Retrospective study on neonatal seizures in a tertiary center of northern Italy after ILAE classification: Incidence, seizure type, EEG and etiology.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate epidemiology, seizure type, EEG, and etiology of neonatal seizures (NS) in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: Data on infants with a neurophysiological confirmation of NS were collected between 2009 and 2022. Seizure types and epileptic syndromes were classified by the ILAE classification and EEG by the Italian Neonatal Seizure Collaborative Network (INNESCO) score. RESULTS: Out of 91,253 neonates, 145 presented with NS; 69.7 % were born at term and 30.3 % were preterm infants. The incidence of NS in neonates born at our center was 1.2 per 1,000 live newborns (96/80697 neonates) while in the entire neonatal population admitted to our center it was 1.6 per 1,000 live births, increasing with lower preterm age. Compared to previous studies, we found a lower proportion of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (23.4 %) and a higher rate of genetic contribution (26.2 %). The infection rate was higher in preterm (31.8 %) than in full term (9.9 %) infants. Electrographic seizures were associated with acute provoked seizures (35.9 %), preterm age (52.3 %), and HIE (52.9 %). Vascular etiology was associated with focal clonic seizures (56.8 %). Non-structural neonatal genetic epilepsy was associated with sequential seizures (68.2 %), particularly KCNQ2 and SCN2A epilepsy. Background EEG was abnormal in all HIE, infections (85.7 %) and metabolic NS (83.3 %). In genetic epilepsy, background EEG depended on the epileptic syndrome: normal in 80 % of self-limited neonatal epilepsy and abnormal in 77.8 % of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Electroclinical seizures were associated with focal onset, while electrographic seizures correlated with a multifocal onset. CONCLUSIONS: A low incidence of HIE and a high incidence of genetic etiology were observed in our cohort of NS. Seizure type and EEG features are fundamental to address etiology.

Sleep and sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with spinal muscular atrophy: a changing perspective from novel treatments?

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, resulting from the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. A critical aspect of SMA is its impact on respiratory function. As the disease progresses, respiratory muscles, in particular intercostal muscles, become increasingly affected, leading to breathing difficulties and respiratory failure. Without intervention, many children with SMA type 1 die from respiratory failure before their second year of life. While assisted ventilation has improved survival, it often results in ventilator dependence. The development of new SMN-augmenting therapies has renewed optimism, but their long-term impact on respiratory function is uncertain, and non-invasive respiratory support remains an important part of SMA management. Despite the importance of respiratory support in SMA, knowledge regarding sleep disorders in this population is limited. This review aims to synthesize existing literature on sleep and sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with SMA, with a focus on SMA type 1. We summarize evidence of sleep-disordered breathing and respiratory failure in SMA, as well as outcomes and survival benefits associated with non-invasive or invasive ventilation with or without pharmacological therapies. We also discuss current knowledge regarding the effects of novel disease-modifying therapies for SMA on respiratory function and sleep. In conclusion, optimal care for children with SMA requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes neurology and respiratory specialists. This review highlights the importance of monitoring sleep and respiratory function in SMA, as well as the potential benefits and challenges associated with assisted ventilation combined with new therapies.

GABRB1-related early onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy: Clinical trajectory and novel de novo mutation.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 45 (DEE45) is a neurogenetic disorder caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants of GABRB1, encoding the beta1 subunit of the GABA type A receptor. Only three infants with DEE45 have been reported so far, and a detailed description of the disease history of these patients is still lacking. We describe the clinical and genetic findings of a 21-year-old woman with DEE45 carrying a novel de novo GABRB1 mutation (c.841A>G, p.T281A). The patient presented at birth with hypotonia and focal apneic seizures evolving in a phenotype of epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures that were refractory to antiseizure medications. Epileptic spasms partially responsive to steroid therapy appeared in the second year of life. Acquired microcephaly, profound mental retardation, and tetraparesis became evident with development. During childhood and adolescence, the epileptic phenotype evolved toward a Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Atypical absence status and clusters of tonic seizures occurred, often triggered by respiratory infections. The main strengths of this work are the identification of a novel pathogenic GABRB1 variant localized in the same transmembrane domain of a previously described mutation and the detailed description of the clinical trajectory of GABRB1-related encephalopathy along 21 years of disease history.

