A randomized controlled trial of levodopa in patients with Angelman syndrome.

Treatment for Angelman syndrome (AS) is currently limited to symptomatic interventions. A mouse model of AS has reduced calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II activity due to excessive phosphorylation of specific threonine residues, leading to diminished long-term potentiation. In a rat model of Parkinson disease, levodopa reduced phosphorylation of various proteins, including calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II. Further studies demonstrated that AS mice treated with levodopa performed better on rotarod testing than untreated AS mice. We conducted a multi-center double-blind randomized placebo-controlled 1-year trial of levodopa / carbidopa with either 10 or 15 mg/kg/day of levodopa in children with AS. The outcome of this intervention was assessed using either the Bayley Scales of Infant Development or the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, as well as the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. Of the 78 participants enrolled, 67 participants received study medication (33 on levodopa, 34 on placebo), and 55 participants (29 on levodopa, 26 on placebo) completed the 1-year study. There were no clinically or statistically significant changes in any of the outcome measures over a 1-year period comparing the levodopa and placebo groups. The number of adverse events reported, including the more serious adverse events, was similar in both groups, but none were related to treatment with levodopa. Our data demonstrate that levodopa is well-tolerated by children with AS. However, in the doses used in this study, it failed to improve their neurodevelopment or behavioral outcome.

Angelman syndrome: Mutations influence features in early childhood.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a lack of expression of the maternal copy of UBE3A. Although the "classic" features of AS are well described, few large-scale studies have delineated the clinical features in AS. We present baseline data from 92 children with a molecular diagnosis of AS between 5 and 60 months old who are enrolled in the National Institutes of Health Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network Angelman Syndrome Natural History Study from January 2006 to March 2008. Seventy-four percent of participants had deletions, 14% had either uniparental disomy (UPD) or imprinting defects, and 12% had UBE3A mutations. Participants with UPD/imprinting defects were heavier (P = 0.0002), while those with deletions were lighter, than the general population (P < 0.0001). Twenty out of 92 participants were underweight, all of whom had deletions or UBE3A mutations. Eight out of 92 participants (6/13 (46%) with UPD/imprinting defects and 2/11 (18%) with UBE3A mutations) were obese. Seventy-four out of 92 participants (80%) had absolute or relative microcephaly. No participant was macrocephalic. The most common behavioral findings were mouthing behavior (95%), short attention span (92%), ataxic or broad-based gait (88%), history of sleep difficulties (80%), and fascination with water (75%). Frequent, easily provoked laughter was observed in 60%. Clinical seizures were reported in 65% of participants but all electroencephalograms (EEGs) were abnormal. We conclude that the most characteristic feature of AS is the neurobehavioral phenotype, but specific EEG findings are highly sensitive for AS. Obesity is common among those with UPD/imprinting defects.

A therapeutic trial of pro-methylation dietary supplements in Angelman syndrome.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is due to deficient ubiquitin protein ligase 3a, the gene for which (UBE3A) maps to chromosome 15q11-q13 and is imprinted such that only the maternally inherited gene is expressed. The paternally inherited UBE3A gene is silenced, a process mediated by an antisense transcript. We conducted a trial using methylation-promoting dietary supplements (betaine, metafolin, creatine, and vitamin B(12) ) in an attempt to reduce antisense transcript production, increase UBE3A expression, and ameliorate the symptoms of AS. Neuropsychological evaluations, biochemical testing, and assessment of DNA methylation were performed at the beginning and at the end of 1 year of supplementation. The primary outcome measures were changes in the level of developmental function (cognitive, motor, and language) as measured using standardized instruments. The secondary outcomes measures were changes in biochemical parameters and global DNA methylation. These data were compared to those of a control group from a previous randomized double-blind trial using folic acid and betaine. There were no statistically significant changes in the developmental performance of children treated with supplements. There were no unexpected changes in biochemical parameters and no change in site-specific DNA methylation when comparing samples from before and after treatment. There were 10 adverse events that resulted in study withdrawal of 7 participants (worsening of seizures, onset, or worsening of sleep problems, constipation, and anorexia). Supplementation with betaine, metafolin, creatine, and vitamin B(12) appears safe but ineffective in decreasing the severity of AS.

Multicentric infantile hemangiopericytoma: case report and review of the literature.

