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[Disseminated acute encephalomyelitis in children]
J A Peña1, C Montiel-Nava, F Hernández
1Postgrado de Neurología Pediátrica, LUZ, Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo, Maracaibo, Venezuela. jokar1@telcel.net.ve
Revista De Neurologia
|May 4, 2002
Summary
Disseminated acute encephalomyelitis (DAE) is an autoimmune condition. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with methylprednisolone led to complete recovery in most children, highlighting MRI
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Autoimmune Diseases
Context:
- Disseminated acute encephalomyelitis (DAE) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory neurological disorder.
- Often triggered by infections or immunizations, DAE can present with diverse neurological symptoms.
- Understanding DAE's characteristics is crucial for timely diagnosis and management in children.
Purpose:
- To delineate the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and treatment strategies for DAE.
- To analyze these aspects within a cohort of 13 pediatric patients diagnosed with DAE.
- To evaluate the efficacy of methylprednisolone treatment and patient outcomes.
Summary:
- Fever preceded neurological symptoms in 61% of pediatric DAE cases.
- Common findings included sensory deficits, seizures, and motor impairments (paresis).
- MRI revealed multifocal white matter lesions; treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone resulted in full recovery for 11/13 patients.
Impact:
- MRI is essential for diagnosing DAE, detecting characteristic demyelinating lesions.
- DAE typically follows a favorable clinical course with resolution of lesions.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of DAE in children can lead to excellent prognoses.