Low skeletal muscle mass and liver fibrosis in children with cerebral palsy.

The purpose of the study was to conduct a nutritional and metabolic assessment of children with cerebral palsy, including an investigation of liver status, body composition, and bone mineral density. In this cross-sectional study we included 22 children with cerebral palsy. By using ultrasound, transient elastography, dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, blood samples, anthropometric measurements, and a three-day diet registration, the nutritional and metabolic status was evaluated. Liver fibrosis and steatosis were found in four patients (18.2%), all with severe motor impairments, low skeletal muscle mass, and epilepsy. All patients with liver involvement had normal liver-related blood samples. Decreased bone mineral density was found in 26.3%, and 91.0% had low skeletal muscle mass. Fat mass and muscle mass were significantly lower in the patients with severe motor impairments compared to the patients with less severe motor impairments. Within the children classified as 'underweight' or 'normal' according to body mass index, body fat determined by DXA scan was normal or high in 50% of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to report liver fibrosis and steatosis in children with cerebral palsy. Possible causes of liver fibrosis and/or steatosis are altered body composition with low skeletal muscle mass, decreased mobility and medical drug intake. Further investigations of liver involvement and risk factors are needed. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy are at risk of malnutrition and altered body composition, both of which can lead to fatty liver disease. • It is unknown whether children with cerebral palsy are at increased risk of metabolic disturbances such as fatty liver disease. WHAT IS NEW: • Altered body composition and low skeletal muscle mass, regardless of ambulation is present in 91% of the children with cerebral palsy. • Liver fibrosis and/or steatosis were found in 18.2% of the patients. Possible causes are altered body composition, decreased mobility and medical drug intake.

Metabolic assessment in children with neuromuscular disorders shows risk of liver enlargement, steatosis and fibrosis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to conduct a metabolic and nutritional assessment of children with neuromuscular disorders, including the investigation of the liver and bone mineral density. METHODS: In this observational study, we included 44 children with neuromuscular disorders. The nutritional status, bone health and liver were assessed by ultrasound, transient elastography, dual X-ray absorptiometry scan, blood samples, anthropometric measurements and 3-day diet registration. RESULTS: Liver involvement was found in 31.0%: liver enlargement in 7.1%, steatosis in 4.8%, fibrosis in 14.3% and liver enlargement together with steatosis or fibrosis was found in 4.8%. These changes were found in 9/23 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, 4/9 patients with spinal muscular atrophy type II and 0/12 patients with other neuromuscular diagnoses. Low bone mineral density was found in 44.0% of the patients, though the majority used daily vitamin D and calcium supplements. Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency was found in 22.6%. CONCLUSION: The metabolic assessment in children with neuromuscular disorders shows an increased risk of liver enlargement, steatosis and fibrosis. Possible causes are obesity, decreased mobility, low skeletal muscle mass and for a subgroup the use of glucocorticoids. The findings suggest that monitoring liver function should be part of the nutritional assessment in patients with neuromuscular disorders.

[A Scandinavian guideline for initial management of minimal, mild and moderate head trauma in children].

The Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee has recently published an evidence- and consensus-based guideline for the management of minor and moderate head trauma in children. They aim is to select children for computed tomography (CT) scan, observation or early discharge, with the attempt to reduce the number of CT scans in children without missing any significant intracranial injury in need for treatment. A flow chart of the guidelines and a help sheet has been developed for clinical use. Suggestions for in-hospital observation and parental information are also presented. We present the guideline in Danish.

[Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis in a one-year-old girl with Down syndrome].

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease. We describe a girl with Down syndrome who had no major respiratory symptoms until one year of age, where recurrent airway infections and chronic anaemia of unknown aetiology developed. At 20 months of age she had intermittent haemo-ptysis, was investigated with computed tomography and broncho-alveolar lavage and was diagnosed with IPH. After treatment, respiratory symptoms and anaemia resolved and a positive impact on previously impaired growth and psychomotor development was seen. Paediatricians should consider IPH in children with recurrent respiratory symptoms and anaemia.

[Autoimmune synaptic encephalitis is a disease entity on the rise]. / Autoimmun synaptisk encefalitis er en underdiagnosticeret sygdomsgruppe.

The term autoimmune synaptic encephalitis (ASE) comprises encephalitides associated with autoantibodies against structures of the neuronal synapse. We review four types of ASE (anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis, anti-α-amine-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor encephalitis, anti-gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor 1 encephalitis and anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 encephalitis) including their epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment.

[Autoimmune synaptic encephalitis]. / To danske tilfælde af autoimmun synaptisk encefalitis.

Autoimmune synaptic encephalitis (ASE) is a recently recognized disease entity. The early and correct diagnosis of ASE is of importance, since the prognosis depends on the early onset of treatment. We present two Danish case reports of ASE: a 15-year-old boy presenting with a severe course of N-methyl-D-aspartate-encephalitis including persistent cognitive deficits, and a 59-year-old woman with coeliac disease presenting with leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1-encephalitis including dyskinesia, epilepsy, psychiatric features and vocal tics.