Outbreak of Enterovirus Infection with Neurological Presentations in a Pediatric Population in Northern Spain: A Clinical Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to describe the cases of neurological disease related to the outbreak of enterovirus (EV) in three regions in Northern Spain during 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multicenter retrospective observational study. Clinical, radiological, and microbiological data were analyzed from patients younger than 15 years with confirmed EV-associated neurological disease admitted to 10 hospitals of Asturias, Cantabria, and Castile and Leon between January 1 and December 31, 2016. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were included. Median age was 24 months (interquartile range = 18.5 months). Fifteen patients were classified as aseptic meningitis (27.3%). In total, 37 cases presented brainstem encephalitis (67.3%), 25 of them due to EV-A71 with excellent prognosis (84.6% asymptomatic 2 months following the onset). Three cases of acute flaccid myelitis (5.5%) by EV-D68 were reported and presented persistent paresis 2 months following the onset. Microbiological diagnosis by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed in all cases, finding EV in cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis, but not in brainstem encephalitis and acute flaccid myelitis, where EV was found in respiratory or rectal samples. Step therapy was administrated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG; 32.7%), methylprednisolone (10%), and plasmapheresis (3.6%). Four patients received fluoxetine (7.3%). Twenty patients needed to be admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (36.4%). CONCLUSION: Clinical, microbiological, and radiological diagnosis is essential in outbreaks of EV neurological disease, taking into account that it can be difficult to identify EV-A71 and EV-D68 in CSF, requiring throat or rectal samples. There is not specific treatment to these conditions and the efficacy and understanding of the mechanism of action of immune-modulatory treatment (IVIG, corticosteroids, and plasmapheresis) is limited.

[Para-infectious seizures: A retrospective multicentre study]. / Crisis parainfecciosas: estudio retrospectivo multicéntrico.

INTRODUCTION: Para-infectious seizures are afebrile seizures that are associated with mild infections, and occur in children with no pre-existing neurological illness. They are still little known in our environment. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study was conducted that included patients with normal psychomotor development and had presented with one or more seizures in the context of a mild afebrile infection. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients (47% male, 53% female) were included in the study over a period of three years (2012-2015). The mean age was 2.1 years. A previous history of febrile seizures was found in 7.9% of them. Mean number of seizures per patient was 2.2, with 57.9% of them being tonic-clonic seizures. The mean duration of seizures was 3.2minutes. An EEG was performed during admission in 73.7% of cases. Lumbar punctures were performed in 34.2% of cases. All were normal. Neuroimaging tests were carried out in 36.9% of cases. Brain MRI was the imaging test performed in most cases (21.1%), with no any pathological findings. The most frequent infection found was acute gastroenteritis (68%), followed by upper respiratory tract infection (32%). Almost two-thirds (63.2%) of patients did not require anticonvulsant medication. Rectal diazepam was the most frequently used drug in emergencies. Intravenous medication was required by 28.9% of patients due to repeated seizures. The most frequently used drug in the non-emergency setting was valproic acid. Anticonvulsant treatment was continued after discharge in 16% of patients. Para-infectious seizures was the diagnosis in 76.3% of cases when discharged. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of para-infectious seizures, their clinical diagnosis and benign course is crucial, as this would avoid further testing and unnecessary treatments.

[Phenotypic variations in Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome caused by RNASEH2B gene mutations: report of two new cases]. / Variaciones fenotípicas en el síndrome de Aicardi-Goutières causado por mutaciones en el gen RNASEH2B: presentación de dos nuevos casos.

INTRODUCTION: Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome is a rare immune disorder due to mutations in seven different genes that encode proteins called TREX1, ribonuclease H2 complex, SAMHD1, ADAR and IDIH1 (MDA5), which are involved in acid nucleic metabolism. Two cases are described in detail below caused by RNASEH2B gene mutation, one of which displays a mutation no described to date. CASE REPORTS: Case 1: male consulting because from 5-month-old shows loss of maturity items acquired until then, coming with several fever episodes. Case 2: a 4-month-old boy showing since 2-month-old great irritability and oral-feeding trouble with severe psychomotor impairment. In both cases it was found an increase of pterines in the cerebrospinal fluid, mainly neopterine, with calcifications in the basal ganglia. The diagnosis was proved by sequencing RNASEH2B gene, founding in case 2 a new mutation not described previously. CONCLUSIONS: The reported cases belong to the description already done by Aicardi-Goutieres, it should be noticed this syndrome in a patient with a subacute encephalopathy of debut in the first year of life, dystonia/spasticity in variable degree and important affectation/regression of psychomotor development, particularly in those with increase of pterines (neopterine) in the cerebrospinal fluid and calcifications in the basal ganglia.

