Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord with autoimmune disease in children: a case report / 中华神经科杂志

The clinical manifestations of subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord (SCD) in children are complex and vary greatly. Due to the fact that some patients with SCD may be complicated with autoimmune diseases, the high early misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis rates are observed. One case of 13-year old female with severe anemia, multiple joint swelling and pain in left limbs and paralysis of bilateral lower limbs with the extremely low level of serum vitamin B12 and poly-glandular involvement as well as a variety of positive auto-antibodies (anti-intrinsic factor antibody, anti-parietal cell antibody, thyroid peroxidase antibody, thyroid globulin antibody and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody) was retrospectively analyzed. The patient was diagnosed as SCD with autoimmune disease (undifferentiated connective tissue disease and autoimmune polyglandular syndrome). The patient′s condition gradually alleviated after high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, immunoglobulin, naproxen (then changed to hydroxychloroquine 1 month later), vitamin B12 and levothyroxine sodium tablets supplementation, blood transfusion and rehabilitation. SCD with autoimmune diseases is rare in children, and the clinical manifestations vary greatly. Early recognition and early treatment can improve the prognosis of SCD. The clinical data of this child were retrospectively analyzed, so as to improve the understanding of the disease by clinicians.

Risk factors of paradoxical response during anti-tuberculosis treatment in children with tuberculous meningitis / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To investigate clinical features, risk factors and prognostic effects of paradoxical response(PR)in children with tuberculous meningitis(TBM)during anti-tuberculosis treatment.Methods:The clinical and follow-up data of TBM children admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University between January 2013 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The children were divided into the PR group and the non-PR group.Influencing factors of PR were selected by the univariate analysis, and independent risk factors were screened from these influencing factors by using the multivariate Logistic regression model.The effect of PR on long-term prognosis (≥9 months) of TBM was evaluated. Results:There were 31 cases(35.6%)with PR among the 87 TBM children enrolled, including 16 boys and 15 girls, with median age of 92(8-168)months.The median time for PR occurrence during the anti-tuberculosis treatment was 33(15-180)days.PR could present dete-rioration or recurrence of original symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)deterioration and neuroimaging deterioration, accounting for 71.0%(22/31 cases), 80.6%(25/31 cases)and 51.6%(16/31 cases), respectively.Univariate analysis showed that stage Ⅱ, limb paralysis, cranial nerve palsy, positive tests of tuberculosis infection(T-SPOT), an increased lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)level in CSF, basilar meningeal enhancement, and tuberculosis infection outside the central nervous system were the influencing factors of the PR(all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that limb paralysis, cranial nerve palsy, an increased CSF-LDH level, and positive T-SPOT were independent risk factors of PR(all P<0.05). PR was not associated with prognosis( P=0.165). Conclusions:PR occurs in 35.6% of children with TBM.Limb paralysis, cranial nerve palsy, an increased CSF-LDH level and positive T-SPOT are independent risk factors of PR.PR does not adversely affect the outcome.Identifying PR is extremely important for the prevention of some clinical misunderstandings.

De novo KCNMA1 mutations in 3 children with paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia and developmental delay / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of 3 unrelated boys with paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia and developmental delay caused by de novo mutation in KCNMA1,and to expand the knowledge of clinical phenotype of KCNMA1 mutation.Methods Clinical data of patients were collected,including gender,age,condition of the perinatal period,personal history,and family history.And the features of genotype data were collected including features of attack,developmental milestones,physical examinations,treatments,and responses to treatment.The data including blood biochemical results,results of metabolic screening and genetic testing and the pedigree validation were collected,while the relationship between phenotype and genotype was analyzed.Results (1)Phenotypic features:3 unrelated boys were diagnosed.The ages of disease onset were 20 days,7 months and 13 months,respectively.All the patients manifested paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia and were characterized by the episodes that occurred during wakefulness,presented with sudden onset of asymmetric limb dystonic posture,sometimes with nystagmus and strabismus,or sudden decrease of voluntary movement of limbs with hypotonia and occasional esotropia and yawning.There was no loss of awareness during attack.No precipitating factors were observed before attacks.The developmental milestones were delayed.Three children had no response to anti-epilepsy drug before diagnosis.After diagnosis,2 cases used Clonazepam and 1 case showed less attack.There was not any epileptic seizure until the last follow-up at the ages of 3 years and 6 months old,7 years old,and 5 years and 8 months old,respectively.The frequency of attacks was decreased.The episodes were recorded during video-electroencephalogram(EEG) monitoring,which showed normal ictal and interictal EEG.(2)Genotypic features:all 3 children were detected to have KCNMA1 genetic heterozygous missense mutation,while c.2650G>A (p.Glu884Lys) mutation was identified in 1 patient,and c.3158A>G(p.Asn1053Ser)mutation in the other 2 patients,but no such mutation was found in their parents.Conclusion This finding expands the phenotype of KCNMA1mutation.KCNMA1 should be considered as one of the candidate genes for screening in patients with early onset of paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia without triggers,or early-onset of developmental delay,with or without epilepsy.

