scholarly journals Relapsing Neurological Complications in a Child With ATP1A3 Gene Mutation and Influenza Infection: A Case Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaella Pisapia ◽  
Nicolina Capoluongo ◽  
Giulia Palmiero ◽  
Carlo Tascini ◽  
Carolina Rescigno

Mutations in the ATP1A3 gene encoding the α3 subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase are associated with different neurological manifestations that may be elicited by febrile episodes. A recently described phenotype, linked to the p.Arg756Cys mutation, is clinically characterized by Relapsing Encephalopathy with Cerebellar Ataxia (RECA). In our case, a diagnosis of RECA has been established, and despite an alternative, reasonable cause had been already identified.We describe the case of a child with two recurrent episodes, 2 years apart, of hypotonia and ataxia. In both episodes, a laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection suggested the diagnosis of influenza-associated encephalopathy. After the second episode, a search for genetic mutations was performed, and ATP1A3 mutation associated to RECA was found. After both episodes, the child was discharged after partial improvement of neurological conditions.The diagnosis of encephalopathy in children is often challenging. A genetic predisposition to neurological decompensation should be suspected in case of recurrent episodes, even if an alternative diagnosis has been established. Indeed, febrile infections may only represent the trigger of neurological involvement. In these patients, the knowledge of a genetic predisposing factors may help in the prevention of neurological episodes by the prompt use of anti-pyrectics and preventive measures as appropriate vaccination.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Opancina ◽  
Kristijan Krstic ◽  
Predrag Sazdanovic ◽  
Nebojsa Zdravkovic ◽  
Ruzica Radojevic Marjanovic ◽  
...  

The respiratory system is the most common target of COVID-19, however, various experimental studies and case reports have shown its affinity for neural tissues. In this chapter, we described pathogenesis and propagation of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the nervous system, potential routes of the SARS-CoV-2 invasion in the brain, as well as indirect effects of COVID-19 on multiorgan disorders. We have also presented all of the reported neurological manifestations in COVID-19 with an explanation of possible underlying pathways. Among patients who tested positive on SARS-CoV-2, various neurological irregularities have been described, affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In general, neurological complications in COVID-19 patients occur within 1 and 14 days, in most cases on average on the 5th day of the incubation period. We have demonstrated all of the reported neurological findings, whereas the most commonly reported were headache, dizziness, myalgia, hypogeusia, hyposmia, and impaired consciousness. More serious neurological conditions in COVID-19 included meningitis, encephalitis, and ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 625
Author(s):  
Chonnamet Techasaensiri ◽  
Artit Wongsa ◽  
Thanyawee Puthanakit ◽  
Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit ◽  
Tawee Chotpitayasunondh ◽  
...  

