Journal of child neurology
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Ischemic strokes in children, although generally rare events, are more prevalent than commonly believed and can adversely affect brain development. Ischemic strokes in children have been associated with various risk factors, including coagulation defects, cardiac anomalies, inborn errors of metabolism, infections, trauma, and even migraine headaches. We present four children with two or more of these risk factors, indicating multifactorial causes of strokes in children. Neuropsychologic testing in two of our cases also underscores cognitive decline as a result of recurrent strokes.
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Clinical Trial
Status epilepticus: clinical analysis of a treatment protocol based on midazolam and phenytoin.
The efficacy of a combination of midazolam and phenytoin in treating generalized convulsive status epilepticus in children was studied retrospectively. The patient group comprised all patients admitted for generalized convulsive status epilepticus to the pediatric intensive care unit over 7 years. Patients treated according to the protocol were included (N = 122). ⋯ Fifty-two patients needed artificial ventilation. Seven patients died; no deaths were directly attributable to generalized convulsive status epilepticus itself. With the use of the proposed protocol, combining midazolam and phenytoin, 89% of the cases of generalized convulsive status epilepticus could be successfully managed.
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Levetiracetam is a new antiepileptic drug whose efficacy and tolerability are already well known in adults. Few studies are available in children. This review, based on the international literature, aims to identify and make known the possible indications for levetiracetam in childhood. ⋯ Doses for children should be 130 to 140% of those advised for adults. Levetiracetam seems to have a broad spectrum of action and is, on the whole, well tolerated. Its efficacy against generalized epilepsy is particularly promising in childhood.
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Case Reports
Paroxysmal tonic upgaze and partial tetrasomy of chromosome 15: a novel genetic association.
Paroxysmal tonic upgaze of childhood is an eye movement abnormality characterized by periodic episodes of conjugate upward eye deviation. Although the spectrum of paroxysmal tonic upgaze has broadened considerably, a specific pathophysiology has not been elucidated. We report an infant with paroxysmal tonic upgaze who presented to his pediatrician with associated hypotonia and gross motor delay. ⋯ To date, a specific genetic abnormality has not been associated with paroxysmal tonic upgaze. The finding of a genetic association with paroxysmal tonic upgaze might help characterize the substrate for ophthalmologic manifestations. Further study in this chromosomal region in patients with paroxysmal tonic upgaze is warranted.
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The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam in a diverse pediatric epilepsy population. A retrospective chart review of 52 consecutive children age 8 months to 16 years who were treated with levetiracetam was performed. The data include patients with partial and generalized seizures, monotherapy, and concomitant antiepileptic drug use. ⋯ Adverse events, seen in 17 patients, were determined to be tolerable or resolved over time with continued dosing, dosage reduction, or discontinuation. This open-label, retrospective study of 52 consecutive pediatric patients treated with levetiracetam indicates at least partial efficacy in a variety of pediatric epilepsy syndromes. Tolerability was surprisingly favorable, even at doses far exceeding 40 mg/kg/day.