Neurological outcomes of congenital Zika syndrome in toddlers and preschoolers: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Congenital Zika syndrome causes a spectrum of neurological symptoms with varying effects on function that require different therapeutic strategies. To date, this spectrum of effects and its clinical implications have not been completely described. We describe the neurological examination findings in toddlers and preschoolers, including predominant symptom complexes and comorbidities. METHODS: This study is a case-series neurological evaluation of 75 children with congenital Zika syndrome in Campina Grande, Brazil. The study is part of a cohort of children with congenital Zika syndrome that started in 2015 and is still ongoing. Children with Zika virus infection detected during pregnancy (mothers exhibited rash and were followed and diagnosed by fetal ultrasound abnormalities or RT-PCR) or through microcephaly screening after birth, using Intergrowth 21 guidelines, were selected by laboratory and radiological criteria. Children were examined during a 10-day period in September, 2018, and underwent neurological interview, examination, and assessment of functional outcomes and comorbidities. Children were divided in groups of predominant corticospinal or neuromuscular clinical signs and the associations between these groups and clinical comorbidities were assessed. FINDINGS: All of the children recruited to the study from Nov 29, 2015 to Nov 30, 2017 had imaging correlates of congenital Zika syndrome. Children were assigned to groups depending on the signs exhibited, either corticospinal or neuromuscular, with or without dyskinetic signs. 75 children completed the evaluation, 38 (51%) girls and 37 (49%) boys. Median age was 33 months (range 26-40 months; IQR 29-34). Microcephaly was present at birth in 56 (75%) children, and 19 (25%) children were born with normal head circumference, 15 of whom later developed microcephaly. Neurological examination grouped four children as having isolated dyskinetic signs, 48 children were assigned to the corticospinal group and 23 into the neuromuscular group. Dyskinetic findings were present in 30 (40%) children, either alone (four [5%]) or combined with corticospinal (19 [40%] of 48) or neuromuscular (seven [30%] of 23) findings. Comorbidities were highly prevalent, and the neuromuscular group had worse functional outcomes, evaluated by gross motor function (p=0·026), manual abilities (p=0·0013), and communication function (p<0·0005) classification scales, than the corticospinal group, whereas pneumonia (p<0·0005) and urinary tract infections (p<0·0005) were more frequent in the corticospinal group. Cortical hyperexcitability was supported by several clinical correlates, such as early onset epilepsy, persistence of primitive reflexes, and dystonia. INTERPRETATION: We describe distinct neurological profiles in the congenital Zika syndrome spectrum, with functional outcomes tending to correlate with these groups. The clinical division of children based on the disease signs proposed here is supported by the literature on central and peripheral nervous system pathology in congenital Zika syndrome. The high prevalence of dyskinetic symptoms merits special attention. FUNDING: Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel.

Neurological manifestations of congenital Zika virus infection.

INTRODUCTION: In 2015, it was observed a rise in the number of microcephalic newborns associated with a history of non-specific febrile sickness and rash during pregnancy in Brazil. Since then, microcephaly has emerged as a public health concern. A few months after, the causal relation between congenital microcephaly and the Zika virus was discovered. Zika virus, an arbovirus, is a new TORCH member that leads to congenital infection through vertical transmission and harms the developing brain, disrupting synaptogenesis, and causing other central nervous system lesions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to report the congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and to emphasize the need for follow-up of the affected children to better know the evolutionary history of this new agent and to optimize the provision of healthcare and improve the quality of life of these patients. METHODS: We review the most relevant literature about clinical manifestations and neuroimaging findings related to neurotropism of Zika virus to characterize the congenital Zika syndrome and suggest the systematization of some exams and procedures to evaluate children exposed to ZIKV with or without microcephaly, according to the author's own experience. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical ZIKV infection can cause a wide spectrum of neurological manifestations that go beyond microcephaly, and even the non-microcephalic child should be followed during the first years of life, because infection may be asymptomatic or lead to neuropsicomotor delay, epilepsy, and visual abnormalities. The appropriate prospective multidisciplinary follow-up of these patients aims to understand the natural history of this new agent and to provide a better development and quality of life for them and their families.

Sintomas depressivos e qualidade de vida em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 com polineuropatia distal diabética / Depressive symptoms and quality of life in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic distal polyneuropathy

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto dos sintomas depressivos e da dor neuropática na qualidade de vida (QV) de pacientes diabéticos com polineuropatia distal diabética (PNDD). MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 204 pacientes com diabetes melito tipo 2. O diagnóstico de PNDD foi realizado por meio do Escore de Sintomas Neuropáticos e Escore de Comprometimento Neuropático. A gravidade da dor neuropática foi avaliada por meio da Escala Visual Analógica (EVA); os sintomas depressivos, por meio do Inventário Beck de Depressão (IBD); a QV, com o World Health Organization Quality of Life abreviado (WHOQOL-bref). RESULTADOS: Pacientes com PNDD apresentaram escores mais altos no IBD (12,6 ± 7,2 versus 9,9 ± 7,3; p = 0,018) e no EVA (5,0 ± 2,4 versus 2,6 ± 2,9, p < 0,001). Em relação à QV, apresentaram escores mais baixos no domínio físico (52,8 ± 15,5 versus 59,2 ± 17,0; p = 0,027) e ambiental (56,6 ± 12,3 versus 59,6 ± 13,6; p = 0,045). CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes diabéticos com PNDD apresentam pior QV nos domínios físico e ambiental do WHOQOL-bref, provavelmente devido à maior sintomatologia depressiva e gravidade de dor.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of depressive symptoms and neuropathic pain in the quality of life (QL) of diabetic patients with diabetic distal polyneuropathy (DDP). METHODS: Two hundred and four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were evaluated. The diagnosis of DDP was achieved using the Neuropathy Disability Score and Neuropathy Symptom Score questionnaires. The severity of neuropathic pain was assessed by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); the severity of depression, by means of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and QL was assessed by means of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-bref (WHOQOLbref). RESULTS: Patients with DDP presented significant higher scores in BDI (12.6 ± 7.2 versus 9.9 ± 7.3; p = 0.018) and in VAS (5.0 ± 2.4 versus 2.6 ± 2.9; p < 0.001). They also presented significant lower scores in the physical (52.8 ± 15.5 versus 59.2 ± 17.0; p = 0.027) and environmental domains (56.6 ± 12.3 versus 59.6 ± 13.6; p = 0,045). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with DDP presented a worse QL in the physical and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-bref, probably due to more depressive symptoms and the severity of pain.

[Depressive symptoms and quality of life in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic distal polyneuropathy]. / Sintomas depressivos e qualidade de vida em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 com polineuropatia distal diabética.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of depressive symptoms and neuropathic pain in the quality of life (QL) of diabetic patients with diabetic distal polyneuropathy (DDP). METHODS: Two hundred and four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were evaluated. The diagnosis of DDP was achieved using the Neuropathy Disability Score and Neuropathy Symptom Score questionnaires. The severity of neuropathic pain was assessed by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); the severity of depression, by means of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and QL was assessed by means of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-bref (WHOQOLbref). RESULTS: Patients with DDP presented significant higher scores in BDI (12.6 +/- 7.2 versus 9.9 +/- 7.3; p = 0.018) and in VAS (5.0 +/- 2.4 versus 2.6 +/- 2.9; p < 0.001). They also presented significant lower scores in the physical (52.8 +/- 15.5 versus 59.2 +/- 17.0; p = 0.027) and environmental domains (56.6 +/- 12.3 versus 59.6 +/- 13.6; p = 0,045). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with DDP presented a worse QL in the physical and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-bref, probably due to more depressive symptoms and the severity of pain.