Neurology Alert – March 1, 2022
March 1, 2022
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Plasma Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Dementias: We Are Getting Closer
Two recent multicenter studies suggest that plasma biomarkers, including phosphorylated-tau181, could be used as cost-effective and more readily accessible biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of individuals with neurodegenerative dementias.
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Rituximab Treatment for AChR Myasthenia Gravis: Results of the BeatMG Study
The B-Cell Targeted Treatment In Myasthenia Gravis (BeatMG) study was the first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to explore the role of targeted B-cell depletion in myasthenia patients. Although rituximab was found to be safe and well-tolerated, rituximab treatment did not confer a significant steroid-sparing effect compared to placebo. Results of a futility analysis suggested rituximab treatment would be unlikely to show a clinically meaningful improvement of 30% over placebo in a larger Phase III trial of mild to moderately symptomatic acetylcholine receptor autoantibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis patients.
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White Matter Hyperintensities and Progression of Parkinsonism in Older Adults
Both higher levels of cerebral white matter hyperintensities and cerebrovascular disease pathologies may be associated with a more rapid progression of parkinsonism in older adults.
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The Natural History of Leigh Syndrome
The natural history of Leigh syndrome is characterized by quantifiable disease progression in fewer than three years, with the poorest outcomes predicted by surfeit locus protein 1 (SURF1) pathogenic variants, bilateral caudate involvement on magnetic resonance imaging, and rapid increases in yearly Newcastle Paediatric Mitochondrial Disease Scale scores.
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Patterns of Weakness in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Unusual patterns of weakness in the various motor neuron disorders may point to a specific diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, if supported by electrophysiological evidence of chronic denervation.