AJNS
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PRESENCE OF A TREATMENT BY ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUGS IN 811 EPILEPTIC PATIENTS FROM SIX AFRICAN COUNTRIES

A few studies about treatment by anti-epileptic drugs (AED) in Africa are available. Furthermore, studies could not be compared because of the absence of standardization of the data collection phase. Treatment issues were assessed in 811 epileptic patients included in six studies performed in Africa using the same standardized Questionnaire for Investigation of Epilepsy in Tropical Countries, set up by the Limoges Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology and the Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences (3). A part of this Questionnaire is dedicated to the assessment of the treatment in a patient. The studies comprised of two prevalence studies in Benin (1) and Cameroon (unpublished observations), two case-control studies in Central African Republic (2) and Kenya (unpublished observations), and two hospital based studies in Egypt (unpublished data) and Mauritania (4). The statistical tests used were Pearson Chi-square, Fisher exact test, and Mann-Whitney test.

The mean age of the patients was 24 ± 13 years. 54 % were males. 30 % were born in the study area. 80 % had a professional activity; among them 50 % were farmers. A past history of epilepsy in the family was found in 25 % of the patients. The epilepsy was categorized as symptomatic in 60 % of the cases. 20 % of all the 811 patients were non treated by AED. This figure varies greatly among the studies, higher in rural areas and in community surveys : 70 % in Benin, 50 % in Central African republic, 20 % in Cameroun, 3 % in Kenya and Mauritania and 0.5 % in Egypt. 60 % of the cases were treated by AED only and 20 % were treated by AED and traditional treatment. 85 % of the AED treated cases were treated by one drug, mainly phenobarbitone. The regularity of AED treatment was good in 70 % of the cases. The principal reasons for irregularity were transient inavailability (50 %) and lack of money (35 %). The efficacy of the drugs was very good as judged by patients and their family. 20 % reported mild side effects from which 50 % of drowsiness.

The factors inflencing whether a patient was treated by AED or not, were as follows : high income (p<0.001), high level of education (p<0.001), living in an urban area (p<0.001), to have had a status epilepticus (p<0.001), an encephalitis (p<0.04) or a cranial trauma with loss of consciousness (p<0.05), lead to an higher probability of treatment. Certain professional activities, in particular being a farmer, are related to a decreased probability of AED treatment (p<0.001). Despite the fact that the studies had various designs and were performed in different areas, the power in the search of determining factors, is increased by the inclusion of a high number of patients using the same data collection tool. These results could help to understand the reasons of the huge treatment gap in epilepsy in Africa.

CAROTIDE INTERNE SUPRACAVERNEUSEARTERE CEREBRALE ANTERIEURE

RESUME

L’anastomose carotide-artère cérébrale antérieure est une variante rare de la partie antérieure du cercle artériel de la base du crâne. L’artère cérébrale antérieure naît de l’artère carotide interne supracaverneuse au même niveau que l’artère ophtalmique. Elle décrit un trajet infraoptique ipsilateral puis interoptique et préchiasmatique avant de donner deux artères péricalleuses droite et gauche. Cette variété anatomique est souvent associées à des anévrismes artériels et d’autres anomalies vasculaires. La découverte d’un cas et la revue de la littérature nous permettent d’évoquer quelques hypothèses embryologiques.

Mots clés : Artère cérébrale antérieure, Artère carotide interne, Nerf optique, Anévrismes artériels


ABSTRACT

Carotid-anterior cerebral artery anastomosis is a rare variety of the anterior part of skull base arterial circle. The anterior cerebral artery arises from the supracavernous internal carotid artery at the same level like the ophthalmic artery. It passes underneath the ipsilateral optic nerve, between optic nerves and ventrally to the chiasm, before giving rise to two pericallosal arteries right and left. This anatomic variety is often associated with aneurysms and other vascular anomalies. The discovery of a case and the review of the literature allow us to evoke some embryological hypotheses.

Mots clés : Anterior cerebral artery, Internal carotid artery, Optic nerve, Aneuryom

INTRODUCTION

Le trajet infraoptique de l’artère cérébrale antérieure ou anastomose carotide-artère cérébrale antérieure est une variété anatomique rare (2). Seulement 46 cas ont été rapportés dans la littérature (12) depuis sa première description faite par Robinson (15) en 1959.
Son origine embryologique est mal connue. Elle est considérée par certains (19) comme une anomalie de division de l’artère carotide interne supracaverneuse et par d’autres (10) comme une anastomose entre l’artère carotide interne et l’artère cérébrale antérieure. La fréquente association d’anévrismes artériels cérébraux à l’origine le plus souvent de sa découverte (4, 11, 12) doit la faire rechercher en cas d’hémorragie subarchnoïdienne. Nous rapportons un cas de cette variété anatomique découverte au cours d’un travail portant sur la microanatomie de l’artère péricalleuse.

