Clinical, Demographic, and Radiological Characteristics of Patients Demonstrating Antibodies Against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein

Background: Optic neuritis, myelitis, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have been associated with antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G (anti-MOG-IgG). Furthermore, patients with radiological and demographic features atypical for multiple sclerosis (MS) with optic neuritis and myelitis also demonstrate antibodies against aquaporin-4 and anti-MOG-IgG. However, data on the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and prognosis in patients with anti-MOG-IgG are limited. Aims: To evaluate the clinical, radiological, and demographic characteristics of patients with anti-MOG-IgG. Study Design: Multicenter, retrospective, observational study. Methods: Patients with blood samples demonstrating anti-MOG-IgG that had been evaluated at the Neuroimmunology laboratory at Ondokuz Mayis University's Faculty of Medicine were included in the study. Results: Of the 104 patients with anti-MOG-IgG, 56.7% were women and 43.3% were men. Approximately 2.4% of the patients were diagnosed with MS, 15.8% with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), 39.4% with NMOSD, 31.3% with isolated optic neuritis, and 11.1% with isolated myelitis. Approximately 53.1% of patients with spinal involvement at clinical onset demonstrated a clinical course of NMOSD. Thereafter, 8.8% of these patients demonstrated a clinical course similar to MS and ADEM, and 28.1% demonstrated a clinical course of isolated myelitis. The response to acute attack treatment was lower and the disability was higher in patients aged > 40 years than patients aged < 40 years at clinical onset. Oligoclonal band was detected in 15.5% of the patients. Conclusion: For patients with NMOSD and without anti-NMO antibodies, the diagnosis is supported by the presence of anti-MOG-IgG. Furthermore, advanced age at clinical onset, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at clinical onset, spinal cord involvement, and number of attacks may be negative prognostic factors in patients with anti-MOG-IgG.

Becker's myotonia: novel mutations and clinical variability in patients born to consanguineous parents.

Myotonia congenita is an inherited muscle disease present from childhood that is characterized by impaired muscle relaxation after contraction resulting in muscle stiffness; moreover, skeletal striated muscle groups may be involved. Myotonia congenita occurs due to chloride (Cl) channel mutations that reduce the stabilizing Cl conductance, and it is caused by mutations in the CLCN1 gene. This paper describes four patients from two different healthy consanguineous Turkish families with muscle stiffness and easy fatigability. A genetic investigation was performed. Mutation analyses showed a homozygous p.Tyr150* (c.450C > A) mutation in patients 1, 2 and 3 and a homozygous p.Leu159Cysfs*11 (c.475delC) mutation in patient 4 in the CLCN1 gene. These mutations have never been reported before and in silico analyses showed that the mutations were disease causing. They may be predicted to cause nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Our data expand the spectrum of CLCN1 mutations and provide insights for genotype-phenotype correlations of myotonia congenita.

Clinical presentation of anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and anti-voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibodies in children: A series of 24 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The symptomatology and paraclinical findings of antibody-mediated encephalitis, a relatively novel disorder, are still being characterized in adults and children. A high index of suspicion is needed in order to identify these cases among children presenting with various neurological symptoms. The aim of this study is to examine the clinical, demographic and laboratory findings and outcome of children with anti-NMDAR and anti-VGKC encephalitis for any typical or distinctive features. METHODS: Cases diagnosed with anti-N-Methyl d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and anti-voltage gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibody-mediated encephalopathy in four major child neurology centers are described. RESULTS: In four years, 16 children with NMDAR and 8 children with VGKC antibody-associated disease were identified in the participating centers. The most frequent initial manifestation consisted of generalized seizures and cognitive symptoms in both groups. Movement abnormalities were frequent in anti-NMDAR patients and autonomic symptoms, in anti-VGKC patients. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein, cell count and IgG index were normal in 9/15 anti-NMDAR and 5/8 anti-VGKC patients tested. EEG and MRI findings were usually nonspecific and non-contributory. The rate and time of recovery was not related to age, sex, acute or subacute onset, antibody type, MRI, EEG or CSF results. Treatment within 3 months of onset was associated with normal neurological outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest anti-NMDAR and VGKC encephalopathies mostly present with non-focal neurological symptoms longer than 3 weeks. In contrast with adult cases, routine CSF testing, MRI and EEG did not contribute to the diagnosis in this series.

