehabilitation therapeutic approaches aim to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life through promoting positive immunological transformations and neuroplasticity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current treatments for the most debilitating symptoms in multiple sclerosis, identify areas for future improvement, and provide a reference guide for practitioners in the field. It analyzes the most cited procedures currently in use for the management of a number of symptoms affecting the majority of patients with multiple sclerosis, from different training routines to cognitive rehabilitation and therapies using physical agents, such as electrostimulation, hydrotherapy, cryotherapy and electromagnetic fields. Furthermore, it investigates the quality of evidence for the aforementioned therapies and the different tests applied in practice to assess their utility. Lastly, the study looks at potential future candidates for the treatment and evaluation of patients with multiple sclerosis and the supposed benefits they could bring in clinical settings.
In this paper, we reported on four cases of severe pulmonary active tuberculosis in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) undergoing interferon beta-1b (IFNβ-1b) therapy. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in MS may increase the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) due to their impact on cellular immunity. Screening for latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LTBI) should be performed, not only for the newer DMTs (alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab) but also for IFNβ-1b, alongside better supervision of these patients.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) impacted the world and caused the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The clinical manifestations of the virus can vary from patient to patient, depending on their respective immune system and comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 can affect patients through two mechanisms: directly by targeting specific receptors or by systemic mechanisms. We reviewed data in the latest literature in order to discuss and determine the risk of new-onset liver injuries due to COVID-19 in preexisting hepatic conditions. The particular expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors is an additional risk factor for patients with liver disease. COVID-19 causes more severe forms in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), increases the risk of cirrhosis decompensation, and doubles the mortality for these patients. The coinfection SARS-CoV-2—viral hepatitis B or C might have different outcomes depending on the stage of the liver disease. Furthermore, the immunosuppressant treatment administered for COVID-19 might reactivate the hepatic virus. The high affinity of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins for cholangiocytes results in a particular type of secondary sclerosing cholangitis. The impact of COVID-19 infection on chronic liver disease patients is significant, especially in cirrhosis, influencing the prognosis and outcome of these patients.
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare type of stroke, with a complex clinical presentation that can make it a diagnostic challenge for the swift initiation of anticoagulation. When a hemorrhagic transformation is added, therapeutic management becomes even more complex. We describe a series of four cases, aged between 23 and 37 years old, with cerebral venous thrombosis. They were admitted to our clinic between 2014 and 2022. All cases presented significant challenges in either diagnostic, therapeutic or etiologic evaluation, at different stages of the disease. Late complications such as epilepsy or depression and other behavioral disorders represent long-term sequelae for the patient. Therefore, through its late complications, CVT is not only an acute disease but a chronic disorder with long-term follow-up requirements. The first case of the series is of a postpartum woman with focal neurological deficit caused by CVT with hemorrhagic transformation that presented multiple thrombotic complications and severe depression. The second case is of a man with extensive cerebral thrombosis who developed bilateral papillary edema under therapeutic anticoagulation treatment. The third case is of a woman with bilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis who later developed depressive disorder and focal seizures. The fourth case is of a pregnant woman in the first trimester presenting with a steep decline in consciousness level secondary to deep cerebral vein thrombosis requiring intensive care and subsequently developing a memory disorder. For a long period of time, due to being underdiagnosed, few things were known about CVT. Nowadays, we have all the tools to diagnose, treat, and follow up cases of CVT.
With its increasing incidence in younger population and as a leading cause of disability, ischemic stroke represents a real public health problem. This chapter aims to evaluate the most common risk factors and causes for ischemic stroke in the young. Though some are identical to those found in older patients, most of them are specific to this population segment. Furthermore, another objective is to provide some guidance in approaching the case based on some important clinical clues. Due to the lack of universal management guidelines, it is up to the physician to judge the particularities of each case and to carry out the variety of investigations necessary for determining the cause.