Cervical myelitis from herpes simplex virus type 1.

Although subacute ascending paralysis without sensory involvement is typically evocative of Guillain-Barré syndrome, it can alternatively be due to infection or inflammation of the spinal cord. We describe a 16-month-old female who presented with ascending flaccid paresis after an upper respiratory tract infection. She then developed signs of upper motor neuron involvement of the lower limbs associated with upper motor neuron involvement of the upper limbs. Motor nerve conduction and electromyographic studies of upper limbs demonstrated anterior horn cell involvement. Neuroimaging was consistent with cervical myelitis, and cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction was positive for herpesvirus-1. Although association with the primary infection of the respiratory tract may be fortuitous, possible neurotropic or hematogenous spread of herpesvirus-1 to the cervical spinal cord cannot be excluded. She then developed signs of upper motor neuron involvement of the lower limbs associatred with lower motor neuron involvement of the upper limbs [corrected].

Nonsurgical cerebellar mutism (anarthria) in two children.

Cerebellar mutism (anarthria) is a well-described complication of posterior fossa tumor resection. It is accompanied by a characteristic behavior including irritability and autistic features. This syndrome is typically reversible within days to months. Underlying pathophysiology is unknown. We describe two children who presented with a similar clinical finding after nonsurgical cerebellar involvement, hemolytic-uremic syndrome in one and cerebellitis in the other. Postmortem pathologic findings in the first patient indicated cerebellar ischemic necrosis. Single-photon emission computed tomography in the second patient revealed diffuse cerebellar hypoperfusion with no supratentorial abnormalities, refuting a phenomenon of diaschisis between cerebellar and frontal connections. These findings confirm that this clinical syndrome may occur in a nonsurgical, nontraumatic context. They are consistent with recent integrative hypotheses explaining cerebellar anarthria.

Unilateral cortical necrosis following status epilepticus with hypoglycemia.

Isolated status epilepticus or severe hypoglycemia rarely causes irreversible focal neurologic deficits in children. We describe three children who presented with status epilepticus and prolonged hypoglycemia resulting in hemiplegia due to unilateral hemispheric damage. The non-vascular cortical topography of the lesions is consistent with selective neuronal necrosis, confirmed by histopathology in one patient. This suggests increased neuronal vulnerability to necrosis secondary to energy failure resulting from combination of hypoglycemia and status epilepticus.

Motor strategies in standing up in leukomalacic spastic diplegia.

In spastic diplegia impaired postural control jeopardizes the organization of whole-body movements. We studied segmental motor patterns involved in standing up from a supine position in ten children with spastic diplegia associated with periventricular leukomalacia and 14 unimpaired children using a visual analysis scale previously devised for developmental research. This approach examines specific movement patterns in upper limbs, axis and lower limbs. We found that children with spastic diplegia use movement patterns described in normal children but with markedly reduced intra- and interindividual variability. One previously undescribed stereotyped lower limb pattern was observed in four patients. This approach can systematically characterize the limited repertoire of movement in patients with spastic diplegia and therefore contribute to a better understanding of motor control.