Pancytopenia due to linezolid treatment.

Antibiotic-resistant infections constitute a significant portion of severe childhood infections. A gradually increasing resistance and treatment difficulty are observed in infections caused by enterococci, staphylococci and pneumococci. Linezolid is one of the new antibiotics which has recently been introduced for clinical use with gram positive efficiency. In this article, a pediatric patient with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection who developed reversible bone marrow supression related with use of linesolid was presented. A shunt was inserted in a ten-month old female patient who had been operated at the age of one month because of meningomyelocele and who had developed hydrocephalus. Linezolid and meropenem treatment was started when vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase positive Escherichia coli grew in cerebrospinal fluid culture. In the second week of treatment, cerebrospinal fluid findings improved. However, bone marrow supression was observed. Linezolid treatment was discontinued. In the follow-up, the blood cell counts returned to normal levels.

Effects of thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate on epileptic episode model established with caffeine in rats.

This study examines the effect of thiamine (TH) and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) on epileptic episode model induced in rats with caffeine. Animals were divided into groups and given TH or TPP at doses of 10, 30 or 50mg/kg intraperitoneally. Subsequently, all animal groups were injected intraperitoneally with caffeine at a dose of 300mg/kg. Time of onset of epileptic episode was recorded, and the latent period was calculated in seconds. At the end of the experiment, tGSH and MDA levels and SOD and MPO enzyme activities in extracted brain tissues were measured. Latent period duration in rats in the control group was 134±3.2s, compared to 144±13.9, 147±14.5 and 169±15.1s, respectively, in the TH10, TH30 and TH50 groups and 184±8.54, 197±9.1, 225±8.37s, respectively, in the TPP10, TPP30 and TPP50 groups. Latent period duration was 236±6.7 in the diazepam group. Oxidant products were significantly lower in the TPP10, TPP30, TPP50 and diazepam groups compared to the control group (P<0.05), while SOD activity and tGSH levels were significantly higher (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the TH10, TH30, TH50 groups and the control group in terms of oxidant and antioxidant levels (P>0.05). In conclusions, TPP, especially at a dose of 50mg/kg, significantly prolonged the latent period from administration of caffeine to time of episode and prevented oxidative damage.

An examination of the mutual effects of valproic acid, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital on 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and thyroid function tests.

BACKGROUND: The effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on bone metabolism and the endocrine system are not fully known, and publications on the subject are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to examine the mutual effects of valproic acid (VPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), and phenobarbital (PB)-AEDs frequently used in childhood-on bone mineral metabolism and thyroid function tests. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children monitored with a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy by the pediatric neurology clinic, using AEDs for at least 6 months and with episodes under control, were included in the study. Patients were divided into groups on the basis of the drugs used. Thyroid function tests and 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D levels were measured from blood specimens. The data obtained were then compared with those of the control group. RESULTS: A significantly high level of subclinical hypothyroidism was seen in patients using VPA (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between any of the three study groups and the control group in terms of 25(OH)D (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients using AEDs, particularly VPA, should be monitored for subclinical hypothyroidism. VPA, CBZ, and PB have no effect on vitamin D levels.

Prognostic value of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography in neonates with hypernatremic dehydration.

OBJECTIVES: Hypernatremic dehydration in neonates is a condition that develops due to inadequate fluid intake and it may lead to cerebral damage. We aimed to determine whether there was an association between serum sodium levels on admission and aEEG patterns and prognosis, as well as any association between aEEG findings and survival rates and long-term prognosis. METHOD: The present study included all term infants hospitalized for hypernatremic dehydration in between January 2010 and May 2011. Infants were monitored by aEEG. At 2 years of age, we performed a detailed evaluation to assess the impact of hypernatremic dehydration on the neurodevelopmental outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-one infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for hypernatremic dehydration. A correlation was found between increased serum sodium levels and aEEG abnormalities. Neurodevelopmental assessment was available for 17 of the 21 infants. The results revealed that hypernatremic dehydration did not adversely affect the long-term outcomes. CONCLUSION: The follow-up of newborns after discharge is key to determine the risks associated with hypernatremic dehydration. Our results suggest that hypernatremic dehydration had no impact on the long-term outcome. In addition, continuous aEEG monitoring could provide information regarding early prognosis and mortality.

