Hemidystonia symptomatic of primary antiphospholipid syndrome in childhood

Classification of Dystonia

Dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by abnormal movement or posture caused by excessive muscle contraction. Because of its wide clinical spectrum, dystonia is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In clinical practice, dystonia could often present in association with other movement disorders. An accurate physical examination is essential to describe the correct phenomenology. To help clinicians reaching the proper diagnosis, several classifications of dystonia have been proposed. The current classification consists of axis I, clinical characteristics, and axis II, etiology. Through the application of this classification system, movement disorder specialists could attempt to correctly characterize dystonia and guide patients to the most effective treatment. The aim of this article is to describe the phenomenological spectrum of dystonia, the last approved dystonia classification, and new emerging knowledge.

Movement disorders in systemic autoimmune diseases: Clinical spectrum, ancillary investigations, pathophysiological considerations

With the advances in neuroimmunology especially due to the discovery of new neuronal antibodies, the recognition of treatable antibody-related movement disorders has recently received much attention. In contrast, the identification and characterisation of movement disorders associated with systemic autoimmune diseases remains a substantially unexplored area. Beyond the classic few associations such as chorea and antiphospholipid syndrome, or ataxia and coeliac disease, movement disorders have been reported in association with several systemic autoimmune diseases, however a clear image of clinical phenotypes, investigations, and treatment outcomes in these conditions has never been drawn. In this review, we analyse data from approximately 300 cases and summarise the epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic features of movement disorders associated with systemic autoimmune diseases, and the available knowledge about treatment and outcomes. We highlight that movement disorders in systemic autoimmune conditions are frequently the only or among a few presenting manifestations and are mostly treatable disorders responding to immunotherapy or dietary modifications. We point out the pertinent combination of clinical features and investigations which can suggest the underlying autoimmune nature of these movement disorders, and thus address the most appropriate treatment.

European evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of paediatric antiphospholipid syndrome: the SHARE initiative

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is rare in children, and evidence-based guidelines are sparse. Consequently, management is mostly based on observational studies and physician's experience, and treatment regimens differ widely. The Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) initiative was launched to develop diagnostic and management regimens for children and young adults with rheumatic diseases. Here, we developed evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of paediatric APS. Evidence-based recommendations were developed using the European League Against Rheumatism standard operating procedure. Following a detailed systematic review of the literature, a committee of paediatric rheumatologists and representation of paediatric haematology with expertise in paediatric APS developed recommendations. The literature review yielded 1473 articles, of which 15 were valid and relevant. In total, four recommendations for diagnosis and eight for treatment of paediatric APS (including paediatric Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome) were accepted. Additionally, two recommendations for children born to mothers with APS were accepted. It was agreed that new classification criteria for paediatric APS are necessary, and APS in association with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus should be identified by performing antiphospholipid antibody screening. Treatment recommendations included prevention of thrombotic events, and treatment recommendations for venous and/or arterial thrombotic events. Notably, due to the paucity of studies on paediatric APS, level of evidence and strength of the recommendations is relatively low. The SHARE initiative provides international, evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment for paediatric APS, facilitating improvement and uniformity of care.

De novo infantile primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Most autoimmune diseases are rare in infants. Early onset can represent an extreme phenotype arising from strong genetic predisposition relatively independent of environmental influence. Alternatively, neonatal autoimmunity can arise from transplacental passage of maternal pathogenic IgG autoantibodies. Distinguishing between these possible explanations is crucial for determining the prognosis in the specific patient, and has important implications for understanding pathogenesis. We report a case of neonatal thrombotic stroke associated with both cardiolipin and β2-glycoprotein I antibodies in neonatal serum but absent from cord blood and maternal serum. While the child also carried one prothrombotic allele of factor V (Leiden allele), which may have contributed to the risk of thromboembolic disease, the serological analysis represents unequivocal evidence of de novo neonatal primary phospholipid antibody syndrome.

Using 99mTc HMPAO brain SPECT to evaluate the effects of anticoagulant therapy on regional cerebral blood flow in primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome patients with brain involvement-a preliminary report

Technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime ((99m)Tc HMPAO) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to evaluate the effects of anticoagulant therapy (ACT) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (PAPS). Sixteen female PAPS patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations and hypoperfusion lesions demonstrated on initial (99m)Tc HMPAO brain SPECT images were enrolled in this study. Follow-up (99m)Tc HMPAO brain SPECT images were performed 1 month after ACT. Meanwhile, serum anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were measured before and after ACT. Before ACT, 14 (87.5%) patients had positive ACA. After ACT, all 16 PAPS patients showed decreased serologic findings, and their neuropsychiatric manifestations subsided. After ACT, 11 (68.8%) patients showed complete recovery of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and five (31.2%) patients showed partial recovery in the follow-up (99m)Tc HMPAO brain SPECT images. This type of imaging is a logical and objective tool for measuring the effects of ACT in PAPS patients with brain involvement by determining changes in rCBF.

Abnormal regional cerebral blood flow in primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome patients with normal magnetic resonance imaging findings. A preliminary report

Technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to detect abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (PAPS) patients. The patients had mild neuropsychiatric manifestations and normal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in this preliminary study. Fifteen such female PAPS patients were examined with Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT in order to evaluate the rCBF. In addition, serum anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) were simultaneously measured for comparison.

RESULTS

(a) Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT revealed hypoperfusion brain lesions in 12 (80%) of the PAPS patients. Pariental lobes were the most commonly involved areas. (b) 11 (73%) and 9 (60%) cases had positive ACA and positive LA, respectively. In addition, ACA and LA results were correlated to the Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT findings. Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT is a sensitive tool for detecting abnormal rCBF in PAPS patients with mild neuropsychiatric manifestations and normal brain MRI findings.

