Neonatal onset of hot water reflex seizures in monozygotic twins subsequently manifesting episodes of alternating hemiplegia

We report on monozygotic twins with neonatal onset of daily reflex seizures triggered by hot water. Video record during the hot water bathing showed clinical signs consistent with a reflex seizure. The numbers of episodes were markedly reduced when the mother began bathing the children with reduced temperature bath water. At the age of 20 months, the twins developed episodes of paroxysmal disturbances including alternating hemiplegia. These two patients are the youngest reported cases of reflex hot water seizures, and the only reported cases in which reflex hot water seizures subsequently manifested episodes of alternating hemiplegia.     

Alpha[11C] methyl-L-typtophan positron emission tomography in patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood

Based on previous reports suggesting a role of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the pathomechanism of alternating hemiplegia of childhood and speculation that it may be a migraine variant, we measured brain serotonin synthesis in children with alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Clinical and neurodevelopmental data, as well as standard uptake values in 25 brain regions and whole-brain serotonin synthesis capacity (unidirectional uptake rate constant or K-complex), were assessed in six patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood (three girls and three boys; mean age = 7 6/12 years) using alpha[11C]methyl-L-tryptophan positron emission tomography (PET). The PET studies were performed interictally in three patients, during the ictal state in two patients, and postictally in one patient. The PET data were compared to those obtained interictally from six age-matched patients with focal epilepsy (two girls and four boys; mean age = 7 8/12 years) and six non-age-matched apparently normal siblings of autistic children (two girls and four boys; mean age = 9 11/12 years). Patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood studied in the ictal or postictal state showed increased serotonin synthesis capacity in the frontoparietal cortex, lateral and medial temporal structures, striatum, and thalamus when compared to controls, and subjects with alternating hemiplegia of childhood studied interictally. The involvement of these brain regions was consistent with the semiology of the hemiplegic attacks. In patients with interictal studies and in the controls, the PET scans revealed similar and bilaterally symmetric regional patterns of serotonin synthesis capacity. Increased whole-brain serotonin synthesis capacity (reported in migraine subjects without aura) was not found in the alternating hemiplegia of childhood group. There was no correlation between the neurodevelopmental scores and regional standard uptake values; however, patients with a larger estimated lifetime attack number showed greater delay in communication (P = .005) and daily living skills (P = .042). These studies suggest increased regional serotonergic activity associated with attacks in alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Furthermore, the attack number may have an effect on neurodevelopmental delay, thus supporting the notion that alternating hemiplegia of childhood may be a progressive disorder.     

儿童交替性偏瘫的临床特征和脑血流灌注改变

目的探讨儿童交替性偏瘫的临床特点及脑血流改变。方法对近23年收治的11例患儿的临床资料进行分析,并对6例患儿应用单光子发射计算机断层扫描进行脑血流灌注观察,其中4例在发作间期,1例在发作期,1例在发作间期和发作期均进行测定,以兴趣区法作半定量分析。结果11例患儿的临床特征一般为18个月内起病,表现为频繁发作的交替性偏瘫、短暂的眼球震颤、肌张力异常、舞蹈徐动样动作,常伴自主神经功能紊乱和认知功能减退;睡眠可缓解上述症状。2次发作期单光子发射计算机断层扫描均示偏瘫对侧脑血流减少,5次发作间期均正常。结论本病的主要临床特征为一般18个月内起病的反复发作的交替性偏瘫,伴锥体外系症状及智能障碍;发作期偏瘫对侧脑血流减少。     

儿童交替性偏瘫六例分析

目的探讨儿童交替性偏瘫（ＡＨＣ）的临床特点及治疗方法。方法对６例ＡＨＣ患儿的临床资料进行分析。结果６例患儿的临床特征为出生后１８个月起内病，频繁发作，持续数分钟至数小时；短暂的眼球震颤，肌张力异常，舞蹈徐动样动作，植物神经机能紊乱和认知机能减退；睡眠可缓解无力及锥体外系症状。应用氟桂嗪治疗后，１例患儿发作完全停止，其余５例患儿均显示发作频率和持续时间降低。结论本病的主要特征为１８个月内起病的发作性交替性偏瘫，伴锥体外系症状及智力障碍，氟桂嗪治疗本病有效     

