COVID-19 in Children with West Syndrome: An Ambispective Study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the course of West syndrome (WS) and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in children with WS who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: This ambispective study was conducted at a tertiary-care center in North India between December 2020 and August 2021 after approval from the Institute Ethics Committee. Five children with WS, positive for COVID-19 based on RT-PCR, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: One child with COVID-19 during the first wave was retrospectively included while four children (of the 70 children screened) were prospectively enrolled. The median age at onset of epileptic spasms was 7 mo (2 boys), and that at presentation with COVID-19 was 18.5 mo. Three had underlying acquired structural etiology. Three were in remission following standard therapy, while two had ongoing spasms at the time of COVID-19 illness. During the illness, two of those in remission continued to be in remission while one child had a relapse. The children with ongoing epileptic spasms had variable course [one had persistent spasms and other had transient cessation lasting 3 wk from day 2 of COVID-19 illness, but electroencephalography (on day 8 of COVID-19 illness) continued to show hypsarrhythmia]. Fever was the most typical symptom (and sometimes the only symptom) of COVID-19, with a duration ranging from 1-8 d. Two children had moderate COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalization, while the rest had a mild illness. All the affected children had complete recovery from COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The severity of COVID-19 illness in children with WS is often mild, while the subsequent course of WS is variable.

Seroprevalence of MOG and AQP4 Antibodies and Outcomes in an Indian Cohort of Pediatric Acquired Demyelinating Syndromes.

This study aimed to determine the seropositivity of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-Ab) and aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab) and outcomes in children with acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADSs). Children (6 months-15 years) with suspected ADS were enrolled and tested for MOG-Ab and AQP4-Ab prospectively over 18 months at a tertiary care hospital in North India. Children with proven nonimmune-mediated neurological disorders were enrolled as controls. Of 79 children with suspected ADS, 66 were enrolled. Among the enrolled children with ADS, acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (25) was the most common first clinical event followed by optic neuritis (ON) (20) and transverse myelitis (TM) (19; one child had ON and TM simultaneously [neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders [NMOSDs]]), while two children had clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) apart from ON and TM. Fourteen (21.2%, confidence interval [CI] 11.3-31.1) tested positive for one antibody (12 [18.1%; 95% CI 10.5-25.5%] for MOG-Ab and 2 [3%; 95% CI 0-7.2%] for AQP4-Ab). None of the 62 controls tested positive for any antibody. The final diagnosis in those with the monophasic ADS was ADEM (21), ON (13), TM (16), and other CIS (1) while that in children with recurrent events was multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis (MDEM) (2), NMOSD (3), ADEM-ON (4), recurrent ON (4), and MS (2). Among those with the first event, 4/51 (7.8%; 95% CI 0.5-15.2%) were MOG-Ab positive and 2 AQP4-Ab positive, whereas 8/15 (53.3% [95% CI 28.1-78.6%]) with recurrent events (MDEM [2], ADEM-ON [4], recurrent ON [1], and recurrent TM [1]) were MOG-Ab positive. Hence, MOG-Abs are the most common antibodies detected in one in five children with pediatric ADS, especially in relapsing disease. AQP4-Abs are rare in children with ADS.

Clinical and molecular spectrum associated with Polymerase-γ related disorders.

BACKGROUND: POLG pathogenic variants are the commonest single-gene cause of inherited mitochondrial disease. However, the data on clinicogenetic associations in POLG-related disorders are sparse. This study maps the clinicogenetic spectrum of POLG-related disorders in the pediatric population. METHODS: Individuals were recruited across 6 centers in India. Children diagnosed between January 2015 and August 2020 with pathogenic or likely pathogenic POLG variants and age of onset <15 years were eligible. Phenotypically, patients were categorized into Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome; myocerebrohepatopathy syndrome; myoclonic epilepsy, myopathy, and sensory ataxia; ataxia-neuropathy spectrum; Leigh disease; and autosomal dominant / recessive progressive external ophthalmoplegia. RESULTS: A total of 3729 genetic reports and 4256 hospital records were screened. Twenty-two patients with pathogenic variants were included. Phenotypically, patients were classifiable into Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome (8/22; 36.4%), progressive external ophthalmoplegia (8/22; 36.4%), Leigh disease (2/22; 9.1%), ataxia-neuropathy spectrum (2/22; 9.1%), and unclassified (2/22; 9.1%). The prominent clinical manifestations included developmental delay (n = 14; 63.7%), neuroregression (n = 14; 63.7%), encephalopathy (n = 11; 50%), epilepsy (n = 11; 50%), ophthalmoplegia (n = 8; 36.4%), and liver dysfunction (n = 8; 36.4%). Forty-four pathogenic variants were identified at 13 loci, and these were clustered at exonuclease (18/44; 40.9%), linker (13/44; 29.5%), polymerase (10/44; 22.7%), and N-terminal domains (3/44; 6.8%). Genotype-phenotype analysis suggested that serious outcomes including neuroregression (odds ratio [OR] 11, 95% CI 2.5, 41), epilepsy (OR 9, 95% CI 2.4, 39), encephalopathy (OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.4, 19), and hepatic dysfunction (OR 4.6, 95% CI 21.3, 15) were associated with at least 1 variant involving linker or polymerase domain. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the clinical subgroups and their associations with different POLG domains. These can aid in the development of follow-up and management strategies of presymptomatic individuals.

