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Acute Flaccid Myelitis: Review of Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management with Nerve Transfers. Plast Reconstr Surg 2023; 151:85e-98e. [PMID: 36219869 DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000009788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a devastating neurologic condition in children, manifesting as acute limb weakness and/or paralysis. Despite increased awareness of AFM following initiation of U.S. surveillance in 2014, no treatment consensus exists. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the most current knowledge regarding AFM epidemiology, cause, clinical features, diagnosis, and supportive and operative management, including nerve transfer. METHODS The authors systematically reviewed the literature based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using multiple databases to search the keywords ("acute flaccid myelitis"), ('acute flaccid myelitis'/exp OR 'acute flaccid myelitis'), and (Acute AND flaccid AND myelitis). Included articles reported on (1) AFM diagnosis and (2) patient-specific data regarding epidemiology, cause, clinical features, diagnostic features, or management of AFM. RESULTS Ninety-nine articles were included in this review. The precise cause and pathophysiologic mechanism of AFM remain undetermined, but AFM is strongly associated with nonpolio enterovirus infections. Clinical presentation typically comprises preceding viral prodrome, pleocytosis, spinal cord lesions on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and acute onset of flaccid weakness/paralysis with hyporeflexia in at least one extremity. Supportive care includes medical therapy and rehabilitation. Early studies of nerve transfer for AFM have shown favorable outcomes for patients with persistent weakness. CONCLUSIONS Supportive care and physical therapy are the foundation of a multidisciplinary approach to managing AFM. For patients with persistent limb weakness, nerve transfer has shown promise for improving function in distal muscle groups. Surgeons must consider potential spontaneous recovery, patient selection, donor nerve availability, recipient nerve appropriateness, and procedure timing.
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Setia A, Bhatia J, Bhattacharya S. An Overview of Acute Flaccid Myelitis. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2022; 21:774-794. [PMID: 34823462 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666211125101424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Acute Flaccid Myelitis is defined by the presence of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and a spinal cord lesion on magnetic resonance imaging that is primarily limited to the grey matter. AFM is a difficult situation to deal with when you have a neurologic illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a large number of cases were discovered in the United States in 2014, with 90% of cases occurring in children. Although the exact cause of AFM is unknown, mounting evidence suggests a link between AFM and enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). In 2014, an outbreak of AFM was discovered in the United States. The condition was initially linked to polioviruses; however, it was later found that the viruses were caused by non-polioviruses Enteroviruses D-68 (EV-D68). The number of cases has increased since 2014, and the disease has been declared pandemic in the United States. The sudden onset of muscle weakness, usually in an arm or leg, as well as pain throughout the body, the change in patient's facial expression (facial weakness), and shortness of breath, ingesting, and speaking are all common symptoms in patients suffering from neurologic disease. This article includes graphic and histogram representations of reported AFM incidents and criteria for causality, epidemiology, various diagnostic approaches, signs and symptoms, and various investigational guidelines. It also includes key statements about recent clinical findings related to AFM disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aseem Setia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab-142001, India
| | - Jasween Bhatia
- Department of Masters in Public Health Science, Symbiosis Institute of Health Science, Pune-411042, India
| | - Sankha Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy & Technology Management Shirpur, SVKM\'S NMIMS Deemed-to-be University, Shirpur, Maharashtra 425405, India
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3
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Park SW, Pons-Salort M, Messacar K, Cook C, Meyers L, Farrar J, Grenfell BT. Epidemiological dynamics of enterovirus D68 in the United States and implications for acute flaccid myelitis. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/584/eabd2400. [PMID: 33692131 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd2400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) recently emerged in the United States as a rare but serious neurological condition since 2012. Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is thought to be a main causative agent, but limited surveillance of EV-D68 in the United States has hampered the ability to assess their causal relationship. Using surveillance data from the BioFire Syndromic Trends epidemiology network in the United States from January 2014 to September 2019, we characterized the epidemiological dynamics of EV-D68 and found latitudinal gradient in the mean timing of EV-D68 cases, which are likely climate driven. We also demonstrated a strong spatiotemporal association of EV-D68 with AFM. Mathematical modeling suggested that the recent dominant biennial cycles of EV-D68 dynamics may not be stable. Nonetheless, we predicted that a major EV-D68 outbreak, and hence an AFM outbreak, would have still been possible in 2020 under normal epidemiological conditions. Nonpharmaceutical intervention efforts due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are likely to have reduced the sizes of EV-D68 and AFM outbreaks in 2020, illustrating the broader epidemiological impact of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Woo Park
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.
