Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in North Indian children: clinical profile and follow-up

Acquired Demyelination Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: 10 Years Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in North India

BACKGROUND

The childhood central nervous system (CNS) acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) can be monophasic or recurrent, with both having considerable overlap in the first decade of life.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study was to describe clinical and radiological features, immunological characteristics, response to therapy and difference between monophasic and first episode of recurrent disorders of pediatric-onset CNS ADS.

METHODS

Case records of all patients presenting with CNS ADS to the Department of Pediatrics between January 2009 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Those with complete records and at least 12 months follow up were included for analysis.

RESULTS

Overall 95 case records were reviewed (66 monophasic: 20 ADEM and 46 CIS, 29 recurrent: 18 MS, 9 NMOSD, and 2 multiphasic ADEM). The median age of the cohort was 7 years (range: 1-12) and nearly two-thirds (62/95) were males. All acute cases were treated with intravenous pulse followed by tapering oral steroid therapy. All the recurrent entities received azathioprine with rituximab in few. Certain clinical and radiological features of CIS and immune and inflammatory characteristics in CSF were found to be significantly different in monophasic cases compared to first episode of recurrent cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The CNS ADS show favourable response to immunotherapy. Azathioprine may be an effective long term immunomodulator, particularly in resource limited settings. Certain clinical, radiological and immunological features may differentiate monophasic illness from first episode of recurrent disorder.

Role of physical therapy intervention in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

We reported a case of a school-going child, diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) who presented with symptoms such as high fever, acute hemiplegia and ataxia and was referred for physiotherapeutic intervention. This case report aims to document the assessment and management of ADEM from the intensive care unit to the home setting by physical therapy. Also, the child developed ventilator-associated pneumonia and a right lower motor neuron facial injury for which the child was referred to paediatric physical therapy. Since then, continuing for 8 months has helped the child to be independent in all aspects of mobility with no complaints. The child showed improvement in WeeFIM scores and Sunnybrook facial grading after 99 sessions of intensive physical therapy for approximately 83 hours along with the home programme. It has been proven an efficient treatment method along with other medical lines of treatment for neurological impairment associated with ADEM.

Adult-onset acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: a rare case report in a 26-year-old female and review of literature

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a demyelinating autoimmune condition that mostly affects the central nervous system. We present a case of a woman who presented with paralysis and speech deficits following an episode of upper respiratory tract infection. Brain and spinal cord imaging were used to confirm the diagnosis.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A retrospective study of 20 children in a pediatrics department in Tunisia

BACKGROUND

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Little information is available about the clinical and neuroradiological profile or the follow-up of this disease in Tunisian children.

AIM

To determine the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features and the outcome of ADEM in children admitted to the pediatrics department of a university hospital in Tunisia.

METHODS

All children ≤ 18 years old presenting with ADEM and admitted to the tertiary referral center for pediatrics at Sahloul University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2020 were included in the study. The diagnosis of ADEM was confirmed according to the international pediatric multiple sclerosis study group criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 20 patients (13 girls and 7 boys) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for ADEM. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.6 years. The clinical presentation included polyfocal neurological signs such as cranial hypertension (45%), seizures (35%), and motor weaknesses (55%). Pyramidal tract signs and cranial nerve palsies were noted in 55% of cases. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed particular features, namely, a relapsing tumor-like form in one case, and optic neuritis and demyelinating lesions of the white matter in the brain and the spinal cord with gadolinium cerebral ring-like enhancement in another case. The treatment consisted of intravenous immunoglobulin in 16 cases (80%) and corticosteroid in 19 cases (95%). Plasmapheresis was used for one patient. Complete recovery was observed in 12 patients (60%); 19 patients (95%) had a monophasic course of the disease while only one patient developed multiphasic ADEM.

CONCLUSIONS

ADEM remains a difficult diagnosis in children. Nevertheless, after prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment, most children with ADEM have a favorable outcome with restitutio ad integrum.

