Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Hydrocephalus in an infant with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome. / Síndrome de Guillain Barré e hidrocefalia en un lactante con Síndrome de Wiskott Aldrich.

INTRODUCTION: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is rarely diagnosed in the first year of life. The association of GBS with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is even less frequent and has been previously reported in only two children to our knowledge. Hydrocephalus is a known but rare complication of GBS. OBJECTIVE: To describe the case of an infant in which GBS, WAS and hydrocephalus appear clinically associated. CLINICAL CASE: A nine-months-old male infant with a history of WAS was admitted to our ICU with acute hypotonia and poor general condition. He developed flaccid paralysis, absent deep tendon reflexes, and respiratory failure. A lumbar puncture showed albuminocytologic dissociation. GBS was suspected and an electromyography was performed, showing a demyelinating polyneuropathy. He was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulins. During hospitalization, he presented intermittent bradycardia, so a brain CT scan was performed, showing acute hydrocephalus which was managed through an external ventricular drain achieving favorable response. In the long term, the patient underwent bone marrow transplant and had to be reoperated due to valve-related complications. However, his psychomotor development is normal, with no obvious neurological sequelae. CONCLUSION: We present the third case of GBS in a patient with WAS, which is the first infant younger than one year. Additionally, he presented acute hydrocephalus as a complication of GBS. We suggest considering these three comorbidities since their early diagnosis and prompt management allow bet ter neurological recovery and avoid potentially lethal complications.

[Aortic aneurysm in a patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome]. / Aneurisma aórtico en un paciente con síndrome de Wiskott-Aldrich.

BACKGROUND: The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is a combined immunodeficiency associated with a syndrome linked to the X chromosome, which is characterized by eczema, recurrent infections, and thrombocytopenia. Other manifestations include autoimmune disorders such as hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenic purpura mediated by the immune system, increased susceptibility to malignant tumors, including lymphoma or leukemia. CLINICAL CASE: A 7-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome who was treated with intravenous gamma globulin, antimicrobial prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and fluconazole, as well as with prednisone and cyclosporine due to hemolytic anemia and uveitis. Suddenly, he presented a deviation of the left labial commissure, so he was hospitalized. The studies showed a giant aneurysm of the aorta root, ascending aorta, descending aorta, and right coronary aorta, with insidious cardiac symptoms; therefore, he was referred to the vascular surgery department. CONCLUSION: Vasculitis in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is rare and it is usually asymptomatic in early stages, so an annual cardiovascular evaluation should be performed in order to avoid the complications of an aneurysm, which can be deleterious in this type of immunodeficiency where the possibility of death from bleeding is high.

Antecedentes: El síndrome de Wiskott-Aldrich es una inmunodeficiencia combinada asociada al síndrome ligado al cromosoma X, que se caracteriza por eccema, infecciones de repetición y trombocitopenia. Otras manifestaciones son los trastornos autoinmunes como anemia hemolítica o púrpura trombocitopénica mediada por el sistema inmunológico y susceptibilidad incrementada a tumores malignos, como linfoma o leucemia. Caso clínico: Niño de siete años, con diagnóstico de síndrome de Wiskott-Aldrich, en quien se estableció tratamiento con gammaglobulina intravenosa, profilaxis antimicrobiana con trimetoprima-sulfametoxazol y fluconazol, así como prednisona y ciclosporina debido a anemia hemolítica y uveítis. De forma súbita presentó desviación de la comisura labial izquierda, por lo que fue hospitalizado. Los estudios indicaron aneurisma gigante de la raíz de la aorta, aorta ascendente, descendente y coronaria derecha, con sintomatología cardiaca insidiosa, por lo que fue referido al servicio de cirugía vascular. Conclusiones: La vasculitis en el síndrome de Wiskott Aldrich es poco común y suele ser asintomática en las fases iniciales, por ello debe realizarse evaluación cardiovascular anual para evitar complicaciones propias de un aneurisma, que pueden ser deletéreas en este tipo de inmunodeficiencia, en las cuales existe mayor riesgo de muerte por sangrado.

