Brown Vialetto Van Laere syndrome, a fatal disease with a simple solution: a case series

Brown Vialetto Van Laere (BVVL) syndrome is an extremely rare neuro metabolic disorder postulated to be caused by a defect in riboflavin transporter. The disease is characterized by progressive hearing loss with ataxia and difficulty in swallowing and breathing. The diagnosis of the disease requires great deal of suspicion on the part of treating physician. Here authors present 2 cases of BVVL who presented to us with dysphagia and hearing loss and responded to therapy. Brown Vialetto Van Laere (BVVL) syndrome is an extremely rare neuro metabolic disorder postulated to be caused by a defect in Riboflavin transporter. The disease is characterised by progressive hearing loss with ataxia and difficulty in swallowing and breathing. It is a subset in multiple acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD disorder). Age of onset is generally first to third decade of life. Lower cranial nerve involvement with LMN and UMN signs concomitantly is the striking feature. There is no specific treatment for BVVL except supportive care. Response to high dose riboflavin (20mg/kg/day) has produced promising results but the results may take anywhere from 1 week to 12 months to appear.

Lysosomal Storage Disorders in Indian Children with Neuroregression Attending a Genetic Center.

Objective: To study the etiology of neuroregression in children having deficiency of the lysosomal enzymes. Design: Review of medical records. Setting: Specialized Genetic Center. Participants: 432 children aged 3 mo-18 y having regression in a learned skill, selected from 1453 patients referred for diagnostic workup of various Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). Methods: Plasma chitotriosidase, quantitative and qualitative glycosaminoglycans, and mucolipidosis-II/II screening followed by confirmatory enzyme study using specific substrate was carried out; Niemann-Pick disease Type-C was studied by fillipin stain method on skin fibroblasts. Results: Total 309 children (71.5%) were diagnosed with different lysosomal storage disorders as the underlying cause of neuroregression. Plasma chitotriosidase was raised in 82 of 135; 64 (78%) of these had various LSDs. 69 out of 90 cases showed high excretion of glycoaminoglycans, and 67 (97.1%) of these were confirmed to have enzyme deficiency for various mucoplysaccharide disorders. While 3/90 children with positive I-cell screening had confirmed mucolipidosis-II/III disease. Among all, glycolipid storage disorders were the most common (50.2%) followed by mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) (21.7%) and sulphatide degradation defect (17.5%). Neuronal ceroid lipofucinosis-1 & 2 (7.4%), mucolipidosis-II/III (1%), Sialic acid storage disorder (1%), Niemann-Pick disease type-C (1%) and Fucosidosis (0.3%) were observed with less frequency. Most common phenotypes in all subjects were cherry red spot (18.5%), hepatosplenomegaly (17.9%), coarse facies (15%), seizures (13.1%) and skeletal abnormalities (12.14%). Conclusions: Lysosomal storage disorders are considered to be one of the common causes in children with regression in learned skill, dysmorphic features and cherry red spot. Among these, glycolipid storage disorders are the most common, followed by mucopolysaccharidosis.

Familial Hypomagnesemia with Secondary Hypocalcemia Mimicking Neurodegenerative Disorder.

Familial hypomagnesemia with secondary hypocalcemia is a genetic disorder of magnesium metabolism that presents with refractory seizures in infancy. Case characteristics: We herein report an infant with familial hypomagnesemia who presented as medically-refractory seizures and had cerebral atrophy on neuroimaging. Interestingly he had lost previous two siblings because of lack of correct diagnosis. Intervention: Child was given oral magnesium supplementation and the seizures got controlled. Message: Familial hypomagnesemia should be considered in any child with recurrent or refractory hypocalcemic seizures.

Consensus Guidelines on Management of Childhood Convulsive Status Epilepticus.