MATERIEL ET METHODES

Vingt trois têtes humaines d’adultes ont été embaumées par une solution de formaldhyde à 10% et conservées dans une solution de peroxyde d’hydrogène à 10%. Après injection vasculaire au latex, 23 segments antérieurs du cercle artériel de la base ont été disséqués sous magnification optique (Microscope Zeiss OPMI 9FC) et photographiés (Nikon FE film Kodak etachrome 160T). Un trajet infraoptique d’une artère cérébrale antérieure droite a été observé.

RESULTATS

Sur les 23 segments artériels de la base du crâne, 22 de constitution habituelle ont été formés de 2 segments A1 d’artère cérébrale antérieure provenant de l’artère carotide interne supracaverneuse. Ces segments artériels, après avoir croisé latéralement le nerf optique ou le chiasma optique, convergeaient au dessus de celui-ci pour être unis par une artère communicante antérieure. De là naissaient les segments A2 ou segments initiaux des artères péricalleuses (fig. 1). Sur une pièce, le segment antérieur du cercle artériel de la base du crâne avait une constitution particulière. A gauche, une artère cérébrale moyenne continuait la direction de l’artère carotide interne supracaverneuse avec agénésie de l’artère cérébrale antérieure.

A droite, le segment A1 de l’artère cérébrale antérieure (A1) décrit un trajet infra puis interoptique avant de donner, au dessus du chiasma optique (Ch), deux artères péricalleuses (Ap) droite et gauche. Artère cérébrale moyenne (Acm) et ses perforantes (P). A gauche, on note une agénésie de l’artère cérébrale antérieure, et l’artère cérébrale moyenne (Acm) poursuit le trajet de l’artère carotide interne supracaverneuse (Aci). Nerf optique (No); Tractus optique (To); Nerf oculomoteur (III); Tige pituitaire (Tp); Hypophyse (H); Lame terminale (Lt).

DISCUSSION

La parfaite connaissance anatomique des variantes du segment antérieur du cercle artériel de la base du crâne est indispensable au traitement endovasculaire ou neurochirurgical des anévrismes artériels développés à ses dépens.
Si habituellement, l’artère cérébrale antérieure croise les faces latérale et supérieure du chiasma optique (70%) ou des nerfs optiques (30%) (14), il existe cependant de rares cas de trajet infraoptique. Depuis sa première description faite par Robinson en 1959 (15), seuls 46 cas ont été rapportés dans la littérature. Ils ont été de découverte autopsique, radiologique et / ou opératoire (11, 12). Par la suite, la nomination de cette variété anatomique a été sujet à controverses. Trois différentes dénominations ont été utilisées :

• trajet infraoptique de l’artère cérébrale antérieure (2),

• branche anormale de l’artère carotide interne supracaverneuse (8, 19),

• anastomose carotide interne-artère cérébrale antérieure (9, 10).

Le terme d’artère cérébrale antérieure anormale ou de trajet infraoptique de l’artère cérébrale antérieure ne paraît pas justifié. En effet, cette artère s’associe dans certains cas à un segment A1 d’artère cérébrale antérieure en position normale latéro-optique hypoplasique (10, 16) ou de calibre normal (9, 16). Dans tous les cas décrits, le segment infraoptique apparaît de bon calibre et prend en charge le territoire de l’artère cérébrale antérieure, parfois par le biais d’un tronc péricalleux (5, 11, 19). En outre l’artère communicante postérieure ou l’artère choroïdienne antérieure proviennent dans certains cas de l’artère correspondant à l’artère cérébrale moyenne (9, 10, 15) faisant considérer celle-ci comme un prolongement de l’artère carotide interne. Le terme d’anastomose carotide-artère cérébrale antérieure paraît plus approprié comme l’ont proposé Nutik et Dilenge ( 10) et comme l’ont adopté la plupart des auteurs (4, 11).

