REPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN CHARCOT FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING – BAVENO, ITALY, NOVEMBER 28-30, 2013 – A decade ago, four immunopathological patterns of demyelination were described for MS lesions (Lucchinetti et al. Ann Neurol 2000;47:707-717). Patterns I and II resembled a T-cell-mediated and T-cell plus antibody-mediated autoimmune encephalomyelitis, while patterns III and IV were suggestive of a virus- or toxin-mediated demyelination rather than autoimmune processes. This lesion heterogeneity is evident early in MS; patterns converge to one of T cell, macrophage and microglia involvement later in the disease course (Lassmann H. ECF 2013).
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Personalized medicine the theme of Charcot meeting
November 29, 2013REPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN CHARCOT FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING – BAVENO, ITALY, NOVEMBER 28-30, 2013 – The past 10 years have seen considerable progress in characterizing the etiopathology and clinical course of multiple sclerosis, and a variety of novel disease-modifying therapies are now available. Personalized medicine is the next step, fine-tuning treatment for individual patients and employing strategies with the appropriate risk-benefit profile.
Seizure prophylaxis following traumatic brain injury
November 13, 2013An estimated 5-7% of patients experience seizures following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Current guidelines by the Brain Trauma Foundation and the AAN recommend the use of anti-seizure medications limited to the first seven days post-trauma (Brain Trauma Foundation. J Neurotrauma 2007;24(suppl 1); free full supplement at www.braintrauma.org/pdf/protected/Guidelines_Management_2007w_bookmarks.pdf).
Inappropriate prescribing common in AD patients
November 13, 2013Three European studies have reported that elderly patients – notably those with Alzheimer’s disease – are highly likely to receive inappropriately prescribed medications both in the community and in the nursing home setting.