Clinical Presentation and outcome of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in Saudi Arabia. Tertiary Center Experience

Objectives:

To evaluate the clinical presenation of acute disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in pediatric age group, treatments, and to asses the outcome at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.

Methods:

The medical records of all patients younger than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of ADEM and treated at King Abdulaziz Medical City from January 1996 to Decemeber 2016 were collected. A total of 20 patients were included.

Results:

Of 20 patients enrolled in our study, 13 (65%) were female. Autumn and summer were the most common seasons in which ADEM presented (60%); 19 (95%) patients had a history of preceding viral illnesses. The most common neurological deficits on presentation were weakness (85%), ataxia (45%), and nystagmus (45%). Cortical and subcortical lesions (60%) were the most common finding on cranial magnetic resonance imaging. Seventeen patients (85%) received steroid only. Only 16 patients continued with follow-up, with a mean duration of 7 months. All 16 patients improved: 11 patients were recovered and 5 patients still had a neurological deficit at the clinic visits. No patient had relapsed.

Conclusion:

Most of the patients in this case series have an excellent outcome and attended follow-up visits and no disease relapses were identified. Further exploration of the disease is recommended.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: a call to the clinicians for keeping this rare condition on clinical radar

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a rare disease of central nervous system, which can present with a variety of clinical manifestations. That is why first attack of ADEM, in particular remains a diagnostic puzzle. Early anticipation and diagnosis is important for better outcomes. We present a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis which initially had atypical clinical features with cough, expectoration, fever and later manifested strange neurological features, diagnosed to be a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis based on radio-imaging.

A nationwide survey of pediatric acquired demyelinating syndromes in Japan

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and epidemiologic features of pediatric acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) of the CNS in Japan.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide survey and collected clinical data on children with ADS aged 15 years or younger, who visited hospitals between 2005 and 2007.

RESULTS

Among 977 hospitals enrolled, 723 (74.0%) responded to our inquiries and reported a total of 439 patients as follows: 244 with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), 117 with multiple sclerosis (MS), 14 with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and 64 with other ADS. We collected and analyzed detailed data from 204 cases, including those with ADEM (66), MS (58), and NMO (10). We observed the following: (1) the estimated annual incidence rate of pediatric ADEM in Japan was 0.40 per 100,000 children (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-0.46), with the lowest prevalence in the north; (2) the estimated prevalence rate of MS was 0.69 per 100,000 children (95% CI, 0.58-0.80), with the lowest prevalence in the south; (3) NMO in Japan was rare, with an estimated prevalence of 0.06 per 100,000 children (95% CI, 0.04-0.08); and (4) the sex ratio and mean age at onset varied by ADS type, and (5) male/female ratios correlated with ages at onset in each ADS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results clarify the characteristic clinical features of pediatric ADS in the Japanese population.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: case report and brief review

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare disease of central nervous system with myriads of presentation. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and relies on neuroimaging which may be normal at the onset. It is a diagnostic challenge at its first attack. Here we present a case of ADEM which initially presented with atypical feature and normal neuroimaging but later turned out to be a case of ADEM. Early diagnosis and treatment holds the key for favorable outcome.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children and adolescents: a single center experience

BACKGROUND

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is an immune-mediated disease that produces multiple inflammatory lesions in the brain and spinal cord.

METHODS

This study retrospectively evaluated 15 children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children and adolescents from a single institution in Adana, Turkey.

RESULTS

The patients presented in a seasonal distribution, with 73.3%: (11/15) presenting in winter or spring. The majority of patients (13/15, 86.7%) had a history of acute febrile illness 2 to 40 days before presentation, and five children had serologic evidence of specific triggers: mycoplasma (2 children), influenza-A (H1N1) (1 child), or Epstein-Barr virus. All children were treated with a standard protocol of 3 to 5 days of intravenous administration of methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin for patients who continued to deteriorate. Oseltamivir and clarithromycin were administered in patients with influenza-A (H1N1) and mycoplasma according to the serology. In 13 patients, all neurologic signs and symptoms resolved after treatment. Only one patient was left with severe neurologic sequelae and another child had recurrent attacks and was ultimately diagnosed with possible multiple sclerosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The present series demonstrates that acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children occurs predominantly in winter or spring and often follows an upper respiratory tract illness for those along the southern coast of Anatolia (Mediterranean region). Early treatment with immunomodulative agents is recommended and is likely to result in a favorable outcome or full recovery. This study also suggests benefit from antiviral and antibiotic treatment initiated as soon as possible after the onset of illness.