L’origine embryologique de cette variété anatomique selon Robinson (15) serait en rapport avec la persistance de la boucle artérielle anastomotique autour du nerf optique. Cette anastomose se fait entre les artères ophtalmiques dorsale et ventrale primitives qui sont temporairement importantes chez l’embryon mais qui disparaissent après la formation de l’artère ophtalmique définitive. La découverte chez un fœtus de 21 semaines de cette boucle artérielle anastomotique autour du nerf optique droit illustre parfaitement cette hypothèse (9).
Selon Isherwood et Dutton (8), elle serait due à la persistance d’une variante de l’anastomose artérielle préchiasmatique alimentée essentiellement par la branche préchiasmatique de l’artère ophtalmique, la branche hypophysaire supérieure de l’artère carotide interne, et par les branches chiasmatiques de l’artère cérébrale antérieure. Cette anastomose avec agénésie du segment A1 d’artère cérébrale antérieure en position latéro-optique, explique le cas présenté.

La théorie de persistance de l’artère maxillaire primitive prônée par Bosma (2) semble fausse. En effet, cette artère, branche de l’artère carotide interne destinée à la vésicule optique et au prosencéphale avant le stade 5-6 mm de Padget (13), est située caudalement par rapport à l’artère ophtalmique dorsale primitive de laquelle naît l’artère ophtalmique définitive (13, 16). En outre chez l’adulte, l’artère maxillaire primitive persiste sous la forme de petites branches artérielles intracaverneuses destinées à l’infundibulum (13).

Le trajet infraoptique de cette artère peut être unilatéral (10, 11) comme dans le cas présenté, ou bilatéral (1). Il peut s’associer à un segment A1 d’artère cérébrale antérieure réalisant une boucle artérielle autour d’un ou des deux nerfs optiques (9).

La fréquence des localisations unilatérales est plus élevée que celle des bilatérales, et celles des topographies droites que des gauches, sans que l’on puisse en donner une explication formelle (8).

Cette variété anatomique est le plus souvent associée à un ou plusieurs anévrismes artériels pouvant siéger au niveau de l’artère communicante antérieure (10, 16, 19), à l’origine de l’artère péricalleuse (6), dans la région carotido-ophtalmique (5), au niveau de la bifurcation carotidienne ou au niveau de l’artère cérébrale moyenne (7). Seule leur localisation sur la carotide interne ou la communicante antérieure peut être éventuellement rapportés indirectement à cette anomalie, par les perturbations hémodynamiques crées (5, 17).

L’association de diverses anomalies vasculaires cérébrales a pu faire suggérer la notion de facteurs génétiques associés (3). Ces anomalies sont diverses : artère ophtalmique naissant de l’artère méningée moyenne (10, 15) ou de l’artère cérébrale moyenne (2) ; agénésie carotidienne controlatérale (20) ; artère hypoglosse (19); fenestration de l’artère vertébrale, duplication des artères cérébelleuses supérieures, artère occipitale naissant du segment horizontal intrapétreux de l’artère carotide interne (18).

Figure 1 : Vue subfrontale / Subfrontal view #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

ACCURACY OF THE SIRIRAJ STROKE SCORE IN DIFFERENTIATING CEREBRAL HAEMORRAGHE AND INFARCTION IN AFRICAN NIGERIANS

ABSTRACT

Background

Scoring systems based on discriminant analysis technique and multivariate logistic regression have been developed to distinguish cerebral haemorrhage (CH) from cerebral infarction (CI). This distinction is necessary in the acute management of stroke patients.

Objectif

The Siriraj stroke score (SSS) was evaluated in Siriraj hospital, Bangkok, and the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, and needs to be validated in an African setting.

Methodology

The computerised tomography (CT) brain scans of all patients referred with clinical diagnosis of stroke at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and RADMED diagnostic centre, Lagos were retrieved and reviewed as well as the case notes of the patients at the referral hospitals. The SSS was computed and the stroke subtype classified. This was compared with the CTscan diagnosis using the latter as the gold standard. Data analysis was performed with Epi-info software and by standard statistical methods.

Results

Ninety-six patients had complete clinical records and CT scan features consistent with stroke. Of these, 52 had cerebral infarction (CI) and 44 had cerebral haemorrhage (CH). SSS had sensitivity of 50% for CH and 58% for CI with an accuracy of 54.2%.

Conclusion

In this study, the SSS was not sufficiently sensitive to differentiate between CH and CI in Africans. A prospective study with larger sample size and modification of the discriminant variables is suggested. For now, while efforts must continue to find a simple clinical scoring system to differentiate between CH and CI, we contend that CTscan should remain the investigative technique of choice and should be made affordable and available.

Keywords: Africa, cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral infarction, Nigeria, stroke, CT-scan


RESUME

Introduction

Dans le but d’agir avec efficacité dans la prise en charge thérapeutique des accidents vasculaires cérébraux un score discriminant à l’aide de variables multiples a été élaboré afin de distinguer les accidents vasculaires hémorragiques (AVCH) des accidents vasculaires ischémiques (AVCI).