The natural history and treatment of acquired hemidystonia: report of 33 cases and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the natural history and response to treatment in hemidystonia.

METHODS

190 Cases of hemidystonia were identified; 33 patients in this series and 157 from the world literature. Data was collected on aetiology, age of onset, latency, lesion location, and response to treatment.

RESULTS

The most common aetiologies of hemidystonia were stroke, trauma, and perinatal injury. Mean age of onset was 20 years in this series and 25.7 years in the literature. The average latency from insult to dystonia was 4.1 years in this series and 2.8 years in the literature, with the longest latencies occurring after perinatal injury. Basal ganglia lesions were identified in 48% of cases in this series and 60% of the cases in the literature, most commonly involving the putamen. Patients experienced benefit from medical therapy in only 26% of medication trials in this series and in only 35% of trials in the literature. In the patients reported here, the benzodiazepines clonazepam and diazepam were the most effective medications with 50% of trials resulting in at least some benefit. In the literature, anticholinergic drugs were most effective with 41% of trials resulting in benefit. Surgery was successful in five of six cases in this series and in 22 of 23 cases in the literature. However, in 12 cases, results were transient.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common cause of hemidystonia is stroke, with the lesion most commonly involving the basal ganglia. Hemidystonia responds poorly to most medical therapies, but some patients may benefit from treatment with benzodiazepines or anticholinergic drugs. Surgical therapy may be successful but benefit is often transient.

Optic neuropathy in primary antiphospholipid syndrome in childhood

Neurologic symptoms associated with antiphospholipid antibodies in children include thrombotic events, unilateral movement disorders, or migraine. We present a 7-year-old girl with bilateral optic neuropathy, cerebral white-matter lesions, and antiphospholipid IgM that responded to prednisone and tended to relapse when it was stopped. Remission was obtained under maintenance corticosteroid therapy, and the antiphospholipid antibodies disappeared. This case suggests a role for antiphospholipid antibodies in the pathogenesis of optic neuropathy in childhood.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 presenting with hand dystonia

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is frequently associated with increased intensity T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain abnormalities, called "unidentified bright objects." Unidentified bright objects are generally held to be benign and tend to decrease in size during adulthood. We describe a case of neurofibromatosis type 1 with a similar thalamic and subthalamic MRI abnormality associated with contralateral hand dystonia. Over a 2-year follow-up, the lesions showed a reduction in size apparently correlated with a reduction in symptoms.

Dystonia and chorea in acquired systemic disorders

Dystonia and chorea are uncommon accompaniments, but sometimes the presenting features of certain acquired systemic disorders that presumably alter basal ganglia function. Hypoxia-ischaemia may injure the basal ganglia through hypoperfusion of subcortical vascular watershed regions and by altering striatal neurotransmitter systems. Toxins interfere with striatal mitochondrial function, resulting in cellular hypoxia. Infections may affect the basal ganglia by causing vasculitic ischaemia, through the development of antibodies to basal ganglia epitopes, by direct invasion of the basal ganglia by the organism, or through cytotoxins causing neuronal injury. Autoimmune disorders alter striatal function by causing a vasculopathy, by direct reaction of antibodies with basal ganglia epitopes, or by stimulating the generation of a cytotoxic or inflammatory reaction. Endocrine and electrolyte abnormalities influence neurotransmitter balance or affect ion channel function and signalling in the basal ganglia. In general, the production of chorea involves dysfunction of the indirect pathway from the caudate and putamen to the internal globus pallidus, whereas dystonia is generated by dysfunction of the direct pathway. The time of the onset of the movement disorder relative to the primary disease process, and course vary with the age of the patient and the underlying pathology. Treatment of dystonia or chorea associated with a systemic medical disorder must initially consider the systemic disorder.

Acquired hemidystonia in childhood: a clinical and neuroradiological study of thirteen patients

A retrospective study of 13 patients (4 males/9 females) with acquired hemidystonia in childhood is reported. The mean age of onset of hemidystonia was 6.4 years (range 1-13.4 years); the mean duration of dystonia at the time of last follow-up was 11.4 years (range 3.6-23 years). Hemidystonia was caused by ischemic infarction in 9 patients and was attributed to perinatal trauma in 1; in 4 of the 9 patients with stroke and in the remaining 3 patients laboratory investigations were suggestive of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. Eleven of the 13 patients had delayed onset of dystonia: between 1 month and 8.9 years (mean 3.4 years). Ten patients had neuroradiological evidence of contralateral basal ganglia damage. A history of hemiparesis and evidence of striatal damage on CT or MRI were important risk factors for the development of dystonia. Response to medical treatment (trihexyphenidyl dose as high as 40 mg daily) in 5 patients was disappointing; 4 of the 5 patients who underwent functional stereotaxic operations were improved, but dystonia was still present at the end of the follow-up. Our study provides additional evidence that lesions of the striatum may induce dystonia, supporting the theory of striatopallido-thalamic disconnection. Furthermore, our results indicate that the occurrence of delayed dystonia must be considered in the diagnostic approach to childhood-onset dystonia.

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) and isolated partial seizures in adolescence. A case report

The case of a young male patient presenting isolated clustered partial seizures is reported. Despite the normality of the neurological features, as well as of ictal and interictal EEG, the MRI (performed three days after the symptoms) disclosed bilateral signal alterations in the parietal cortical region. These abnormalities disappeared at the MRI control examination performed one month later. The finding of positive anticardiolipine antibodies made possible the diagnosis of partial epileptic seizures symptomatic of a vascular disorder ascribed to a Primary antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS).