Background and purpose Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) kappa free light chains (FLCs) may be a more sensitive marker of intrathecal immunoglobulin (Ig)G synthesis compared with oligoclonal bands (OCBs). Our aim was to retrospectively determine the additional value of the kappa and lambda index (CSF FLC/serum FLC)/(CSF albumin/serum albumin) in predicting a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in a group of OCB‐negative patients with suspected MS. Methods The CSF and serum kappa and lambda FLCs were tested using the Freelite kit (serum) and Freelite Mx (CSF) assay (The Binding Site Group, Bimingham, UK) in 391 OCB‐negative patients with suspected/possible MS and in 54 OCB‐positive patients with MS. Results The CSF kappa FLC levels were below the detection limit (0.27 mg/L) in 61% of patients. Using quantitative data, we found the best kappa index cut‐off value for the prediction of MS to be 5.8. A kappa index ≥5.8 was present in 25% of OCB‐negative MS (23/92) and in 98% of OCB‐positive patients with MS. Using a qualitative approach and a kappa index cut‐off of 5.9, based on literature data, we likewise found that 24% of OCB‐negative patients with MS had a kappa index ≥5.9, compared with 5.4% of OCB‐negative patients without MS (P < 0.001). No reliable data could be obtained for the lambda index; lambda FLCs were below the detection limit (0.68 mg/L) in 90% of CSF samples. Conclusions The kappa index could contribute to the identification of OCB‐negative patients with a high probability of an MS diagnosis. Using more sensitive techniques might even improve the diagnostic performance of the kappa index and better define the role of the lambda index.

This study was supported by a grant of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (PRIN 2015XCR88M). The authors have no conflict of interest.

PurposeThe relationship between probiotics and levothyroxine (LT4) requirement has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess whether a mixture of highly charged Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria (VSL#3®) is able to influence LT4 metabolism acting on the gut microbiota.MethodsA prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled, investigator-started clinical trial was carried out. Patients with primary hypothyroidism were randomly assigned to the study (VSL#3® + LT4) and the control group (LT4). A 2-month treatment phase was followed by 2 months of follow-up. Clinical examination, blood tests for thyroid function and for peripheral tissue markers of thyroid hormones (PTM) were performed monthly. LT4 dose adjustments were performed when necessary.ResultsThirty-nine patients were enrolled in the study group and 41 in the control group. No difference in thyroid function [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and free thyroxine (fT4)] and PTM was found between groups and among visits. FT3/fT4 ratio was directly correlated to TSH at each visit in both groups, with the exception of the first evaluation of probiotics-treated subjects (rho = 0.287, p = 0.076). LT4 daily dose adjustments occurred more frequently in the control than in the study group (p = 0.007), despite no differences in the mean LT4 daily dose. In particular, LT4 doses were increased six times in the control group and decreased four times in the study group.ConclusionVSL#3® does not directly alter thyroid functional compensation. A probiotics-mediated influence on thyroid hormones homeostasis is suggested since probiotics supplementation could be able to prevent serum hormonal fluctuations. IDRegistration number NCT03095963.

Background. Post-thrombotic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is experienced by 6-8% of stroke patients and is associated with multiple factors, including acquired coagulopathy induced by the thrombolytic drug. Objectives. The objective of this study was to assess the outcome of the intravenous (IV) administration of fibrinogen concentrate in a series of acute stroke patients who developed iatrogenic fibrinogen critical depletion after IV thrombolysis. Material and methods. Of the 39 ischemic stroke patients treated with IV thrombolysis with a severe hypofibrinogenemia requiring infusion with IV fibrinogen concentrate, 30 patients were treated with 2 g of IV recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), followed by further doses until the fibrinogen level reached 200 mg/dL in hemorrhagic patients or 100 mg/dL in non-hemorrhagic patients, and 9 were treated with IV rt-PA followed by endovascular thrombectomy. Results. Pre-and post-thrombolysis National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were statistically different for the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test overall (p = 0.0002), at 24-hour evaluation (p = 0.0455) and at 7-day assessment (p = 0.0006). Within the first 7 days post-thrombolysis, the brain computed tomography (CT) scans showed that 20/39 (51.28%) patients had ICH. Of the whole sample, 25.6% of the ICH patients had symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH), according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) classification. After rt-PA treatment, the median pre-thrombolysis fibrinogenemia of 332 mg/dL significantly dropped to 133 mg/dL (p < 0.0001). After the fibrinogen concentrate infusion, the median level of fibrinogenemia rose to 160 mg/dL, which was significantly higher than the median postthrombolysis levels (p < 0.0001). Recanalization was observed in 25/28 patients (89.29%): complete in 18 and partial in 7 patients. After fibrinogen IV infusion, no thrombotic complications were seen in 37 out of 39 patients (94.77%); 2/39 (0.05%) patients experienced a pulmonary embolism, 1 of them a segmental one. Conclusions. This study showed the clinical safety of administering IV fibrinogen concentrate in order to increase plasma fibrinogen levels in a series of acute stroke patients with iatrogenic fibrinogen depletion after IV thrombolysis.

No abstract