Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare, dangerous, life-threatening disease characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, along with organ dysfunction due to microangiopathy-related ischemia. Plasma exchange and steroids are used for initial treatment, and rituximab is often used in refractive patients. Caplacizumab, cyclophosphamide, and splenectomy are among other treatment options. It has been reported that bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, can be used in the management of refractory acquired TTP. Herein, we present a 16-year-old female patient who was monitored for acquired TTP and treated with high-dose steroids, plasma exchange, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and N-acetylcysteine but developed renal, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and neurologic complications. The girl was then successfully treated with bortezomib, and she has been monitored in remission for 6 months. We consider that bortezomib is a beneficial treatment, especially in patients with refractory TTP.
Background/aim: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy is a rare type of acute encephalopathy characterized by multi-ocal brain lesions and associated severe neurological findings and various organ dysfunctions may accompany it. Materials and Methods: Patients with acute necrotizing encephalopathy of childhood diagnosed by pediatric neurology and pediatric intensive care at Sami Ulus Maternity, Child Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital between 2007 and 2020 were included in this study. Results: Nine patients (six females, three males) with a mean age of 4.05 ± 1.94 years (age range 1-6.5) were included in this study. The interval range between fever and encephalopathy in patients was 1-4 days. Influenza A (3H1N1, one untyped) was detected in four patients, influenza B in three patients, and no cause was found in two patients. Major clinical findings other than febrile encephalopathy in all patients were a hemodynamic shock in seven patients, seizures in six patients, vomiting in five patients, dystonia in three patients, and flaccid paralysis in the upper extremity in one patient. Despite all our treatment approaches, including plasmapheresis, moderate to severe neurological sequelae was observed in all of our patients, who survived even with significant radiological improvement. Three patients for whom we could not perform plasmapheresis died. Conclusion:Our study revealed that thalamic involvement increased as the interval shortened, and brainstem involvement increased in patients over four years of age. The presence of persistent vomiting accompanying encephalopathy during the parainfectious period and plasmapheresis treatment being a treatment option that could prevent mortality were cautionary for our study.
Introduction: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Becker Muscular dystrophy (BMD), are chronic and progressive and rare genetic disorders that cause systemic involvement such as progressive muscle deterioration, motor disability, cardiomyopathy, and respiratory problems, with an increased risk of cognitive decline and psychological problems They are a group of neuromuscular diseases in which psychological problems affect negatively on quality of life (Qol) not only patients but also caregivers. This study demonstrates the clinical features of patients with DMD/BMD and their caregivers and compares controls with respects to psychological and social aspects. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 patients (3 with BMD and 17 with DMD), aged between 8 and 18 years, and 20 age-matched healthy children were included in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. The patients were evaluated by the pediatric neurology, cardiology, and psychiatry departments at the study time. Their demographic and clinical features were recorded. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and its parent form, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were applied to all of the participants. Results: The QoL scores were lower in patients with moderate and severe DMD/ BMD and their caregivers. In patients with DMD and in both groups, emotional symptoms, peer problems and prosocial behavior scores were higher in the subsets of the SDQ. The PedsQL child-parent scores were lower in all of the subsets with statistical significance. Conclusions: DMD and BMD comprise a group of chronic diseases with multiple complications that are difficult to manage. A QoL equal or close to that of the healthy children should be targeted. Today, proposed or experimental treatments for this disease group are assessed based on their ability to enhance QoL. Inquiring into the QoL and counseling should become routine. KeywordsDuchenne musküler distrofi, becker musküler distrofi, sağlıkla ilişkili yaşam kalitesi Anah tar ke li me ler Duchenne muscular dystrophy, becker muscular dystrophy, health-related quality of life
Background: The aim of this study was to identify the demographic-clinical variables affecting idiopathic epilepsy (IE) [called genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE)] recurrence and determine cut-off values that can be used in pediatric neurology practice for children with IE/GGE. Methods: A total of 250 children and adolescents with IE/GGE were included and retrospectively evaluated. The patients’ hospital records were examined in order to identify possible electro-clinical features affecting epilepsy recurrence. Results: The overall rate of recurrence in the patients was 46%; the age at onset of seizures in recurrence group was lower (P = 0.040) and the age at last seizure was higher in the recurrence group (P < 0.001) than that in the non-recurrence group. Other factors found to be related to recurrence were the shorter duration of the seizure-free period (P = 0.030), shorter interval between the last seizure and antiepileptic drug (AED) withdrawal (P = 0.003), shorter duration of AED withdrawal (P = 0.005), and the existence of abnormalities on sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) during AED withdrawal (P = 0.010) and at the 6th month of withdrawal (P < 0.001). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the risk of IE recurrence was higher in children who were younger than 3.6 years old (sensitivity: 65.6%, specificity: 62.7%), children with a seizure-free period that was shorter than 35.5 months (sensitivity: 89.6%, specificity: 32.8%), and children whose drug withdrawal period was shorter than 4.5 months (sensitivity: 56.3%, specificity: 71.6%). Conclusion: This study defined some electro-clinical factors that could guide clinicians when deciding to withdraw AEDs with regard to recurrence risk after evaluating a homogenous population of children with a diagnosis of IE/GGE.
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