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Occipital-parietal encephalopathy: a new name for an old syndrome
S G Pavlakis1, Y Frank, P Kalina
1Department of Neurology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA.
Insights
A boy experienced severe symptoms including hypertension and seizures, which resolved with treatment. This condition, potentially a variant of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy, may warrant a new name: occipital-parietal encephalopathy syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a neurological condition.
- RPLS typically affects adults and is characterized by specific brain imaging findings.
Observation:
- A pediatric case presented with severe hypertension, seizures, lethargy, headache, and occipital blindness.
- The patient showed significant clinical improvement following antihypertensive therapy.
Findings:
- The clinical presentation in this child shares similarities with reported pediatric cases and adult RPLS.
- The involvement of both gray and white matter in the observed condition suggests a broader pathological process than initially recognized in RPLS.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that occipital-parietal encephalopathy syndrome may be a more accurate descriptor for this condition, encompassing both gray and white matter involvement.
- Recognizing this distinct syndrome is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management in pediatric and potentially adult populations.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the pathophysiology and establish definitive diagnostic criteria for occipital-parietal encephalopathy syndrome.
Abstract:
A boy presented with hypertension, seizures, lethargy, headache, and occipital blindness. He improved with antihypertensive therapy. Other reported children with a similar distinctive clinical condition are compared with adults with a syndrome termed reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy. Because both gray and white matter are involved, we suggest that the name be changed to occipital-parietal encephalopathy syndrome.