Objective

Le Siriraj stroke score (SSS) a été évalué au Siriraj hospital, Bangkok et au Western infirmary, Glasgow. Il importait de le valider dans le cadre africain.

Méthodologie

Les dossiers des malades hospitalisés au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d’Ibadan et au centre diagnostic RADMED à Lagos ont été étudiés rétrospectvement de même que les CT-scan. Les données scannographiques ont été comparées au SSS. Les informations ont été analysées grâce au logiciel Epi-info et à l’aide de différentes méthodes stastistiques.

Résultats

96 patitents ont été retenus. 52 malades avaient un infarcissement cérébral et 44 une hémorragie cérébrale. Le SSS avait une sensiblité de 50% pour les AVC hémorragiques et 58% pour les AVCI avec une spécificité de 54,2%.

Conclusion

Cette étude permet de conclure en l’absence de spécificité du SSS dans la distinction des AVCH et AVCI chez les Africains. Une étude prospective est préconisée en modifiant certaines variables. Actuellement le CT-scan reste la technique de choix pour différencier les AVCI des AVCH.

Mots clés : Accident vasculaire cérébral hemorragique, Accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique, A frique , Nigeria, tomodensitométrie

INTRODUCTION

Stroke is a common neurological problem accounting for a third of all deaths in western countries [25] and about 4.5% to 17% of all deaths [2,14] and 2.3% to 8.7% of all admissions [14,16] in hospital based studies in Nigeria. The majority of acute stroke is caused by cerebral infarction [12,16], although, there was a suggestion of an increase in the proportion of haemorrhagic stroke in our population [15].

Accurate and prompt clinical diagnosis is crucial in patients presenting with sudden onset focal neurological deficits. Hence it is important for clinicians to be able to distinguish between cerebral haemorrhage (CH) and cerebral infarction (CI) in cases of acute stroke, since clinical management of the two disorders differs substantially [5]. The diagnosis of stroke is largely clinical in most developing countries as very few centres have facilities for brain imaging. The clinical accuracy of distinction of stroke from non-stroke has a sensitivity of up to 95% (5,18] and specificity between 66 to 97% (9,10). However, this accuracy drops significantly when stroke subtypes have to be distinguished, with sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 67% [4,11,23].

Despite its limitations, Computerised Tomography (CT) scan has greatly improved the accuracy and precision of the diagnosis of stroke and its subtypes [9,14]. It has been recommended for all patients with clinical features of stroke because all subsequent therapeutic decisions depend on its result [1,23]. However, CTis not readily available in most centres in sub-Saharan Africa, where distance and cost limit access. Hence, most patients with stroke are treated without the benefit of a CT scan and they risk being inappropriately treated. Scoring systems based on discriminant analysis technique have been developed, such as the Guy’s hospital score [3] (also known as the Allen score) and the Siriraj Stroke Score (SSS) [17]. Clinical scores were also designed by multivariate logistic regression (6). These are simple, cheap and practical means of distinguishing CH from CI but are not sufficiently sensitive to replace CT scan. The scores were each developed on one group of patients in a single location and therefore need to be validated in as many other patient groups as possible. The Guy’s hospital score has been evaluated with data from the Oxfordshire community stroke project (OCSP) [10] and at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London [19]. The Siriraj stroke score has been evaluated [17] in Siriraj hospital, Bangkok, Thailand and also at the Western infirmary, Glasgow [24]. The clinical score by Besson was also validated in the University Hospital of Grenoble, France [6]. None of them has been evaluated in an African population to the best of our knowledge.

This study aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of Siriraj scoring system in distinguishing between CH and CI in stroke patients confirmed by CT scan.

METHODOLOGY

Records of computerised tomography (CT) of the brain done between 1991 – 1999 at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and RADMED diagnostic centre, Lagos were reviewed. The CT brain scans of all patients referred with clinical diagnosis of stroke were retrieved and reviewed by two of the authors (A.O.,B.F). The case notes of these patients at the referral hospitals were also retrieved and reviewed by the neurologists (S.O.,O.O.,F.O) in the team. A questionnaire was designed to extract relevant clinical data from the case records.

The questionnaire recorded the age, sex, date of admission and discharge from hospital, presence of headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, the level of blood pressure, history of hypertension, transient ischaemic attacks, diabetes mellitus, obesity, angina pectoris, intermittent claudication, haemoglobinopathy, atrial fibrillation and cholesterol level. The stroke type and anatomic localisation were also recorded. Some patients were comatose on admission and the history was obtained from relations. Only patients with adequate clinical notes were included in the study.

