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Background Increased body mass index (BMI) has been associated with increased risk of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), but the relationship of BMI to visual outcomes in IIH is unclear. Methods A retrospective chart review of all adult cases of IIH satisfying the modified Dandy criteria seen at our institution between 1989 and 2010 was performed. Demographics, diagnostic evaluations, baseline visit and last follow-up examination data, treatment and visual outcome data were collected in a standardized fashion. Groups were compared and logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship of BMI to severe visual loss, evaluating for interaction and controlling for potential confounders. Results Among 414 consecutive IIH patients, 158 had BMI≥40 (WHO Obese Class III), and 172 had BMI 30–39.9. Patients with BMI≥40 were more likely to have severe papilledema at first neuro-ophthalmology encounter than those with a lower BMI (p=0.02). There was a trend toward more severe visual loss in one or both eyes at last follow up among those patients with BMI≥40 (18 vs. 11%, p=0.067). Logistic regression modelling found that ten unit (kg/m2) increases in BMI increased the odds of severe visual loss by 1.4 times (95%CI: 1.03–1.91, p=0.03), after controlling for sex, race, diagnosed hypertension, and diagnosed sleep apnea. Conclusion Our finding of a trend for severe papilledema and visual loss associated with increasing BMI suggests that very obese IIH patients should be closely monitored for progression of visual field loss.

Purpose: Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) was originally defined as tremor, ataxia, cognitive decline, and parkinsonism in individuals who carry between 55 and 200 CGG repeats in the promoter region of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. This paper describes a series of patients who meet the definition of FXTAS who presented for care between 2009 and 2014.Methods/Results: Retrospective chart review of patients seen in the FXTAS clinic at Rush University in Chicago.Conclusions: Patients with FXTAS may present with a progressive supranuclear palsy-like phenotype and other eye movement abnormalities are common in these patients as well. Rapid worsening of gait abnormalities in FXTAS may be due to a secondary spinal issue and should be aggressively treated to regain function. Finally, the FXTAS Rating Scale score does not reliably inform the certainty of diagnosis or CGG repeat size in these patients.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is known to cause hypoxemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a significant portion of those with severe disease. Survivors of critical illness and ARDS often experience neurocognitive impairment but, to date, there is scant literature correlating radiographic hypoxic brain injury to hypoxemia related to ARDS. In this case series, we describe three cases of hypoxic brain injury seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with hypoxemia secondary to COVID-19-related ARDS. The lack of severe observed hypoxemia in two of the cases suggests that unrecognized or asymptomatic hypoxemia may play a role in hypoxic brain injury related to COVID-19.