| | - Margarita Pons-Salort
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Kevin Messacar
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Hospital Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Camille Cook
- BioFire Diagnostics LLC, 515 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Lindsay Meyers
- BioFire Diagnostics LLC, 515 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Jeremy Farrar
- Wellcome Trust, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Bryan T Grenfell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.,Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.,Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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4
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Park SW, Farrar J, Messacar K, Meyers L, Pons-Salort M, Grenfell BT. Epidemiological dynamics of enterovirus D68 in the US: implications for acute flaccid myelitis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2020.07.23.20069468. [PMID: 32766605 PMCID: PMC7402064 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.23.20069468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The lack of active surveillance for enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in the US has hampered the ability to assess the relationship with predominantly biennial epidemics of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare but serious neurological condition. Using novel surveillance data from the BioFire® Syndromic Trends (Trend) epidemiology network, we characterize the epidemiological dynamics of EV-D68 and demonstrate strong spatiotemporal association with AFM. Although the recent dominant biennial cycles of EV-D68 dynamics may not be stable, we show that a major EV-D68 epidemic, and hence an AFM outbreak, would still be possible in 2020 under normal epidemiological conditions. Significant social distancing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could reduce the size of an EV-D68 epidemic in 2020, illustrating the potential broader epidemiological impact of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Woo Park
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Jeremy Farrar
- Wellcome Trust, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Kevin Messacar
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Hospital Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Lindsay Meyers
- BioFire Diagnostics, LLC 515 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 USA
| | - Margarita Pons-Salort
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Bryan T. Grenfell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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5
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Cytokine biomarkers associated with clinical cases of acute flaccid myelitis. J Clin Virol 2020; 131:104591. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Biennial Upsurge and Molecular Epidemiology of Enterovirus D68 Infection in New York, USA, 2014 to 2018. J Clin Microbiol 2020; 58:JCM.00284-20. [PMID: 32493783 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00284-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infection has been associated with outbreaks of severe respiratory illness and increased cases of nonpolio acute flaccid myelitis. The patterns of EV-D68 circulation and molecular epidemiology are not fully understood. In this study, nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens collected from patients in the Lower Hudson Valley, New York, from 2014 to 2018 were examined for rhinovirus/enterovirus (RhV/EV) by the FilmArray respiratory panel. Selected RhV/EV-positive NP specimens were analyzed using two EV-D68-specific real-time RT-PCR assays, Sanger sequencing and metatranscriptomic next-generation sequencing. A total of 2,398 NP specimens were examined. EV-D68 was detected in 348 patients with NP specimens collected in 2014 (n = 94), 2015 (n = 0), 2016 (n = 160), 2017 (n = 5), and 2018 (n = 89), demonstrating a biennial upsurge of EV-D68 infection in the study area. Ninety-one complete or nearly complete EV-D68 genome sequences were obtained. Genomic analysis of these EV-D68 strains revealed dynamics and evolution of circulating EV-D68 strains since 2014. The dominant EV-D68 strains causing the 2014 outbreak belonged to subclade B1, with a few belonging to subclade B2. New EV-D68 subclade B3 strains emerged in 2016 and continued in circulation in 2018. Clade D strains that are rarely detected in the United States also arose and spread in 2018. The establishment of distinct viral strains and their variable circulation patterns provide essential information for future surveillance, diagnosis, vaccine development, and prediction of EV-D68-associated disease prevalence and potential outbreaks.
