@article{SabelFleischhackTippeltetal.2016, author = {Sabel, Magnus and Fleischhack, Gudrun and Tippelt, Stephan and Gustafsson, G{\"o}ran and Doz, Fran{\c{c}}ois and Kortmann, Rolf and Massimino, Maura and Navajas, Aurora and von Hoff, Katja and Rutkowski, Stefan and Warmuth-Metz, Monika and Clifford, Steven C. and Pietsch, Torsten and Pizer, Barry and Linnering, Birgitta}, title = {Relapse patterns and outcome after relapse in standard risk medulloblastoma: a report from the HIT-SIOP-PNET4 study}, series = {Journal of Neurooncology}, volume = {129}, journal = {Journal of Neurooncology}, number = {3}, organization = {SIOP-E Brain Tumour Group}, doi = {10.1007/s11060-016-2202-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-187498}, pages = {515-524}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The HIT-SIOP-PNET4 randomised trial for standard risk medulloblastoma (MB) (2001-2006) included 338 patients and compared hyperfractionated and conventional radiotherapy. We here report the long-term outcome after a median follow up of 7.8 years, including detailed information on relapse and the treatment of relapse. Data were extracted from the HIT Group Relapsed MB database and by way of a specific case report form. The event-free and overall (OS) survival at 10 years were 76 +/- 2 \% and 78 +/- 2 \% respectively with no significant difference between the treatment arms. Seventy-two relapses and three second malignant neoplasms were reported. Thirteen relapses (18 \%) were isolated local relapses in the posterior fossa (PF) and 59 (82 \%) were craniospinal, metastatic relapses (isolated or multiple) with or without concurrent PF disease. Isolated PF relapse vs all other relapses occurred at mean/median of 38/35 and 28/26 months respectively (p = 0.24). Late relapse, i.e. > 5 years from diagnosis, occurred in six patients (8 \%). Relapse treatment consisted of combinations of surgery (25 \%), focal radiotherapy (RT 22 \%), high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue (HDSCR 21 \%) and conventional chemotherapy (90 \%). OS at 5 years after relapse was 6.0 +/- 4 \%. In multivariate analysis; isolated relapse in PF, and surgery were significantly associated with prolonged survival whereas RT and HDSCR were not. Survival after relapse was not related to biological factors and was very poor despite several patients receiving intensive treatments. Exploration of new drugs is warranted, preferably based on tumour biology from biopsy of the relapsed tumour.}, language = {en} } @article{JariusRuprechtKleiteretal.2016, author = {Jarius, Sven and Ruprecht, Klemens and Kleiter, Ingo and Borisow, Nadja and Asgari, Nasrin and Pitarokoili, Kalliopi and Pache, Florence and Stich, Oliver and Beume, Lena-Alexandra and H{\"u}mmert, Martin W. and Ringelstein, Marius and Trebst, Corinna and Winkelmann, Alexander and Schwarz, Alexander and Buttmann, Mathias and Zimmermann, Hanna and Kuchling, Joseph and Franciotta, Diego and Capobianco, Marco and Siebert, Eberhard and Lukas, Carsten and Korporal-Kuhnke, Mirjam and Haas, J{\"u}rgen and Fechner, Kai and Brandt, Alexander U. and Schanda, Kathrin and Aktas, Orhan and Paul, Friedemann and Reindl, Markus and Wildemann, Brigitte}, title = {MOG-IgG in NMO and related disorders: a multicenter study of 50 patients. Part 2: Epidemiology, clinical presentation, radiological and laboratory features, treatment responses, and long-term outcome}, series = {Journal of Neuroinflammation}, volume = {13}, journal = {Journal of Neuroinflammation}, number = {280}, doi = {10.1186/s12974-016-0718-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165570}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Background A subset of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) has been shown to be seropositive for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-IgG). Objective To describe the epidemiological, clinical, radiological, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and electrophysiological features of a large cohort of MOG-IgG-positive patients with optic neuritis (ON) and/or myelitis (n = 50) as well as attack and long-term treatment outcomes. Methods Retrospective multicenter study. Results The sex ratio was 1:2.8 (m:f). Median age at onset was 31 years (range 6-70). The disease followed a multiphasic course in 80\% (median time-to-first-relapse 5 months; annualized relapse rate 0.92) and resulted in significant disability in 40\% (mean follow-up 75 ± 46.5 months), with severe visual impairment or functional blindness (36\%) and markedly impaired ambulation due to paresis or ataxia (25\%) as the most common long-term sequelae. Functional blindness in one or both eyes was noted during at least one ON attack in around 70\%. Perioptic enhancement was present in several patients. Besides acute tetra-/paraparesis, dysesthesia and pain were common in acute myelitis (70\%). Longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions were frequent, but short lesions occurred at least once in 44\%. Fourty-one percent had a history of simultaneous ON and myelitis. Clinical or radiological involvement of the brain, brainstem, or cerebellum was present in 50\%; extra-opticospinal symptoms included intractable nausea and vomiting and respiratory insufficiency (fatal in one). CSF pleocytosis (partly neutrophilic) was present in 70\%, oligoclonal bands in only 13\%, and blood-CSF-barrier dysfunction in 32\%. Intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) and long-term immunosuppression were often effective; however, treatment failure leading to rapid accumulation of disability was noted in many patients as well as flare-ups after steroid withdrawal. Full recovery was achieved by plasma exchange in some cases, including after IVMP failure. Breakthrough attacks under azathioprine were linked to the drug-specific latency period and a lack of cotreatment with oral