Central lactic acidosis, hyperventilation, and respiratory alkalosis: leading clinical features in a 3-year-old boy with malignant meningeal melanoma.
Eur J Pediatr
; 167(4): 483-5, 2008 Apr.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17534659
ABSTRACT
Meningeal tumors are extremely rare in children and are diagnostically as well as therapeutically challenging. Among the least common types of malignancies in childhood is malignant melanoma, counting for less than 1% of pediatric tumors. Due to the rarity and the wide spectrum of appearance, initial clinical features may be misleading. A 3-year-old boy was referred to our hospital with symptoms of hyperventilation, dyspnoea, tachycardia, respiratory alkalosis, inarticulate speech, and fatigue. Measurement of pH in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) yielded central lactic acidosis despite alkalosis in peripheral blood. Diagnostic imaging procedures as well as histology and immunohistochemistry revealed the diagnosis of a malignant meningeal melanoma. We hypothesize that central lactate production of the tumor nests might have induced central acidification, thus inducing hyperventilation by stimulation of central chemoreceptors. This case is a model example of the key role of central pH as an inducer/suppressor of ventilation in humans and illustrates the critical importance of central pH for regulating both ventilation and acid-base homeostasis. Thus, pH of CSF should be measured whenever a malignant brain tumor is suspected.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Acidose lactique
/
Acide lactique
/
Alcalose respiratoire
/
Hyperventilation
/
Mélanome
/
Tumeurs des méninges
Type d'étude:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limites:
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Male
Langue:
En
Journal:
Eur J Pediatr
Année:
2008
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
Allemagne