Patterns of retinal hemorrhage associated with pediatric cerebral sinovenous thrombosis

Medical findings and symptoms in infants exposed to witnessed or admitted abusive shaking: A nationwide registry study

Background

Many physicians regard the combination of encephalopathy, subdural haemorrhage (SDH), retinal haemorrhage (RH), rib fractures, and classical metaphyseal lesions (CML) as highly specific for abusive head trauma (AHT). However, without observed abuse or other criteria that are independent of these findings, bias risk is high.

Methods

Infants subjected for examination under the suspicion of maltreatment during the period 1997–2014 were identified in the National Patient Registry, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 SE). The medical records were scrutinized for identification of cases of witnessed or admitted physical abuse by shaking. The main outcome measures were occurrence of SDH, RH, fractures and skin lesions.

Results

All identified 36 infants had been shaken, and for 6, there was information indicating blunt force impact immediately after shaking. In 30 cases, there were no findings of SDH or RH, rib fractures, or CMLs. Six infants had finding(s) suggestive of physical abuse, two with possible acute intracranial pathology. One infant with combined shaking and impact trauma had hyperdense SDH, hyperdense subarachnoid haemorrhage, suspected cortical vein thrombosis, RH, and bruises. Another infant abused by shaking had solely an acute subarachnoid haemorrhage. Both had pre-existing vulnerability. The first was born preterm and had non-specific frontal subcortical changes. The other had bilateral chronic SDH/hygroma.

Conclusions

The present findings do not support the hypothesis that acute SDH or RH can be caused by isolated shaking of a healthy infant. However, they do suggest that abuse by shaking may cause acute intracranial haemorrhage with RH in infants with certain risk factors.

Influence of Optic Nerve Appearance on Visual Outcome in Pediatric Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether optic disc hemorrhages (ODH) and cotton wool spots (CWS) at presentation are associated with worse visual outcomes in pediatric patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).

METHODS

Retrospective institutional review of 100 eyes of 50 consecutive pediatric IIH patients (aged 16 years or less) who had baseline optic disc photographs before or within 30 days of their diagnostic lumbar puncture and initiation of medical treatment. Optic disc photographs were independently graded by three ophthalmologists in a standardized manner. Visual function was assessed using visual acuity (VA) and visual field grade (VFG).

RESULTS

At least one ODH was found in 41% of eyes, at least one CWS was found in 27% of eyes, and 20% of eyes had both ODH and CWS. At presentation, Frisén grade was associated with the presence of CWS (p = 0.013) and showed no association with ODH (p = 0.060). When controlling for Frisén grade, ODH and CWS were not associated with worse VA or VFG at final follow-up. Severe ODH were associated with worse VA and VFG at presentation (p < 0.03), but not at final follow-up. Severe CWS at presentation was strongly associated with a worse Humphrey mean deviation of 5.0 dB (95% confidence interval 1.6-8.3) at final follow-up (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

When controlling for the severity of papilledema, ODH do not provide any additional prognostic value in pediatric IIH patients. Frisén grade and severe CWS at presentation were independently associated with worse visual outcomes at the final follow-up.