[Delayed-type subacute measles encephalitis]. / Encefalopatía sarampionosa subaguda retardada.

INTRODUCTION: We analyze the clinical, neurological, EEG, neuroradiological features and evolution of two patients with subacute measles encephalitis. CASE REPORTS: The patients, aged five years and eleven months respectively showed an acute, progressive neurological compromise and deterioration of consciousness, epilepsia partialis continua and progressive damage on neuroimaging, with a history of measles in the first case and exposure to the virus in the second. The first patient had Hodgkin's disease and the other had a familial C4 deficit disorder. Fundoscopic examination showed lesions on the retina. The EEG showed unilateral slow waves and spikes. Brain CT and MRI revealed progressive cerebral atrophy and a unilateral corticosubcortical lesion. Measles antibodies in CSF were found in the first child and oligoclonal bands in the second. Our first patient died after three months and the second has a severe neurological damage. CONCLUSION: In immunocompromised patients with the exposure to a history of measles, acute neurological compromised and deterioration of consciousness, epilepsia partialis continua and progressive damage on neuroimaging, subacute measles encephalitis should be considered.

Encefalopatía sarampionosa subaguda retardada / Subacute measles encephalitis

Introducción. Analizamos las características clínicas, neurológicas, electroencefalográficas y evolutivas en dos pacientes con encefalopatía sarampionosa subaguda retardada. Casos clínicos. Ambos pacientes, uno a los cinco años y el otro a los 11 meses, presentaron un deterioro agudo neurológico y de conciencia, epilepsia parcial continua y lesiones progresivas en los estudios de imágenes, con antecedentes de haber padecido sarampión en el primer caso y contacto con el virus en el segundo. El primer paciente tenía linfoma de Hodgkin y el segundo presentaba un déficit familiar de C4. El fondo de ojo evidenció lesiones retinianas, el EEG mostró ondas lentas unilaterales con ondas agudas o espigas intercaladas. La TAC y la RM de cerebro mostraron atrofia cerebral progresiva con lesiones extensas corticosubcorticales unilaterales. El análisis del LCR en el primer caso evidenció anticuerpos contra sarampión elevados, y en el segundo, bandas oligoclonales. El primer paciente falleció a los tres meses de haber iniciado el cuadro neurológico y el segundo paciente presenta un grave deterioro neurológico. Conclusión. En pacientes inmunosuprimidos con antecedentes de exposición al virus del sarampión, deterioro agudo neurológico y de conciencia, epilepsia parcial continua y lesiones progresivas en los estudios neurorradiológicos, debemos considerar el diagnóstico de encefalopatía sarampionosa subaguda retardada (AU)

Introduction. We analyze the clinical, neurological, EEG, neuroradiological features and evolution of two patients with subacute measles encephalitis. Case reports. The patients, aged five years and eleven months respectively showed an acute, progressive neurological compromise and deterioration of consciousness, epilepsia partialis continua and progressive damage on neuroimaging, with a history of measles in the first case and exposure to the virus in the second. The first patient had Hodgkin’s disease and the other had a familial C4 deficit disorder. Fundoscopic examination showed lesions on the retina. The EEG showed unilateral slow waves and spikes. Brain CT and MRI revealed progressive cerebral atrophy and a unilateral corticosubcortical lesion. Measles antibodies in CSF were found in the first child and oligoclonal bands in the second. Our first patient died after three months and the second has a severe neurological damage. Conclusion. In immunocrompromised patients with the exposure to a history of measles, acute neurological compromised and deterioration of consciousness, epilepsia partialis continua and progressive damage on neuroimaging, subacute measles encephalitis should be considered (AU)

[Reflex myoclonic epilepsy in infancy: a new reflex epilepsy syndrome or a variant of benign myoclonic epilepsy in infancy]. / Epilepsia mioclónica refleja del lactante: un nuevo síndrome epiléptico reflejo o una variante de la epilepsia mióclonica benigna del lactante.

CASE REPORTS: We report a clinical and EEG study of 8 children with reflex myoclonic epilepsy of infancy to further confirm the existence of this syndrome first described by Ricci et al in 1995. RESULTS: Between February 1990 to July 2002, we identified 64 epileptic patients with myoclonic seizures with an onset in the first six years of life. Eight (12.5%) of these patients had myoclonic seizure stimuli sensible. The seizures were characterized by generalized, myoclonic jerks triggered by tactile stimuli in six patients and acoustic stimuli in two, in one of them myoclonic jerks were triggered by both types of stimuli. The seizures appeared between 5 and 20 months of age. Two of the 8 patients had spontaneous myoclonic attacks during sleep. Interictal EEG was normal during wakefulness and occasional discharges were evident during sleep. In contrast, the ictal EEG during both wakefulness and sleep showed generalized spike wave and polyspike slow wave paroxysms. Neurologic examination, neuroimaging and neurometabolic studies were normal. Myoclonic jerks disappeared in 6 patients after valproic acid administration and in two after clobazan administration. Antiepileptic treatment was discontinued in 6 patients and no seizure recurrence was observed during a median follow up of 6 years. CONCLUSION: Our patients presented electro clinical criteria compatible with the syndrome of reflex myoclonic epilepsy of infancy. This syndrome could be considered to be a new reflex epileptic syndrome or a variant of benign myoclonic epilepsy in infancy.