Justification: Status epilepticus has a wide etiological spectrum, and significant morbidity and mortality. Management using a pre-determined uniform protocol leads to better outcomes. Multiple protocols for management of childhood status epilepticus are available, without much consensus. Process: A ‘Multi-disciplinary Consensus Development Workshop on Management of Status Epilepticus in Children in India’ was organized. The invited experts included Pediatricians, Pediatric neurologists, Neurologists, Epileptologists, and Pediatric intensive care specialists from India, with experience in the relevant field. Experts had previously been divided into focus groups and had interacted on telephone and e-mail regarding their group recommendations, and developed consensus on the topic. During the meeting, each group presented their recommendations, which were deliberated upon by the house and a consensus was reached on various issues; the document was finalized after incorporating suggestions of experts on the draft document. Objective: To provide consensus guidelines on evaluation and management of convulsive status epilepticus in children in India (excluding neonatal and super-refractory status epilepticus). Recommendations: Each institution should use a predetermined protocol for management of status epilepticus; prehospital management and early stabilization is the key to a satisfactory outcome of status epilepticus. Pharmacotherapy should not be delayed for any investigations; the initial management should consist of a parenteral benzodiazepine by any route feasible. Subsequent management has been detailed. The group also felt the need for more epidemiological research on status epilepticus from India, and identified certain research areas for the purpose.

Benign Partial Seizures of Adolescence.

Benign partial seizures of adolescence (BPSA) presents as partial seizures with or without secondary generalization occurring isolated or in a cluster in the first 24 to 48 hours after onset in adolescents. Correct recognition of this entity can avoid use of antiepileptic drugs and associated risks. We conducted retrospective review of charts to identify seven cases of BPSA between 11-15 years at presentation who did not have generalized epilepsy, benign rolandic epilepsy, benign occipital epilepsy, an epileptogenic lesion on neuroimaging, or unprovoked recurrent tonic-clonic seizures. All of them had partial seizures, normal neuroimaging and electroencephalogram with no recurrence of seizures despite no treatment.

MRI Abnormalities of the Anterior Temporal Lobe: A New Indicator of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Abnormalities of the anterior part of the temporal lobe (abnormal and swollen white matter, cysts, and focal enlargement of the anterior part of the inferior horn- either alone or more often in combination) suggest congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. This is not widely known.These can be seen in neonatal period and they continue to persist in later life.

Andersen-Tawil Syndrome – Periodic Paralysis with Dysmorphism.

Andersen-Tawil syndrome is a rare type of channelopathy characterized by the presence of periodic paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia (prolonged QT interval or ventricular arrhythmia) and distinct dysmorphic abnormalities. It is a type of potassium channelopathy that occurs sporadically or by autosomal dominant inheritance. We report a 14 year old boy with Andersen-Tawil syndrome.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.

We describe two adolescent Indian siblings with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis with cognitive impairment, progressive neurological deterioration, juvenile cataracts and chronic diarrhea. Both patients had bilateral Achilles tendon xanthomata. Rapid progression of disease was an unusual finding in these cases. Magnetic resonance imaging showed characteristic signal alterations in cerebellar hemispheres, brainstem and posterior cerebral white matter.

Profile of inborn errors of metabolism in a tertiary care centre PICU.

Objective. To study the clinico-investigative profile and outcome of patients with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) presenting to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods. Records of all patients admitted in tertiary care centre PICU between August 2007 and September 2008 with a diagnosis of IEM were retrieved the details of clinical presentation, laboratory results, treatment and outcome were noted and analysed. Results. Eleven (2.6%) out of 420 PICU admissions during the study period had a diagnosis of IEM with a high mortality rate of 36%. Clinical presentation was quite varied. Conclusion. IEM are not uncommon in PICU. Simple biochemical tests and neuroimaging findings provide vital clues to the diagnosis of IEM.

Early myoclonic encephalopathy.

Early myoclonic encephalopathy (EME) is a rare malignant epileptic syndrome. The erratic myoclonus with or without focal motor seizures, onset before 3 months of age, and persistent suppression-burst pattern in electroencephalograph (EEG) are accepted as the diagnostic criteria for EME. We report an 11 month-old infant with EME which was secondary to non-ketotic hyperglycinemia.

SCIWORA-Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiological Abnormality.

Following trauma, the commonly used radiological investigations, plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) studies do not rule out injury to the spinal cord. This is especially true for children, as an entity known by the acronym SCIWORA (spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality) exists and the changes may be picked up only on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Early treatment (within 6 hours) with high dose methylprednisolone improves the outcome. Spinal trauma being common it is possible that the burden of neurological handicap following this can be reduced by increasing awareness and early treatment with steroids. In the community, pediatricians are often the first medical contact after spinal trauma and awareness of the lacune of conventional imaging techniques is important especially if clinical symptoms pertaining to the spine are present. The community pediatrician is hereby made aware of the need to investigate spinal trauma with a MRI for possible SCIWORA situation as it generates a possibility for therapeutic intervention to alter the outcome positively.