Our team has selected what we feel is a compilation of some “landmark” neurology journal articles, and included a short summary of each.
Please note, that neurology examinations do not ask questions about these articles directly. However, it may be helpful for residents or attending neurologists to have some basic understanding of these articles for their day-to-day practice and performance. As such, we do not recommend studying this page for exam preparation, but you can scan through it at your leisure for your general knowledge. Enjoy!
A Randomized Trial of Deep-Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease
The origins of deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be traced back to the early 20th century when electrical manipulation of the brain was primarily used to produce anesthesia for various
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Surgery for Temporal-lobe Epilepsy
In this post, we explore a groundbreaking study that significantly influenced the treatment approach for patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. The landmark article, “A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Surgery for
CHANCE Trial: Clopidogrel with Aspirin in Acute Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack
A history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or previous ischemic stroke places patients at a higher risk of future ischemic events. There are several components of secondary stroke management that
Community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults in the Netherlands, 2006-14: a prospective cohort study
If you haven’t yet had that late-night call from the emergency department about possible meningitis, trust me, it’s coming. And when it does, you’ll realize that neck pain isn’t just
DAWN Trial: Thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after Stroke with a Mismatch between Deficit and Infarct
The early days of endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel strokes were discouraging; the medical community didn’t know how to select the right patients for this type of procedure and techniques
ELLDOPA: Levodopa and the progression of Parkinson’s disease
The discovery of a deficit in striatal dopamine associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), initially documented in 1960, marked a pivotal moment that ushered in the era of levodopa treatment. Experimental
European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS) and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) trials
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is one of the very few time-sensitive drugs in the realm of Neurology. It has been a standard of care for the management of acute ischemic
INTERACT3 Trial: The third Intensive Care Bundle with Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage
In the culinary world, a recipe is the key to consistently great dishes. Similarly, in the realm of acute patient care, having a clear protocol can make all the difference
LIBERTY Trial: Long-Term Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Erenumab With Standard of Care in Subjects With Episodic Migraine
For decades antiepileptics, antidepressants, and antihypertensives were the three major classes of pharmacological therapy for migraine headache prevention. That changed in 2018, when erenumab (Aimovig), become the first calcitonin-gene-related peptide
Randomized Trial of Thymectomy in Myasthenia Gravis (MGTX)
In 1936 Alfred Blalock from Vanderbilt University first reported improved symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) after the removal of a thymic tumor. Five years later, after moving to Johns Hopkins
Risks of recurrent stroke and all serious vascular events after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
References: Boe NJ, Hald SM, Jensen MM, Kristensen LMB, Bojsen JA, Elhakim MT, Clausen A, Möller S, Hallas J, García Rodríguez LA, Selim M, Goldstein LB, Al-Shahi Salman R, Gaist
Standard and New Antiepileptic Drugs (SANAD) Trial – Arm A
Carbamazepine was first marketed in 1962 and for decades it was considered the drug of choice for focal epilepsy. Carbamazepine’s dominance as a first-line agent started to come into question
Standard and New Antiepileptic Drugs (SANAD) Trial – Arm B
Valproic acid is one of the very few drugs whose discovery is credited to serendipity. A metabolically inert organic solvent, it was discovered in the 19th century and was found
Stimulation of the Anterior Nucleus of the Thalamus for Epilepsy (SANTE) Trial
Despite the availability of numerous anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), about one-third of people with epilepsy continue to have seizures. While some may benefit from resective brain surgery, this is not an
The ARM-TD study: Aim to Reduce Movements in Tardive Dyskinesia
Finding an effective treatment for tardive dyskinesia (TD) can often feel elusive. Deutetrabenazine changed the approach to TD treatment in 2017, bringing forth compelling Class I evidence from the ARM-TD
The Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT)
During the 1980s, the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of acute demyelinating optic neuritis was considered a controversial subject. The Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT), published in 1992, was
Treatment of Migraine Attacks with Sumatriptan
Due to its prevalence and severe symptoms, migraine headache is among the world’s leading cause of disability. Before the 1990s, abortive therapy for migraine headaches was largely dependent on simple