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7
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Cortese MM, Kambhampati AK, Schuster JE, Alhinai Z, Nelson GR, Guzman Perez-Carrillo GJ, Vossough A, Smit MA, McKinstry RC, Zinkus T, Moore KR, Rogg JM, Candee MS, Sejvar JJ, Hopkins SE. A ten-year retrospective evaluation of acute flaccid myelitis at 5 pediatric centers in the United States, 2005-2014. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228671. [PMID: 32053652 PMCID: PMC7018000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a severe illness similar to paralytic poliomyelitis. It is unclear how frequently AFM occurred in U.S. children after poliovirus elimination. In 2014, an AFM cluster was identified in Colorado, prompting passive US surveillance that yielded 120 AFM cases of unconfirmed etiology. Subsequently, increased reports were received in 2016 and 2018. To help inform investigations on causality of the recent AFM outbreaks, our objective was to determine how frequently AFM had occurred before 2014, and if 2014 cases had different characteristics. Methods We conducted a retrospective study covering 2005–2014 at 5 pediatric centers in 3 U.S. regions. Possible AFM cases aged ≤18 years were identified by searching discharge ICD-9 codes and spinal cord MRI reports (>37,000). Neuroradiologists assessed MR images, and medical charts were reviewed; possible cases were classified as AFM, not AFM, or indeterminate. Results At 5 sites combined, 26 AFM cases were identified from 2005–2013 (average annual number, 3 [2.4 cases/100,000 pediatric hospitalizations]) and 18 from 2014 (12.6 cases/100,000 hospitalizations; Poisson exact p<0.0001). A cluster of 13 cases was identified in September–October 2014 (temporal scan p = 0.0001). No other temporal or seasonal trend was observed. Compared with cases from January 2005–July 2014 (n = 29), cases from August–December 2014 (n = 15) were younger (p = 0.002), more frequently had a preceding respiratory/febrile illness (p = 0.03), had only upper extremities involved (p = 0.008), and had upper extremity monoplegia (p = 0.03). The cases had higher WBC counts in cerebrospinal fluid (p = 0.013). Conclusion Our data support emergence of AFM in 2014 in the United States, and those cases demonstrated distinctive features compared with preceding sporadic cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M. Cortese
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Anita K. Kambhampati
- Contracting Agency to the Division of Viral Diseases, IHRC, Inc., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jennifer E. Schuster
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Zaid Alhinai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Gary R. Nelson
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Primary Children’s Hospital, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Gloria J. Guzman Perez-Carrillo
- Neuroradiology Section, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Arastoo Vossough
- Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Smit
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Robert C. McKinstry
- Neuroradiology Section, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Timothy Zinkus
- Department of Radiology, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kevin R. Moore
- Department of Medical Imaging, Primary Children’s Hospital, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey M. Rogg
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Alpert Medical School, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Meghan S. Candee
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Primary Children’s Hospital, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - James J. Sejvar
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sarah E. Hopkins
- Division of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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8
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Bove R, Rowles W, Carleton M, Olivera E, Sheehan M, Werdal HP, Scott R, Axton L, Benson L. Unmet Needs in the Evaluation, Treatment, and Recovery for 167 Children Affected by Acute Flaccid Myelitis Reported by Parents Through Social Media. Pediatr Neurol 2020; 102:20-27. [PMID: 31630913 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to characterize the outcomes of 167 children affected by acute flaccid myelitis by leveraging the power of social media. METHODS Members of a closed social media (Facebook) group were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. Descriptive statistics were applied to quantitative responses, and free-text responses were grouped into themes using a grounded theory approach. RESULTS Caregivers provided information about 167 affected children; 77% were at least 6 months since onset. Clinical features matched those of larger published case series (e.g., walking impairment in 76.7%, intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in 80.8%; 28.2% tested positive for Enterovirus D68; 17% children had asthma before acute flaccid myelitis onset). Mean duration of initial hospitalization was 49.1 (S.D., 74.0) days, and of initial inpatient rehabilitation was 42.3 (S.D., 67.6) days. Among challenges, parents frequently reported delays in diagnosis, including lack of neurological examination at initial medical evaluation for weakness. Other challenges included familial and professional impact of protracted hospitalizations, uncertainty about cause or prognosis of acute flaccid myelitis, and the dynamic nature of care needs in growing children. The social media group played a critical role not only for social support but also for dissemination of rehabilitation approaches and of networks of expert clinicians. CONCLUSIONS Children with acute flaccid myelitis have persistent and dynamic deficits, but many continue to show ongoing functional improvements beyond the initial expected window of recovery. In an emerging disease paralyzing young children, social media can strengthen knowledge networks and focus on rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
