Lumbar disc surgery was performed in fifty consecutive patients and variation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complement C 3 d, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before and after surgery were recorded. Preoperative values were within normal limits in all patients. Postoperatively, CRP increased immediately, with a maximum of 28.5 mg/l on the 2nd day and were normalized within 6 days. The maximum ESR elevation occurred after the 6th day and was followed by a slow decrease. After 12 weeks some patients still had an elevated ESR. Plasma C 3 varied pari passu with the ESR. Uncomplicated recovery after lumbar disc surgery seems to be indicated by a normalization of CRP, regardless of ESR values. Therefore, ESR may not be so useful as an indicator of disc space inflammation as previously accepted.

No abstract

In a family of 14 brothers and sisters, 3 cases of occlusive disease of the large intracranial vessels (Moya Moya) were found. Each of the three had one or more cerebrovascular attacks and a typical cerebral angiogram. Eight other members of the family had severe headaches. Angiography was carried out in three of these with normal findings.

✓ The authors report a case in which an arteriovenous aneurysm located partly extracranially and partly in the posterior cranial fossa disappeared within 15 months without bleeding episodes or surgical intervention. The patient's clinical symptoms, headache, and cranial bruit, disappeared completely over the same period.

No abstract