Hemangiopericytomas are rare tumors in which outcome varies with age of onset. Those developing in adults and older children tend to be aggressive with a poor prognosis. However, infantile hemangiopericytomas often behave in a more benign manner. Recent findings suggest aggressive lesions may be histogenetically distinct. Multicentric disease is exceptionally rare, but tends to occur in infants and poses a therapeutic challenge. We present a case with extensive cutaneous and intracranial involvement, which resolved spontaneously. Tumor behavior is a key consideration in management, with careful observation recommended in uncomplicated cases and intervention indicated if more aggressive growth or spread occurs.

Epilepsy in Angelman syndrome: a questionnaire-based assessment of the natural history and current treatment options.

PURPOSE: Angelman syndrome (AS) commonly presents with epilepsy (>80%). The goal of this study was to examine the natural history and various treatments of epilepsy in AS in a large population. METHODS: A detailed electronic survey containing comprehensive questions regarding epilepsy in AS was conducted through the Angelman Syndrome Foundation. RESULTS: There were responses from 461 family members of individuals with AS, of whom 86% had epilepsy (60% with multiple seizure types), the most common being atonic, generalized tonic-clonic, absence, and complex partial. Partial-onset seizures only were reported in 11% of those with epilepsy. Epilepsy was most common among those with maternal deletions and unknown subtypes, with catastrophic epilepsies present in only these two subtypes. These epilepsies were refractory to medication, with only 15% responding to the first antiepileptic drug (AED). The most commonly prescribed AED were valproic acid and clonazepam, but lamotrigine and levetiracetam appeared to have similar efficacy and tolerability. DISCUSSION: This is the largest study to date assessing epilepsy in AS. Although epilepsy in AS is considered a generalized epilepsy, there was a high prevalence of partial seizures. There are few previous data regarding the use of newer AED in AS, and the results of this study suggest that these newer agents, specifically levetiracetam and lamotrigine, may have efficacy similar to that of valproic acid and clonazepam, and that they appear to have similar or better side-effect profiles. Nonpharmacologic therapies such as dietary therapy and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) also suggest favorable efficacy and tolerability, although further studies are needed.

Prediction of neurologic sequelae in childhood tuberculous meningitis: a review of 20 cases and proposal of a novel scoring system.

BACKGROUND: Despite effective antituberculous medications, the mortality and morbidity remain high in children with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). The traditional clinical staging for TBM developed by Lincoln et al in 1960 has been widely used to predict long term neurologic sequelae (NS). In the current era of critical care medicine and corticosteroid therapy, a new scoring system is needed to predict NS more accurately in children with TBM. METHODS: We reviewed all available cases of TBM in San Diego, CA, during 1991-2001 retrospectively, and we developed a novel scoring system to predict NS in children with TBM. We assessed a tuberculous meningitis acute neurologic (TBAN) score at day 0 and on day 3 of hospitalization, to compare children who subsequently developed severe NS with those who did not. RESULTS: Among 20 children with TBM, 7 children developed severe NS and 1 child died during hospitalization. The TBAN score was higher on day 0 in those with severe NS (5.5 versus 2.0, P = 0.09), and the difference became statistically significant by day 3 of hospitalization (5.5 versus 0.0, P = 0.02). Sensitivity and specificity of the TBAN score (> or =4) on day 0 (75 and 92%) and day 3 (88 and 100%) to predict severe NS were superior to the traditional clinical staging system on day 0 (63 and 58%). CONCLUSIONS: The TBAN score is an objective marker for predicting severe NS in children with TBM.

Pediatric acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis: report of a surviving patient and review.

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is a rare, fulminant CNS demyelinating condition usually diagnosed at autopsy. We report the clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and pathologic features of the first nonfatal case of pediatric AHLE confirmed by brain biopsy. Pathologic diagnosis of this condition may be critical to exclude more-common processes and to expedite the decision to administer high-dose corticosteroid therapy, which is potentially lifesaving.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in childhood: epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory features.