The Siriraj stroke score was calculated as (2.5 x level of consciousness) + (2 x vomiting) + (2 x headache) + (0.1 x diastolic blood pressure) – (3 x atheroma markers) – 12. A score above +1 indicates intracerebral haemorrhage, while a score below -1 indicates infarction. A score between -1 and +1 represents an equivocal result needing a CT scan to verify the diagnosis. (Appendix 1)

The SSS was computed for each patient, and based on the individual score, the patients were classified into CH or CI using the criteria > +1 for CH and < -1 for CI [17]. Patients with scores between +1 and -1 were unclassified. The classification of the stroke subtypes using SSS was compared with the CTscan diagnosis, which was taken as the gold standard. The CT of the brain was done with G.E. CT. MAX 640 in Lagos and G.E. 9000 in Ibadan, using 5mm slices at 5mm intervals at the base of the skull and 10mm slices at 10mm intervals for the rest of the brain. Contrast enhancement was performed only in patients with atypical hypodense lesions. The interval between the time of the culpable ictus and the CT scan was recorded and ranged from 5 to 15 days with a mean of 10 ± 0.6 days. Data analysis for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, frequency distribution, histogram, receiver-operating characteristic curve and cut-off determination of the scores were performed with the Epi-info software and by standard statistical methods [20]. RESULTS

The brain CT scans of 182 patients referred with clinical diagnosis of stroke were reviewed, 93 from University College Hospital (UCH) and 89 from Radmed. Of these, only 96 patients (53%) had complete clinical records and CT scan features consistent with the diagnosis of stroke, and these formed the subjects of this study. Of the remaining 86 patients, 59 (32%) had non-stroke lesions and 21 (12%) had incomplete clinical records. The case notes of six (3%) of the patients could not be retrieved at the referral centre.

Of the 96 patients with stroke and complete clinical records, 67 were males and 29 were females. The male: female ratio was 2.4:1. The age of the patients ranged from 51 to 69 years with a mean of 60 ± 4.3 years. Eleven patients (12%) were comatose on presentation and history from the relations was relied upon. Fifty-two patients (54.2%) had CT scan features of CI, whilst 44 patients (45.8%) had features consistent with the diagnosis of CH. Using the Siriraj Stroke Score, 88 patients (91.7%) were classified, 48 (50%) as CI and 40 (41.7%) as CH. Eight patients (8.3%) had indeterminate scores.
Of the 52 patients with CT scan diagnosis of CI, 30 (58%) were correctly classified as cerebral infarction and 18 (35%) as cerebral haemorrhage using the SSS (table I). Four patients could not be classified. Of the 44 patients with CT scan features of CH, 22 (50%) were correctly classified as cerebral haemorrhage and 18 (41%) as cerebral infarction using the SSS. Classification was uncertain in 4 patients (Table I). Thus, SSS had sensitivity of 50% for CH and 58% for CI with an accuracy of 54.2%.

The frequency distribution of the scores of the patients grouped according to CTdiagnosis is shown in figure 1. The scores for patients with CTconfirmed CH ranged from -3.0 to +10.0, with a mode of +3.0, median of +0.5 and a mean of + 0.8 ± 2.3. For CTconfirmed CI, the range of the scores was from -6.0 to +4.0, with a mode of -3.0, median of -1.0 and a mean of -0.9 ± 2.6. Table II shows the frequency distribution, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of each score for patients with Ctdiagnosis of CH, whilst Table III shows those for patients with CI. The best separation or highest accuracy was 63.6% for CH and 59.6% for CI and these occurred at scores of +3 and -3 respectively. At this cut-off, the specificity was 90.9% and 82.7% for CH and CI respectively but the corresponding sensitivity dropped to 36.0% and 36.4% respectively. However, at this cut-off scores, 25 (27.6%) of the 96 patients could not be classified compared to eight (8.3%) with the standard cut-off of -1 and +1. Thus, no optimal sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were achieved in this study. The Receiver-operating characteristic curve also showed no optimal cut-off (figure 2).
Analysis of the ability of the clinical variables to discriminate between patients with CTdiagnosis of CH and CI showed that only loss of consciousness and diastolic blood pressure above 100 mmHg, achieved statistical significant levels of p = 0.0003 and 0.005 respectively (Table IV). Presence of headache, vomiting or one or more atheroma markers did not achieve statistical significance in distinguishing between the two strokesubtypes.