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is highly prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. It particularly affects children under five years of age. The most common causative agents are coxsackieviruses A6 and A16, and enterovirus A71 (EV71). The clinical presentation is usually mild and self-limited, but, in some cases, severe and fatal complications develop. To date, no specific therapy or worldwide vaccine is available. In general, viral infection invokes both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses. Passive immunity transfer can ameliorate the severe symptoms of diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, MERS, and SARS. Hyperimmune plasma (HIP) from healthy donors with high anti-EV71 neutralizing titer were used to transfuse confirmed EV71-infected children with neurological involvement (n = 6). It resulted in recovery within three days, with no neurological sequelae apparent upon examination 14 days later. Following HIP treatment, plasma chemokines were decreased, whereas anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines gradually increased. Interestingly, IL-6 and G-CSF levels in cerebrospinal fluid declined sharply within three days. These findings indicate that HIP has therapeutic potential for HFMD with neurological complications. However, given the small number of patients who have been treated, a larger cohort study should be undertaken. Successful outcomes would stimulate the development of anti-EV71 monoclonal antibody therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamadou Aliou Barry ◽  
Florent Arinal ◽  
Cheikh Talla ◽  
Boris Gildas Hedible ◽  
Fatoumata Diene Sarr ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. However, a lack of epidemiological data remains for this pathology, and the performances of the influenza-like illness (ILI) case definitions used for sentinel surveillance have never been evaluated in Senegal. This study aimed to i) assess the performance of three different ILI case definitions, adopted by the WHO, USA-CDC (CDC) and European-CDC (ECDC) and ii) identify clinical factors associated with a positive diagnosis for Influenza in order to develop an algorithm fitted for the Senegalese context. Methods All 657 patients with a febrile pathological episode (FPE) between January 2013 and December 2016 were followed in a cohort study in two rural villages in Senegal, accounting for 1653 FPE observations with nasopharyngeal sampling and influenza virus screening by rRT-PCR. For each FPE, general characteristics and clinical signs presented by patients were collected. Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) for the three ILI case definitions were assessed using PCR result as the reference test. Associations between clinical signs and influenza infection were analyzed using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. Sore throat, arthralgia or myalgia were missing for children under 5 years. Results WHO, CDC and ECDC case definitions had similar sensitivity (81.0%; 95%CI: 77.0–85.0) and NPV (91.0%; 95%CI: 89.0–93.1) while the WHO and CDC ILI case definitions had the highest specificity (52.0%; 95%CI: 49.1–54.5) and PPV (32.0%; 95%CI: 30.0–35.0). These performances varied by age groups. In children < 5 years, the significant predictors of influenza virus infection were cough and nasal discharge. In patients from 5 years, cough, nasal discharge, sore throat and asthenia grade 3 best predicted influenza infection. The addition of “nasal discharge” as a symptom to the WHO case definition decreased sensitivity but increased specificity, particularly in the pediatric population. Conclusion In summary, all three definitions studies (WHO, ECDC & CDC) have similar performance, even by age group. The revised WHO ILI definition could be chosen for surveillance purposes for its simplicity. Symptomatic predictors of influenza virus infection vary according the age group.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 4014
Author(s):  
Anchalee Rawangkan ◽  
Kirati Kengkla ◽  
Sukrit Kanchanasurakit ◽  
Acharaporn Duangjai ◽  
Surasak Saokaew

Influenza is one of the most serious respiratory viral infections worldwide. Although several studies have reported that green tea catechins (GTCs) might prevent influenza virus infection, this remains controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies with 5,048 participants that examined the effect of GTC administration on influenza prevention. In a random-effects meta-analysis of five RCTs, 884 participants treated with GTCs showed statistically significant effects on the prevention of influenza infection compared to the control group (risk ratio (RR) 0.67, 95%CIs 0.51–0.89, P = 0.005) without evidence of heterogeneity (I2= 0%, P = 0.629). Similarly, in three cohort studies with 2,223 participants treated with GTCs, there were also statistically significant effects (RR 0.52, 95%CIs 0.35–0.77, P = 0.001) with very low evidence of heterogeneity (I2 = 3%, P = 0.358). Additionally, the overall effect in the subgroup analysis of gargling and orally ingested items (taking capsules and drinking) showed a pooled RR of 0.62 (95% CIs 0.49–0.77, P = 0.003) without heterogeneity (I2= 0%, P = 0.554). There were no obvious publication biases (Egger’s test (P = 0.138) and Begg’s test (P = 0.103)). Our analysis suggests that green tea consumption is effective in the prophylaxis of influenza infections. To confirm the findings before implementation, longitudinal clinical trials with specific doses of green tea consumption are warranted.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (2) ◽  
pp. R621-R630 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Kozak ◽  
V. Poli ◽  
D. Soszynski ◽  
C. A. Conn ◽  
L. R. Leon ◽  
...  

