Salmonella encephalopathy successfully treated with high-dose methylpredonisolone therapy

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Adjuvant Activity of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Autoantigens During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
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Adjuvant Activity of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Autoantigens During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Published on: May 12, 2023

Kazushi Ichikawa1, Akiko Kajitani, Akiko Tsutsumi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama 232-0024, Japan. k-ichi@urahp.yokohama-cu.ac.jp

Brain & Development
|February 14, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Salmonella encephalopathy in a child caused severe brain dysfunction. High-dose methylprednisolone effectively treated this condition, suggesting it is beneficial for hypercytokine-mediated Salmonella encephalopathy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroimmunology

Background:

  • Salmonella enterocolitis can lead to neurological complications.
  • Salmonella encephalopathy is a rare but serious condition characterized by brain dysfunction.
  • Elevated inflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of septic encephalopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a case of Salmonella encephalopathy in a child.
  • To investigate the role of inflammatory cytokines in the condition.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of high-dose methylprednisolone treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical case presentation of a 7-year-old boy.
  • Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for brain assessment.
  • Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ).
  • Stool specimen analysis for Salmonella typhimurium detection.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with severe consciousness disturbance following enterocolitis.
  • EEG showed diffuse slow activity; brain MRI was normal.
  • Elevated levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IFN-γ were found in serum and CSF.
  • Salmonella typhimurium was identified in stool.
  • The patient showed rapid improvement with high-dose methylprednisolone therapy.

Conclusions:

  • The case highlights Salmonella-associated encephalopathy with features of septic encephalopathy.
  • Hypercytokinemia plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of Salmonella encephalopathy.
  • High-dose methylprednisolone is a potentially effective treatment for hypercytokine-mediated Salmonella encephalopathy.

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