Síndrome de Guillain Barré e hidrocefalia en un lactante con Síndrome de Wiskott Aldrich / Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Hydrocephalus in an infant with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Resumen: Introducción: El Síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGB) es raramente diagnosticado en lactantes menores de 1 año. Su asociación con el Síndrome de Wiskott Aldrich (SWA), es aún menos frecuente, y ha sido previa mente reportada sólo en dos pacientes a nuestro conocimiento. La hidrocefalia, es una complicación conocida, pero infrecuente del SGB. Objetivo: presentar el caso clínico de un lactante en el que se asocian las patologías de SGB, SWA e hidrocefalia. Caso Clínico: varon de 9 meses, portador de SWA hospitalizado en unidad de cuidados intensivos por hipotonía aguda y compromiso del estado gene ral. Evolucionó con parálisis fláccida, falla ventilatoria y arreflexia generalizada. Una punción lumbar mostró disociación albuminocitológica, y el estudio electrofisiológico mostró signos de polineuropatía desmielinizante severa. Se trató con inmunoglobulina, evolucionando en forma satisfactoria. Por bradicardia intermitente, se realizó tomografla axial computada cerebral (TAC), que mostró signos de una hidrocefalia aguda, manejada mediante válvula derivativa ventrículo peritoneal con favorable respuesta. En el largo plazo, se sometió a trasplante de médula ósea y debió ser reintervenido por complicaciones valvulares, sin embargo, su desarrollo psicomotor es normal sin secuelas neurológi cas evidentes hasta los 3 años. Conclusión: Presentamos el tercer caso de SGB en un paciente porta dor de SWA, destacando ser el primero de ellos en un lactante menor de 1 año. Adicionalmente, este niño presentó una hidrocefalia aguda como complicación del SGB. Consideramos relevante tener presente estas comorbilidades, debido a que su pronto diagnóstico y manejo oportuno, permiten una mejor recuperación neurológica y evitan complicaciones potencialmente letales.

Abstract: Introduction: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is rarely diagnosed in the first year of life. The association of GBS with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is even less frequent and has been previously reported in only two children to our knowledge. Hydrocephalus is a known but rare complication of GBS. Objective: To describe the case of an infant in which GBS, WAS and hydrocephalus appear clinically associated. Clinical Case: A nine-months-old male infant with a history of WAS was admitted to our ICU with acute hypotonia and poor general condition. He developed flaccid paralysis, absent deep tendon reflexes, and respiratory failure. A lumbar puncture showed albuminocytologic dissociation. GBS was suspected and an electromyography was performed, showing a demyelinating polyneuropathy. He was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulins. During hospitalization, he presented intermittent bradycardia, so a brain CT scan was performed, showing acute hydrocephalus which was managed through an external ventricular drain achieving favorable response. In the long term, the patient underwent bone marrow transplant and had to be reoperated due to valve-related complications. However, his psychomotor development is normal, with no obvious neurological sequelae. Conclusion: We present the third case of GBS in a patient with WAS, which is the first infant younger than one year. Additionally, he presented acute hydrocephalus as a complication of GBS. We suggest considering these three comorbidities since their early diagnosis and prompt management allow bet ter neurological recovery and avoid potentially lethal complications.

Cutaneous manifestations in patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome submitted to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked primary immunodeficiency caused by a mutation of the WAS protein gene. This protein actively participates in important cellular processes, and its presence is related to diverse clinical manifestations, including cutaneous alterations. The classical triad of WAS consists of recurrent infections, thrombocytopaenia with small platelets and atopic dermatitis (AD)-like lesions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequencies of cutaneous manifestations in patients with WAS prior to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). RESULTS: Twenty-four boys diagnosed with WAS and treated with HSCT between 1992 and 2007 were included. The characteristic triad of WAS occurred in 46% of patients. Before HSCT, the most frequent cutaneous manifestations included eczema similar to AD (71%), followed by petechiae and/or ecchymosis (58%) and cutaneous infections (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous manifestations in patients with WAS are frequent, especially those similar to the eczema found in AD.