Serum thyroid hormone profile and trace elements in children receiving valproic acid therapy: a longitudinal and controlled study.

Valproic acid (VPA) may affect thyroid hormone profile, causing alteration in serum trace elements concentrations. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate this relationship in children receiving VPA monotherapy for a period up to 6 months. Serum thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroglobuline (TG), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) levels were evaluated at baseline and at the 6th month in all the patients and in the control group. The mean Cu concentration in the 6th months of VPA therapy was significantly lower than that of the control group. TSH level was significantly increased in the patient group whereas FT4 was significantly decreased. The mean TSH level in the 6th month of VPA therapy was significantly higher than that of the control group, whereas mean T4 level was significantly lower. The Cu level in the 6th months of VPA therapy was positively correlated with T4 level. ΔlogCu and ΔTSH were negatively correlated. This study suggests that the alteration in the serum thyroid hormone profile during VPA therapy may result from the reduction in serum Cu levels.

Hartnup disease masked by kwashiorkor.

This report describes an 11-month old girl with Hartnup disease presenting with kwashiorkor and acrodermatitis enteropathica-like skin lesions but free of other clinical findings. This case with kwashiorkor had acrodermatitis enteropathica-like desquamative skin eruption. Since zinc level was in the normal range, investigation for a metabolic disorder was considered, and Hartnup disease was diagnosed.

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome attributable to hepatitis C infection.

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome is a rare neurologic disorder characterized by multidirectional chaotic eye movements, myoclonus in the limbs, and ataxia. We present a 9-year-old boy with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with hepatitis C infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with hepatitis C infection.

Bilateral oculomotor palsy secondary to pseudotumor cerebri.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is the syndrome of elevated intracranial pressure without clinical, laboratory, or imaging evidence of intracranial pathology. The classic symptoms include headache, nausea, and vomiting. It may also be associated with blurry vision, diplopia, stiff neck, increasing head size, photophobia, anorexia, retro-orbital pain, lightheadedness, myalgia, and head tilt. Sixth nerve palsy is documented in 10-40% of patients with pseudotumor cerebri, in most series, but third nerve palsy is very rarely associated with pseudotumor cerebri. Described here is the novel case of a pseudotumor cerebri patient who had bilateral partial oculomotor palsy with sparing of the pupillary fibers.

Oral health status in epileptic children.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oral hygiene status and dental treatment requirements in children with epilepsy. METHODS: The treatment group consisted of 211 children with epilepsy (120 boys and 91 girls, 4-15 years old, mean age 7.85 + or - 2.98 years). The control group consisted of healthy children, matched by age and gender. Clinical features of the patients were obtained from hospital records. Clinical examinations were conducted, under standard light, using a plane buccal mirror, a dental probe and air drying to evaluate caries experience and to record the periodontal health of each child. Statistical analysis was performed using chi(2) test, Fisher exact test and anova. RESULTS: The number of decayed and missing teeth, the degree of abrasion and periodontal indexes were significantly worse in patients with epilepsy, compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Gingival enlargement was documented in 42% of patients on valproate monotherapy compared to only in 16% of patients on phenobarbital. Dental caries and halitosis were the most common oral disorders. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures often cause minor oral injuries and traumatized anterior teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Epileptic children are at an increased risk of developing caries and gingivitis compared with healthy subjects.

Bell's palsy as a possible complication of hepatitis B vaccination in a child.

Bell's Palsy is the sudden onset of unilateral temporary paralysis of facial muscles resulting from seventh cranial nerve dysfunction. Presented here is a two-year old female patient with right peripheral facial palsy following hepatitis B vaccination. Readers' attention is drawn to an uncommon cause of Bell's Palsy, as a rare complication of hepatitis B vaccination.