Clinical features and misdiagnosis analysis of children with cerebral paragonimiasis with intracranial hemorrhage as initial symptom / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and the cause of misdiagnosis of child suffering from cerebral parago-nimiasis with intracranial hemorrhage as initial symptom,and to improve the diagnosis and treatment level of cerebral paragonimiasis.Methods The clinical data of the children who suffered from cerebral paragonimiasis with intracranial hemorrhage as initial symptom were collected from January 2011 to December 2015 in Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College.The clinical manifestation,imageology and laboratory tests,outcome of therapy were analyzed and then the effect of treatment and the prognosis were followed up.Results There were 7 patients meeting the inclusion criteria for cerebral paragonimiasis,including 4 male and 3 female.They were from 6 to 13 years old with the average age of 9.3 years old.All patients presented with headache and vomiting,and showed intracranial hemorrhage through CT or MRI of brain.All of the 7 patients were misdiagnosed as cerebrovascular malformation by the neurosurgeons.Three of them showed typical imaging pattern including tunnel sign and the ring-like shape of cerebral paragonimiasis.Five of these cases were attacked by pulmonary distomiasis at the same time.Six of them had an increasing eosinophil,and the paragonimus antibody was positive.They were treated with Praziquantel.Six patients recovered completely,and 1 patient had the dysfunction of left extremities.Conclusions The childhood cerebral paragonimiasis has strong clinical heterogeneity and diversity in manifestation.Intracranial hemorrhage may be the initial symptom,which should be paid more attention to.Cerebral paragonimiasis can be diagnosed and treated early according to the clinical characteristics,the increase of eosinophil,the typical changes in imageology and the specific antibody test.

Clinical features and electroencephalogram findings of nonconvulsive status epilepticus in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE)is a peculiar kind of status epilepticus,which is not un-common in children,but it always be misdiagnosed due to its unnoticeable clinical signs.So far,there is no international unifying diagnose standard of NCSE.Therefore,electroencephalography(EEG)monitoring is recommended.Now,the progress in this field of clinical manifestation and EEG features of NCSE was reviewed.

Clinical analysis of 13 cases of unrecognized infantile leukoencephalopathy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To summarize the phenotypic features of an unrecognized leukoencephalopathy in infants sharing same clinical features,and to better understand the disease and provide new evidence for identification of new leukoencephalopathy. Methods Clinical and follow-up data of 13 patients with unrecognized infantile leukoen-cephalopathy were collected from Peking University First Hospital from January, 2006 to December, 2014. Results (1) There were 7 male and 6 female. The average age of onset was 11 months (4-25 months). Thirty-eight percent (5/13 cases) of patients had incentives before the onset;all of the cases had acute onset and rapid motor function regression. Fifteen percent (2/13 cases) of the patients suffered from seizures in the course of the disease. Patients′condition became stable,and cognition and motor function improved gradually 1 month after onset. No patient died till the last follow-up. (2) Imaging features:magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patients was characterized by im-plicating deep white matter,presenting T1 hypointense,T2 and fluid attenuated inversion recovery ( FLAIR) hyperin-tense in the periventricular area. All of MRI showed massive and symmetric lesions with heterogeneous signal and cystic degeneration. DWI showed patch or massive hyperintense in some of the lesions. The follow-up MRI showed the original lesions decreased in 88% ( 8/9 cases ) of patients, and white matters atrophied in 55% ( 5/9 cases ) of patients;the cystic degeneration still existed and even expanded;DWI showed regional linear or spot hyperintense in 88% (8/9 cases) of patients,which was smaller than before,and distributed around the original lesions. Conclusions The patients with leukoencephalopathy caused by unknown pathogenic gene were much likely to be mitochondrial leukoencephalopathy. This study provided evidence for further exploration of new pathogenic genes causing leu-koence-phalopathy.