DISCUSSION

The Siriraj Stroke Score (SSS) had a sensitivity of 50% for cerebral haemorrhage (CH), and 58% for cerebral infarction (CI), with accuracy of 54.2% in this study. This is lower than the sensitivity of 89% for CH and 93% for CI, with accuracy of 90% reported in Bangkok, Thailand [17].It is possible that the SSS may not be sufficiently sensitive to differentiate between CH and CI in non-Asian population since our findings are comparable to the study by Weir and his co-workers [24], who showed an overall accuracy of 64% for the SSS. They had suggested its limited use in differentiating between CH and CI in populations other than those in Asia, and our findings appear to confirm this.

The predictive value of any diagnostic score depends greatly on the prevalence of the disease in the area of study, and scoring systems may not be applicable transculturally [17]. In Thailand, there is a preponderance of haemorrhagic stroke while in the Nigerian stroke population cerebral infarction is commoner [16]. Cerebral haemorrhage accounts for 40 – 50% of strokes in Thailand [22], 19% in Nigeria [16], 10 – 15% in Europe [6], and 20% in America [7]. Siriraj Stroke Score appears to have high predictive values in populations with preponderance of haemorrhagic stroke as in Asia, and low predictive values in populations with preponderance of cerebral infarction as in Africa, Europe and America. We were surprised that the predictive values amongst Nigerians were low despite the recent suggestion of an increasing proportion of haemorrhagic stroke in our population [15]. Our findings do not support the view of Celami et al. that the use of SSS is probably better in detecting infarction than haemorrhage, and supposedly should be applicable to Africans [8].

In this study, SSS was not sufficiently sensitive to differentiate between CI and CH using the acceptable discriminant clinical variables and the cut-off values. The questionable validity of accurate history in a retrospective study could be contributory, as 12% of the patients were comatose on presentation and reliance was placed upon history from relatives. History of headache at the time of ictus, past history of intermittent claudication or angina pectoris may not be obtained in such circumstances. The low occurrence of atheroma markers such as intermittent claudication or angina pectoris in this population could be additional factors [16]. Furthermore, the discriminant value of headache in distinguishing between haemorrhage and infarction was low in this study (table IV) in contrast to the findings of Besson et al. [6]. However, loss of consciousness and diastolic blood pressure above 100, had high discriminant value in accordance with their findings.

The best separation or highest accuracy in this study was 63.6% for CH and 59.6% for CI at scores of +3 and -3 respectively. Our study showed that with increasing accuracy and specificity, the diagnostic sensitivity dropped significantly and as many as 27.6% of the patients were unclassified at the cutoffs that gave the best separation accuracy. Although, this proportion is comparable to the proportion of unclassified patients in the original validation study in which 20% of their patients were unclassified [17].

The Allen score was validated and found to have an overall predictive accuracy of 78% in Oxford [10] and 82% in London [19]. This was however not used for this retrospective study because it requires several historical and clinical details, and cannot be used until 24 hours after the stroke. Also, the clinical scores by Besson [6] had an empirical positive predictive value approaching 100%, but involve more clinical variables than the SSS. The SSS is easier to determine and can be used immediately after stroke. The overall predictive accuracy (64%) of Allen scores and the SSS was similar amongst Caucasians [3], therefore, the choice of either should depend on ease of use or other considerations. The SSS was chosen because it involves fewer variables with the greater possibility of having more complete data to calculate the score in this retrospective study. Moreover, it would be easier to apply in a busy, less well-equipped clinical setting, as is prevalent in developing countries of Africa.Although, this study has not supported the use of the SSS in our stroke patients using the discriminant clinical variables and the cut-off, it is unlikely that CT scan would be widely available and easily accessible to all stroke patients in sub-Saharan Africa in the near future.

Therefore, the search must continue for a simple clinical scoring system to differentiate between CH and CI. A prospective study with larger sample size is suggested. Such a study may be able to determine a more accurate cut-off point. Modification of the discriminant clinical variables to exclude variables with low discriminant value and include variables with higher discriminant value in the African population should be considered. Until result of such a study is available, we contend that CTscan should remain the only reliable investigation for distinguishing between CH and CI among African Nigerians and it should be made available and affordable.