Epilepsia mioclónica refleja del lactante: un nuevo síndrome epiléptico reflejo o una variante de la epilepsia mioclónica benigna del lactante / Reflex myoclonic epilepsy in infancy: a new reflex epilepsy syndrome or a variant of benign myoclonic epilepsy in infancy

Casos clínicos. Analizamos ocho pacientes con un cuadro electroclínico compatible con una epilepsia mioclónica refleja del lactante, a fin de ratificar la existencia de este síndrome, descrito inicialmente por Ricci et al en 1995. Resultados. Durante el período comprendido entre febrero de 1990 y julio de 2002, identificamos 64 pacientes epilépticos con crisis mioclónicas de comienzo en los seis primeros años de vida, de los que ocho (12,5 por ciento) tuvieron mioclonías de estímulo sensible. Los ocho pacientes presentaron un examen neurológico normal, con mioclonías generalizadas provocadas ante estímulos táctiles en seis pacientes y auditivos en dos. En uno de ellos las mioclonías se desencadenaron por ambos tipos de estímulos. Las crisis se iniciaron entre los 5 y los 20 meses de vida. Dos de ellos tuvieron sacudidas espontáneas durante el sueño. El electroencefalograma (EEG) intercrítico en vigilia fue normal, y durante el sueño se registraron ocasionales paroxismos de puntas y polipunta-onda lentas. El EEG crítico en sueño y vigilia mostró actividad de punta y polipunta-onda lenta generalizada. Los estudios de neuroimagen y neurometabólicos fueron normales. Las miclonías cedieron rápidamente con la administración de ácido valproico en seis pacientes y clobazam en dos. Tras un seguimiento promedio de seis años, seis niños están sin medicación y libres de crisis. Conclusión. Nuestros pacientes cumplen criterios clinicoelectroencefalográficos compatibles con la epilepsia mioclónica refleja del lactante, por lo cual pensamos que podría considerarse un nuevo síndrome epiléptico reflejo o una variante de la epilepsia mioclónica benigna del lactante (AU)

Case reports. We report a clinical and EEG study of 8 children with reflex myoclonic epilepsy of infancy to further confirm the existence of this syndrome first described by Ricci et al in 1995. Results. Between February 1990 to July 2002, we identified 64 epileptic patients with myoclonic seizures with an onset in the first six years of life. Eight (12.5%) of these patients had myoclonic seizure stimuli sensible. The seizures were characterized by generalized, myoclonic jerks triggered by tactile stimuli in six patients and acoustic stimuli in two, in one of them myoclonic jerks were triggered by both types of stimuli. The seizures appeared between 5 and 20 months of age. Two of the 8 patients had spontaneous myoclonic attacks during sleep. Interictal EEG was normal during wakefulness and occasional discharges were evident during sleep. In contrast, the ictal EEG during both wakefulness and sleep showed generalized spike-wave and polyspike slow-wave paroxysms. Neurologic examination, neuroimaging and neurometabolic studies were normal. Myoclonic jerks disappeared in 6 patients after valproic acid administration and in two after clobazan administration. Antiepileptic treatment was discontinued in 6 patients and no seizure recurrence was observed during a median follow up of 6 years. Conclusion. Our patients presented electro-clinical criteria compatible with the syndrome of reflex myoclonic epilepsy of infancy. This syndrome could be considered to be a new reflex epileptic syndrome or a variant of benign myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (AU)

[Cerebral magnetic resonance in the study of West syndrome]. / Resonancia magnética cerebral en el estudio del síndrome de West.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: West's syndrome (WS) is an epileptic encephalopathy of the first year of life, associated with different aetiologies. MRI of the brain allows precise determination of the type and extent of the lesions. The aetiology must be recognised in order to establish the prognosis and a suitable therapeutic approach. The objective of this study is to analyse the aetiologies of a population of children with WS and compare the results of cases diagnosed before and after using MRI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the clinical histories of 448 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for WS (infantile spasms and a EEG with a pattern of hypsarrhythmia), 217 in pre-MRI era (group 1) and 231 in the post-MRI era (group 2). The following parameters were analyzed: type of WS, sex, duration of follow-up, age of onset of infantile spasms and particularly the neuroradiological studies. RESULTS: Group 1: symptomatic WS, 157 patients; cryptogenic WS, 60 patients. Group 2: symptomatic WS, 169 patients; cryptogenic WS, 62 patients. The aetiologies of symptomatic WS were: cortical dysplasias, neurocutaneous disorders, cerebral malformation and prenatal clastic lesions, hypoxic ischaemia, post-infection, metabolic, tumors, Down's syndrome, others and unknown cause. CONCLUSIONS: It is known that cerebral MRI gives better definition of these types of cerebral lesions than cerebral CT does. We emphasize the importance of MRI in patients with symptomatic WS for precise determination of the aetiology, and speculate as to whether some of the 21 cases of unknown aetiology of group 1 could have been diagnosed if studied nowadays.

