I did my training in Neurology at UMC Utrecht. I like about Neurology that the conversation with the individual patient is the most important part of the job. In addition, I consider the nervous system the most interesting part of the body, also because of the impact disorders can have on people’s lives.
During training in Neurology I did PhD research on a form of motor neuron disease (primary lateral sclerosis, PLS). I was privileged to follow-up a large group of people from all parts of the Netherlands with this rare condition.
After training in Neurology I chose to work in a smaller hospital, with a large amount of direct patient contacts in the outpatient clinic and short lines of communication with colleagues. With pleasure I have practiced the full width of Neurology for 11 years in Ziekenhuis Rivierenland Tiel. Thereafter, I made the switch to ACIBADEM International Medical Center, where exactly those aspects that I like most about working as a neurologist are at the forefront. I appreciate the focus on high quality outpatient clinical care, the pleasant working atmosphere with short lines of communication and the orientation on service to patients. With pleasure I contribute to this.
Specialization/areas of interest
back pain, headache, dizziness, neuromuscular disorders, motorneuron disease
Languages
Dutch, English and (limited) German
Work experience
2022–now Neurologist ACIBADEM IMC
2010–2022 Neurologist Ziekenhuis Rivierenland Tiel
Education
2002–2010 Neurology training, including PhD research project, UMC Utrecht,internships at Tergooi Ziekenhuizen location Blaricum (2008) and St. Antonius Ziekenhuis Nieuwegein (2005/2006)
2001–2002 Physician in neurology (not in training), UMC Utrecht
1998 Internship neurology, international exchange, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
1994–2001 Medicine,Utrecht University
Thesis
Primary Lateral Sclerosis: diagnostic boundaries and outcome
Publications
De Bot ST, Veldink JH, Vermeer S, Mensenkamp AR, Brugman F, Scheffer H, van den Berg LH, Kremer HPH, Kamsteeg EJ, van de Warrenburg BP. ATL1 and REEP1 mutations in hereditary and sporadic upper motor neuron syndromes. J Neurol 2013; 260:869-875.
Brugman F, Scheffer H, Schelhaas HJ, Nillesen WM, Wokke JHJ, van de Warrenburg BPC, van den Berg LH. Seipin/BSCL2 mutation screening in sporadic adult-onset upper motor neuron syndromes. J Neurol 2009;256:824-826.
Van der Graaff MM, Lavini C, Akkerman EM, Majoie CB, Nederveen AJ, Zwinderman AH, Brugman F, van den Berg LH, de Jong JM, de Visser M. MR spectroscopy findings in early stages of motor neuron disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2010;31:1799-1806.
Van der Graaff MM, Sage CA, Caan MW, Akkerman EM, Lavini C, Majoie CB, Nederveen AJ, Zwinderman AH, Vos F, Brugman F, van den Berg LH, de Rijk MC, van Doorn PA, Van Hecke W, Peeters RR, Robberecht W, Sunaert S, de Visser M. Brain 2011;134:1211-1128.
Piepers S, van der Pol WL, Brugman F, Wokke JH, van den Berg LH. Natural history of SMA IIIb: muscle strength decreases in a predictable sequence and magnitude. Neurology 2009;72:2057-2058.
Brugman F, Veldink JH, Franssen H, de Visser M, de Jong JMBV, Faber CG, Kremer HP, Schelhaas HJ, van Doorn PA, Verschuuren JJGM, Bruyn RPM, Kuks JBM, Robberecht W, Wokke JHJ, van den Berg LH. Differentiation of hereditary spastic paraparesis from primary lateral sclerosis in sporadic adult-onset upper motor neuron syndromes. Archives of Neurology 2009;66:509-514.
Brugman F, Scheffer H, Wokke JH, Nillesen WM, de Visser M, Aronica E, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH. Paraplegin mutations in sporadic adult-onset upper motor neuron syndromes. Neurology 2008;71:1500-1505.
Piepers S, van den Berg LH, Brugman F, Scheffer H, Ruiterkamp-Versteeg M, van Engelen BG, Faber CG, de Visser M, van der Pol WL, Wokke JH. A natural history study of late onset spinal muscular atrophy types 3b and 4. J Neurol 2008;255:1400-1404.
Brugman F, Eymard-Pierre E, van den Berg LH, Wokke JH, Gauthier-Barichard F, Boespflug-Tanguy O. Adult-onset primary lateral sclerosis is not associated with mutations in the ALS2 gene. Neurology 2007;69:702-704.
Vrancken AF, Kalmijn S, Brugman F, Rinkel GJ, Notermans NC. The meaning of distal sensory loss and absent ankle reflexes in relation to age: a meta-analysis. J Neurol 2006;253:578-89.
Brugman F, Wokke JH, Scheffer H, Versteeg MH, Sistermans EA, van den Berg LH. Spastin mutations in sporadic adult-onset upper motor neuron syndromes. Ann Neurol 2005;58:865-869.
Brugman F, Wokke JH, Vianney de Jong JM, Franssen H, Faber CG, Van den Berg LH. Primary lateral sclerosis as a phenotypic manifestation of familial ALS. Neurology 2005;64:1778-1779.
Brugman F, Wokke JHJ. Primary lateral sclerosis. Orphanet Encyclopedia (www.orpha.net). April 2004.