TABLE 1 : SSS CLASSIFICATION INTO STROKE SUBTYPES IN PATIENTS WITH CT CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF STROKE CT DIAGNOSIS

SSS classification Cerebral haemorrhage (n = 44) Cerebral infarction (n = 52) Total
>+1 (haemorrhage) 22 18 40
<-1 (infarction) 18 30 48
> -1 < +1 (Uncertain) 4 4 8
Total 44 52 96

sensitivity for cerebral haemorrhage (CH) = 50%
specificity for CH = 62.5%
positive predictive value for CH = 55%
negative predictive value for CH = 62.5%
sensitivity for cerebral infarction (CI) = 58%
specificity for CI = 55%
positive predictive value for CI = 62.5%
negative predictive value for CI = 55%
overall accuracy = 54.2%

TABLE 2 : SENSITIVITY, SPECIFICITY, ACCURACY AND FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF SCORES IN PATIENTS WITH CT DIAGNOSIS OF CEREBRAL HAEMORRHAGE

SSS Frequency Sensitivity (%) Specificity (%) Accuracy(%)
+5 2 4.8 100.0 50.0
+4 2 9.1 95.5 52.3
+3 12 36.0 90.9 63.6
+2 4 45.5 63.6 54.5
+1 2 50.0 54.5 54.2
0 4 59.1 50.0 45.5
-1 10 81.8 40.9 29.5
-2 6 95.5 18.1 3.4
-3 2 100.0 4.5 2.3
< -4 0 0.0 0.0 0.0

TABLE 3 : SENSITIVITY, SPECIFICITY, ACCURACY AND FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF SCORES IN PATIENTS WITH CT DIAGNOSIS OF CEREBRAL INFARCTION

SSS Frequency Sensitivity (%) Specificity (%) Accuracy (%)
-5 2 3.8 100.0 3.8
-4 7 17.3 96.2 56.7
-3 10 36.5 82.7 59.6
-2 6 48.1 63.5 55.7
-1 5 58.0 51.9 54.2
0 4 65.4 42.3 38.5
+1 8 80.8 34.6 27.0
+2 4 88.5 19.2 15.3
+3 2 92.3 11.5 9.6
> +4 4 100.0 7.7 4.0

TABLE 4 : DISCRIMINANT VALUE OF CLINICAL VARIABLES IN THE CT SCAN CONFIRMED CEREBRAL HAEMORRHAGE AND INFARCTION

SSS clinical Variables Cerebral haemorrhage [n = 44 (%)] Cerebral infarction [n = 52 (%)] P value
Headache
Yes 24 (54.5) 21 (40.0) 0.16 (NS)
No 20 (45.5) 31 (60.0)
Vomiting
Yes 7 (16.0) 9 (17.3) 0.92 (NS)
No 37 (84.0) 43 (82.6)
Loss of consciousness
Yes 28 (64.0) 14 (27.0) 0.0003(S)
No 16 (36.0) 38 (73.0)
Atheroma markers
Yes (>= 1) 1 (2.3) 4 (7.7) 0.37 (NS)
No 43 (97.7) 48 (92.3)
D.B.P. > 100
Yes 35 (79.5) 26 (50.0) 0.005 (S)
No 9 (20.5) 26 (50.0)
Figure 1: Histogram of the frequency distribution of scores for patients with CT diagnosis of cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage

Figure 1: Histogram of the frequency distribution of scores for patients with CT diagnosis of cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage

Figure 2 : receiver - operating characteristic curve

Figure 2 : receiver – operating characteristic curve

SPOTLIGHT ON MARRAKESH IN 2005

As you may know, Marrakesh has got the privilege to site the 13th World Congress of Neurosurgery in the year 2005. The decision was taken by the WFNS Executive Committee, in its interim meeting in San Francisco on April 9, 2000. This is the first time since 1957 that this congress is to be held in an African and Arab state. With such a choice, the WFNS demonstrate their real character of a WORLD organisation and their increasing concern with the improvement of neurosurgery in developing countries.

The vote of the WFNS Executive Committee in favour of Marrakesh is the outcome of a 7 year sustained campaign led by the Moroccan Society of Neurosurgery. It was motivated by the necessity to hold this congress in Africa and by Marrakesh’s special assets of organisation and welcome. Our eagerness to promote Marrakesh was spontaneously supported by the Pan Arab Society of Neurosurgery and the PAANS (Pan African Associations of Neurosurgical Sciences). However, it took many years to most neurosurgeons world-wide to unite around Marrakesh.

If this choice rewards the sustained belief of the Moroccan Society of Neurosurgery to have the WFNS meet in Africa, it confirms as well the recognition of the international neurosurgical community of the role played by neurosurgeons of Arab and African states during the last years.

