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Spinal cord infarction in meningitis: polygenic risk factors
Benjamin P Almasanu1, Jennifer R Owensby, Steven G Pavlakis
1Department of Pediatrics, Infants and Children's Hospital of Brooklyn, Maimonides Medical Center, 977 48th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA.
Pediatric Neurology
|January 25, 2005
Summary
This study details a rare case of pediatric spinal cord infarction following Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. The patient had a Chiari I malformation and factor V Leiden mutation, highlighting a complex interplay of factors leading to this severe neurological event.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Spinal cord infarction is a rare but devastating neurological event.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis can lead to serious complications.
- Co-occurrence of hypercoagulability disorders and structural brain anomalies increases risk.
Observation:
- A pediatric patient presented with tetraplegia after Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.
- The patient was diagnosed with both a Chiari I malformation and a factor V Leiden mutation.
- This case represents the first reported instance of spinal cord infarction in a child with these combined conditions.
Findings:
- The combination of infection, inflammation, localized pressure, and hypercoagulability created conditions for cervical spine infarction.
- This case underscores the polygenic nature of spinal cord infarction expression.
- The study highlights the critical role of multiple risk factors in pediatric neurological complications.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of rare neurological complications in pediatric meningitis.
- It emphasizes the importance of investigating hypercoagulability and structural anomalies in pediatric stroke and infarction.
- Early recognition and management of these combined factors are crucial for improving outcomes in affected children.