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), among other cytokines, is thought to be involved in the regulation of sickness behavior (e.g., anorexia, cachexia, fever, and lethargy) induced by infections bacterial and viral origin) and sterile tissue necrosis (burns and surgical traumas). Mice deficient in IL-6 (IL-6 KO) were generated by gene targeting. Homozygous IL-6 KO male and female mice and their appropriate controls were implanted with biotelemeters to monitor body temperature (Tb) and motor activity (Act). Normal circadian rhythms in Tb and Act as well as rates of food intake and weight gain did not differ significantly between sex-matched IL-6 KO and control groups at 30 degrees C in a 12:12-h light-dark cycle. Sterile tissue damage was induced in mice by subcutaneous injection of turpentine (0.1 ml, left hindlimb). Influenza pneumonitis was induced by intranasal inoculation of mouse-adapted influenza A virus (17.5 plaque-forming units). Lack of IL-6 completely prevented fever, anorexia, and cachexia because of turpentine abscess in both sexes. It did not prevent lethargy, although IL-6 KO mice recovered to normal Act significantly sooner than wild-type mice. Symptoms of sickness were only slightly modified during influenza virus infection in IL-6 KO mice. Attenuation of sickness behavior was more pronounced in IL-6 KO female than in male mice. We conclude that, although IL-6 is induced during both turpentine abscess and influenza infection, this cytokine appears to be more critical in induction of the symptoms of sickness behavior during sterile tissue abscess than during influenza infection.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronghe Zhu ◽  
Cuie Chen ◽  
Qiu Wang ◽  
Xixi Zhang ◽  
Chaosheng Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Routine blood parameters, such as the lymphocyte (LYM) count, platelet (PLT) count, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), LYM*PLT and mean platelet volume-to-platelet ratio (MPV/PLT), are widely used to predict the prognosis of infectious diseases. We aimed to explore the value of these parameters in the early identification of influenza virus infection in children.Methods We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study of fever with influenza-like symptoms in pediatric outpatients from different age groups and evaluated the predictive value of various routine blood parameters measured within 48 hours of the onset of fever for influenza virus infection.Results The LYM count, PLT count, LMR and LYM*PLT were lower, and the NLR and MPV/PLT were higher in children with an influenza infection (PCR-confirmed and symptomatic). The LYM count, LMR and LYM*PLT in the influenza infection group were lower in the 1- to 6-year-old subgroup, and the LMR and LYM*PLT in the influenza infection group were lower in the >6-year-old subgroup. In the 1- to 6-year-old subgroup, the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza A virus infection was 3.75, the sensitivity was 81.87%, the specificity was 84.31%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.886; the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza B virus infection was 3.71, the sensitivity was 73.58%, the specificity was 84.31%, and the AUC was 0.843. In the >6-year-old subgroup, the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza A virus infection was 3.05, the sensitivity was 89.27%, the specificity was 89.61%, and the AUC was 0.949; the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza B virus infection was 2.88, the sensitivity was 83.19%, the specificity was 92.21%, and the AUC was 0.924.Conclusions Routine blood tests are simple, inexpensive and easy to perform, and they are useful for the early identification of influenza virus infection in children. The LMR had the strongest predictive value for influenza virus infection in children older than 1 year, particularly influenza A virus infection.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Kusaka ◽  
J Yamakawa ◽  
K Kawaura ◽  
T Itoh ◽  
T Takahashi ◽  
...  

We describe a 32-year-old man with electrocardiographic (ECG) changes consistent with Brugada syndrome and influenza virus infection. The ECG pattern changed after 1 week to one of early repolarization in V1 and V2. This case suggests an association between Brugada syndrome and viral infection.


Author(s):  
Andrew Graham ◽  
Clare Galton

Rheumatological conditions may be complicated by a variety of both central and peripheral nervous system disorders. Common complications such as entrapment neuropathies are familiar to rheumatologists but accurate diagnosis of less common neurological disorders may be challenging; careful clinical reasoning is essential, supplemented where necessary by imaging, neurophysiology, and other special investigations including cerebrospinal fluid examination. Complications vary according to the nature of the background condition. In rheumatoid arthritis, neurological involvement is typically related to the mechanical consequences of advancing disease; most commonly, entrapment neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical myelopathy due to atlantoaxial subluxation. By contrast, neurological involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) tends to occur earlier in the disease course, with a much wider range of manifestations. The management of stroke or seizures in SLE is not necessarily any different from that in the general population, unless complicated by the antiphospholipid syndrome. However, less common neurological syndromes may demand more specific investigation and treatment. For example, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and recurrent optic neuritis (neuromyelitis optica, or Devic’s disease) is frequently associated with antibodies to aquaporin-4, and is highly likely to relapse unless treated vigorously with humoral immunosuppression. Nervous system involvement in vasculitis is common. Finally, not all neurological disorder in rheumatological disease is necessarily due to the underlying condition; neurological complications of disease-modifying therapy are increasingly recognized, in particular central and peripheral nervous system demyelination associated with TNF-α‎‎ inhibitors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajjad Muhammad ◽  
Oliver Planz ◽  
Markus Schwaninger