A patient with alternating hemiplegia in childhood

Alternating hemiplegia in childhood (Verret, 1971) is a disorder presenting with frequent episodes of alternating hemiplegia from early infancy. We report a patient with this disorder, along with a pathophysiological study and a discussion about the available therapies for this disorder. The patient, an 11-year-old boy, visited our hospital with episodes of alternating hemiplegia from early infancy. His family history showed that many members suffered from migraine. He was born with asphyxia. Mental and motor developmental delays were seen from early infancy. The hemiplegic episodes with ipsilateral facial palsy had occurred frequently from early infancy. The episodes were frequently induced by emotional stress. The duration of hemiplegia varied from 10 minutes to 3 days. From the age of 11 years, he had begun to have migrainous attacks with or without hemiplegic episodes. Neurological examination revealed slight muscle hypotonia, choreoathetosis and dystonic movements induced by locomotion, positive Myerson sign, increased deep tendon reflexes and Babinski reflex. CAG, VAG and CAT revealed normal findings. EEG revealed diffuse generalized slowing during hemiplegic episodes. Measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) by 133Xe inhalation method revealed a slight decrease of bilateral CBF during a quadriplegic episode. Positron emission tomography using C15O2 revealed a slight decrease of CBF at the insula, putamen and claustrum of the left side during a right sided episode. Increased excretion of urinary 5-HIAA was seen during one episode. From our clinical and laboratory findings, we think this disorder may be a special type of migraine. Therapeutic trials of diazepam and flunarizine were both effective, but the initial effectiveness was decreased after 5 months.     

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood and a pathogenic variant of ATP1A3: a case report and pathophysiological considerations

We describe a case of a child suffering from alternating hemiplegia with a heterozygous p. E815K pathogenic variant of ATP1A3. The patient started to present abnormal eye movements in the first days of life, followed by the appearance at 2 months of dystonic episodes, and later on, by recurrent episodes of alternating hemiplegia more often on the right side. A severe epilepsy started at the age of 2 years with episodes of status epilepticus since the onset which frequently recurred, requiring admission to the intensive care unit. MRI showed bilateral mesial temporal sclerosis and a left‐sided ischaemic lesion. Interictal EEG showed bilateral abnormalities, whereas postictal EEG after status epilepticus showed overt slowing on the left side, suggesting a predominant involvement of ictal activity of the left hemisphere. We hypothesize that in our patient, the left hemisphere might have been more prominently affected by the pathogenetic abnormalities underlying alternating hemiplegia of childhood, rendering it more prone to early ischaemic lesions and recurrent unilateral status epilepticus. We speculate whether alternating hemiplegia of childhood shares some common pathophysiological mechanisms with familial hemiplegic migraine that may be associated with a pathogenic variant of ATP1A2.     

儿童交替性偏瘫一例

目的了解儿童交替性偏瘫(AHC)的诊断及治疗方法的合理选择。方法介绍我院收治的1例难治的儿童交替性偏瘫患儿的临床特点,检索国内外10年内的相关文献。结果本病的临床特点为反复发作性的偏瘫,睡眠后缓解,可有其他发作性症状,如发作性肌张力障碍、眼球运动异常和认知障碍等。氟桂利嗪是最常用的药物,托吡酯片、阿立哌唑也可用于治疗本病。结论本病是一种罕见的神经系统发作性疾病,临床表现多样,容易误诊,目前没有标准的治疗方法。     

123I-iodoamphetamine SPECT brain imaging in alternating hemiplegia

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood is an unusual disorder characterized by early onset (occurring before 18 months of age); repeated attacks of hemiplegia involving both sides of the body; other paroxysmal phenomena, such as tonic stiffening, dystonic posturing, choreoathetoid movements, ocular motor abnormalities, and autonomic disturbances, in association with bouts of hemiplegia or occurring independently; and evidence of mental or neurologic deficits. A girl was examined because of left hemiplegia at the age of 16 months. The patient had begun exhibiting episodes of alternating hemiplegia at approximately 4 months of age. They consisted of tonic stiffening and dystonia of the right or left extremities, lasting from 30 min to several hours and followed by residual hemiparesis. They were invariably accompanied by ocular motor abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and angiography all were normal. Single proton emission computed tomography brain images during an acute episode of right hemiplegia demonstrated hypoperfusion of the left cerebral hemisphere. Following improvement of the hemiplegia, the patient was re-evaluated. The uptake of the radiotracer in the left hemisphere was increased. The scan did not demonstrate significant asymmetry in cerebral perfusion.     

Benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood: six patients and long-term follow-up.

Benign familial nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood refers to recurrent attacks of hemiplegia arising from sleep, described in young children without neurologic or mental impairment. It is probably migraine related. The authors report two unrelated patients with nocturnal attacks starting at 22 and 31 months, followed by daytime episodes in one. The authors confirm the benign course of this disorder. It is distinct from the classic malignant form of alternating hemiplegia of childhood.     

