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Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders (MOGAD) are new emerging diseases with heterogeneous course, treatment, response, and prognosis. We herein present 2 cases with antibodies to MOG, one with a cerebellar/brainstem monophasic syndrome which partially improved after treatment, and the other with an optic neuritis onset then relapsed with cortical encephalitis and presented a subsequent complete recovery. We further discuss elements possibly associated with disease heterogeneity and influencing treatment choices. MOGAD is an extremely variable disease which can relapse and accumulate disability over time. An early diagnosis and correct timely treatment is fundamental to improve clinical outcome.

Background Dabigatran is a direct competitive thrombin inhibitor approved for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. At full-dose, dabigatran showed similar rates of bleedings and higher efficacy compared to warfarin. Case summary We report a case of acute ischaemic stroke in a patient treated with dabigatran 150 mg b.i.d. for atrial fibrillation. After an off-label treatment with idarucizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody approved for dabigatran reversal, we performed a successful intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Transoesophageal echocardiography showed a left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus, despite full-dose dabigatran and an adequate therapy adherence. Discussion There are few cases of LAA thrombus during dabigatran treatment reported in literature till date. We analyse the possible pathogenetic mechanisms involved in dabigatran failure, including drug interactions and unexpected genetic variations interfering with dabigatran serum levels suggesting periodical assessment of direct Oral Anticoagulant levels. Furthermore, we confirm initial reports of safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis after idarucizumab, in case of dabigatran failure.

A 68-year-old man with a 9-year history of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis previously treated with natalizumab and fingolimod achieved clinical and radiologic stability with alemtuzumab. Sixteen months after administration of the second cycle, he developed behavioral changes and focal seizures, characterized by aphasia and motor automatisms. Seizures were refractory to multiple antiepileptic drugs and evolved into epilepsia partialis continua and, after 1 week, into generalized status epilepticus (see timeline, [doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pvmcvdnht][1]). EEG showed bilateral temporal slowing and epileptiform discharges. Brain MRI revealed new large multifocal nonenhancing cortical/subcortical abnormalities involving bilaterally the frontal and temporal lobes (figure 1, A and B). Routine blood analyses were unremarkable, except for a reduced lymphocyte count (730/μL; B cells 50%, T cells 36%). CSF analysis showed pleocytosis (12 cells/μL) and increased proteins (53.8 mg/dL), whereas extensive screening for infections (including JC virus, herpes simplex virus 1-2-6, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, Enterovirus , Listeria , Haemophilus , Cryptococcus , and bacterial and fungi cultures) yielded negative results. Fixed cell-based and Western Blot commercial assays (Euroimmun, Lubeck) excluded the presence of neuronal antibodies, including Hu, Yo, Ri, Tr, GAD65, CV2/CRMP5, Ma2, SOX1, amphiphysin, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, LGI1, CASPR2, AMPAR1/2, gamma-aminobutyric acid-B receptor, and dipeptidyl peptidase-like protein 6. Whole-body computed axial tomography did not show any malignancies. A right parietal brain biopsy showed unspecific gliosis without inflammatory infiltrates. [1]: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pvmcvdnht

Objectives The enforcement of complete lockdown with home confinement has been necessary to limit SARS-CoV-2 contagions in Italy, one the most affected countries worldwide. Simultaneously, in several Emergency Departments, a reduction in cardio- and cerebrovascular presentations was noticed. This study analyses the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on the incidence of stroke, in Campania, the most densely-populated region in Italy. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed data regarding acute stroke patients presenting at 5 Campania stroke hubs, before and after the issue of lockdown in Italy on March 9th, 2020. Results Compared to the pre-lockdown, we observed a significant reduction in the number of acute reperfusion treatments in stroke (P for interact 0.001); however the global number of patients presenting with acute stroke did not significantly differ. The time to reach medical attention was significantly longer in the lockdown phase (230 versus 154 min, P 0.016). For patients who underwent acute reperfusion treatment we also observed significantly longer time-to-imaging (30 versus 40 min, P 0.0005) and a trend to longer time-to-needle (75 versus 90 min P 0.23), but not time-to-groin. Conclusions This study showed the reduction in acute reperfusion treatments for acute ischemic stroke and the slowdown of stroke pathways, during the lockdown phase of Covid-19 pandemic, in Campania, the third-most-populous and the most-densely populated Italian Region. In the next future, the risk for high-grade disability and death, due to delayed or even avoided hospital presentation due to fear of contagion, may be high.

