Welcome to the fall edition of US Neurology. This edition features a wide range of articles that provide an opportunity to review developments in the changing treatment landscape for neurological disorders and share expert opinions that should be of interest both to neurologists and the wider medical community.
Our expert interviews continue to be a popular feature, providing concise commentaries from key opinion leaders. George Grossberg shares essential messages from this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). The explosion of new data in the field of Alzheimer’s disease raises the question of how researchers around the world can make optimal use of and integrate these data to benefit patients; Arthur Toga discusses this increasingly important issue and describes the Global Alzheimer’s Association Interactive Network (GAAIN). Stewart Tepper outlines exciting recent advances in migraine treatment and their implications for clinical practice. Rosalind Kalb reflects on recent recommendations regarding cognitive screening and management in multiple sclerosis (MS) care, which aim to address this much-overlooked symptom. Also on the subject of MS, Alexander Rae-Grant highlights the key recommendations of the updated American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guidelines on the use of disease-modifying therapies in MS. Robert Friedlander explains why high-definition fiber tractography is transforming outcomes in patients with cerebral cavernous malformations. Finally, Jeff Katz provides an update on important recent advances in the treatment of acute stroke.
Falls are a major concern among people living with MS, and threaten health, safety and quality of life. Rice et al. provide a comprehensive review of factors associated with falls among fulltime wheelchair and scooter users, as well as interventions to prevent falls.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare condition but is associated with substantial healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) costs. In an original research study, Mayer et al. explore HCRU costs in patients with DMD covered by government (Medicaid) and non-government (private) health plans.
Case reports provide unique insights in diagnosis, therapeutics, and pathophysiology of neurologic disease, particularly in rare disorders where correct diagnosis is often delayed, preventing optimal treatment. Chow, Darki and Beydoun describe a case of POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes) syndrome, a rare multisystemic disease. Rad and Beydoun discuss two cases of patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis who were misdiagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Lawson and Robbins present a series of cases highlighting the potential misdiagnosis of multifocal motor neuropathy as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Finally, Dube et al. describe a novel case of sporadic hemiplegic migraine with a mutation in the SCN1A gene.
This edition also features a supplement that tells the fascinating story of Dr Geoffrey Guy’s work on gaining the acceptance of the medical community of the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. The approach, considered highly controversial in 1998, has led to the US Food and Drug Administration approval earlier this year of Epidiolex®, the first cannabis-derived medication to be approved as a prescription medicine in the US.
US Neurology would like to thank all expert authors who contributed towards this edition. We would also like to thank our Editorial Board for their ongoing support and guidance. Thanks too go to all organisations and media partners for their continued support. The expert discussions and variety of topics covered ensure plenty of interest for every reader, and we hope you find this edition as useful and insightful as those before it.