Ictal 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT in alternating hemiplegia

99mTc-hexamethylpropylenamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed in a patient with alternating hemiplegia during 2 episodes of the disease. The regional cerebral blood flow patterns correlated with the clinical manifestations during both episodes. Hyperperfusion of the contralateral hemisphere was suggested by asymmetric 99mTc-HMPAO uptake, whereas symmetric 123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine uptake was detected during the interictal period. The results suggested that alternating hemiplegia in infants represents an atypical manifestation of epilepsy, despite the lack of paroxysmal electroencephalographic abnormalities during the episodes. 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT appears to be a useful method for detecting transient regional cerebral blood flow alterations during paroxysmal events because the tracer is rapidly available for emergencies and retains a fixed distribution for 5-8 hours, sufficient time to allow for SPECT acquisition.     

三例儿童交替性偏瘫的回顾性分析

目的探讨儿童交替性偏瘫病因、临床特点、治疗效果。方法回顾性分析3例儿童交替性偏瘫患者的病因、临床表现及疗效。结果本组3例患者起病年龄均小于18个月,反复发作的交替性偏瘫；进行性的智能障碍,其中1例伴有短暂眼球震颤及眼球活动障碍,1例伴有张力障碍性姿势异常；睡眠可缓解无力及锥体外系症状,应用氟桂嗪治疗后,2例患者发作频率及持续时间降低,1例无效。结论本病病因不明,多为散发,临床表现为18月内起病的发作性交替性偏瘫,辅助检查无特征性改变,氟桂利嗪治疗部分有效。     

Epileptic encephalopathy with features of rapid‐onset dystonia Parkinsonism and alternating hemiplegia of childhood: a novel combination phenotype associated with ATP1A3 mutation

Mutations in ATP1A3 have been found to cause rapid‐onset dystonia Parkinsonism, alternating hemiplegia of childhood, epileptic encephalopathy and other syndromes. We report a four‐year, nine‐month‐old boy with episodes of frequent and recurrent status epilepticus, who first began having generalized tonic‐clonic seizures at four months of age. Development was normal until the age of four months, and markedly slowed down after the onset of seizures. Between the age of seven months and two and a half years, the patient had recurrent attacks of unilateral and bilateral hemiplegia. At the age of 21 months, after a febrile illness with status epilepticus, he regressed and developed continuous severe dystonia and bradykinesia with superimposed intermittent painful dystonic spasms. Extensive neurological and genetic workup revealed a de novo p.V589F ATP1A3 mutation (NM_152296.5:c.1765G>T, NC_000019.9:g.42482344C>A). This is a novel mutation associated with a novel phenotype that shares features with epileptic encephalopathy, alternating hemiplegia of childhood, and rapid‐onset dystonia Parkinsonism.     

Epileptic seizures difficult to differentiate from alternating hemiplegia in infants: a case report

A child with epileptic seizures had a clinical course similar to that of alternating hemiplegia of infancy (AHI). Tonic hemiplegia began at 2 months of age, and atonic alternating hemiplegia and tetraplegic attacks began at 2 years of age. Clinical findings were paroxysmal ocular movement abnormalities, choreoathetotic involuntary movements, and severe developmental retardation. An interictal EEG at 6 years of age showed multiple independent spike discharges. An ictal EEG showed diffuse irregular spike-wave and slow wave bursts following focal spikes. The present case suggests that a long-term extensive follow-up is necessary to differentiate epileptic seizures from AHI.     

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood: a syndrome inherited with an autosomal dominant trait

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of hemiplegia affecting either side of the body, oculomotor and autonomic disturbances, movement disorders, and progressive cognitive impairment. We report on one family with autosomal dominant alternating hemiplegia. The disorder was first recognized in a 9-year-old child, the third son of the family, who presented with learning disability, tonic-clonic seizures, dystonic attacks, and episodes of alternating hemiplegia starting at the age of 2 1/2 years. His mother and three brothers had similar symptoms. The maternal uncle, who has learning disability, had experienced multiple dystonic attacks. Tests performed on the family, including computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain as well as metabolic evaluation, were normal. Cytogenetic analysis was normal and mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed no deletions or mutations in the four affected family members and the grandmother. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance is suggested by the fact that both sexes are affected in two generations.     

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood: no mutations in the glutamate transporter EAAT1

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) is a severe brain disorder, mainly characterised by episodes of hemiplegia, progressive mental retardation, and other severe paroxysmal and permanent neurological symptoms. Clinically and genetically, there is some overlap with sporadic (SHM) and familial (FHM) hemiplegic migraine, a severe monogenic subtype of migraine. Although no mutations were detected in the FHM1 CACNA1A and FHM2 ATP1A2 genes in sporadic AHC patients, a mutation was found in the FHM2 ATP1A2 gene in a family with AHC. Recently, a missense mutation was found in the SLC1A3 gene that encodes the glutamate transporter EAAT1, in a patient with alternating hemiplegia, episodic ataxia, seizures, and headache. Because of the remarkable clinical similarities and the potential role of glutamate in AHC, we analysed six sporadic patients with AHC for mutations in the SLC1A3 gene. No mutations were found. The SLC1A3 EAAT1 glutamate transporter gene does not seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of AHC.     

Benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood: Two cases with positive evolution

Benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia (BNAH) of childhood is distinct from the classic form of malignant alternating hemiplegia of childhood [1]. It is characterized by hemiplegic attacks occurring exclusively during sleep [2]. It can be misdiagnosed as migraine, nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, benign rolandic epilepsy, Panayiotopoulos syndrome, or sleep-related movement disorder [1], [2], [3] and [4]. Only nine patients have been described to date, with typically, a normal development [1], [5], [6] and [7]. In order to insist about the benignity of the affection, we report two cases: a new three-year-old boy suffering from BNAH and a patient already published to show positive evolution at fourteen years of age. BNAH is a rare disorder but may be underdiagnosed. Making an early diagnosis can help to describe to the parents the good prognosis without treatment.     

Benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood: A new case with unusual findings

It has been described a neuro developmental disorder labelled “Benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood” (BNAHC) characterized by recurrent attacks of nocturnal hemiplegia without progression to neurological or intellectual impairment. We report a female patient who at 11 months revealed a motionless left arm, unusual crying without impairment of consciousness and obvious precipitating factors. The attacks occur during sleep in the early morning with lack of ictal and interictal electroencephalographic abnormalities, progressive neurological deficit, and cognitive impairment. Unlike previous reports of BNAHC our patient come from a family with a history of both migraine, hemiplegic migraine, and sleep disorders. Our study remarks on the typical features described in previous studies and stresses the uncommon aspects that could help to identify the disorder which is likely to have been underestimated. Despite some clinical similarities between BNAHC and familiar hemiplegic migraine and alternating hemiplegia of childhood, the genetic analyses of our patient did not reveal genetic mutations found in both disorders.     

Rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism with ATP1A3 mutation and left lower limb paroxysmal dystonia

BackgroundRapid-onset dystonia–parkinsonism (RDP) is a disease characterized by an abrupt onset of dystonia accompanied by signs of parkinsonism and prominent bulbar symptoms.Case reportWe describe a case of a female patient, born after normal delivery, but diagnosed with mild intellectual disability at age 7. She presented with an abrupt onset of upper limb dystonia and bradykinesia without tremor in parkinsonism, as well as dysarthria and dysphagia caused by prominent bulbar symptoms, at age 9. She had normal findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and blood examination but was diagnosed with a psychogenic disorder. At age 10, she developed left lower limb paroxysmal stiffness with pain, and at 14, she was hospitalized due to lasting paroxysmal symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing was performed for this index case and her parents, and a de novo missense variant c.829G > A, p.Glu277Lys in ATP1A3 was identified.DiscussionThis RDP case highlights a rare clinical feature of paroxysmal dystonia that affects the lower left limb and develops after the abrupt onset of permanent dystonia. Currently, there are only three reported RDP cases associated with the same missense mutation, and we summarized the clinical features of all cases including ours, such as onset of age, time for stable, RDP score, relapse and exacerbation. Various symptoms owing to ATP1A3 mutation could develop as ATP1A3-related neurological disorders beyond classical phenotypes such as alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) or RDP. Although RDP is extremely rare during childhood, it is important to understand its clinical characteristics in children.     

Benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood: The first clinical report with paroxysmal events home‐video recordings

Benign familial nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood (BNAHC) is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of hemiplegia, arising from sleep without progression to neurological or intellectual impairment. It is distinct from the malignant, relatively more common, alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), complicated by developmental deterioration, cognitive impairment, and permanent neurological deficits such as choreoathetosis. The authors add a new case of BNAHC to the pertinent literature and report, for the first time, a video with the typical nocturnal hemiplegic attacks in order to improve knowledge about this disorder among child neurologists and pediatricians and increase the possibility of clarifying its pathogenesis and molecular basis. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society     

Treatment of alternating hemiplegia of childhood with aripiprazole

We report the pharmacological treatment of a case of alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) in a 14-year-old female with an established diagnosis. Although the patient's symptoms are consistent with those of the condition, she did not respond to treatment with haloperidol, flunarizine, or propranolol. Treatment with aripiprazole resulted in a reduction in the frequency, duration, and severity of episodes of alternating hemiplegia, along with other therapeutic benefits. After treatment with aripiprazole was started, the patient was inadvertently given an inactive drug, resulting in a worsening of her hemiplegic episodes, which improved again on rechallenge. A comparison of the pharmacological actions of successful and unsuccessful treatments for AHC is made. Modulation of both dopamine and histamine systems together appears to be important in the treatment of AHC and further investigation of such pharmacotherapies is suggested.