Value of lumbar puncture in identifying secondary causes of visual snow syndrome: A case-control study
Abstract
Aim Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) typically begins in early life with no significant diagnostic findings in the neurological and ophthalmological workups. Still, secondary forms of VSS have been reported. This study examines the diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and the search for autoimmune encephalitis antibodies in patients with VSS. Methods In this retrospective case-control study, CSF samples from 36 VSS patients were analyzed and compared to a control group matched for age, sex, and migraine. In addition, serum and CSF antibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis or paraneoplastic syndromes were analyzed in VSS patients. Cases with CSF abnormalities were further characterized. Results No significant systematic differences in CSF cell count or protein levels were observed between VSS patients (n = 36) and controls (n = 31). CSF abnormalities in the VSS group included elevated cell counts (n = 4), elevated protein level (n = 1) and oligoclonal bands (n = 1). Autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis or paraneoplastic syndromes were not detected in either serum or CSF of VSS patients. Conclusion This corresponds to grade 3b evidence (case-control study), suggesting that lumbar puncture and search for autoimmune encephalitis should not be routinely performed in patients presenting with typical VSS without red flags for additional comorbidities. Graphical abstract This is a visual representation of the abstract.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 36 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Calcium Ions in the Physiology and Pathology of the Central Nervous System
- AI-powered in silico twins: redefining precision medicine through simulation, personalization, and predictive healthcare
- In silico functional, structural and pathogenicity analysis of missense single nucleotide polymorphisms in human MCM6 gene
- In Silico drug repurposing pipeline using deep learning and structure based approaches in epilepsy
- Targeting serotonin receptors with phytochemicals – an in-silico study
- In silico exploration of anti-prostate cancer compounds from differential expressed genes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.