Background/Aims. Ocular motor disorders (OMDs) are a common feature of multiple sclerosis (MS). In clinical practice, if not reported by patients, OMDs are often underdiagnosed and their prevalence is underestimated.Methods. We studied 163 patients (125 women, 76.7%, 38 men, 23.3%; median age 45.0 years; median disease duration 10 years; median EDSS 3.5) with definite MS (n=150, 92%) or clinically isolated syndrome (n=13, 8%) who underwent a thorough clinical examination of eye movements. Data on localization of previous relapses, MS subtype, and MRI findings were collected and analyzed.Results. Overall, 111/163 (68.1%) patients showed at least one abnormality of eye movement. Most frequent OMDs were impaired smooth pursuit (42.3%), saccadic dysmetria (41.7%), unilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia (14.7%), slowing of saccades (14.7%), skew deviation (13.5%), and gaze evoked nystagmus (13.5%). Patients with OMDs had more severe disability(P=0.0005)and showed more frequently infratentorial MRI lesions(P=0.004). Localization of previous relapses was not associated with presence of OMDs.Conclusion. OMDs are frequent in patients with stable (no relapses) MS. A precise bedside examination of eye motility can disclose abnormalities that imply the presence of subclinical MS lesions and may have a substantial impact on definition of the diagnosis and on management of MS patients.

BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that alterations in the cerebrospinal venous system may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) and that chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency correlates with clinical features of MS patients. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the vascularization of optic nerve (ONr) and measure ONe thickness by color Doppler ultrasonography in MS patients with and without previous optic neuritis (ONe). SUBJECTS AND METHODS We assessed flow variables in the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and central retinal vein and measured the diameter of ONe in 46 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 37 healthy controls (HC). Twenty-two MS patients had previous ONe and 24 MS patients had not. Patients with acute ONe were not included. We examined and compared 63 unaffected and 29 affected eyes of MS patients with 74 control eyes. RESULTS Regarding flow variables, we did not find any significant difference between HC, MS affected, and unaffected eyes. Comparing ONr diameters, we found a progressive significant thinning of the ONr from HC to MS patients without and with past ONe. CONCLUSIONS We found no significant alteration in the arterial-venous vascularization of both affected and unaffected ONr compared with HC. We demonstrated the possibility to detect ONr atrophy in MS patients.

Summary Background Optic Neuritis (ONe) is common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the Optic Nerve (ONr) and its vascularisation in MS patients with and without previous ONe and in Healthy Controls (HC). Methods We performed high-resolution echo-color ultrasound examination in 50 subjects (29 MS patients and 21 HC). By a suprabulbar approach we measured the ONr diameter at 3 mm from the retinal plane and at another unfixed point. We assessed the flow velocities of Ophthalmic Artery (OA), Central Retinal Artery (CRA) and Central Retinal Vein (CRV) measuring the Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) and the End Diastolic Velocity (EDV) for the arteries and the Maximal Velocity (MaxV), Minimal Velocity (MinV) and mean Velocity (mV) for the veins. The Pulsatility Index (PI) and the Resistive Index (RI) were also calculated. Results No significant variation for OA supply was found as well as no significant variation for CRA supply, while significant higher PI in the CRV of non-ONe MS eyes vs. both HC and ONe MS eyes was measured. We found that ONr diameter was decreased significantly from HC to non-ONe MS eyes and ONe MS eyes. Conclusions Ultrasound examination of ONr and its vascularisation is feasible and can demonstrate ON atrophy. The increase of CRV PI in unaffected eyes of MS patients is intriguing and seems not associated to ONr atrophy. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results.

The objective of the study was to treat fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by a neurocognitive rehabilitation program aimed at improving motor planning by using motor imagery (MI). Twenty patients with clinically definite MS complaining of fatigue were treated for five weeks with exercises of neurocognitive rehabilitation twice a week. Patients were evaluated by Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), MSQoL54, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and MS Functional Composite (MSFC). After treatment, a decrease in fatigue was detected with both FSS ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 0 0 1 ) and MFIS ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 0 0 1 ). MSFC ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 3 5 ) and MSQoL54 ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 0 2 ) scores improved compared to baseline. At six-month followup, the improvement was confirmed for fatigue (FSS, 𝑃 = 0 . 0 0 0 1 ; MFIS 𝑃 = 0 . 0 1 ) and for the physical subscale of MSQoL54 ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 4 9 ). No differences in disability scales were found. These results show that neurocognitive rehabilitation, based on MI, could be a strategy to treat fatigue in MS patients.