Detailed clinical course of fatal acute encephalopathy in children

Factors associated with outcomes of severe acute necrotizing encephalopathy: A multicentre experience in Malaysia

This case series compared clinical variables and various combinations of immunotherapy received with outcomes of patients with severe acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). We performed a retrospective review of clinical variables, immunotherapy received, and outcomes (based on the modified Rankin Scale) in Malaysia between February 2019 and January 2020. Twenty-seven children (12 male), aged 7 months to 14 years (mean 4 years) at diagnosis were included. Of these, 23 had an ANE severity score of 5 to 9 out of 9 (high risk). Eleven patients received tocilizumab (four in combination with methylprednisolone [MTP], seven with MTP + intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG]) and 16 did not (two received MTP alone, 14 received MTP + IVIG). Nine died. Among the survivors, six had good outcomes (modified Rankin Score 0-2) at 6 months follow-up. All patients who received tocilizumab in combination with MTP + IVIG survived. Twenty children received first immunotherapy within 48 hours of admission. No significant association was found between the timing of first immunotherapy with outcomes. Those with brainstem dysfunction (p = 0.016) were observed to have poorer outcomes. This study showed a trend towards better survival when those with severe ANE were treated with tocilizumab in combination with MTP + IVIG. However, larger studies will be needed to determine the effect of this regime on the long-term outcomes.

Time course of serum cytokine level changes within 72 h after onset in children with acute encephalopathy and febrile seizures

BACKGROUND

Cytokine levels have been measured in acute encephalopathy (AE) to determine its pathology or as a diagnostic biomarker to distinguish it from febrile seizures (FS); however, the dynamics of cytokine level changes have not yet been fully captured in these two neurological manifestations. Thus, we aimed to explore the time course of serum cytokine level changes within 72 h after onset in AE and FS.

METHODS

We retrospectively measured cytokine level in residual serum samples at multiple timepoints in seven children whose final diagnoses were AE or FS.

RESULTS

The levels of 13 cytokines appeared to increase immediately after onset and peaked within 12-24 h after onset: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4 IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, eotaxin, fibroblast growth factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon gamma, interferon-inducible protein-10, and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1. There were no dynamic changes in the levels of three cytokines (IL-1 receptor agonist, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, and platelet-derived growth factor-bb) 72 h after onset. Levels of some cytokines decreased to around control levels within 48 h after onset: IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-17, fibroblast growth factor, and interferon gamma. The levels of most cytokines appeared to be higher in AE, especially in hemorrhagic shock encephalopathy syndrome, than in FS.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytokine levels in both AE and FS change dynamically, such as the levels of several cytokines increased within a few hours after onset and decreased at 12-24 h after onset. Therefore, it will be desirable to make clinical decisions regarding the administration of anti-inflammatory therapy in 24 h after onset in AE.

Growth and differentiation factor-15 as a potential prognostic biomarker for status-epilepticus-associated-with-fever: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Biomarkers predicting poor outcomes of status-epilepticus-associated-with-fever (SEF) at an early stage may contribute to treatment guidance. However, none have been reported thus far. We investigated the dynamics of serum growth and differentiation factor (GDF)-15 after seizure onset in patients with SEF and determined whether GDF-15 can predict poor outcomes, particularly in the first 6 h after seizure onset.

METHODS

We enrolled 37 pediatric patients with SEF and eight patients with simple febrile seizures (SFS) and collected their blood samples within 24 h of seizure onset and eight febrile control patients between March 1, 2017 and September 30, 2020. All patients were aged ≤15 years.

RESULTS

In the SEF group, the median post-seizure serum GDF-15 values were 1,065 (<6h), 2,720 (6-12 h), and 2,411 (12-24 h) pg/mL. The median serum GDF-15 in the first 6 h was measured in patients with SEF without a significant past medical history (n = 21) and was found to be statistically significantly higher (1,587 pg/mL) than in the febrile control (551 pg/mL) and SFS (411 pg/mL) groups. The median serum GDF-15 was statistically significantly higher in patients with SEF with sequelae (n = 5) and patients with acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures/reduced diffusion/hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (n = 6) than in patients with SEF without sequelae (n = 16) (15,898 vs 756 pg/mL) and patients with prolonged FS (n = 15) (9,448 vs 796 pg/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the dynamics of serum GDF-15 in patients with SEF and indicates the potential of GDF-15 as an early predictor of poor outcomes.

Early steroid pulse therapy for children with suspected acute encephalopathy: An observational study

ABSTRACT

Steroid pulse therapy is widely used to treat virus-associated acute encephalopathy, especially the cytokine storm type; however, its effectiveness remains unknown. We sought to investigate the effectiveness of early steroid pulse therapy for suspected acute encephalopathy in the presence of elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels.We enrolled children admitted to Hyogo Children's Hospital between 2003 and 2017 with convulsions or impaired consciousness accompanied by fever (temperature >38°C). The inclusion criteria were: refractory status epilepticus or prolonged neurological abnormality or hemiplegia at 6 hours from onset, and AST elevation >90 IU/L within 6 hours of onset. We excluded patients with a neurological history. We compared the prognosis between the groups with or without steroid pulse therapy within 24 hours. A good prognosis was defined as a Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale (PCPC) score of 1-2 at the last evaluation, within 30 months of onset. Moreover, we analyzed the relationship between prognosis and time from onset to steroid pulse therapy.Fifteen patients with acute encephalopathy and 5 patients with febrile seizures were included in this study. Thirteen patients received steroid pulse therapy within 24 hours. There was no between-group difference in the proportion with a good prognosis. There was no significant correlation between PCPC and timing of steroid pulse therapy (rs = 0.253, P = .405). Even after excluding 2 patients with brainstem lesions, no significant correlation between PCPC and steroid pulse therapy timing (rs = 0.583, P = .060) was noted. However, the prognosis tended to be better in patients who received steroid pulse therapy earlier.Steroid pulse therapy within 24 hours did not improve the prognosis in children with suspected acute encephalopathy associated with elevated AST. Still, even earlier administration of treatment could prevent the possible neurological sequelae of this condition.

Prediction of AESD and neurological sequelae in febrile status epilepticus

OBJECTIVE

The clinical prediction rule (CPR) for acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) was developed with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.95 - 0.96. Our objective was to verify the AESD CPR in a new cohort and compare the utilities of three CPRs of acute encephalopathy: the Tada, Yokochi, and Nagase criteria.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical data and medical charts of 580 consecutive patients (aged < 18 years) with febrile convulsive status epilepticus lasting for ≥ 30 min in 2002 - 2017 and measured the performance of the CPRs in predicting AESD and sequelae.

RESULTS

The CPRs predicted AESD with an AUC of 0.84 - 0.88. The Tada criteria predicted AESD with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.25 and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.99. The Yokochi criteria predicted AESD with a PPV and NPV of 0.20 and 0.95, respectively, after 12 h. The Nagase criteria predicted AESD with a PPV and NPV of 0.14 and 1.00, respectively, after 6 h. The PPVs of the Tada, Yokochi, and Nagase criteria for sequelae were 0.28, 0.28, and 0.17, respectively; the corresponding NPVs were 0.97, 0.95, and 0.98, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The effectiveness of the AESD CPR in a new cohort was lower than that in the derivation study. CPRs are not sufficient as diagnostic tests, but they are useful as screening tests. The Nagase criteria are the most effective for screening among the three CPRs due to their high NPV and swiftness.