| | - William Rowles
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Mia Carleton
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Erin Olivera
- Ventura County Medical Center, Simi Valley, California
| | | | | | | | | | - Leslie Benson
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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9
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Cai R, Bhise V. Case 1: Sudden Bilateral Lower Extremity Weakness and Urinary Incontinence in a 13-year-old Girl. Pediatr Rev 2019; 40:528-531. [PMID: 31575804 DOI: 10.1542/pir.2018-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Cai
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - Vikram Bhise
- Department Neurology and Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ
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10
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Enterovirus D68 Subclade B3 Circulation in Senegal, 2016: Detection from Influenza-like Illness and Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13881. [PMID: 31554908 PMCID: PMC6761155 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50470-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the 2014 outbreak, active surveillance of the EV-D68 has been implemented in many countries worldwide. Despite subsequent EV-D68 outbreaks (2014 and 2016) reported in many areas, EV-D68 circulation remains largely unexplored in Africa except in Senegal, where low levels of EV-D68 circulation were first noted during the 2014 outbreak. Here we investigate subsequent epidemiology of EV-D68 in Senegal from June to September 2016 by screening respiratory specimens from ILI and stool from AFP surveillance. EV-D68 was detected in 7.4% (44/596) of patients; 40 with ILI and 4 with AFP. EV-D68 detection was significantly more common in children under 5 years (56.8%, p = 0.016). All EV-D68 strains detected belonged to the newly defined subclade B3. This study provides the first evidence of EV-D68 B3 subclade circulation in Africa from patients with ILI and AFP during a 2016 outbreak in Senegal. Enhanced surveillance of EV-D68 is needed to better understand the epidemiology of EV-D68 in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Overby
- Department of Neurology and.,Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
| | - Matthew Kapklein
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
| | - Ronald I Jacobson
- Department of Neurology and.,Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
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12
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Nath RK, Somasundaram C. Functional Improvement of Upper and Lower Extremity After Decompression and Neurolysis and Nerve Transfer in a Pediatric Patient with Acute Flaccid Myelitis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CASE REPORTS 2019; 20:668-673. [PMID: 31073115 PMCID: PMC6523989 DOI: 10.12659/ajcr.915235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Patient: Female, 5 Final Diagnosis: Enterovirus infection Symptoms: Weakness in all 4 limbs Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Nerve decompression • neurolysis and nerve transfer Specialty: Neurosurgery
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar Nath
- Department of Surgical Research, Texas Nerve and Paralysis Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chandra Somasundaram
- Department of Surgical Research, Texas Nerve and Paralysis Institute, Houston, TX, USA
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13
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Moline H, Kalaskar A, Pomputius WF, Lopez A, Routh J, Kenyon C, Griffith J. Notes from the Field: Six Cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis in Children - Minnesota, 2018. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2019; 68:356-358. [PMID: 30998669 PMCID: PMC6476059 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6815a4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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14
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Gordon-Lipkin E, Muñoz LS, Klein JL, Dean J, Izbudak I, Pardo CA. Comparative quantitative clinical, neuroimaging, and functional profiles in children with acute flaccid myelitis at acute and convalescent stages of disease. Dev Med Child Neurol 2019; 61:366-375. [PMID: 30225922 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AIM To quantify characteristics in acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) at acute and convalescent stages. METHOD This was a retrospective case series of children with AFM evaluated at a single institution in the USA (2014-2017). Acute inflammatory/ischemic myelopathies were excluded. Neurological assessments and segmental quantitative analysis of signal abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord were performed. RESULTS Sixteen patients (11 males, five females) were evaluated. Median age at onset was 4 years (interquartile range [IQR] 3-6y). All had parainfectious acute-onset limb weakness, lower motor neuron examination, and spinal fluid pleocytosis. On acute spinal cord MRI, longitudinally extensive T2 hyperintensities were identified throughout the spinal cord mostly within grey matter; five out of 12 patients had dorsal brainstem T2 hyperintensities. At a median of 2 months follow-up (IQR 2-3mo), spinal cord MRI improved in seven out of nine patients although focal T2 hyperintensities persisted in cervical and lumbar grey matter. At a median follow-up of 4 months (IQR 2-6mo), Medical Research Council sum score rose from a median of 29 to 32; distal muscle groups improved more than proximal ones; four out of 16 patients were ventilator-dependent; and two out of 16 patients were quadriplegic. INTERPRETATION While patients may show marked improvement on neuroimaging from acute to convalescent stages, the majority of children with AFM have limited motor recovery and continued disability. Clinicians should consider the timing of clinical and neuroimaging exams when assessing diagnosis and prognosis. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS During the 2014 to 2017 acute flaccid myelitis outbreak in the USA, clinical recovery was better in distal than proximal muscle groups. Lumbar spinal cord showed more residual abnormalities at convalescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Gordon-Lipkin