TITLE: Variaciones fenotipicas en el sindrome de Aicardi-Goutieres causado por mutaciones en el gen RNASEH2B: presentacion de dos nuevos casos.Introduccion. El sindrome de Aicardi-Goutieres es un trastorno inmunitario raro debido a mutaciones en siete genes que codifican proteinas llamadas TREX1, el complejo ribonucleasa H2, SAMHD1, ADAR e IFIH1 (MAD5), las cuales estan implicadas en el metabolismo de los acidos nucleicos. A continuacion se presentan dos nuevos casos por mutacion en el gen RNASEH2B, uno de los cuales presenta una mutacion no descrita hasta la fecha. Casos clinicos. Caso 1: varon que consulto porque desde los 5 meses, coincidiendo con cuadros febriles de repeticion, presentaba perdida de los items madurativos adquiridos hasta la fecha. Caso 2: niño de 4 meses que desde los 2 meses mostraba gran irritabilidad con dificultades en la alimentacion, asociado a un grave retraso psicomotor. En ambos casos se constato un aumento de las pterinas en el liquido cefalorraquideo, principalmente de la neopterina, con calcificaciones en los ganglios basales. El diagnostico se confirmo mediante secuenciacion del gen RNASEH2B; el caso 2 presentaba una mutacion no descrita en la literatura medica. Conclusiones. Los casos corresponden a la descripcion clasica realizada por Aicardi-Goutieres. Debe tenerse en cuenta este sindrome ante un paciente con un cuadro de encefalopatia subaguda de comienzo en el primer año de vida, distonia/espasticidad en grado variable e importante afectacion/regresion del desarrollo psicomotor, especialmente si asocia aumento de las pterinas (neopterina) en el liquido cefalorraquideo y calcificaciones en los ganglios basales.

[Descriptive statistical analysis of the treatment of status epilepticus in a referral hospital]. / Análisis descriptivo y estadístico del tratamiento de estados epilépticos en un hospital de referencia.

INTRODUCTION: Status epilepticus is defined as either recurring seizures without regaining consciousness between them or one single seizure lasting more than 30 minutes. AIMS: To perform a descriptive analysis of the most relevant data on the patients with status epilepticus who were admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and to review the risk factors associated to status epilepticus with a poor prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A study was conducted of the main variables of the patients with status epilepticus hospitalised in the PICU of a tertiary hospital over a period of six years. RESULTS: Data were collected on a total of 68 patients (55.9% males), the mean age being 3.7 years. The most frequent signs and symptoms were generalised tonic-clonic seizures (50%). The mean duration of the status epilepticus was 51.44 minutes. The mean number of antiepileptic drugs used to stem the seizures was 3.21 and the mean number of drugs used prior to admission to the PICU was 2.37. The most commonly used first choice drug was diazepam (83.8%) administered rectally (75%), followed by intravenous diazepam (52.9%) in second place and phenytoin was the most frequently used drug as the third choice. The most usual cause of status epilepticus was having previously suffered from epilepsy (33.9%), and Dravet's syndrome was the most frequent epileptic causation. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of status epilepticus is complex and requires multidisciplinary and personalised management. Protocols and clinical guidelines need to be drawn up and reviewed to achieve an adequate management of these patients.

TITLE: Analisis descriptivo y estadistico del tratamiento de estados epilepticos en un hospital de referencia.Introduccion. Los estados epilepticos se definen como crisis recurrentes sin recuperacion de la conciencia entre ellas o una sola crisis de mas de 30 minutos. Objetivos. Realizar un analisis descriptivo de los datos mas relevantes de pacientes con estados epilepticos ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediatricos (UCIP) y revisar los factores de riesgo asociados a estado epileptico de mal pronostico. Pacientes y metodos. Se estudiaron las variables principales de los pacientes ingresados en la UCIP con estado epileptico de un hospital terciario en un periodo de seis años. Resultados. Se recogieron 68 pacientes (el 55,9%, varones) con una edad media de 3,7 años. La semiologia mas frecuente fue en forma de crisis tonicoclonicas generalizadas (50%). La duracion media de los estados epilepticos fue de 51,44 minutos. Se utilizaron 3,21 farmacos antiepilepticos de media para yugular las crisis, y la media de farmacos utilizados previamente al ingreso en la UCIP fue de 2,37. El farmaco de primera linea mas utilizado fue el diacepam (83,8%) rectal (75%), seguido del diacepam (52,9%) por via intravenosa en segundo lugar, y la fenitoina fue el farmaco mas utilizado como tercera linea. La causa mas frecuente de estado epileptico fue padecer epilepsia previa (33,9%), y el sindrome de Dravet fue la etiologia epileptica mas frecuente. Conclusiones. El tratamiento de los estados epilepticos es complejo y exige un manejo multidisciplinar e individualizado. Es necesaria la elaboracion y revision de protocolos y guias clinicas para un adecuado manejo de estos pacientes.