Early acute cerebellar ataxia after meningococcal B vaccine: a case report of a 7-month-old infant and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA) and acute cerebellitis represent disorders characterized by a para-infectious, post-infectious, or post-vaccination cerebellar inflammation. They are relatively common neurologic disorders among children, and may follow infections, or, more rarely, vaccinations. Few cases are instead described among infants. Although the immunization with meningococcal group B (MenB) vaccine has been associated with some neurological side effects, suspected ACA has been reported only once in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: we describe a 7-month-old female that presented ACA within 24 h from the MenB second dose vaccination. Extensive laboratory studies and magnetic resonance imaging excluded other causes. We then conducted an extended review of other vaccine related cases reported in the literature, focusing on the clinical characteristics of ACA and finding that ataxia and cerebellitis of para- or post-infectious cause are very rarely described in the first year of life. We collected 20 articles published in the last 30 years, including an amount of 1663 patients (1-24 years) with ACA. CONCLUSIONS: a very small number of suspected post-vaccinal ataxias has been described in recent years, compared to other causes, and vaccination remains an unquestionable medical need. Further research is needed to clarify the complex pathogenesis of this disorder and its eventual link with vaccinations.

Case Report: Effect of Targeted Therapy With Carbamazepine in KCNQ2 Neonatal Epilepsy.

We present a family case of neonatal-onset KCNQ2-related epilepsy due to a novel intronic mutation. Three members of an Italian family (father and offspring) presented with neonatal-onset asymmetric tonic and clonic seizures with peculiar video-electroencephalography and aEEG features referring to sequential seizures. The father and the first son underwent standard of care treatments in line with current neonatal intensive care unit protocols, with a prolonged hospitalization before reaching full seizure control with carbamazepine. After the experience acquired with her family and the latest advances in the literature, the younger daughter was directly treated with carbamazepine, obtaining rapid seizure control and short hospitalization. They all had normal development. Carbamazepine is rarely administered as a first-line option in neonatal seizures. Recent evidence suggests that neonatal intensive care unit protocols should implement a trial with sodium channel blockers such as carbamazepine as first-option anti-seizure medication and a fast access to genetic testing in neonates with sequential seizures without structural brain injury or acute causes. Moreover, we report and discuss the laboratory studies performed on a novel causative intronic mutation in KCNQ2 (c.1525+5 G>A in IVS13), since pathogenicity may be difficult to prove for intronic variants.

Sodium Levels Predict Disability at Discharge in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory polyradiculopathy with potentially severe complications. Clinical tools for risk stratification have been developed, but no definitive prognostic biomarker has been reported. Hyponatremia is frequent in GBS patients, but the impact of serum sodium levels on clinical outcomes is still ill-defined. In this retrospective cohort study, we included all adult patients diagnosed with GBS spectrum disorders at our center from January 2010 to July 2020. Disability at discharge was assessed with the GBS Disability Score (GDS), and all clinical and laboratory data was retrieved from medical charts. Thirty (58.8%) of the 51 subjects included in the study were discharged with severe residual disability (GDS ≥ 3). After accounting for relevant confounders, the odds of experiencing severe disability decreased by 27% (p = 0.027) for each unitary increase in serum sodium concentration. Thirteen (25.5%) patients were diagnosed with mild to moderate hyponatremia; the use of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) independently increased the odds of developing hyponatremia. In conclusion, we found a significant, independent association between baseline serum sodium levels and severe disability at discharge in GBS patients. In our cohort, hyponatremia was more frequently observed after treatment with IVIG, suggesting dilutional pseudohyponatremia as a probable cause.

Impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of patients with neuromuscular disorders in the Lombardy area, Italy.

INTRODUCTION: /AIMS: Patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs), including many elderly, immunosuppressed, and disabled individuals, may have been particularly affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Lombardy, a COVID-19 high-incidence area between February and May 2020. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life (QoL) and perceived disease burden of this group of patients. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional phone-based survey study between June 1 and June 14, 2020, on a sample of 240 NMD patients followed at our clinic in Milan, Italy. We asked about perceived NMD burden and QoL before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected responses on access to outpatient care and ancillary services. We investigated the presence of symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection and confirmed cases. RESULTS: We collected 205 responses: 53 patients (25.9%) reported a subjective worsening of the underlying NMD. QoL measures showed a significant worsening between pre and pandemic time frames (odds ratio, 2.14 95%; confidence interval, 1.82-2.51). Outpatient visits were postponed in more than half of cases (57.1%), with 104 patients (50.7%) experiencing a cancellation of scheduled diagnostic tests. 79 patients (38.5%) reported at least one symptom attributable to COVID-19 infection. Among the 10 patients tested with nasopharyngeal swabs, 6 tested positive and 3 died from respiratory failure, including 2 patients on corticosteroid/ immunosuppressive therapy. DISCUSSION: The COVID-19 pandemic affected QoL and limited access to outpatient care and ancillary services of NMD patients in Lombardy between February and May 2020.

