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[Acute neurological deficit in treated malignant hemopathies].
Archives Francaises De Pediatrie
|November 1, 1983
Summary
Neurological complications in children with hematologic malignancies can be acute and severe. Measles virus encephalitis is a likely cause in some cases, indicated by seroconversion and specific findings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Malignant hematological diseases frequently cause neurological complications in children.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma are common hematologic malignancies in pediatric patients.
Observation:
- Five pediatric cases presented with acute neurological symptoms including fever, seizures, and deficits.
- Brain CT scans revealed hypodensity and contrast uptake in affected areas.
- Three cases showed measles virus seroconversion with characteristic findings in cerebrospinal fluid and/or brain tissue.
Findings:
- The clinical presentation was acute, mimicking other neurological emergencies.
- Measles virus infection is implicated as a potential cause of encephalitis in this cohort.
- Helix-like bodies in CSF and/or cerebral tissue suggest a viral etiology.
Implications:
- Early recognition of measles virus encephalitis is crucial for prompt diagnosis and management in children with hematologic malignancies.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the pathogenesis and optimize treatment strategies.
- This highlights the importance of considering infectious etiologies in the neurological complications of pediatric cancer.