Introduction: Several questions about pregnancy in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been discussed, but clarification is still needed in some very practical issues. Portuguese data on this subject remain scattered and need to be analyzed in order to standardize clinical practice. Objective: This study aimed to describe and analyze the impact of MS on pregnancy and perinatal health of children born to Portuguese mothers with the disease. Material and methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective study of a cohort of Portuguese women with MS who were pregnant and who gave birth between 01/01/2011 and 31/12/2015. Demographic and clinical data related to maternal disease, pregnancy progression and events, childbirth and newborn health were collected. Results: Ninety-seven women were recruited and 90 live births were evaluated. The mean maternal age at conception was 32.5 years, and 63.9% had no relapses in the previous year (98.0% had a relapsing-remitting MS and the EDSS score was ≤ 3 in 92.8% of the cases). Only 50.5% of the women had a preconception specific evaluation and 60 children were exposed to immunomodulatory therapies during pregnancy. Nineteen women had relapses during pregnancy. Childbirth was induced in 22.7% of the cases, and the caesarean section rate was 34%. Children exposed to immunomodulatory drugs during pregnancy had a lower birth length (p = 0.014), and there was also a trend toward lower birth weight (p = 0.054) in these newborns. Pre-conception EDSS score negatively correlated with the duration of pregnancy (r = -0.22; p = 0.029), weight (r = -0.23; p = 0.031) and cephalic perimeter at birth (r = -0.24; p = 0.033). There was no relationship between the occurrence of relapses or progression in EDSS score during pregnancy with any variables related to the newborn. Conclusions: In our cohort, it has been confirmed that MS has no negative effect on pregnancy or on children's perinatal health. However, the use of immunomodulatory drugs may have some impact on newborns' somatometric features.

Purpose To provide new insights into the pathophysiology, prevention and diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) associated with iatrogenic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and/or external CSF drainage. Methods Case report and literature review. Results We describe the case of a 30-year-old woman who developed a CSF fistula after lumbar spinal surgery. The treatment included rest, hydration, caffeine, and continuous lumbar CSF drainage. After closure of the fistula, the patient complained of severe orthostatic headache. Thrombosis involving the superior sagittal sinus, the right transverse sinus, the right sigmoid sinus, and the right jugular vein was diagnosed after neurological deterioration.

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Hyperglycemia-induced chorea/ballism is a rare clinical entity that often occurs in the setting of nonketotic hyperglycemia due to poor glycemic control in elderly patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This condition is typically characterized by hemichorea/hemiballism and unique brain imaging findings in the contralateral basal ganglia. Treatment involves the correction of blood glucose, and most cases resolve without additional therapy. Here we report two cases of this condition in which patients with type 2 DM presented with nonketotic hyperglycemia and typical neuroimaging findings. Although rare, clinicians should be aware of this condition in patients with diabetes who present with sudden abnormal movements since its prompt diagnosis and treatment often lead to a favorable outcome.

Introduction Cryptogenic stroke reaches a prevalence of 30% and entails a significant risk of recurrence. Transesophageal echocardiography is the gold standard in identifying potential proximal embolic sources, including patent foramen ovale (PFO). Based on recent evidence, PFO percutaneous closure is recommended in selected cases of cryptogenic stroke, especially if associated with high risk features. Since PFO is present in up to 27% of the general population, the real challenge is to define which patients have a pathogenic PFO. Purpose To develop a pathogenic PFO screening protocol in patients with cryptogenic stroke, aimed at secondary prevention. Methods We revised the literature, analysing published articles in PubMed in the last 5 years, with the keywords "patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke". Subsequently, we produced a screening algorithm based on cryptogenic stroke definition, on RoPE (Risk of Paradoxical Embolism) Score and on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the CLOSE, REDUCE and RESPECT studies, which showed promising results of PFO closure in this context. Results Our protocol establishes that patients who present with ischemic stroke should be evaluated for risk factors and undergo a detailed etiological study. When the study is inconclusive, the RoPE score is applied to determine the probability of finding a pathogenic or an incidental PFO. If equal or greater than 7 points, in the absence of predefined exclusion criteria, a transesophageal echocardiogram is performed. If the screening is positive, the patient will be referred to the Cardiology Department for therapeutic guidance. If negative, alternative complementary diagnostic methods may be considered. Conclusion Through the application of this protocol, patients with high probability of having a pathogenic PFO and, consequently, those who may benefit from percutaneous closure, will be selected to undergo a screening transesophageal echocardiogram. The implementation of a PFO screening protocol in patients who present with cryptogenic stroke is relevant, by proposing to reduce its recurrence rate through the early referral of young patients with indication for an invasive strategy.