[Clinical and prognostic analysis of opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome in children].

Objective: To summarize the clinical and prognostic features of children with opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome (OMAS). Methods: A total of 46 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of OMAS in the Department of Neurology, Beijing Children's Hospital from June 2015 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Centralized online consultations or telephone visits were conducted between June and August 2023. The data of the children during hospitalization and follow-up were collected, including clinical manifestations, assistant examination, treatment and prognosis. According to the presence or absence of tumor, the patients were divided into two groups. The chi-square test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Univariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to OMAS recurrence and prognosis. Results: There were 46 patients, with 25 males and the onset age of 1.5 (1.2, 2.4) years. Twenty-six (57%) patients were diagnosed with neuroblastoma during the course of the disease, and no patients were categorized into the high-risk group. A total of 36 patients (78%) were followed up for≥6 months, and all of them were treated with first-line therapy with glucocorticoids, gammaglobulin and (or) adrenocorticotrophic hormone. Among the 36 patients, 9 patients (25%) were treated with second-line therapy for ≥3 months, including rituximab or cyclophosphamide, and 17 patients (47%) received chemotherapy related to neuroblastoma. At the follow-up time of 4.2 (2.2, 5.5) years, 10 patients (28%) had relapsed of OMAS. The Mitchell and Pike OMS rating scale score at the final follow-up was 0.5 (0, 2.0). Seven patients (19%) were mildly cognitively behind their peers and 6 patients (17%) were severely behind. Only 1 patient had tumor recurrence during follow-up. The history of vaccination or infection before onset was more common in the non-tumor group than in the tumor group (55%(11/20) vs. 23%(6/26), χ²=4.95, P=0.026). Myoclonus occurred more frequently in the non-tumor group (40%(8/20) vs. 4%(1/26), χ²=7.23, P=0.007) as the onset symptom. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the tumor group had less recurrence (OR=0.19 (0.04-0.93), P=0.041). The use of second-line therapy or chemotherapy within 6 months of the disease course had a better prognosis (OR=11.64 (1.27-106.72), P=0.030). Conclusions: OMAS in children mostly starts in early childhood, and about half are combined with neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma in combination with OMAS usually has a low risk classification and good prognosis. When comparing patients with OMAS with and without tumors, the latter have a more common infection or vaccination triggers, and myoclonus, as the onset symptom, is more common. Early addition of second-line therapy is associated with better prognosis in OMAS.

[Analysis of clinical and imaging features of 6 cases of linear scleroderma en coup de sabre with central nervous system involvement in children].

Objective: To summarize the clinical and imaging features of linear scleroderma en coup de saber (LSCS) with central nervous system involvement in children. Methods: The clinical data(clinical manifestations and imaging features) of 6 children diagnosed with LSCS with central nervous system involvement who were admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from May 2019 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The 6 patients were all female, aged 6.8 (3.3, 11.0) years at the time of diagnosis, and aged 3.0 (1.7, 4.1) years at the time of discovery of facial skin lesions. Facial skin lesions appeared before neurological symptoms in 5 cases, and neurological symptoms appeared 2 months before skin lesions in 1 case. All the patients had "sword wound" skin lesions on the forehead with alopecia. Neurological manifestations included epileptic seizures in 6 cases, focal neurological defects in 5 cases, and headaches in 2 cases. The intracranial lesions were all ipsilateral to the skin lesions. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 6 cases showed abnormal signals mainly involving white matter in 1 hemisphere, and 3 cases showed local encephalomalacia. The scattered low signal was observed in 5 cases on susceptibility weighted imaging. Localized brain parenchyma or leptomeninges enhancement was seen on Gadolinium-enhanced sequences in 5 cases. Scattered foci of calcification on the affected side were seen on cranial CT in 4 cases. Skin biopsy was performed in 2 cases. Part of the lesion of the brain was removed in 1 case, and the pathological findings suggested small vasculitis, which was consistent with skin pathological changes. All patients received symptomatic treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Oral prednisone combined with methotrexate was given in 4 cases, and 1 case was given oral prednisone only. One case was presumed to be in the resting stage of the disease due to significant cerebral atrophy in half of the brain, and only antiepileptic drugs were added. The patients were followed up for 6-36 months. The skin lesions of scleroderma and alopecia did not progress in 5 cases, and hemifacial atrophy was developed in 1 case, which was considered to be combined with Parry-Romberg syndrome. The seizures were controlled in 4 cases. One case had reduced seizure frequency but left hemiplegia. One patient still had intractable epilepsy and paroxysmal headache. Conclusions: LSCS with central nervous system involvement is more common in girls, with seizures and neurological defects as the main manifestations. Intracranial lesions are mostly ipsilateral to the skin lesions. Cerebral microbleeds, calcification, and encephalomalacia foci are common, and the pathological changes in skin and intracranial lesions are consistent with small-vessel vasculitis. Prednisone combined with methotrexate treatment has shown some efficacy, but some children remain with refractory epilepsy and neurological deficit symptoms.

