Electroconvulsive therapy for malignant catatonia in adolescence

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Hematology

Background:

• Malignant catatonia is a rare but severe syndrome characterized by acute onset, fever, and autonomic instability.
• It requires prompt recognition in pediatric differential diagnoses for acute encephalopathies due to its treatable nature.

Observation:

• A 17-year-old adolescent with sickle cell anemia presented with symptoms of malignant catatonia.
• The patient experienced acute onset of severe catatonic symptoms, accompanied by systemicdevastation.

Findings:

• The adolescent patient with sickle cell anemia demonstrated a dramatic response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
• ECT effectively resolved the malignant catatonia symptoms in this case.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering malignant catatonia in the differential diagnosis of acute pediatric encephalopathies, even in patients with underlying conditions like sickle cell anemia.
• Electroconvulsive therapy is a viable and effective treatment for malignant catatonia in adolescents, offering a pathway to recovery.