White matter, red flag | Imaging | 04-2010
Multiple white matter hyperdense lesions WMLs describes a vague general pattern that can be associated with a myriad of etiologies, some benign, some more concerning. Of course the significance of ...
Do fillings cause MS? | Neurology | 04-2009
Mercury amalgam is an inexpensive and effective way of filling teeth and has been in use for well over a century. It s known that fillings do emit mercury vapour. ...
Is chelation safe for chronic fatigue? | Hematology | 09-2008
You haven't indicated what kind of specialist your patient consulted. There's no medical condition that would need chelation therapy because of borderline high ferritin. The original unproven claim is that ...
Which meds preclude blood donation? | Hematology | 07-2008
The list is extensive -- because some may harm the recipient and others the donor. Before accepting a donation, Canadian Blood Services first asks the person a number of questions ...
How does Devic's disease differ from MS? | Neurology | 11-2007
Devic's disease, or neuromyelitis optica NMO , is often considered a variant of multiple sclerosis MS , but there are important differences. Patients with NMO present with optic neuritis and ...
Why prescribe vitamin D for MS? | Rheumatology | 10-2007
Many epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that MS is a condition that's most often confined to individuals living in northern latitudes, and as such, a relationship to sun exposure and vitamin ...
Non-megaloblastic macrocytosis | Hematology | 08-2006
There are many reasons for macrocytosis besides B12 or folate deficiency and liver disease. The most common in North America is chronic alcoholism -- e.g. the use of 40-60 g ...
Can lupus mimic MS? | Neurology | 07-2006
Most patients with SLE have neurologic involvement at some point in their illness. This may result as complications from drugs given to treat the disease, as well as from opportunistic ...
Why does alcoholism swell red blood cells? | Hematology | 02-2006
The mechanism by which alcoholism causes microcytosis, or high MCV, isn't known. Ethanol inhibits the action of some enzymes involved in folate metabolism amp amp 151 subjects on a diet ...
When to use gadolinium contrast for MRI | Imaging | 07-2005
In computed tomography CT , intravenous iodinated contrast is used to enhance the image with information on the vascularity and characteristics of organs and pathologic lesions. The iodine density blocks ...
Today's tinnitus treatments | ENT | 01-2004
Tinnitus, or the perception of noise in the absence of an acoustic stimulus, remains a perplexing problem, with few effective therapies. It's important to note that tinnitus is a symptom, ...
The word on burning mouth syndrome | ENT | 01-2004
Burning mouth syndrome is the complaint of a burning sensation in the mouth, generally on the tongue. The usual etiologies are vitamin deficiency and habitual, stress-induced rubbing of the tip ...
Investigations for suspected brainstem lesion | Neurology | 07-2003
Involvement of isolated cranial nerves and contralateral extremity symptoms usually points to a brainstem location for a neurologic lesion. There are a lot of possible causes of brainstem lesions, including ...
DDx for recurrent burning sensation in feet | Neurology | 04-2003
In patients presenting with predominantly sensory symptoms, the differential diagnosis is large, ranging from central nervous system lesions, peripheral neuropathy and infectious conditions such as Lyme disease, to underlying metabolic ...
Can hep B vaccine cause encephalitis? | Infection | 01-2003
I'm not aware of encephalitis following administration of hepatitis B vaccine. There have been reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome and demyelinating disorders not multiple sclerosis , but there's no firm causal ...
a possible first ms event: what's next? | Neurology | 11-2001
Deciding whether an MRI is necessary after a first neurologic event depends on what you clinically suspect is the etiology, if other imaging methods have provided an answer, and what ...
PROBING A CASE OF TWITCH AND BURN | Neurology | 02-2000
The most common cause of generalized muscle twitching in someone with an otherwise normal clinical examination is benign fasciculation syndrome. On the basis of your information, including a normal EMG ...
CAN ASPARTAME CAUSE MS? | Endocrinology | 12-1999
Aspartame is a food additive that's been tested almost as rigorously as a drug and seems to be safe -- it's been around now for about 20 years. Numerous well-done ...
CAN ASPARTAME CAUSE MS? | Neurology | 12-1999
Aspartame is a food additive that's been tested almost as rigorously as a drug and seems to be safe -- it's been around now for about 20 years. Numerous well-done ...
BELL'S PALSY: TESTS AND TREATMENTS | Neurology | 07-1997
It's reasonable to prescribe a short course of high-dose prednisone for Bell's palsy. Some studies have suggested a favourable result from using acyclovir for management, but its role as standard ...
PINNING DOWN THE DIZZY PATIENT | Neurology | 05-1997
The history and physical exam are usually all that are necessary when assessing most patients with vertigo. These will help sort out the common causes of vertigo including benign positional ...
CAUSES AND CURES FOR TWITCHING EYELID | Neurology | 02-1997
In most persons with myokymia, no cause is ever found. It may be a manifestation of a variety of brainstem lesions, including tumours and multiple sclerosis, and may be a ...
TWITCHING EYELID | Neurology | 01-1995
Twitching of the eyelid is most likely due to myokymia which is a clinical phenomenom characterized by a rippling or wavelike movements spreading across a muscle surface. The mechanism is ...
NEW DRUGS FOR MS? | Neurology | 07-1994
Over the last several years many immune-suppressive treatments have been tried to help control chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. In general, these studies have been negative or have shown only very ...
