The aim of this study was to analyze the spectrum of clinical presentations of internal carotid artery dissection. Twenty-two patients with internal carotid artery dissection, mean age 39.02, were evaluated over the past ten years. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography were used to establish the diagnosis. Facial and neck pain and Horner's syndrome were the only presenting symptoms in 4 patients (without brain infarction); facial pain, Horner's syndrome and contralateral sensorimotor deficit in 6; headache and contralateral sensorimotor deficit in 2; contralateral sensorimotor deficit with or without speech impairment in 10. Internal carotid artery dissection was triggered by a trauma in 7, whereas it was spontaneous in 15. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarction in 18 patients. A good outcome (modified Rankin score 0-2) was seen in 20 patients. The spectrum of clinical presentations of internal carotid artery dissection is variable. Internal carotid artery dissection is not necessarily accompanied by infarction on magnetic resonance imaging.

VITATOPS aims to recruit and follow-up 8000 patients between 1998 and 2008, and provide a reliable estimate of the safety and effectiveness of folic acid, vitamin B(12), and vitamin B(6) supplementation in reducing recurrent serious vascular events among a wide range of patients with TIA and stroke throughout the world.

Among RFs and their biomarkers, apoA-I, apoB and the apoB/apoA-I ratio showed strong association with ultrasound indicators of carotid atherosclerosis in IS patients.

Further research is warranted to improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, to assess the long-term outcome, and ultimately to provide treatment and prevention strategies.

Aetiology of ischemic stroke in young adults is diverse and demands thorough diagnostic evaluation.

Introduction.Chronic post-anoxic myoclonus, also known as Lance-Adams syndrome, may develop following hypoxic brain injury, and is resistant to pharmacological therapy. Case report. The patient we presented developed post-anoxic action myoclonus with severe, completely incapacitating myoclonic jerks. Myoclonus did not respond to the treatment with commonly used agents, i.e. valproate and clonazepam alone or in combination. Improvement of the action myoclonus was observed only after adding levetiracetam. Conclusion. Although Lance-Adams syndrome may not be fully curable at this point, levetiracetam appears to be a promising agent that can significantly improve functional level and overall quality of life of patients with this disorder.

The study comprised 100 ischemic stroke patients of both sexes aged 15-45 years who were treated at the Clinic of Neurology of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina in the period January 2001-September 2004. All study subjects were divided into three age groups: 15-25, 26-35 and 36-45 years. Sex, age and risk factors for cerebrovascular disease were determined in all patients. Diagnostic procedures applied in all patients included brain computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging, routine laboratory tests, Doppler imaging of extra and endocranial blood vessels and coagulation tests. Contrast and/or transesophageal echocardiography, immunological blood assays, magnetic resonance angiography and/or computed tomography angiography and/or conventional angiography, thrombophilia markers, antiphospholipid antibodies and toxicological examination, etc. were performed in selected patients. Non-atherosclerotic arteriopathies were found in 8% of all study subjects, and were the most frequent cause of stroke in the age group 15-25. Carotid artery dissection was the most frequent diagnosis overall, found in 6% of all patients. Fibromuscular dysplasia and systemic vasculitis were diagnosed in one patient each. Moyamoya disease, Takayasu disease, infectious and isolated vasculitis of the CNS were not found in our patients.

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