Neurologist in Latvia

• Agnese Tretjakova
• Agnete Teivāne
• Ainārs Gailītis
• Ainārs Stepens
• Alise Baborikina
• Alīna Flintere-Flinte
• Andrejs Skorodumovs
• Anželika Gudreniece
• Arta Akmene
• Dace Liepa
• Dmitrijs Glazunovs
• Dāniels Urbanovičs

This list is partial. The doctor list we currently have contains a further 12 entries under paediatric neurology, which has its own page.

The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, working with the Latvian Neurology Society and the Latvian Stroke Society, has produced a digital stroke recognition test, available at Website atpazistiinsultu.lv (opens in a new window).

Stroke signs, which appear suddenly:

• Paralysis, numbness or weakness on one side of the body
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Visual disturbance
• Dizziness, loss of balance and coordination

A stroke is sudden damage to the brain. More often it results from a blocked vessel, called an ischaemic stroke, and less often from a ruptured vessel, called a haemorrhagic stroke. The most common causes of ischaemic stroke are atherosclerosis in the brain or neck arteries and atrial fibrillation; for haemorrhagic stroke, high blood pressure or an aneurysm.

The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control states that Latvia is among the leading countries in Europe for stroke incidence per 100,000 population. It also notes that in recent years patients have been reaching stroke units with the diagnosis made early, and that more than 60 per cent of patients leave the stroke unit without significant signs of disability.

• Six years of medical study and a doctor's degree, at Rīga Stradiņš University (opens in a new window) or the University of Latvia.
• Residency in neurology. Programme page: RSU residency programme (opens in a new window).
• The certificate is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires 250 continuing education points, at least 60 per cent tied to the base specialty, plus a 48.38 EUR fee.
• Entry in the practitioners register must be renewed every 5 years.

In a stroke, the ambulance service takes the patient to the nearest hospital with a stroke unit, and that routing is decided by the medical team, not the patient.

• The visit begins with questions about the symptoms, their character, location, onset, possible causes and course, plus past illnesses.
• The neurological examination tests cranial nerve function, including eye movements, approximate visual fields, facial sensation, and the muscles of facial expression and the tongue.
• General functions are also checked: blood pressure, pulse, leg swelling and the state of the veins.
• Bring earlier investigations, including CT and MRI images and reports, plus a full list of medicines.
• If symptoms are episodic, a diary of how often and how long they last and what triggers them is useful.

Several organisations represent the field:

• Latvijas Neirologu biedrība, registration number 40008017147, contact Evija Miglāne, Latvian Society of Neurologists (neirologi.lv) (opens in a new window).
• Latvijas Insulta biedrība, registration number 40008219296, contact Evija Miglāne.
• Latvijas Bērnu neirologu biedrība, registration number 40008037675, contact Mikus Dīriks, Latvian Association of Paediatric Neurologists (bernuneirologi.lv) (opens in a new window).
• Latvijas Neiroimunologu asociācija, registration number 40008197726, Neuroimmunology Centre (neuroimmunology.lv) (opens in a new window).

Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association (opens in a new window). The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate.