To ascertain the varieties of neuroborreliosis, 330 patients were identified at the Departments of Neurology in Würzburg and Giessen from 1979 to 1994. Patients who fullfilled at least one of three strict case definitions based on clinical and laboratory criteria were included in the study. Ninety-one per cent of the patients had second-stage neuroborreliosis (duration of symptoms < or = 6 months). The most common syndrome was a painful spinal meningoradiculitis, alone (37%) or in combination with a cranial radiculitis (29%). Meningoradiculitis cranialis (9%), isolated meningitis (4%) and erythema chronica migrans-associated mono/polyneuritis (3%) were further stage II features. Central nervous system involvement occurred either as an acute meningomyelitis or meningomyeloradiculitis (5%) and meningoencephalitis or meningenocephaloradiculitis (4%). Less than 9% of the patients ran a chronic course (stage III) with a disease duration between 6 months and 9 years, either as acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans associated mono- or polyneuritis (2%) or a chronic progressive encephalomyelitis (6%). Cerebrovascular neuroborreliosis (1%) occurred in both stages; however, the primary nature of the course was a chronic one. Involvement of other organs except the skin was rare (joints 3%, heart 1%) but elevated hepatic enzymes were frequent. Our study demonstrates that neuroborreliosis has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of a wide variety of neurological conditions. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis and the search for specific intrathecal antibody production are important diagnostic procedures.

SUMMARY In 65 cases of ischemic cerebral infarction, CT scans and quantitative assessments of the neurological disturbances were undertaken at specific intervals during the 4 week period after stroke. Forty-three patients underwent lumbar puncture to determine the serum/CSF albumin ratio. The etiology of the infarction was evaluated on the basis of angiographic, ultrasonic and cardiologic findings. A hemorrhagic transformation of the infarction occurred in 28 patients, eleven within the first week, and 15 within the second. Risks of hemorrhage were correlated with a severe neurological deficit, disturbance of consciousness, large infarction with a mass effect, enhancement of contrast medium in CT (especially if occurring early), Involvement of the cortex, and distinct blood/CSF barrier disturbances. Cardiac embolism was a frequent etiology in patients with secondary hemorrhagic infarction, especially when transformation occurred within the first week after stroke.In addition to a heterogenous pattern of hemorrhage, frank hematoma predominated in those infarcts which underwent early transformation, while those transforming late often showed less hyperdense cortical hemorrhagic changes.Deterioration evident on clinical evaluation was caused by the hemorrhagic transformation in three cases, in each instance within the first week after stroke.

Surgical intervention (ventricular drainage or decompressive craniotomy) may be necessary in patients with cerebellar infarction if mass effect develops. However, patient selection and timing of surgery remain controversial, and there are few data on clinical signs in the early course that are predictive for outcome. The clinical course and neuroradiological features of 84 patients (aged 22-78, mean 58.5 years) with massive cerebellar infarction confirmed by computed tomography were prospectively observed for 21 days after admission and at 3-month follow-up using a standardized protocol. Data were gathered from 1992 to 1996 in 17 centers. The patients were assigned to three treatment groups depending on the decision of the primary caretaker: 34 underwent craniotomy and evacuation, 14 received ventriculostomy, and 36 were treated medically. Treatment groups differed regarding the level of consciousness, signs of mass effect in computed tomography and signs of brainstem involvement. The overall risk for poor outcome depended on the level of consciousness after clinical deterioration (odds ratio = 2.8). Subgroup analysis of awake/drowsy or somnolent/stupor patients revealed no relationship to treatment. The vascular territory involved did not affect outcome. Surgical treatment for massive cerebellar infarctions was not found to be superior to medical treatment in awake/drowsy or somnolent/stupor patients. Half of all patients deteriorating to coma treated with ventricular drainage or decompressive craniotomy had a meaningful recovery. We were unable to compare surgical versus medical therapy in this subgroup due to lack of control group. This study supports the notion that the level of consciousness is the most powerful predictor of outcome, superior to any other clinical sign and treatment assignment. Deterioration of consciousness typically occurred between days 2 and 4, with a maximum on day 3.

Background and Purpose Because the timing and strategy of surgical intervention in massive cerebellar infarction remains controversial, we report our experience with the management of 52 such patients.Methods Case records, computed tomographic scans, surgical reports, and angiograms of 52 patients with spaceoccupying cerebellar infarction defined by computed tomographic criteria were reevaluated with regard to clinical course, etiology, therapeutic management, mortality, and functional outcome.Results In most cases clinical deterioration started on the third day after stroke, and a comatose state was reached within 24 hours. Sixteen patients were treated medically, and 30 by suboccipital craniectomy (22 plus ventriculostomy, 12 plus

Background and Purpose: Because the frequency of hemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarcts is still a matter of controversy, we performed a prospective magnetic resonance imaging study in a series of consecutive patients with cardioembolic stroke.Summary ofReview: Among 200 consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke, 41 were identified with a computed tomographically proven supratentorial infarct due to cardiogenic embolism. Magnetic resonance imaging (T1-weighted) was performed 3 weeks after the stroke in 35 of these 41 patients. Eight patients received anticoagulants. Magnetic resonance images showed hemorrhagic transformation in 68.6% (24) of the 35 infarcts, always without clinical deterioration. In a stepwise forward logistic regression analysis only the volume of infarction edema on the initial computed tomogram was linked significantly with the risk of hemorrhagic transformation (p=0.037). Hemorrhages were a regular finding on magnetic resonance images of infarcts exceeding a volume of 10 cm3 (94.4%, 17 of 18).Conclusions: Hemorrhagic transformation is a regular finding in medium-sized and large cardioembolic infarcts. Thus, in therapeutic and preventive studies of acute stroke the severity, not the frequency, of hemorrhages into brain infarcts should be the matter of interest. (Stroke 1993;24:465-468)