Marrakesh will be over the next 5 years, the focus of progress and new techniques recently developed in neurosurgery. Already prestigious for its past and culture, Marrakesh will establish its scientific feature with this meeting which will bring together thousands of neurosurgeons from all continents, and companies who will exhibit their material and demonstrate their new equipment. So this event could achieve absolute effectiveness, Arab and African neurosurgeons should take action in a number of specific areas :

  • in education by encouraging local training of young neurosurgeons to achieve a prompt self-sufficiency as far as neurosurgeons are concerned. In this way, by 2005 we could have a large involvement from African and Arab countries , especially that a lot of facilities have been considered for young neurosurgeons.
  • in the field of scientific publication, efforts should be doubled. Indeed, we are looking forward to more research papers and articles to be presented and published. This will raise Arab and African Scientific participation in the 2005 Congress to an outstanding level.
  • in the field of organisation: it has become important to create neurosurgical societies in countries with a sufficient number of neurosurgeons and to speed their adhesion to the WFNS. It is equally an opportune time for the PAANS, which now number more than 600 neurosurgeons and 6 national societies of neurosurgery, to develop into a continental association of neurosurgeons and continue to work jointly with other neuroscience organisations.

All these factors will ensure an effective participation of Arab and African neurosurgeons in the organisation of the 2005 congress.

On behalf of the Moroccan Society of Neurosurgery, I would like to thank all those who have devoted a great deal of their time to the promotion of the Marrakesh candidature handling it from the beginning with extreme seriousness and those who have been following with great concern the stages of the candidature and who have supported it in international meetings. Without the help of all these people, Marrakesh could not have reached its present position.

I am sincerely grateful to the president of the WFNS Dr. Majid Samii, to the officers and the members of the WFNS Executive Committee and to all national and continental societies of neurosurgery for their trust in Marrakesh. My special thanks go to them for having created opportunity for Arab and African neurosurgeons to prove their skills, and knowledge.

We are looking forward to having you all and we assure you that the Moroccan Society of Neurosurgery and their partners, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohamed VI will not spare their efforts to make this congress take place in excellent conditions and that it will long be remembered.

Professor Abdeslam EL KHAMLICHI

President of the 13thWorld Congress
of Neurological Surgery

AFRICAN DECLARATION ON EPILEPSY (en)

Under the aegis of the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy of the World Health Organization (WHO), International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) and International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), a meeting Epilepsy :
A Healthcare priority in Africa was held in Dakar, Senegal, Africa on 5 and 6 May 2000. Professionals from Health and Social Sciences sectors and representatives from universities coming from every African Region unanimously agreed to the following Declaration :

CONSIDERING THAT :

  • epilepsy is the most common serious chronic brain disorder, estimated to affect at least 50 million people in the world of which 10 million live in Africa alone, irrespective of race, religion, sex, age or socio-economic groups,
  • epilepsy is not an infectious disease and seizures are not contagious,
  • all people with epilepsy can be effectively and inexpensively treated,
  • of people with epilepsy in Africa have no access to healthcare provisions and are not appropriately treated,
  • general information about epilepsy, trained expertise, diagnostic facilities, antiepileptic drugs and surgery are not available to – or affordable by the majority of people with epilepsy, for geographic, financial or cultural reasons,
  • beliefs in supernatural causes and traditional treatment of epilepsy in Africa contribute to the under-utilization of the medical health services, to discrimination and social isolation,
  • because of these factors, disability and mortality are greater in Africa than elsewhere,
  • epilepsy has serious physical, psychological and social consequences for the afflicted and their families,
  • the impact of epilepsy is most severe in children and adolescents,
  • in Africa preventable causes of epilepsy are more frequent than elsewhere, including infectious diseases, head trauma, insufficient perinatal care and consanguinity,
  • epilepsy does not receive adequate attention in existing national health plans,

WE PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING :

Epilepsy is a healthcare priority in Africa requiring every government to develop a national plan to:

  • address the needs with respect to epilepsy in terms of access to trained personnel, modern diagnostic equipment, antiepileptic medication and surgical treatment, information communication, prevention and social integration,
  • educate and train health care and other relevant professionals about epilepsy,
  • educate those affected by epilepsy and the general public about epilepsy as a universal neurological, non-communicable and treatable condition,
  • eliminate discrimination in all spheres of life, particularly at school and the work place,
  • encourage incorporation of prevention and treatment of epilepsy in national plans for other relevant healthcare issues such as maternal and child health, mental health, infections, head trauma, neurovascular diseases and community based rehabilitation programs,
  • encourage the public and private sectors and NGO’s to get involved in the local activities of the Global Campaign against Epilepsy,
  • promote interaction with traditional health systems,
  • encourage basic and applied research on epilepsy,
  • proclaim a National Epilepsy Day,
  • encourage regional and continental co -operation.

DAKAR, 6th Mai 2000

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