Background: Thrombolysis is the only approved therapy for acute stroke. However, life-threatening complications such as intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) can develop after intravenous administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Both infection and thrombolysis during cerebral ischemia disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB). tPA can induce matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which is known to be involved in BBB disruption. However, it has still not been investigated whether preexisting influenza virus infection during thrombolysis after acute stroke affects systemic levels of MMP-9 and its inhibitor TIMP-1 and whether increased systemic MMP-9 levels affect ICH. This study aimed to investigate the influence of influenza virus infection on plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 after thrombolysis in acute stroke, and to determine whether the infection correlates with intracerebral bleeding. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were infected by administering 1 × 105 plaque-forming units of human influenza (H1N1) virus intranasally. After 3 days of infection the middle cerebral artery was occluded for 45 min and then reperfused. Intravenous tPA (10 mg/kg) treatment was started 10 min after stroke onset. Twenty-four hours after stroke onset, mice were deeply anesthetized with ketamine, venous blood was drawn from the caval vein and centrifuged at 2,000 rpm, and the supernatant was collected and frozen at -80°C. Plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were quantified by using ELISA. Results: After stroke, plasma MMP-9 was significantly increased in mice with a concomitant influenza infection that were treated with tPA (9.99 ± 0.62 ng/ml, n = 7) as compared to noninfected control mice that were treated with tPA (4.74 ± 0.48 ng/ml, n = 8). Moreover, plasma levels of TIMP-1, an inhibitor of MMP-9, were also significantly increased in mice treated with tPA after concomitant infection and stroke (42.17 ± 7.02 ng/ml, n = 7) as compared to noninfected control mice that were treated with tPA after stroke (20.22 ± 2.12 ng/ml, n = 8). MMP-9 values significantly correlated with intracerebral hemoglobin levels in animals treated with tPA after stroke (p = 0.028, r = 0.76, n = 8) and after concomitant stroke and infection (p = 0.039, r = 0.78, n = 7). Conclusion: Preexisting influenza A virus infection led to increased plasma MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in mice undergoing thrombolysis after induced stroke. MMP-9 levels closely correlated with intracerebral bleeding after thrombolysis during concomitant infection and stroke. Thus, our data indicate that thrombolysis may be dangerous during influenza infection. MMP-9 inhibitors might be considered to reduce the side effects of thrombolysis during concomitant infection and stroke.


Author(s):  
Ajay Mishra ◽  
Aditya Binu ◽  
George Abraham ◽  
Harshad Vanjare ◽  
Tina George ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundNeurological complications following snake and scorpion bite are diverse. Literature regarding patterns of cerebrovascular injury (CVI) and outcomes among these patients is scarce. This is a descriptive study of the clinical profile, brain imaging findings, mechanisms of injury, vascular territory involvement and outcomes of CVI following scorpion and snake envenomation, in a tertiary care center in South India.MethodologyPatients with scorpion sting- and snake envenomation-related complications were retrospectively enrolled. Neuroimaging was performed on five patients with each envenomation, and they were found to have neurological involvement. On imaging, three patients were found to have a CVI. Clinical, radiological parameters and outcomes of these patients were studied. We also performed a review of the literature and analyzed the finding of all the cases.ResultIn all, three patients each had evidence of CVI in imaging. An additional 32 reports of scorpion sting-related CVI and 35 reports of snake envenomation-related CVI were identified from the literature. There was a male predominance among these patients. Mean age of the patients with scorpion sting was 42.8 years as compared with 33 years for the patients with snake envenomation. Features of severe envenomation were present in all patients. Persistently depressed sensorium and new-onset focal neurological deficits were seen in 70% of all patients. Infarcts were seen in 88% of patients with snake envenomation and 53% of patients with a scorpion sting. Mortality was 28% among patients with a scorpion sting as compared with 8% with snake envenomation.ConclusionCerebrovascular injuries are uncommon neurological manifestations following scorpion and snake envenomation. These tend to occur in younger patients. Infarcts are more common than bleeds.


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