[Analysis of a series of cases with an initial diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis over the period 2000-2010]. / Análisis de una serie de casos con diagnostico inicial de encefalomielitis aguda diseminada en el periodo 2000-2010.

INTRODUCTION: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease that essentially affects the white matter of the central nervous system. The diagnosis is based on clinical-imaging and developmental findings. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is the most useful diagnostic tool. The disease course is usually monophasic and the preferred initial treatment is with corticoids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 18 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of ADEM. Symptoms, imaging findings, progress and treatment were analysed. The definitive diagnosis was established in 12 patients, excluding one patient with positive polymerase chain reaction for herpes simplex virus in cerebrospinal fluid, one with a clinical picture that was consistent but normal magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and four with an onset that was similar to ADEM whose definitive diagnoses were: Rassmusen's syndrome, haemophagocytic syndrome, brain tumour, and MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes). RESULTS: The median age was 31 months with no predominance of either sex. Infection of the upper respiratory tract was the most frequent cause in children over 2 years of age and of the gastrointestinal tract in those under the age of 2. All of them presented altered levels of consciousness and multifocal neurological deficits. The most frequent imaging finding was multifocal alteration of the white matter in both hemispheres. Corticoids were the preferred treatment in most cases. Progression was favourable in nearly all patients except for two, who were left with important sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: ADEM may present at any age, including in infants. There are a number of conditions that can mimic ADEM in the early stages.

TITLE: Analisis de una serie de casos con diagnostico inicial de encefalomielitis aguda diseminada en el periodo 2000-2010.Introduccion. La encefalomielitis aguda diseminada (EMAD) es una enfermedad desmielinizante que afecta fundamentalmente a la sustancia blanca del sistema nervioso central. El diagnostico se basa en hallazgos clinicorradiologicos y evolutivos. La resonancia magnetica cerebral es la herramienta diagnostica mas util. El curso suele ser monofasico y el tratamiento inicial de eleccion, los corticoides. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio retrospectivo de 18 pacientes con diagnostico de sospecha inicial de EMAD. Se analizo la sintomatologia, los hallazgos radiologicos, la evolucion y el tratamiento. El diagnostico definitivo se establecio en 12 pacientes, excluyendo un paciente con reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa positiva para el virus herpes simple en el liquido cefalorraquideo, uno con clinica compatible pero resonancia magnetica cerebral normal, y cuatro con inicio similar a EMAD cuyos diagnosticos definitivos fueron: sindrome de Rassmusen, sindrome hemofagocitico, tumor cerebral y MELAS (encefalomiopatia mitocondrial con acidosis lactica y accidentes cerebrovasculares). Resultados. La mediana de edad fue de 31 meses, sin predominio de sexo. La infeccion de la via respiratoria superior fue la causa mas frecuente en niños mayores y la gastrointestinal, en menores de 2 años. Todos presentaron alteracion en el nivel de conciencia y deficits neurologicos multifocales. El hallazgo radiologico mas frecuente fue la alteracion multifocal bihemisferica de la sustancia blanca. Los corticoides fueron el tratamiento de eleccion en la mayoria. La evolucion fue favorable en casi todos los pacientes excepto en dos, que tuvieron secuelas importantes. Conclusiones. La EMAD puede presentarse a cualquier edad, incluyendo lactantes. Hay multiples entidades que pueden simular una EMAD en un inicio.

[Acute mastoiditis in the pneumococcal vaccine era]. / Mastoiditis aguda en la época de la vacuna antineumocócica.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Acute mastoiditis is the most common complication of acute otitis media. Recent studies have noticed an increase in cases. The goal of this study was to review acute mastoiditis cases diagnosed in children younger than 14 years old. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients under 14 years old admitted with a diagnosis of mastoiditis between 1996 and 2008 was performed. Epidemiological, laboratory and clinical variables were analysed. RESULTS: Sixty-one charts were reviewed. The mean age was 28 months; 55.7% of the patients were male. Most cases were in the autumn and winter; 79% occurred from 2002 to 2008. Most cases (82%) had antecedents of an upper airway catarrhal process and 60.7% had a clinical diagnosis of acute otitis media. Prior antibacterial agent therapy had been administered in 55.7% of the cases. Culture of middle ear effusions was performed in 48 patients, revealing Streptococcus pneumonia in 39.7%, Haemophilus influenzae in 2%, Staphylococcus aureus in 12.5% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 8.3%. Cultures were sterile in 18 patients (37.5%). Of the pneumococcal isolates, 26.2% were resistant to penicillin or third generation cephalosporins. Most cases (93.4%) responded well to antibacterial therapy alone or with myringotomy. There were complications in 7 patients (11.5%). Mastoid surgery was performed in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Acute mastoiditis shows a rising incidence in recent years. The most commonly isolated form is the pneumococcus, the high rates of antibiotic resistance in our study being notable. Treatments with antibiotics alone or in combination with myringotomy are effective in less severe forms.