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laura S Muñoz
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessica L Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Janet Dean
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Izlem Izbudak
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carlos A Pardo
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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15
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Elrick MJ, Gordon-Lipkin E, Crawford TO, Van Haren K, Messacar K, Thornton N, Dee E, Voskertchian A, Nance JR, Muñoz LS, Gorman MP, Benson LA, Thomas DL, Pardo CA, Milstone AM, Duggal P. Clinical Subpopulations in a Sample of North American Children Diagnosed With Acute Flaccid Myelitis, 2012-2016. JAMA Pediatr 2019; 173:134-139. [PMID: 30500056 PMCID: PMC6439600 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.4890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is an emerging poliolike illness of children whose clinical spectrum and associated pathogens are only partially described. The case definition is intentionally encompassing for epidemiologic surveillance to capture all potential AFM cases. Defining a restrictive, homogenous subpopulation may aid our understanding of this emerging disease. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the extent to which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition of AFM incorporates possible alternative diagnoses and to assess the plausibility of a case definition that enriches the biological homogeneity of AFM for inclusion in research studies. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective case analysis of children younger than 18 years diagnosed as having AFM between 2012 and 2016 using the CDC case definition. Group 1 included patients recruited from the United States and Canada based on the CDC case definition of AFM. Group 2 included patients referred to the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center for evaluation of suspected AFM. Patients' records and imaging data were critically reviewed by 3 neurologists to identify those cases with definable alternative diagnoses, and the remaining patients were categorized as having restrictively defined AFM (rAFM). Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with rAFM (cases) and those with alternative diagnoses, and a case description distinguishing these AFM groups was identified. Interrater reliability of this description was confirmed for a subset of cases by a fourth neurologist. Data were analyzed between May 2017 and November 2018. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Proportion of patients with possible alternative diagnosis. RESULTS Of the 45 patients who met the CDC AFM case definition and were included, the mean age was 6.1 years; 27 were boys (60%); and 37 were white (82%), 3 were Asian (7%), 1 was Hispanic (2%), and 4 were mixed race/ethnicity (9%). Of the included patients, 34 were classified as having rAFM, and 11 had alternate diagnoses (including transverse myelitis, other demyelinating syndromes, spinal cord stroke, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Chiari I myelopathy, and meningitis). Factors differing between groups were primarily asymmetry of weakness, lower motor neuron signs, preceding viral syndrome, symptoms evolving over hours to days, absence of sensory deficits, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. A case description was able to reliably define the rAFM group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE We present an approach for defining a homogeneous research population that may more accurately reflect the pathogenesis of the prototypical poliomyelitis-like subgroup of AFM. The definition of rAFM forms a blueprint for inclusion criteria in future research efforts, but more work is required for refinement and external validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Elrick
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Thomas O. Crawford
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Keith Van Haren
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Kevin Messacar
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, the University of Colorado, Aurora
| | - Nicole Thornton
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth Dee
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Annie Voskertchian
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jessica R. Nance
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Laura S. Muñoz
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mark P. Gorman
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Leslie A. Benson
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David L. Thomas
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Carlos A. Pardo
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Aaron M. Milstone
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland,Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Priya Duggal
