European journal of paediatric neurology : EJPN : official journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society
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Eur. J. Paediatr. Neurol. · Jan 1997
Case ReportsThe spectrum of acquired cognitive disturbances in children with partial epilepsy and continuous spike-waves during sleep. A 4-year follow-up case study with prolonged reversible learning arrest and dysfluency.
We report a longitudinal study (7-11 years) of a previously normal boy (MR) who presented from the age of 5 years with rare partial motor seizures and atypical 'absences'. The history revealed a stagnation in development and speech difficulties a few months before onset of his epilepsy. The first waking electroencephalogram (EEG) showed rare generalized discharges during hyperventilation. ⋯ This case adds a new facet to the already recognized more obvious acquired neuropsychological disturbances known to occur in some partial childhood epilepsy syndromes with CSWS (aphasia, dementia). It manifested as prolonged insidious stagnation in learning and subtle language disability. This study documents rapid specific language improvement with change in anti-epileptic drugs and a restored immediate and long-term learning capacity, suggesting a direct but 'hidden' role of epilepsy.
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Eur. J. Paediatr. Neurol. · Jan 1997
Case ReportsRadiofrequency lesions of the dorsal root ganglion in the treatment of hip flexor spasm: a report of two cases.
The current popular model of spasticity is that the abnormalities are primarily due to increased sensitivity of the reflex are at the segmental level of the spinal cord. Neurosurgical procedures, such as open selective dorsal rhizotomy for the reduction of spasticity, have been based on this assumption. We describe two patients with hip flexor spasm of different origin treated with radiofrequency lesions of the dorsal root ganglion.
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Eur. J. Paediatr. Neurol. · Jan 1997
Loss of CO2 reactivity of cerebral blood flow is associated with severe brain damage in mechanically ventilated very low birth weight infants.
Early detection of pathophysiological factors associated with permanent and severe brain damage in preterm infants requiring intensive care is a major issue in neonatal neurology. The aim of this study was to investigate if an abnormal CO2 reactivity of cerebral blood flow in high risk very low birth weight infants is associated with severe brain injury demonstrated at autopsy or by neurodevelopment examination at 18 months. ⋯ In mechanically ventilated very low birthweight infants low CO2 reactivity of cerebral blood flow (below 10%/kPa CO2) during the first 36 hours of life was associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcome or hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy at autopsy. Loss of CO2 reactivity may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. It is a candidate for predicting early severe brain damage in preterm infants requiring intensive care and for controlling the effect of early interventions.