A Case of Dubin-Johnson Syndrome Presenting as Neonatal Cholestasis With Paucity of Interlobular Bile Ducts.

Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that typically manifests in young adulthood as jaundice with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. We report a case presenting as neonatal cholestasis with the unexpected histologic finding of paucity of interlobular bile ducts, a feature that is not typically seen in DJS. The diagnosis was confirmed by absent canalicular multidrug-resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) immunohistochemical staining on liver biopsy tissue and molecular genetic testing that demonstrated heterozygous mutations in the ATP-Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 2 (ABCC2) gene, including a novel missense mutation. This report describes a case of DJS with atypical clinicopathologic findings and suggests that DJS should be considered in patients with neonatal cholestasis and bile duct paucity.

Clinical Features, Treatment Strategies, and Outcomes in Hospitalized Children With Immune-Mediated Encephalopathies.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) are immune-mediated brain conditions that can cause substantial neurological sequalae. Data describing the clinical characteristics, treatments, and neurological outcomes for these conditions are needed. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective review of children diagnosed with AE or ADEM over a nine-year period with discharge outcomes measured by the Modified Rankin Score. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients (23 with ADEM and 52 with AE) were identified. Patients with ADEM had a higher percentage of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging findings (100% vs 60.8%; P < 0.001) and a shorter time from symptom onset to diagnosis (6 vs 14 days; P = 0.024). Oligoclonal bands and serum and cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory indices were higher in patients with AE. Nearly all patients received corticosteroids followed by plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin, and treatment strategies did not differ significantly between groups. Second-line immune therapies were commonly used in patients with AE. Finally, patients with AE had trends toward longer hospital lengths of stay (21 vs 13 days) and a higher percentage of neurological disability at hospital discharge (59.6% vs 34.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Although patients with ADEM and AE may have similar presenting symptoms, we found significant differences in the frequency of imaging findings, symptom duration, and laboratory and cerebrospinal fluid profiles, which can assist in distinguishing between the diagnoses. Patients in both groups were treated with a combination of immunomodulating therapies, and neurological disability was common at hospital discharge.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of childhood-onset myotonic dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by a CTG (cytosine-thymine-guanine) trinucleotide repeat expansion. Congenital DM (CDM) presents in the first month of life, whereas individuals with infantile and juvenile DM1 have later onset of symptoms. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with childhood-onset DM1 seen at one of three locations in Dallas, Texas between 1990 and 2018. Symptoms, disease course, cognitive features, and family history were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included; CDM was diagnosed in 52 patients. There was maternal inheritance in 74% of patients. CTG repeat number ranged from 143 to 2300. Neuropsychiatric and cognitive deficits were common. Over half of the patients had GI disturbances, and orthopedic complications were common. DISCUSSION: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 in children requires a multidisciplinary approach to management. Presenting symptoms vary, and repeat expansion size does not necessarily directly relate to severity of symptoms. A consensus for outcome measures is required.