[A neonatal case of anterior spinal artery syndrome presenting with bilateral arm paresis].

Anterior spinal artery syndrome is rare in children, especially in neonates. We present a girl with hydrops fetalis and hypothyroidism who developed flaccid paresis of both arms in the neonatal period (around day 25). MRI of the spine performed on day 52 revealed atrophic changes at C5-Th1 without Gd-DTPA-induced enhancement. Nerve conduction studies were also helpful in the diagnosis;in the upper limbs, motor potential was not elicited, while sensory nerve conduction velocity was normal. These clinical and laboratory findings suggested an atypical case of anterior spinal artery syndrome.

[Liposteroid therapy for refractory epileptic spasms].

Liposteroid was administered intravenously to 6 patients with refractory epileptic spasms. In one case, the spasms initially disappeared but then reappeared after three months. Another case had a transient and slight decrease of epileptic spasms. In the only patient in whom spasms disappeared, EEG abnormalities were greatly improved with diffuse spikes and waves changing into focal spikes. Two cases displayed hyperexcitability, insomnia and acting out behavior, and the therapy was discontinued in one of them. One case had appetite loss and another showed an increase in tonic seizures. No patient had serious adverse effects such as infection, edema, subdural hematoma and brain shrinkage. Although liposteroid therapy has been recommended as an easy, useful and safe alternative for ACTH, we found considerable adverse effects and only a small effect on refractory spasms, and conclude that the regimen should be modified.