Leigh syndrome in an infant: autopsy and histopathology findings.

Leigh syndrome is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder of infancy that typically manifests between 3 and 12 months of age. The common neurological manifestations are developmental delay or regression, progressive cognitive decline, dystonia, ataxia, brainstem dysfunction, epileptic seizures, and respiratory dysfunction. Although the disorder is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, the histopathological and radiological features characteristically show focal and bilaterally symmetrical, necrotic lesions in the basal ganglia and brainstem. The syndrome has a characteristic histopathological signature that helps in clinching the diagnosis. We discuss these unique findings on autopsy and radiology in a young infant who succumbed to a subacute, progressive neurological illness suggestive of Leigh syndrome. Our case highlights that Leigh syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infantile-onset, subacute neuroregression with dystonia and seizures, a high anion gap metabolic acidosis, normal ketones, elevated lactates in blood, brain, and urine, and bilateral basal ganglia involvement.

Forehead plaque in a child with epilepsy: A clue for tuberous sclerosis.

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a common neurocutaneous disorder that predominantly affects the brain, skin, eyes, heart and kidneys. The management of tuberous sclerosis complex has been revolutionised with vigabatrin for spasms and everolimus for angiomyolipomas and seizures. We describe a 10-year-old girl with generalised tonic-clonic seizures whose diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex was made in view of the presence of a forehead plaque. Certain clinical pointers such as ashleaf macules, café-au-lait spots, shagreen patches and forehead plaques must therefore be looked for in a child with unprovoked seizures.

Leigh syndrome in an infant: autopsy and histopathology findings

Leigh syndrome is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder of infancy that typically manifests between 3 and 12 months of age. The common neurological manifestations are developmental delay or regression, progressive cognitive decline, dystonia, ataxia, brainstem dysfunction, epileptic seizures, and respiratory dysfunction. Although the disorder is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, the histopathological and radiological features characteristically show focal and bilaterally symmetrical, necrotic lesions in the basal ganglia and brainstem. The syndrome has a characteristic histopathological signature that helps in clinching the diagnosis. We discuss these unique findings on autopsy and radiology in a young infant who succumbed to a subacute, progressive neurological illness suggestive of Leigh syndrome. Our case highlights that Leigh syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infantile-onset, subacute neuroregression with dystonia and seizures, a high anion gap metabolic acidosis, normal ketones, elevated lactates in blood, brain, and urine, and bilateral basal ganglia involvement.

Role of Plasma Exchange in a Steroid- and IVIG-Refractory Patient with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease usually affecting children and is treated with high-dose steroid therapy. CASE REPORT: An 8-year boy presented with limbs weakness and complete loss of vision and was resistant to steroid therapy. He was further treated with plasma exchange and showed full recovery from the neurological deficit. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic plasma exchange appears to be effective in ADEM patients in reversing the neuropathological process especially refractory to steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin.

Enigma of Rabies: Prolonged Survival in a Boy with Rabies Brachial Plexitis and Encephalomyelitis.

Rabies encephalitis is a universally fatal disease. Prolonged survival in children with rabies encephalitis has only been anecdotally reported. Case report: An 11-year-old boy presented with right-handed paraesthesia followed by flaccid weakness, progressive quadriparesis and encephalopathy following an unprovoked, class III dog bite over the right wrist 1 month previously. He received five doses of the rabies vaccine as post exposure prophylaxis. Diagnosis of rabies encephalitis was supported by typical MRI brain and spine findings in addition to marked elevation of anti-rabies neutralizing antibody titers in serum and CSF. He was treated with supportive care, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone and simvastatin and was discharged after 6 weeks of hospital stay in a minimally conscious state, with tracheostomy and naso-gastric feeding tubes. At 9 months follow-up, his neurological status showed minimal improvement. Paralytic rabies with brachial plexitis and encephalomyelitis is an atypical presentation of rabies. Very few surviving cases have been reported from India. Survival from rabies is possible with effective clearing of virus with post exposure prophylaxis, but with severe neurological sequelae.