Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37668702›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2023

Clinical characteristics and treatment approaches in patients with Susac syndrome: a scoping review of cases.

Robin Stinissen, Eldar Tukanov, Martin Wyckmans, Jeroen Kerstens, Barbara Willekens

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Susac syndrome - different treatment approaches for one disease (analysis of case series).Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Robin Stinissen *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9953-6830
Eldar Tukanov *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8684-2852
Martin Wyckmans *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3802-1408
Jeroen KerstensDepartment of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3185-6974
Barbara WillekensDepartment of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650, Edegem, Belgium. barbara.willekens@uantwerpen.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5212-8837
University of Antwerp · BEAntwerp University Hospital · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSusac syndrome (SuS) is a rare disease characterized by encephalopathy, hearing impairment and visual disturbances. Immunosuppressive treatments are used based on the hypothesis that an autoimmune endotheliopathy drives the disease. However, a solid evidence-based treatment approach is lacking. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of patient characteristics, disease course and treatment patterns related to successful outcome that have been reported in literature since 2013.

methodsThree reviewers conducted a systematic literature search in February 2022. The primary outcome was treatment used, derived from cases classified as probable or definite SuS, describing successful treatment outcome (i.e. no signs of disease activity for ≥ 1 month). Secondary outcomes were time-to-relapse and follow-up time. Published case reports and case series were included. Various clinical characteristics and treatment(s) were extracted and categorized into different phases of treatment.

resultsA total of 810 records was identified. 120 articles met inclusion criteria and 161 cases were extracted. Of these, 151 cases were classified as probable or definite SuS and included in the final analysis. Number of combinations of treatments used per treatment phase were: 6 empirically, 35 after confirmed diagnosis, 43 for maintenance treatment, 22 after relapse, 18 during maintenance post-relapse. Median follow-up time was 12.3 months (0.5; 120) and median time to relapse was 4 months (1; 120).

conclusionThis scoping review summarizes treatment approaches in patients with SuS, highlighting variability. International efforts to collect clinical, imaging and treatment data from patients with SuS in registries are needed, in order to provide less biased and long-term follow-up information on treatment response, predictors of relapse and patient outcomes. This may lead to more evidence-based therapeutic approaches.

Indexed as

Brain DiseasesSusac SyndromeHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingRecurrenceTreatment OutcomeVision DisordersAutoimmuneEncephalopathyHearing lossRetinal artery occlusionSusac syndrome

Identifiers

PMID37668702
OpenAlexW4386437967

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.