Early Findings in Neonatal Cases of RYR1-Related Congenital Myopathies.

Ryanodine receptor type 1-related congenital myopathies are the most represented subgroup among congenital myopathies (CMs), typically presenting a central core or multiminicore muscle histopathology and high clinical heterogeneity. We evaluated a cohort of patients affected with Ryanodine receptor type 1-related congenital myopathy (RYR1-RCM), focusing on four patients who showed a severe congenital phenotype and underwent a comprehensive characterization at few months of life. To date there are few reports on precocious instrumental assessment. In two out of the four patients, a muscle biopsy was performed in the first days of life (day 5 and 37, respectively) and electron microscopy was carried out in two patients detecting typical features of congenital myopathy. Two patients underwent brain MRI in the first months of life (15 days and 2 months, respectively), one also a fetal brain MRI. In three children electromyography was performed in the first week of life and neurogenic signs were excluded. Muscle MRI obtained within the first years of life showed a typical pattern of RYR1-CM. The diagnosis was confirmed through genetic analysis in three out of four cases using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panels. The development of a correct and rapid diagnosis is a priority and may lead to prompt medical management and helps optimize inclusion in future clinical trials.

Missense mutations in small muscle protein X-linked (SMPX) cause distal myopathy with protein inclusions.

Using deep phenotyping and high-throughput sequencing, we have identified a novel type of distal myopathy caused by mutations in the Small muscle protein X-linked (SMPX) gene. Four different missense mutations were identified in ten patients from nine families in five different countries, suggesting that this disease could be prevalent in other populations as well. Haplotype analysis of patients with similar ancestry revealed two different founder mutations in Southern Europe and France, indicating that the prevalence in these populations may be higher. In our study all patients presented with highly similar clinical features: adult-onset, usually distal more than proximal limb muscle weakness, slowly progressing over decades with preserved walking. Lower limb muscle imaging showed a characteristic pattern of muscle involvement and fatty degeneration. Histopathological and electron microscopic analysis of patient muscle biopsies revealed myopathic findings with rimmed vacuoles and the presence of sarcoplasmic inclusions, some with amyloid-like characteristics. In silico predictions and subsequent cell culture studies showed that the missense mutations increase aggregation propensity of the SMPX protein. In cell culture studies, overexpressed SMPX localized to stress granules and slowed down their clearance.

Clinical features and disease course of patients with acute ischaemic stroke just before the Italian index case: Was COVID-19 already there?

Since the end of February 2020, Italy has suffered one of the most severe outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, what happened just before the Italian index case has not yet been investigated. To answer this question, we evaluated the potential impact of COVID-19 on the clinical features of a cohort of neurological inpatients admitted right before the Italian index case, as compared to the same period of the previous year. Demographic, clinical, treatment and laboratory data were extracted from medical records. The data collected included all inpatients who had been admitted to the Neurology and Stroke Units of the Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy, from December 15, 2018 to February 20, 2019 and from December 15, 2019 to February 20, 2020. Of the 248 patients, 97 subjects (39.1%) were admitted for an acute cerebrovascular event: 46 in the 2018/2019 period (mean [SD] age, 72.3 [15.6] years; 22 men [47.8%]), and 51 in the 2019/2020 interval (mean [SD] age, 72.8 [12.4] years; 24 men [47.1%]). The number of cryptogenic strokes has increased during the 2019-2020 year, as compared to the previous year (30 [58.8%] vs. 18 [39.1%], p = 0.05). These patients had a longer hospitalization (mean [SD] day, 15.7 [10.5] days vs. mean [SD] day, 11.7 [7.2] days, p = 0.03) and more frequent cerebrovascular complications (9 [30.0%] vs. 2 [11.1%]), but presented a lower incidence of cardiocerebral risk factors (18 [60.0%] vs. 14 [77.8%]). Right before the Italian index case, an increase in cryptogenic strokes has occurred, possibly due to the concomitant COVID-19.