[Clinical observation on the overlapping syndrome of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody and anti-N-methyl-D aspartate receptor in children].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, imaging findings and prognosis of children with overlapping syndrome of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody disease and anti-N-methyl-D aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis (MNOS). Methods: The clinical manifestations, immunological antibodies in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, cranial image, treatment and follow-up of 11 patients diagnosed as MNOS in the Department of Neurology, Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2011 to April 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 11 patients, including 4 males and 7 females were analyzed, the age of onset was (10.4±2.3) years. A total of 29 episodes occurred in 11 children. At the last follow-up, 8 cases showed relapsed remission course, the interval of recurrence was 3 to 60 months. The onset symptoms of 11 patients included convulsions (10 cases), lethargy (6 cases), psychosis (6 cases). Among 29 episodes, the common symptoms were convulsions (16 episodes), psychosis (13 episodes),and lethargy (10 episodes). According to the diagnostic criteria of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and MOG-antibody disease, 29 episodes were divided into three phenotypes, including anti-NMDAR encephalitis(4 episodes), MOG-antibody diseases (10 episodes) and overlapping types (15 episodes).Twenty-seven times of acute stage cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were available, common lesions included cortical focus (22 times), subcortical white matter (7 times), brainstem (9 times). All patients were sensitive to first-line immunotherapy. Eight patients had recurrence during glucocorticoid reduction, 6 of them were treated with additional second-line immunosuppressive therapy, including cyclophosphamide (1 case) and mycophenolate mofetil (5 cases). The follow-up time of patients were 5-99 months. At the last follow-up, all patients were in remission, the pediatric cerebral performance category (PCPC) score was 1 (10 cases) and 2 (1 cases). Conclusions: MNOS mainly affects older children. In the period of acute episodes, convulsions and psychosis are common. The cranial MRI showed extensive brain involvement and mainly in the cortex. The recurrence rates of MNOS are relatively high, patients are sensitive to first-line immunotherapy. No significant neurological dysfunction was left in the remission stage.

[Clinical and laboratory characteristics and genetic diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, laboratory characteristics and genetic diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome (KS). Methods: Between September 2014 and September 2016, seven children with clinically diagnosed KS from the neurology department, Beijing Children Hospital, Capital Medical University were included in this study. Three of them were male and 4 were female aged from 19 days to 6 years and 4 months with a median age of 3 years and 1 month. The clinical features, laboratory and imaging materials, gene tests were analyzed prospectively. Results: Clinical manifestation: cephalofacial anomaly: all seven cases had unusual facies presented as long palpebral fissures, eversion of the lateral third of lower eyelids, arched eyebrow with brow sparse, epicanthus, orbital hypertelorism, short columella with broad and depressed nasal tip; six cases presented with palatal arch deformity; four cases presented with ptosis; three cases presented with dental abnormalities and hearing impairment respectively; two cases presented with strabismus and earlap malformation respectively; one case presented with amblyopia. Six cases presented with skeletal anomalies. Six cases presented with dermatoglyphic anomalies. All cases presented with mild to moderate mental retardation. Three cases presented with short stature. Four cases presented with cardiac abnormalities. Three cases presented with epileptic seizures. Others: three cases presented with dystonia and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia respectively; two cases presented with feeding problem and hypoglycemia respectively; one case presented with micropenis and fetal finger pads respectively. All seven patients received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests, and none demonstrated an abnormal finding. Five patients received electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, and three of them presented with seizures and EEG abnormalities. Five patients received genetic testing and all presented with KMT2D heterozygous mutations which were new mutations proved by parents validation (three cases were nonsense mutations, one was frameshift mutation, one was missense mutation). All patients received rehabilitation training and symptomatic treatments. Three patients presented with epileptic seizures received antiepileptic therapy. At a median follow-up of 11 months (from 4 months to 2 years), one patient died, one lost to follow-up and five had improved intellectual and physical development. Epileptic seizures were controlled or reduced significantly in three patients presented with epileptic seizures. Conclusions: KS is a multisystem disease with complicated manifestations, which needs a combination of various diagnosis and treatments. Genetic testing can help determine the diagnosis. Unusual facies and mental retardation are the main clinical features and diagnostic clue. It is important to improve prognosis through increasing the knowledge of KS, early diagnosis, and treatment.