Pediatric Inflammatory Diseases. Part II: Acute Post-Infectious Immune Disorders

Acute post-infectious immune disorders include Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and its variants such as Acute Hemorrhagic Encephalomyelitis (AHEM), acute necrotizing hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (ANHLE) of Weston Hurst, multiphasic and recurrent ADEM. Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy of Childhood (ANE or ANEC) represents a dramatic event, consequent to viral infections, especially Influenza-A, and is now considered different from ADEM. ADEM and variants are classically described as uniphasic syndrome occurring in association with an immunization or vaccination (postvaccine encephalomyelitis) or systemic viral infection (parainfectious encephalomyelitis). However, multiphasic forms are not rare. Pathologically, there is perivascular inflammation, edema, and demyelination within the CNS. Clinical features are focal or multifocal neurologic disorder following exposure to virus or receipt of vaccine. The onset of the CNS disorder is usually rapid and include encephalopathy ranging from lethargy to coma, seizures, and focal and multifocal signs reflecting cerebral and spinal cord involvement. The mortality rate is estimated at 10 to 30 percent, with complete recovery rates of 50 percent cited. Poor prognosis is correlated with severity and abruptness of onset of the clinical syndrome. Multifocal CNS lesions are generally evident on MRI that can be similar from those observed in MS.

Treatment of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease, characterized by an acute onset of polyfocal central nervous system (CNS) deficits, including encephalopathy, demonstrating multifocal lesions on MRI. ADEM is typically a monophasic disorder, but recurrent and multiphasic courses have been described. Furthermore, an ADEM presentation has been reported in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in younger children. CNS infections, other autoimmune diseases, and neurometabolic disorders may mimic ADEM at manifestation. There is no single test confirming the diagnosis of ADEM, and diagnosis is based upon a combination of clinical and radiologic features and exclusion of diseases that resemble ADEM. Therefore, a broad workup including infectious, immunologic, and metabolic tests, as well as a systematic follow-up including MRI, is indicated to establish an accurate diagnosis as a prerequisite for an optimized treatment approach. There is a lack of evidence-based, prospective clinical trial data for the management of ADEM. Empiric antibacterial and antiviral treatment is standard of care until an infectious disease process is ruled out. Based on the presumed autoimmune etiology of ADEM, the common treatment approach consists of intravenous methylprednisolone at a dosage of 20 to 30 mg/kg per day (maximum 1 g/day) for 3 to 5 days, followed by an oral corticosteroid taper of 4 to 6 weeks. In case of insufficient response or contraindications to corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) at a dosage of 2 g/kg divided over 2 to 5 days is a therapeutic option. For severe or life-threatening cases of ADEM, plasmapheresis should be considered early in the disease course. Decompressive craniectomy has been reported as a life-saving measure for ADEM patients with intracranial hypertension. There is a lack of specific recommendations for the long-term management of recurrent and multiphasic ADEM. In children with relapsing demyelinating events, the diagnosis of a chronic autoimmune CNS disease like MS or NMO should be considered.