[Acquired epileptic aphasia]. / Afasia epiléptica adquirida.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical and EEG features, as well as treatment and progression in fifteen patients with a diagnosis of acquired epileptic aphasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The population comprised nine male and six female patients, whose mean age was 14.5 (r = 8.11-20 years). All were on routine antiepileptic drugs. Inclusion criteria were acute, subacute or chronic aphasia, lacking signs of motor deficit or demonstrable brain lesion, but displaying bilateral spikes or generalized spike-wave discharges. Throughout, sleep and waking EEG, neuroimaging, brainstem auditory evoked potentials and neuro-psychological evaluations were performed. Cortical brainstem auditory evoked potentials were carried out in ten cases. RESULTS: Median age at onset of verbal auditory agnosia was 5.6 years (r = 1.1-8.6 years), which eleven cases developed epileptic seizures at a median age of five years. Waking and sleep EEG were abnormal but brainstem auditory evoked potentials were normal throughout. Cortical brainstem auditory evoked potentials in ten patients displayed P300 wave and vertex potential alterations. Five cases received 1-3 mg/kg/day prednisone during 6-12 months, with almost complete speech recovery in four. At the last follow-up, language impairment was mild in five patients, moderate in five and severe in three, while two children recovered normal speech. CONCLUSIONS: Early acquired epileptic aphasia treatment is advisable with valproic acid, benzodiazepines or ethosuximide alone or in combinations, supplementary with corticoids for at least six months in the absence of clinical response and/or EEG improvement. Globally, seven out of fifteen patients overcame their speech disorder.

[Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus]. / Mioclonías neonatales benignas del sueño.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical, electro-encephalographic and evolutionary characteristics of a series of patients diagnosed as having benign neonatal sleep myoclonus (BNSM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical histories of 21 patients with BNSM were analyzed. Criteria for inclusion in the study were: neonates who had had more than one episode of myoclonia during sleep and in whom neurological examination and psychomotor development were normal. CRITERIA FOR EXCLUSION: Patients with myoclonia while awake, a perinatal history which included significant pathology and/or the diagnosis of epilepsy. The period of evolution varied from 6 months to 5 years, and the following parameters were considered: clinical features of the myoclonia, neurological examination, psychomotor development and evolution. EEG were done between crises in all patients. In 5 cases we recorded EEG during crises and in 2 cases video-EEG were done. RESULTS: The study group was made up of 11 girls and 10 boys. The myoclonia started between the first and twenty third day of age (average = 7 days). Fifteen (71.4%) of the patients had generalized myoclonia, mainly in the distal part of the upper limbs in 13 and in the lower limbs in two. In 20 cases (95.2%) jerking was of short duration, lasting 10 to 20 seconds. In one case, the jerks were repeated in series lasting 30 minutes. Two patients later developed benign myoclonia of early infancy. The myoclonia disappeared before the age of 7 months in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: BNSM is seen in healthy newborns and disappear spontaneously during the first months of live. Differential diagnosis with epileptic seizures is imperative in order to avoid unnecessary medication.

[Benign paroxysmal tonic upward gaze syndrome]. / Síndrome de desviación paroxística benigna de la mirada hacia arriba.

INTRODUCTION: The benign paroxysmal tonic upward gaze syndrome (BPTUG) is a rare condition. We present two new cases analyzing the clinical, genetic, evolution and therapeutic aspects. CLINICAL CASES: Case 1. A 2 year-old girl with no family history of similar disorders started, at the age of 6 months, to have episodes of upward deviation of gaze with hyperextension of the neck and vertical nystagmus of fixation, increased by nervousness and episodes of fever. Some episodes caused the patient to fall in spite of there being no alteration of consciousness. Case 2. From the age of five months a 1 year-old girl with no significant personal or family history had episodes of ocular deviation upwards with forward inclination of the head to correct her gaze and slow motor development from the age of five months. RESULTS: Complementary studies were normal in both patients. As in the cases described in the literature, our cases had no family history and were not sensitive to Dopa. To date 11 children have been described in the literature and few familial cases seen with dominant autosomal inheritance. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients had a non-epileptic paroxystic phenomenon known as BPTUG syndrome. This condition starts during the first year of life, has a benign course and the episodes have ceased by the age of four years. We believe it is important to consider the differential diagnosis with epileptic phenomena, evaluate the response to L-Dopa and bear in mind that this syndrome may be the clinical expression of several different conditions. Although the course is usually benign, it may later be associated with other signs of neurological problems which should be taken into account.