Treatment with modafinil significantly improves fatigue and sleepiness and is well tolerated by patients with MS. Unlike the higher dose regimen required in narcolepsy, a low-dose regimen of modafinil is effective in MS.

Our data suggest that rebound of MS disease activity affects a subgroup of patients (11.9%), especially those with low disease activity before natalizumab therapy and a longer treatment gap after its withdrawal.

No abstract

In addition to anamnestic and clinical data electrophysiological and pharmacokinetic investigations may be necessary for the diagnosis of stiff man syndrome. Continuous activity of motor units with superimposed bursts during muscular spasms was found by electromyography in the two patients reported. Rigidity and continuous activity disappears during sleep, after i.v. application of Tubocurarine and Diazepam, during Thiopenal anesthesia and after neural block with Procaine. Dipropylacetate and Baclofen improved the condition but did not lead to complete relaxation. Biperidenlactat and Magnesiumlaevulinat have only a temporary effect on rigidity. Neostigmine, Phenytoine, Glycine, Dopa and 5-Hydroxy-Tryptophan had no effect. Passive shortening or stretching of the m. biceps brachii as well as touching the skin increased motor activity which spread to other segments and to the contralateral side. The H/M ratio was increased but the silent period was normal. A combination of Diazepam and Dipropylacetate or Clonazepam was therapeutically effective in the cases reported. A central genesis, of the pathogenetic mechanisms discussed, is the most probable in our cases.

Neurotoxicity is a well-recognized and commonly observed side effect associated with the use of vincristine sulfate in cancer chemotherapy. The clinical manifestations of vincristine neuropathy cover a wide spectrum of peripheral neurologic dysfunctions that have been described to be reversible and cumulative in most instances (1, 2). Paresthesias, loss of tendon reflexes, and progressive weakness are the most common clinical features (3, 4). Sensory impairment, cranial nerve palsies, gastrointestinal disturbances, and autonomic dysfunctions including atonic bladder, impotence, and orthostatic hypotension may occur (5). Acute CNS complications, usually presenting as generalized seizures, are extremely rare and only a few cases have been reported which were without underlying biochemical or structural abnormalities (1, 5-9). We describe the case of a woman with multiple myeloma, who developed fulminant encephalopathy following 4 days of continuous vincristine, adriamycin, and day 1-4 pulse dexamethasone (VAD) combination therapy.