Hyperacute extensive spinal cord infarction and negative spine magnetic resonance imaging: a case report and review of the literature.

RATIONALE: Spinal cord infarction (SCI) accounts for only 1% to 2% of all ischemic strokes and 5% to 8% of acute myelopathies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) holds a role in ruling out non-ischemic etiologies, but the diagnostic accuracy of this procedure may be low in confirming the diagnosis, even when extensive cord lesions are present. Indeed, T2 changes on MRI can develop over hours to days, thus accounting for the low sensitivity in the hyperacute setting (ie, within 6 hours from symptom onset). For these reasons, SCI remains a clinical diagnosis. Despite extensive diagnostic work-up, up to 20% to 40% of SCI cases are classified as cryptogenic. Here, we describe a case of cryptogenic longitudinally extensive transverse myelopathy due to SCI, with negative MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging at 9 hours after symptom onset. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 51-year-old woman presented to our Emergency Department with acute severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, sudden-onset of bilateral leg weakness with diffuse sensory loss, and paresthesias on the trunk and legs. DIAGNOSES: On neurological examination, she showed severe paraparesis and a D6 sensory level. A 3T spinal cord MRI with gadolinium performed at 9 hours after symptom onset did not detect spinal cord alterations. Due to the persistence of a clinical picture suggestive of an acute myelopathy, a 3T MRI of the spine was repeated after 72 hours showing a hyperintense "pencil-like" signal mainly involving the grey matter from T1 to T6 on T2 sequence, mildly hypointense on T1 and with restricted diffusion. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was given salicylic acid (100 mg/d), prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin, and began neuromotor rehabilitation. OUTCOMES: Two months later, a follow-up neurological examination revealed a severe spastic paraparesis, no evident sensory level, and poor sphincteric control with distended bladder. LESSONS: Regardless of its relatively low frequency in the general population, SCI should be suspected in every patient presenting with acute and progressive myelopathic symptoms, even in the absence of vascular risk factors. Thus, a clinical presentation consistent with a potential vascular syndrome involving the spinal cord overrides an initially negative MRI and should not delay timely and appropriate management.

Estimating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on services provided by Italian Neuromuscular Centers: an Italian Association of Myology survey of the acute phase.

INTRODUCTION: Since February 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy has forced the health care system to undergo profound rearrangements in its services and facilities, especially in the worst-hit areas in Northern Italy. In this setting, inpatient and outpatient services had to rethink and reorganize their activities to meet the needs of patients during the "lockdown". The Italian Association of Myology developed a survey to estimate the impact of these changes on patients affected by neuromuscular disorders and on specialized neuromuscular centers during the acute phase of COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We developed an electronic survey that was sent to neuromuscular centers affiliated with the Italian Association of Myology, assessing changes in pharmacological therapies provision, outpatient clinical and instrumental services, support services (physiotherapy, nursing care, psychological support) and clinical trials. RESULTS: 40% of surveyed neuromuscular centers reported a reduction in outpatient visit and examinations (44.5% of centers in Northern regions; 25% of centers in Central regions; 50% of centers in Southern regions). Twenty-two% of centers postponed in-hospital administration of therapies for neuromuscular diseases (23.4% in Northern regions; 13.0% in Central regions; 20% in Southern regions). Diagnostic and support services (physiotherapy, nursing care, psychological support) were suspended in 57% of centers (66/43/44% in Northern, Central and Southern centers respectively) Overall, the most affected services were rehabilitative services and on-site outpatient visits, which were suspended in 93% of centers. Strategies adopted by neuromuscular centers to overcome these changes included maintaining urgent on-site visits, addressing patients to available services and promoting remote contact and telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant disruption of clinical and support services for patients with neuromuscular diseases. Despite the efforts to provide telemedicine consults to patients, this option could be promoted and improved further. A close collaboration between the different neuromuscular centers and service providers as well as further implementation of telehealth platforms are necessary to ensure quality care to NMD patients in the near future and in case of recurrent pandemic waves.

Acute flaccid paralysis due to Echovirus 30 in an immunosuppressed transplant recipient.