Urgent minimal invasive treatment of a dental trauma in a child with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia with microplatelets, eczema, recurrent infections, and predisposition to autoimmune disease and malignancy. The aim of this study is to report an urgent minimal invasive treatment of a dental trauma in a pediatric patient with WAS. The conservative management was a success and did not cause any local nor systemic complications.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in a family with Fanconi anemia.

Thrombocytopenia may be the presenting finding for both Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and Fanconi anemia. We examined a sibship of four boys who had features of both of these hematologic disorders. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from three of the boys demonstrated DNA instability when cultured with diepoxybutane, confirming the diagnosis of Fanconi anemia in these patients. However, results of linkage analysis and X chromosome inactivation studies were consistent with the diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in two of the boys, including one of the boys with Fanconi anemia. These findings could be attributed to the occurrence of two rare genetic disorders in a single family or to an unusual variant of Fanconi anemia. The recent identification of the Wiskott-Aldrich gene permitted us to address this question directly. Epstein-Barr virus-transformed cell lines from the two boys thought to have Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome on the basis of linkage analysis failed to express transcripts for the Wiskott-Aldrich gene. Genomic DNA from these two patients demonstrated a G insertion in the tenth exon of the Wiskott-Aldrich gene, resulting in a frameshift and a premature stop codon. Surprisingly, the patient with Fanconi anemia and a null mutation in the Wiskott-Aldrich gene had typical Fanconi anemia but mild Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

A multiinstitutional survey of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is an X-linked primary immunodeficiency originally characterized by the clinical triad of thrombocytopenia, eczema, and immunodeficiency. We collected clinical and laboratory information on 154 unselected patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome to define better the clinical expression of this disorder. The classic triad of thrombocytopenia with small platelets, recurrent otitis media, and eczema was seen in only 27% of the study population; 5% of the study population had only infectious manifestations, and 20% of the study group had only hematologic manifestations before diagnosis. The results of immunologic evaluations varied from one patient to another and the course of the disorder varied tremendously, even within a single kindred. We conclude that many patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome have an atypical presentation and that a panel of diagnostic tests is often required to establish the diagnosis. Two high-risk subgroups were identified in the study population: patients with platelet counts < 10 x 10(9)/L (< 10,000/mm3) at the time of diagnosis were at high risk of bleeding, and patients with autoimmune disorders were at increased risk of having a malignancy.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in the United States and Canada (1892-1979).

Information was collected on 301 cases of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in the United States and Canada Examination of available medical records, death certificates and published case reports on these patients showed that they came from a wide geographic area and many diverse ethnic and racial groups. No significant difference was found in the incidence of cases born between 1947 and 1976; the overall rate was 4.0 per million live male births in the United States. Median survival has increased with time from eight months for patients born before 1935 to 6.5 years for those born after 1964. Seventy-six of the 301 patients (25%) were still alive at last follow-up and ranged in age from 1 to 36 years with a median of 10 years. Causes of death were primarily limited to infections or bleeding, but malignancy represented a significant problem. Twelve percent of the group (36 of 301) developed malignancy, the predominant types being lymphorecticular tumors (23 of 36) and leukemia (7 of 36). The overall relative risk for malignancy was found to be greater than 100 times that of the general population and was found to increase with increasing age.

Hepatitis B virus infection in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Testing of paired serum samples of 12 children with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) antibody to HB, Ag, and antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen revealed evidence of hepatitis B virus infection in three. None of the three, however, developed overt clinical hepatitis or the chronic HBsAg carrier state. These data suggest that the immunologic defects seen in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome permit adequate immune responses to the hepatitis B virus and do not predispose to the chronic HBsAg carrier state.