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Genomic Analyses of Acute Flaccid Myelitis Cases among a Cluster in Arizona Provide Further Evidence of Enterovirus D68 Role. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.02262-18. [PMID: 30670612 PMCID: PMC6343034 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02262-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteroviruses frequently result in respiratory and gastrointestinal illness; however, multiple subtypes, including poliovirus, can cause severe neurologic disease. Recent biennial increases (i.e., 2014, 2016, and 2018) in cases of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis have led to speculations that other enteroviruses, specifically enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), are emerging to fill the niche that was left from poliovirus eradication. A cluster of 11 suspect cases of pediatric acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) was identified in 2016 in Phoenix, AZ. Multiple genomic analyses identified the presence of EV-D68 in the majority of clinical AFM cases. Beyond limited detection of herpesvirus, no other likely etiologies were found in the cluster. These findings strengthen the likelihood that EV-D68 is a cause of AFM and show that the rapid molecular assays developed for this study are useful for investigations of AFM and EV-D68. Enteroviruses are a common cause of respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, and multiple subtypes, including poliovirus, can cause neurologic disease. In recent years, enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has been associated with serious neurologic illnesses, including acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), frequently preceded by respiratory disease. A cluster of 11 suspect cases of pediatric AFM was identified in September 2016 in Phoenix, AZ. To determine if these cases were associated with EV-D68, we performed multiple genomic analyses of nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) material from the patients, including real-time PCR and amplicon sequencing targeting the EV-D68 VP1 gene and unbiased microbiome and metagenomic sequencing. Four of the 11 patients were classified as confirmed cases of AFM, and an additional case was classified as probable AFM. Real-time PCR and amplicon sequencing detected EV-D68 virus RNA in the three AFM patients from which NP swabs were collected, as well as in a fourth patient diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, a disease that commonly follows bacterial or viral infections, including enterovirus. No other obvious etiological causes for AFM were identified by 16S or RNA and DNA metagenomic sequencing in these cases, strengthening the likelihood that EV-D68 is an etiological factor. Herpes simplex viral DNA was detected in the CSF of the fourth case of AFM and in one additional suspect case from the cluster. Multiple genomic techniques, such as those described here, can be used to diagnose patients with suspected EV-D68 respiratory illness, to aid in AFM diagnosis, and for future EV-D68 surveillance and epidemiology.
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Acute flaccid myelitis and enterovirus D68: lessons from the past and present. Eur J Pediatr 2019; 178:1305-1315. [PMID: 31338675 PMCID: PMC6694036 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-019-03435-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Acute flaccid myelitis is characterized by the combination of acute flaccid paralysis and a spinal cord lesion largely restricted to the gray matter on magnetic resonance imaging. The term acute flaccid myelitis was introduced in 2014 after the upsurge of pediatric cases in the USA with enterovirus D68 infection. Since then, an increasing number of cases have been reported worldwide. Whereas the terminology is new, the clinical syndrome has been recognized in the past in association with several other neurotropic viruses such as poliovirus.Conclusion: This review presents the current knowledge on acute flaccid myelitis with respect to the clinical presentation and its differential diagnosis with Guillain-Barré syndrome and acute transverse myelitis. We also discuss the association with enterovirus D68 and the presumed pathophysiological mechanism of this infection causing anterior horn cell damage. Sharing clinical knowledge and insights from basic research is needed to make progress in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this new polio-like disease. What is Known: • Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a polio-like condition characterized by rapid progressive asymmetric weakness, together with specific findings on MRI • AFM has been related to different viral agents, but recent outbreaks are predominantly associated with enterovirus D68. What is New: • Improving knowledge on AFM must increase early recognition and adequate diagnostic procedures by clinicians. • The increasing incidence of AFM urges cooperation between pediatricians, neurologists, and microbiologists for the development of treatment and preventive options.
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Neurologische Komplikationen bei Infektionen mit (neuen) Enteroviren. DER NERVENARZT 2018; 89:1320-1331. [DOI: 10.1007/s00115-018-0619-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Messacar K, Asturias EJ, Hixon AM, Van Leer-Buter C, Niesters HGM, Tyler KL, Abzug MJ, Dominguez SR. Enterovirus D68 and acute flaccid myelitis-evaluating the evidence for causality. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 18:e239-e247. [PMID: 29482893 PMCID: PMC6778404 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30094-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Increased circulation of enterovirus D68 in 2014 and 2016 temporally and geographically coincided with increases in cases of acute flaccid myelitis, an uncommon condition of paralysis due to lesions in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. The identification of enterovirus D68 in respiratory specimens from cases of acute flaccid myelitis worldwide further supports an association, yet the absence of direct virus isolation from affected tissues, infrequent detection in cerebrospinal fluid, and the absence, until recently, of an animal model has left the causal nature of the relationship unproven. In this Personal View we evaluate epidemiological and biological evidence linking enterovirus D68 and acute flaccid myelitis. We applied the Bradford Hill criteria to investigate the evidence for a causal relationship and highlight the importance of comprehensive surveillance and research to further characterise the role of enterovirus D68 in acute flaccid myelitis and pursue effective therapies and prevention strategies.
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