Novel aspects of the neuropathology of the vegetative state after blunt head injury.

摘要: A detailed neuropathological study was undertaken of the brains patients who had been assessed clinically as vegetative after blunt head injury. There were 35 cases, (33 male; median age 38 years) with a survival 6.5-19 months (median 9): 17 injured in road traffic accident, 9 assault and 6 fall; 3 recorded having lucid interval. an intracranial hematoma contusion index 4; raised pressure identified 25, grades 2 diffuse traumatic axonal injury present ischemic damage 15 hydrocephalus 27. Thalamic hippocampal 28 stereological studies revealed differential loss neurons three principal nuclei thalamus different sectors hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry provided evidence inflammatory reaction situ DNA fragmentation, features that are strongly indicative continuing neuronal subcortical gray matter. These findings provide for importance brain to white matter structural basis state contributions from thalami Although amyloid plaques tau inclusions some, their contribution did not seem important ultimate clinical outcome.