Clinical profile of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children

AIM

To study the clinical profile of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All children admitted with ADEM during a period of one and a half years were included in the study. The diagnosis of ADEM was made based on the clinical presentation and suggestive MRI findings. All children were treated with intravenous methyl prednisolone, followed by oral prednisolone and followed up for varying periods up to three and a half years.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 14 children with 11(79%) girls and 3 (21%) boys. The oldest child was 12 years and the youngest was a six-month-old infant. Acute febrile illness preceded the onset of neurological symptoms in 64% of children. The interval between the preceding illness and symptoms of ADEM varied from 7 days to 28 days (mean 12 days). The common presenting symptoms were fever, vomiting, headache, gait disturbance and generalized seizures. Neurological manifestations included altered sensorium, multiple cranial nerve involvement, quadriplegia and paraplegia, dystonia and choreiform movements, nystagmus, bladder involvement (both incontinence and retention), speech defect and double vision. Facial nerve was the most common cranial nerve involved. Psychological manifestations included aggressive behavior, psychotic symptoms and mood changes. One child each had features of acute psychotic episode and depressive episode. All children recovered fully. One child had multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis (MDEM) on follow up.

CONCLUSION

Despite the serious neuropsychiatric manifestations, ADEM in children generally has good immediate outcome. Children with ADEM need long-term follow up for cognitive impairments.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: a 10-year cohort study in Thai children

Childhood acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease with variable clinical courses and outcomes. Its evolution to multiple sclerosis in Asian children is yet to be determined. Medical records, investigation results and magnetic resonance imaging of brain of Thai children aged less than 15 years with initial diagnosis of ADEM at a referral university hospital in Thailand from January 1997 to December 2006 were reviewed. Clinical course and the outcome were finalized by telephone interview, self-report questionnaire, and/or neurological examination by December 2008. Modified Rankin Score was applied for determination of disability. MRI findings were categorized along with the locations and number of areas of abnormalities shown by T2-weight and FLAIR. 16 patients consisting of 5 boys and 11 girls (age-range 1-14 years, mean 6.9 ± 3.6 years, median 6 years) were identified. Nine patients had cranial nerve dysfunctions including one child with optic neuropathy. One patient died with confirmed pathological diagnosis of ADEM. Among the remaining 15, who were followed from 2 to 10 years (mean 5.8 years), 13 and 3 patients were classified into monophasic ADEM and multiple sclerosis, respectively. Ten of 13 with final diagnosis of ADEM had complete recovery. There was no association between number of lesions or location in the initial MRI and the outcome and final diagnosis. ADEM in Thai children had similar clinical presentation and outcome to previous studies in Western countries. ADEM can occasionally evolve to multiple sclerosis in Thai children as being shown in previous reports from other Asian countries.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis in children

The advent of MRI has contributed to increase the interest and awareness in childhood white matter disorders. A major priority is to distinguish transient and self-limited demyelinating syndromes like disseminated encephalomyelitis (DEM), from life-long diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the term DEM has been inconsistently applied across studies due to the lack of clear clinical and neuroimaging diagnostic criteria. The present review summarizes the available literature on DEM in children, outlines the main clinical and neuroimaging features at presentation, pathogenesis and outcome, and its differentiation from other conditions with acute impact in the CNS. The recently proposed clinical definitions for monophasic disseminated encephalomyelitis and its relapsing variants are discussed, and controversies surrounding the diagnosis of MS in children are addressed.

Disseminated encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis: two different diseases - a critical review

The practice of initiating immunomodulatory treatment immediately after a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) emphasizes the need to distinguish between disseminated encephalomyelitis (DEM) and MS. Their clinical, genetic, imaging, and histopathological characteristics establish that they are distinct disease entities. Acute and recurrent DEM are more common in children, but also occur in adults. DEM is polysymptomatic and includes signs and symptoms rarely encountered in MS, such as fever, alterations of the state of consciousness, cognitive and aphasic symptoms, and meningism. Cerebrospinal oligoclonal bands are rare. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best means of distinguishing between DEM and MS. In the former, the lesion load is heavy, thalamus or basal ganglia are often affected, and early in the disease most of the lesions are usually larger than those of MS and enhance with gadolinium. The MRI spinal cord lesions are longer than three vertebral segments, and define neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Antibodies against aquaporin-4 are present in some NMO, but are also found in cases of MS and DEM. Most NMO are forms of DEM, not MS, and are identical with the 'Oriental' or 'optico-spinal' form of MS.