Pediatric neurology
-
Pediatric neurology · Jul 2020
ReviewNeurological Monitoring and Complications of Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is extracorporeal life support for life-threatening cardiopulmonary failure. Since its introduction, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has expanded to patients with more complex comorbidities without change in patient mortality rates. Although many patients survive, significant neurological complications like seizures, ischemic strokes, and intracranial hemorrhage can occur during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation care. ⋯ We discuss the current literature on the use of electroencephalography for both seizure detection and monitoring of background electroencephalographic changes, in addition to the use of less commonly used imaging modalities like transcranial Doppler. We summarize the knowledge gaps and the lack of clinical consensus guidelines for managing these potentially life-changing neurological complications. Finally, we discuss future work to further understand the pathophysiology of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-related neurological complications.
-
Guillain-Barré syndrome is the most common cause of acute flaccid paresis in childhood. Few validated large-scale population-based data are available concerning pediatric Guillain-Barré syndrome, including incidence, risk factors, and initial clinical characteristics. ⋯ Pediatric Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnoses in the Danish National Patient Registry have high validity, the incidence peaks at age two years, and is preceded by infection in two-thirds of children. Lower extremity pain is a common clinical presentation in the acute setting.
-
Pediatric neurology · May 2020
Prevalence and Impact of Underlying Diagnosis and Comorbidities on Chiari 1 Malformation.
Chiari malformation type 1 affects approximately one in 1,000 people symptomatically, although one in 100 meet radiological criteria, making it a common neurological disorder. The diagnosis of underlying conditions has become more sophisticated, and new radiological markers of disease have been described. We sought to determine the prevalence and impact of additional comorbidities and underlying diagnoses in patients with Chiari malformation type 1 on symptomatology and surgical treatment. ⋯ The underlying diagnoses and presence of comorbidities in patients with Chiari malformation type 1 impacts rates of syringomyelia and surgery. Although most Chiari malformation type 1 cases are nonsyndromic, clinical evaluation of growth parameters, scoliosis, and joint hypermobility should be routine for all patients as they are useful to determine syringomyelia risk and may impact treatment.
-
Pediatric neurology · May 2020
Acute Dystonic Reactions in Children Treated for Headache With Prochlorperazine or Metoclopramide.
The incidences of dystonic reactions to metoclopramide and prochlorperazine have not been well characterized in children. ⋯ Dystonic reactions are rare events among pediatric patients treated for acute headache, but are more common with prochlorperazine than metoclopramide.
-
Pediatric neurology · May 2020
Prevalence of Aromatic l-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency in At-Risk Populations.
Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that results from disease-causing pathogenic variants of the dopa decarboxylase (DDC) gene. Loss of dopamine and serotonin production in the brain from infancy prevents achievement of motor developmental milestones. ⋯ Overall, these analyses identified 36 new cases of AADC deficiency. Sequencing findings showed substantial diversity with identification of 26 different DDC gene variants; five had not previously been associated with AADC deficiency. The results of the present study align with the emerging literature and understanding of the epidemiology and genetics of AADC deficiency.