Serum vitamin B12 and D levels in children with Primary Raynaud Phenomenon: a retrospective cohort study.

Primary Raynaud phenomenon (RP) is resultant from transient vasospasm of peripheral arteries and arterioles, is usually precipitated by cold exposure or emotional stress, without any clue for autoimmune connective tissue diseases. We aimed to determine the frequency of vitamin D and B12 deficiencies in pediatric patients with primary RP, and to investigate their roles on the disease course. Vitamin B12 and D were supplemented if the patients had deficiencies. The study included 40 children with primary RP, 29 (72.5%) female and 11 (27.5%) male. The mean and median age were 15.1 ± 1.8 and 15.5 (range, 11.5-17.8) years. Symptoms were improved in 31 (77.5%) patients with warming procedures. Seventeen (41.5%) and 16 (39%) patients had low serum vitamin B12 and D levels, respectively. Vasodilator treatment requirement did not change by vitamin B12 status but was significantly lower in vitamin D deficient and replaced patients. Further studies are needed to clarify our results.

A rare cause of status epilepticus; alpha lipoic acid intoxication, case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant widely used for the supplementary treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Intoxication with alpha lipoic acid is very rare. There is no reported dose of safety in children. CASE REPORT: A 14-month-old previously healthy girl was referred to our hospital with the diagnosis of drug intoxication. She was admitted to the emergency department with lethargy and continuing involuntary movements for several hours after she had ingested an unknown amount of alpha lipoic acid. On admission she was lethargic and had myoclonic seizures involving all extremities. She had no fever and laboratory examinations were normal except for mild metabolic acidosis. The seizures were unresponsive to bolus midazolam, phenytoin infusion and levetiracetam infusion. She was taken to the pediatric intensive care unit with the diagnosis of status epilepticus. After failure of the treatment with midazolam infusion she was intubated and thiopental sodium infusion was started. Her myoclonic seizures were controlled with thiopental sodium infusion. After 48 h intubation and mechanical ventilation thiopental sodium was gradually reduced and then stopped. Following the withdraw of thiopental sodium, she was seizure free on her discharge on the 8th day. CONCLUSION: Alpha lipoic acid and derivatives cause side effects in children like refractory convulsions. They are frequently rendered as vitamins by diabetic patients and are left at places where children can easily access them. Therefore, when faced with refractory convulsions in children who have had no disease before, intoxication by medicaments with alpha lipoic acid should be taken into consideration.