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We thank Ravi Uniyal and colleagues for their comments on our results from the PATH trial1 on subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) for maintenance treatment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). They express concern about the relapse rates in the treatment groups and hypothesise the cause being the pharmacokinetics of SCIg.

According to some studies, peripheral nerve injury healing is prolonged in elderly patients. Compressive ulnar neuropathy in the elbow (UNE) is the second most common compressive mononeuropathy. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the effect of age on the postoperative ulnar nerve injury repair rate. Our aim was to evaluate age-related differences in the electrophysiological parameters before and approximately 100 days after operations for cubital tunnel syndrome. This retrospective study included 103 patients who underwent in situ ulnar nerve decompressions in the elbow. The included patients suffered from paraesthesia and hypoesthesia in their ulnar nerve distribution, hypertrophy, and weakening of the hand muscles, which were innervated by the ulnar nerve. Concurrently, these patients met the EGM diagnostic criteria for UNE. The age dependency on the differences between the preoperative and postoperative parameter values that were measured during the conductive studies was estimated using a regression analysis. A statistically significant deceleration of the monitored parameter adaptation, which included segmental conduction velocity in the elbow area and CMAP amplitude during the above-elbow stimulation of the ulnar nerve, was found. Ulnar nerve injury repair in the cubital tunnel area after a UNE operation proceeds significantly slower in elderly patients.

The study presented focuses on patients' psychosocial status after a prostate cancer diagnosis that underwent a bilateral orchiectomy.We evaluated the psychosocial implications of 89 patients with prostate cancer after performing castration and a bilateral orchiectomy.Patients suffered significantly more from sleep disorders during hospitalisation when compared to their time prior to an orchiectomy (p0.0005). There were some increases in the severity of sleep disorder after discharge (level of evidence p0.05). However, no additional medications for sleep disorders were required. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the abuse of medication (p0.001). Ten per cent of the patients were in the care of a psychologist or a psychiatrist before their diagnosis, and 21% asked for the help of a psychologist or a psychiatrist after having a bilateral orchiectomy. The occurrence of mood disorders is also very different than the occurrence of sleep disorders. Mood disorders occurred much less often after orchiectomy and discharge (p0.085) compared with the period before surgery. Forty per cent of the patients had mood disorders before their operation, while only 37% still had these after discharge. There was a significant decrease in abuse of medication for anxiety. Twenty-four per cent of the patients took medication during hospitalisation, and only 10% continued after orchiectomy.The results of the study show that patients who were notified about their cancer diagnosis, particularly their health status, exhibited moderate stress and psychological impact.