Neurology
Expert perspectives on neurological conditions, stroke management, movement disorders, and neuromuscular disease.
Recent Discussions
How does premorbid dementia affect your decision to offer acute stroke intervention?
Patients with dementia can still benefit from endovascular thrombectomy. Of course, they can at best be restored to their previous level of function, including their cognitive deficits. If the quality of life of the patient is still satisfactory, however, this treatment is justified. This position i...
What treatments options may be considered in patients with POTS who also need daily diuretics to treat heart failure and are already wearing compression garments?
Given the epidemiology of POTS and congestive heart failure, you are far more likely to see a patient with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and CHF than POTS and CHF. I have an article on NOH and CHF in Autonomic Neuroscience 2020. The principals are basically the same however because the managem...
For which patients would you consider offering a spinal cord stimulator for management of autonomic dysfunction?
The use of SCS for its effects on the autonomic nervous system is one of the more interesting applications of neurostimulation. We’ve known for years that SCS has a potent sympatholytic effect, and it has been used for peripheral and cardiac ischemia extensively. This use has been more prevalent in ...
How do you counsel patients who develop DVT or atrial fibrillation requiring anticoagulation when being treated with lecanemab or donanemab?
I believe until further data/studies are available, I would prefer not to use anticoagulation (at least long term) without comprehensive discussion among other treating physicians depending on the indication. The lecanemab appropriate use recommendations (Cummings et al., PMID 37357276) recommend ag...
What is your pharmacologic approach to treating insomnia comorbid with sleep apnea?
I do not usually treat any insomnia, regardless of comorbidities, with any targeted medication for the insomnia itself. If the patient is getting over 5 hours of sleep, then I use CBT-I as this is guideline-recommended (AASM) first-line treatment for insomnia and has efficacy lasting over a year out...
What is your approach to treating babies with IVH secondary to prematurity and a full but soft fontanelle?
The fontanel in a baby can be very deceiving. Studies in trauma have shown that even experts have trouble discerning intracranial pressure based on the fontanel fullness, so in itself it should not be a deciding factor. In this day and age, most hospitals are using the ELVIS protocol to help determi...
How do you counsel patients with GCA on the benefits of steroids who have already experienced vision loss?
I first tell the patient they are at considerable risk for further visual loss in the same eye or the other eye over the next 1-2 weeks. I also let them know that, even though their risk of visual loss has been reduced, their best option for preventing further visual loss is immediately starting hig...
Do you still obtain Tensilon (edrophonium) testing for myasthenia gravis, and what do you feel is the added value over serum testing?
Edrophonium has not been available commercially for years. Neostigmine can be used intramuscularly instead, given with atropine, and the effect assessed 30-45 minutes later. Some seronegative patients will have a positive test, so it can be helpful when you still suspect myasthenia and want further ...
How do you make the decision to empirically treat for GCA when a patient is referred but cannot be immediately seen in clinic?
This is an important question because referrals for possible GCA are common scenarios when a rheumatologist may be asked to recommend a treatment before seeing the patient which are often challenging scenarior. The factors I typically rely on to rate the probability of GCA include: - Specific sympto...
When do you add corticosteroids to the treatment of HSV encephalitis?
My practice does not involve adding corticosteroids to confirmed HSV encephalitis unless there is a significant concern for malignant edema and midline shift. We lack large randomized, placebo-controlled trials, therefore their role is uncertain as of yet.