Clinical Characteristics of Neonatal Status Epilepticus / 소아과

PURPOSE: Among perinatal risk factors, neonatal seizures are one of the strongest independent discriminators of adverse outcome, representing high risks of mortality and neurologic morbidity. This study was undertaken to evaluate the neurologic outcome of neonatal status epilepticus according to underlying etiology, seizure pattern, onset time, and duration. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 36 neonates (19 males, 17 females) with status epilepticus who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, Inha Hospital between July, 1988 and June, 2003. They were evaluated with neurologic examination, laboratory data, EEG findings, and neuroimaging studies etc. RESULTS: The mean gestational period of the patients was 37.0+/-3.6 weeks and birth weight was 2.70+/-0.82 kilogram. Fifty two point eight percent of the neonates were male and 66.7 percent were born at term. The most common cause of neonatal status epilepticus was hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. In preterm babies, intracranial hemorrhages showed an especially high frequency (P=0.034). Gestational age and birth weight did not show a correlation with neurologic complications. The incidence of neurological sequelae were significantly related to prolonged seizures lasting more than 1 hour (P=0.002). Neonates with seizures within the first 72 hours tended to be more frequent among those who developed adverse outcomes (P=0.016). Generalized tonic seizures had the worst prognosis, whereas those children who had subtle seizures had better outcomes than any other type (P< 0.05). Generalized tonic seizures were primarily represented on EEG by abnormal background, whereas subtle seizure showed a significantly more normal EEG than any other seizures (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that neonatal status epilepticus with early onsets, prolonged durations. And generalized tonic types can predict an increased risk for neurologic sequelae. So, those seizures must be perceived as medical emergencies and treated aggressively with antiepileptic drugs.

Factors associated with Renal Scarring in Children with a First Episode of Febrile Urinary Tract Infection

PURPOSE: Development of renal scarring is associated with delayed diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection(UTI). This study was performed to clarify how soon treatment should be started to inhibit renal scarring after onset of UTI and the factors associated with renal scarring in children with a first episode of febrile UTI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 163 patients with a first episode of febrile UTI under the age of 2 years from April 2000 to April 2004. All patients had a DMSA renal scan and voiding cystourethrogram done in the diagnostic period, 6 months after which a follow-up renal scan was done. After patients were divided into 2 groups according to the duration of fever prior to start of treatment, the duration of fever after start of treatment, and total duration of fever, initial and follow-up DMSA scan findings were analyzed among the different groups. We compared the factors associated with renal scars between the groups with and without renal scars. RESULTS: The initial DMSA renal scan identified abnormal finding in 23% of the patients who were treated 24 hr prior to treatment. Renal scars developed in 34% of patients with remission of fever 48 hr after treatment. The risk for renal scars was significantly higher in children who had total duration of fever >72 hr(67%) than in those with shorter duration(19%). In children with renal scars, VUR was most highly associated with an increased risk of renal scar formation. CONCLUSION: Although children with a first episode of febrile UTI are treated within 24hr after onset of the fever, renal damage cannot be prevented completely and it is mainly associated with VUR.

A Case of Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor Arising from the Supratentorial Area / 소아과

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor may arise at any central nervous system location, but it is most commonly located in the cerebellum(60 percent). The incidence of this tumor remains unclear but it occurs most commonly in children less than 2 years of age. This highly malignant tumor shows a rapid progression and nonspecific radiologic findings. We report a case of primary intracranial atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor arising from the supratentorial area in early infancy. The diagnosis was made based on distinctive light microscopy and immunohistochemical findings. Despite aggressive surgical treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy, he died six months after his second operation.

A Case of the Diarrhea-associated Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Developing Simultaneously with an Acute Appendicitis

Diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome is rarely accompanied by complications requiring surgical intervention. We report a case of the diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic sydrome which developed simultaneously with an acute appendicitis.