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Posterior leukoencephalopathy in a girl with acute haemorrhagic leukoencephalitis
Insights
Posterior leukoencephalopathy in children often stems from various medical treatments or infections. This case highlights a rare fatal instance potentially linked to post-infectious hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroimmunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Posterior leukoencephalopathy (PRES) in children is commonly linked to hypertensive encephalopathy, chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, transfusions, or HIV.
- PRES typically resolves upon removal of the precipitating factor.
Observation:
- A fatal case of acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis was observed in a 13-year-old girl.
- Imaging findings were suggestive of posterior leukoencephalopathy.
Findings:
- The patient's condition was potentially a manifestation of post-infectious hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis.
- This etiology is distinct from PRES secondary to hypertension, chemotherapy, or immunosuppression.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of potential causes of posterior leukoencephalopathy in pediatric patients.
- It underscores the importance of considering infectious triggers in severe neurological presentations resembling PRES.
Abstract:
In children, posterior leukoencephalopathy is frequently associated with hypertensive encephalopathy, anticancer chemotherapy, treatment with immunosuppressive drugs in patients with organ transplantation, transfusion or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Posterior leukoencephalopathy in these children appears as a complicating illness and resolves once precipitating factor (e.g. cancer chemotherapy) is removed. Here we are reporting a fatal case of acute haemorrhatic leukoencephalitis in a 13 year old girl, imaging abnormalities are also suggestive of posterior leukoencephalopathy. Posterior leukoencephalopathy in our patient possibly, is a part of post-infectious haemorrhagic leukoencephalitis, rather than because of ischaemia or cerebral oedema secondary either to abrupt increase in blood pressure or following administration of immunosuppressive drugs.