ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by qualitative deficits in communication, social skills and a restrictive repertoire of interests and behaviors. Recent studies suggest that they may represent one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. METHOD: Treatment of core deficits of ASD are primarily speech and language, behavioral and educational interventions. Clinical management of ASD requires a multidisciplinary approach to identify behaviors that could interfere with the individual s ability to benefit from those interventions. Medications, such as neuroleptics, antiepileptic drugs, SSRI s, neurostimulants and others have been used to target specific behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is much needed if medications are eventually to have a greater role in the treatment of core ASD symptoms. Recent attempts at neurosurgical interventions cannot be justified by our present level of knowledge
Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder/physiopathology , Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use , Autistic Disorder/drug therapy , Child , Communication Disorders/physiopathology , Developmental Disabilities/physiopathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Prognosis , Social BehaviorABSTRACT
Twenty-one children, ages 1-15 years, were selected for outpatient ambulatory electroencephalographic (AEEG) monitoring on the basis of infrequent seizures without therapy, normal routine EEGs, and normal neurologic/developmental examinations. Technically satisfactory recordings were obtained in all patients; recording time consisted of 24, 22, and 6 hours for 15, 4, and 2 patients, respectively. Eighteen patients were not receiving antiepileptic drug therapy at AEEG. The follow-up intervals after the AEEG ranged from 4-20 months. Only 2 patients had epileptiform AEEGs. Of the remaining 19 with nonepileptiform records, 10 were seizure free without antiepileptic drug therapy, but 9 developed additional seizures which required treatment.
Subject(s)
Electroencephalography/methods , Seizures/diagnosis , Adolescent , Ambulatory Care , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
A rare case of homozygous protein C deficiency occurred in a newborn. The patient presented with purpura fulminans in the first few hours after birth and showed multiple hemorrhagic lesions on computed tomography of the brain at 5 days of age. Neurologic symptoms developed at two weeks and the patient died at 37 weeks. His protein C level was less than 5%. Autopsy revealed thrombosis of the dural sinuses, multiple cortical infarcts, intraparenchymal hemorrhages, and hydrocephalus. The pathologic findings are correlated with the neurologic deficits and previously documented cases are reviewed.
Subject(s)
Brain/pathology , Protein C/analysis , Blood Coagulation Disorders/congenital , Blood Coagulation Disorders/etiology , Blood Coagulation Disorders/genetics , Cerebral Hemorrhage/pathology , Homozygote , Humans , Hydrocephalus/etiology , Hydrocephalus/pathology , Infant, Newborn , Male , Protein C/genetics , Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial/pathology , Thrombosis/etiology , Thrombosis/genetics , Thrombosis/pathologyABSTRACT
Os autores comparam estudantes de medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul com os da Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Campinas, Sao Paulo, quanto a prevalencia de fumantes, conhecimento das patologias associadas ao tabagismo e inicio do vicio. Comenta-se a importancia do estudante de medicina posicionar-se frente a esse problema