BACKGROUND: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a central nervous system demyelinating disease that usually follows an apparently benign infection in otherwise healthy young persons. The epidemiology, infectious antecedents and pathogenesis of ADEM are poorly characterized, and some ADEM patients are subsequently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We retrospectively (1991-1998) and prospectively (1998-2000) studied all persons aged < 20 years diagnosed with ADEM from the 3 principal pediatric hospitals in San Diego County, CA, during 1991-2000. Acute neurologic abnormalities and imaging evidence of demyelination were required for study inclusion. Epidemiologic variables, risk factors, clinical course, laboratory and radiographic findings, neuropathology and treatment data were analyzed. Interleukin (IL)-12, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-10 were assayed in blinded manner on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained prospectively from a subset of ADEM cases and compared with CSF from patients with enteroviral (EV) meningoencephalitis confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and controls without pleocytosis. RESULTS: Data were analyzed on 42 children and adolescents diagnosed with ADEM during 1991-2000, and CSF IL-12, IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels were compared among ADEM (n = 14), EV meningoencephalitis (n = 14) and controls without pleocytosis (n = 28). Overall incidence of ADEM was 0.4/100,000/year; incidence quadrupled during 1998-2000 compared with earlier years. No gender, age stratum, ethnic group or geographic area was disproportionately affected. A total of 4 (9.5%) patients initially diagnosed with ADEM were subsequently diagnosed with MS after multiple episodes of demyelination. Although most children eventually recovered, 2 died, including 1 of the 3 ultimately diagnosed with MS. Magnetic resonance imaging was required for diagnosis among 74% of patients; computerized tomography findings were usually normal. Patients with EV had significantly higher mean CSF IFN-gamma (P = 0.005) and IL-10 (P = 0.05) than patients with ADEM and controls without CSF pleocytosis. CSF from ADEM patients had CSF cytokine values statistically similar to those of 3 patients subsequently diagnosed with MS. CONCLUSIONS: ADEM is a potentially severe demyelinating disorder likely to be increasingly diagnosed as more magnetic resonance imaging studies are performed on patients with acute encephalopathy. Further characterization of the central nervous system inflammatory response will be needed to understand ADEM pathogenesis, to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies and to distinguish ADEM from MS.

Mutations in the gene PRRT2 cause paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia with infantile convulsions.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia with infantile convulsions (PKD/IC) is an episodic movement disorder with autosomal-dominant inheritance and high penetrance, but the causative genetic mutation is unknown. We have now identified four truncating mutations involving the gene PRRT2 in the vast majority (24/25) of well-characterized families with PKD/IC. PRRT2 truncating mutations were also detected in 28 of 78 additional families. PRRT2 encodes a proline-rich transmembrane protein of unknown function that has been reported to interact with the t-SNARE, SNAP25. PRRT2 localizes to axons but not to dendritic processes in primary neuronal culture, and mutants associated with PKD/IC lead to dramatically reduced PRRT2 levels, leading ultimately to neuronal hyperexcitability that manifests in vivo as PKD/IC.

Three-channel electroencephalogram montage in neonatal seizure detection and quantification.

We compared three-channel montage with 21-channel neonatal minimal placement montage for the detection of neonatal seizures and quantification of seizure burden. Thirty-five neonatal electroencephalograms were retrospectively and blindly reviewed by two independent readers. Tracings were analyzed in the three-channel montage for seizure number, duration, and quantification of seizure burden before reanalysis with the full 21-channel neonatal minimal placement montage. Seizures were identified using standard definitions of electroencephalographic seizure. Sensitivity, specificity, and interrater reliability were calculated. The sensitivity and specificity of three-channel montage for detecting seizures > 10 seconds were 91% and 100% for reader 1, respectively, and 82% and 96% for reader 2, respectively. The interrater agreement for detection of seizures was excellent (κ = 0.86, 94% percent overall agreement). For quantification of seizure burden, strong, positive correlation existed between assessments by full montage and three-channel montage (for reader 1, r = 0.945, n = 11, P < 0.0001; for reader 2, r = 0.902, n = 11, P < 0.0001), and strong correlation existed between the readers for three-channel montage (r = 0.879, n = 11, P < 0.0001). Despite its limitations, three-channel montage is useful in the detection of neonatal seizures and quantification of seizure burden.

Childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system: two biopsy-proven cases.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare idiopathic vasculitis predominantly affecting the central nervous system. The literature includes 10 histologically confirmed cases in childhood. We identify two additional cases, one presenting with both uveitis and cerebrospinal fluid neutrophilic pleocytosis, which has not been reported previously, and demonstrate the importance of biopsy in suspected cases.