An Italian 13-year-old boy immunosuppressed due to kidney transplant presented in November 2018 with acute flaccid paralysis with anterior horn cell involvement resembling the clinical, radiological, and laboratory features of poliomyelitis. Enterovirus was molecularly identified in cerebral spinal fluid and stool samples and the sequence analysis of the VP1 gene of enterovirus genome revealed the presence of Echovirus 30 both in CSF and in stool samples. Echovirus 30 is an emerging neurotropic virus able to cause outbreaks of aseptic meningitis and meningoencephalitis all over the world, but acute flaccid paralysis is not a classical manifestation. A 6-month follow-up revealed a poor outcome with severe motor deficits and only slight improvement in disability. Clinicians must be aware of the possible role of Echovirus 30 in acute flaccid paralysis and active surveillance should consider the possible influence of immunosuppression on the symptoms caused by the widening spectrum of enterovirus infections.

Ophthalmoplegia Due to Miller Fisher Syndrome in a Patient With Myasthenia Gravis.

Here, we describe a 79-year-old man, admitted to our unit for worsening diplopia and fatigue, started a few weeks after an episode of bronchitis and flu vaccination. Past medical history includes myasthenia gravis (MG), well-controlled by Pyridostigmine, Azathioprine, and Prednisone. During the first days, the patient developed progressive ocular movement abnormalities up to complete external ophthalmoplegia, severe limb and gait ataxia, and mild dysarthria. Deep tendon reflexes were absent in lower limbs. Since not all the symptoms were explainable with the previous diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, other etiologies were investigated. Brain MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis were normal. Electromyography showed a pattern of predominantly sensory multiple radiculoneuritis. Suspecting Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), the patient was treated with plasmapheresis with subsequent clinical improvement. Antibodies against GQ1b turned out to be positive. MFS is an immune-mediated neuropathy presenting with ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Even if only a few cases of MFS overlapping with MG have been described so far, the coexistence of two different autoimmune disorders can occur. It is always important to evaluate possible differential diagnosis even in case of known compatible diseases, especially when some clinical features seem atypical.

Therapeutic effect of Anakinra in the relapsing chronic phase of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome.

Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a severe epileptic encephalopathy with presumed inflammatory origin and lacking effective treatments. Anakinra is the human recombinant interleukin 1 receptor antagonist clinically used in autoinflammatory or autoimmune conditions. We report a case of FIRES for which the spatial and temporal match between electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) focal alterations provides support for the detrimental synergic interplay between seizures and inflammation that may evolve to permanent focal lesions and progressive brain atrophy in weeks to months. Brain biopsy showed aspects of chronic neuroinflammation with scarce parenchymal lymphocytes. We report the novel evidence that anakinra reduces the relapse of highly recurrent refractory seizures at 1.5 years after FIRES onset. Our evidence, together with previously reported therapeutic effects of anakinra administered since the first days of disease onset, support the hypothesis that interleukin 1ß and inflammation-related factors play a crucial role in seizure recurrence in both the acute and chronic stages of the disease.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell models for the study and treatment of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies.

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies are the most common muscle diseases and are both currently incurable. They are caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which lead to the absence or reduction/truncation of the encoded protein, with progressive muscle degeneration that clinically manifests in muscle weakness, cardiac and respiratory involvement and early death. The limits of animal models to exactly reproduce human muscle disease and to predict clinically relevant treatment effects has prompted the development of more accurate in vitro skeletal muscle models. However, the challenge of effectively obtaining mature skeletal muscle cells or satellite stem cells as primary cultures has hampered the development of in vitro models. Here, we discuss the recently developed technologies that enable the differentiation of skeletal muscle from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of Duchenne and Becker patients. These systems recapitulate key disease features including inflammation and scarce regenerative myogenic capacity that are partially rescued by genetic and pharmacological therapies and can provide a useful platform to study and realize future therapeutic treatments. Implementation of this model also takes advantage of the developing genome editing field, which is a promising approach not only for correcting dystrophin, but also for modulating the underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle development, regeneration and disease. These data prove the possibility of creating an accurate Duchenne and Becker in vitro model starting from iPSCs, to be used for pathogenetic studies and for drug screening to identify strategies capable of stopping or reversing muscular dystrophinopathies and other muscle diseases.