METHOD: A prospective cross-sectional study of 60 SSc patients were evaluated for large fiber neuropathy using the modified clinical Total Neuropathy Score (cTNS) and nerve conduction study (NCS) of the upper and lower limbs. A combination of clinical (cTNS score ≥ 2) and NCS criteria (≥2 abnormal nerves including 1 sural [symmetrical polyneuropathy] and NCS abnormalities consistent with individual nerves/nerve roots [focal neuropathy]) was used to diagnose peripheral neuropathy.
RESULTS: The majority had limited cutaneous subset (75%). Mean age was 55.73 (SD ± 13.04) years and mean disease duration was 8.61 (SD ± 8.09) years. Twenty-two (36.7%) had combined clinical and NCS criteria for peripheral neuropathy, 14 (23.3%) with symmetrical polyneuropathy and 8 (13.3%) with focal neuropathy. Symmetrical polyneuropathy patients had significantly lower hemoglobin levels (11.2 vs. 12.35 g/L; P = .047). Serum vitamin B12 levels were normal, therefore excluding vitamin B12 deficiency. No other associations were found for both polyneuropathy and focal neuropathy with demography, co-morbid diseases and SSc disease factors such as Raynaud's phenomenon and modified Rodnan skin score.
CONCLUSION: Large fiber neuropathy is common in SSc patients, which could contribute to non-lethal burden in SSc with sensory loss and muscle weakness. Apart from lower hemoglobin in polyneuropathy, there were no associations with disease-specific features or co-morbid diseases.
METHODS: We prospectively evaluated children with serologically confirmed Japanese encephalitis over an 8.3-year period. The patients were assessed and their outcomes were graded with a functional outcome score at hospital discharge and at follow-up appointments. We examined how patient outcome at hospital discharge compared with that at long-term follow-up visits, when changes in outcome occurred, and the prognostic indicators of the eventual outcome.
RESULTS: One hundred and eighteen patients were recruited into the study, and 10 (8%) died during the acute phase of illness. At hospital discharge, 44 (41%) of the 108 patients who survived had apparent full recovery; 3 (3%) had mild, 28 (26%) had moderate, and 33 (31%) had severe neurological sequelae. Eighty six of the 108 patients were followed up for a median duration of 52.9 months (range, 0.9-114.9 months). During follow-up, 31 patients experienced improvement, but 15 patients experienced deterioration in their outcome grade. In most cases, assessment during the first 3-6 months after hospital discharge was predictive of the long-term outcome. More than one-half of the patients continued to experience neuropsychological sequelae and behavioral disorders. A combination of poor perfusion, Glasgow coma score < or =8, and > or =2 witnessed seizures predicted a poor long-term outcome with 65% sensitivity and 92% specificity.
CONCLUSIONS: Neurological assessment of Japanese encephalitis survivors at hospital discharge does not predict long-term outcome. Seizures and shock are treatable risk factors for a poor outcome at hospital discharge and at long-term follow-up visits.