steroids. Methotrexate was effective in 5/6 patients. Interferon-beta was associated with ongoing or increasing disease activity. Rituximab and ofatumumab were effective in some patients. However, treatment with rituximab was followed by early relapses in several cases; end-of-dose relapses occurred 9-12 months after the first infusion. Coexisting autoimmunity was rare (9\%). Wingerchuk's 2006 and 2015 criteria for NMO(SD) and Barkhof and McDonald criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS) were met by 28\%, 32\%, 15\%, 33\%, respectively; MS had been suspected in 36\%. Disease onset or relapses were preceded by infection, vaccination, or pregnancy/delivery in several cases. Conclusion Our findings from a predominantly Caucasian cohort strongly argue against the concept of MOG-IgG denoting a mild and usually monophasic variant of NMOSD. The predominantly relapsing and often severe disease course and the short median time to second attack support the use of prophylactic long-term treatments in patients with MOG-IgG-positive ON and/or myelitis.}, language = {en} } @article{BurlinaSimsPoliteietal.2011, author = {Burlina, Alessandro P. and Sims, Katherine B. and Politei, Juan M. and Bennett, Gary J. and Baron, Ralf and Sommer, Claudia and Moller, Anette Torvin and Hilz, Max J.}, title = {Early diagnosis of peripheral nervous system involvement in Fabry disease and treatment of neuropathic pain: the report of an expert panel}, series = {BMC Neurology}, volume = {11}, journal = {BMC Neurology}, number = {61}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2377-11-61}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-135309}, pages = {1-11}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Background: Fabry disease is an inherited metabolic disorder characterized by progressive lysosomal accumulation of lipids in a variety of cell types, including neural cells. Small, unmyelinated nerve fibers are particularly affected and small fiber peripheral neuropathy often clinically manifests at young age. Peripheral pain can be chronic and/or occur as provoked attacks of excruciating pain. Manifestations of dysfunction of small autonomic fibers may include, among others, impaired sweating, gastrointestinal dysmotility, and abnormal pain perception. Patients with Fabry disease often remain undiagnosed until severe complications involving the kidney, heart, peripheral nerves and/or brain have arisen. Methods: An international expert panel convened with the goal to provide guidance to clinicians who may encounter unrecognized patients with Fabry disease on how to diagnose these patients early using simple diagnostic tests. A further aim was to offer recommendations to control neuropathic pain. Results: We describe the neuropathy in Fabry disease, focusing on peripheral small fiber dysfunction - the hallmark of early neurologic involvement in this disorder. The clinical course of peripheral pain is summarized, and the importance of medical history-taking, including family history, is highlighted. A thorough physical examination (e. g., angiokeratoma, corneal opacities) and simple non-invasive sensory perception tests could provide clues to the diagnosis of Fabry disease. Reported early clinical benefits of enzyme replacement therapy include reduction of neuropathic pain, and adequate management of residual pain to a tolerable and functional level can substantially improve the quality of life for patients. Conclusions: Our recommendations can assist in diagnosing Fabry small fiber neuropathy early, and offer clinicians guidance in controlling peripheral pain. This is particularly important since management of pain in young patients with Fabry disease appears to be inadequate.}, language = {en} } @article{SchmidtHieberSillingSchalketal.2016, author = {Schmidt-Hieber, M. and Silling, G. and Schalk, E. and Heinz, W. and Panse, J. and Penack, O. and Christopeit, M. and Buchheidt, D. and Meyding-Lamad{\´e}, U. and H{\"a}hnel, S. and Wolf, H. H. and Ruhnke, M. and Schwartz, S. and Maschmeyer, G.}, title = {CNS infections in patients with hematological disorders (including allogeneic stem-cell transplantation)-Guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO)}, series = {Annals of Oncology}, volume = {27}, journal = {Annals of Oncology}, number = {7}, doi = {10.1093/annonc/mdw155}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-188210}, pages = {1207-1225}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are infrequently diagnosed in immunocompetent patients, but they do occur in a significant proportion of patients with hematological disorders. In particular, patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation carry a high risk for CNS infections of up to 15\%. Fungi and Toxoplasma gondii are the predominant causative agents. The diagnosis of CNS infections is based on neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination and biopsy of suspicious lesions in selected patients. However, identification of CNS infections in immunocompromised patients could represent a major challenge since metabolic disturbances, side-effects of antineoplastic or immunosuppressive drugs and CNS involvement of the underlying hematological disorder may mimic symptoms of a CNS infection. The prognosis of CNS infections is generally poor in these patients, albeit the introduction of novel substances (e.g. voriconazole) has improved the outcome in distinct patient subgroups. This guideline has been developed by the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) with the contribution of a panel of 14 experts certified in internal medicine, hematology/oncology, infectious diseases, intensive care, neurology and neuroradiology. Grades of recommendation and levels of evidence were categorized by using novel criteria, as recently published by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.}, language = {en} }