Neurology has come a long way in the past two decades. Treatments have advanced and many new drugs have been discovered. There are good treatment options for stroke, epilepsy, migraine, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, to name a few. This presentation gives a snapshot of these.

1. EXCITING RECENT ADVANCES
IN NEUROLOGY
DR SUDHIR KUMAR MD DM
CONSULTANT NEUROLOGIST
APOLLO HOSPITALS, HYDERABAD

2.  Cerebroprotein hydrolysate is a neurotrophic drug,
which helps in nerve repair and regeneration,
 Given as IV/IM injection for 10-20 days,
 Useful in ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury,
Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia,
 Post-treatment, memory and other higher cognitive
functions improve.
CEREBROPROTEINS

3.  TENECTEPLASE
 20 years after the launch of ALTEPLASE, we have a new
drug
 Similar efficacy and safety, longer acting
 Higher fibrin specificity
 Lower cost
 Bolus dose
 Tenecteplase offers greater recanalization in cases with
complete vessel occlusion.
NEW DRUG FOR STROKE
THROMBOLYSIS

4.  SMA is a genetic disease, resulting in severe motor
disability and death in most children.
 NUSINERSEN, a novel antisense oligonucleotide- was
approved in Dec 2016 for treating SMA.
 Results in improvement in motor functions in children
of all age groups and improves survival.
A NEW HOPE FOR SPINAL
MUSCULAR ATROPHY

5.  SAFINAMIDE: First new drug in 10 years to get
approval in treating PD,
 Maximum trial patients recruited from India,
 Reduces “off” time and increases “on” time in PD
patients with motor fluctuations.
NEW “INDIAN” DRUG FOR
PARKINSON’S DISEASE

6.  Levodopa is traditionally given in the form of oral
tablets or intestinal gel form,
 Now, an inhalational form is available, which can be
used “SOS” by patients, when in “off” phase.
 Action starts within 10 minutes.
LEVODOPA INHALATIONAL POWDER

7.  PIMAVANSERIN- antipsychotic drug; works only on
serotonin system, without interfering on dopamine
systems; no motor side effects
 DROXIDOPA- Improves orthostatic hypotension
 MRI guided FUS thalamotomy- an alternative for
functional surgery.
OTHER NEW DRUGS/PROCEDURES
IN PD

8.  BOTOX injection- approved by FDA in 2010 for
treating “tablet” refractory chronic migraine (chronic
daily headache).
 An Indian surgical technique appears promising-
removal of parts of frontal and temporal muscles
relieves headache >50%. (Ideal for those who fail
medications and botox).
LATEST IN MIGRAINE

9.  Earlier, only interferon injections were available,
 Oral medicines such as dimethylfumarate, fingolimod
and terifluonamide have come in the past few years
to prevent disease relapses,
 Ocrelizumab is the first drug approved for
progressive form of multiple sclerosis.
 Treatment with cladribine involves tablets for 10-20
days ONLY, for disease control for four years!
NEW IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

10.  Stem cell treatment for stroke and spinal cord injury,
 Success noted in small case series, success needs
replication in larger clinical trials
COMING IN NEAR FUTURE!

11.  Almost every organ in the body can be transplanted
except the brain,
 The main limitation in brain transplantation is the
formation of scar tissue, which does not transmit
impulses normally,
 The maximum achieved so far- a brain transplanted
on a headless monkey worked, however, monkey
lived only for 9 days.
HOW ABOUT BRAIN TRANSPLANT?

12.  Whatsapp: 9866193953
 Email: drsudhirkumar@yahoo.com
 Facebook: https://facebook.com/bestneurologist/
THANKS
COMMENTS/QUERIES?