Clinical features of nine patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood

Aim:  To define clinical features of patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentation and course of the disease in patients diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2008 at the Pediatric Neurology Department of the Istanbul Medical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of paediatrics and child health 2011-10, Vol.47 (10), p.734-736
Main Authors: Tatlı, Burak, Aydınlı, Nur, Çalışkan, Mine, Özmen, Meral, Kara, Bülent, Yaramış, Ahmet, Dilber, Cengiz, Yılmaz, Kutluhan, Küçükuğurluoğlu, Yasemin, Ekici, Barış
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alternating hemiplegia
amantadine
Amantadine - therapeutic use
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Antiparkinson Agents - therapeutic use
Children & youth
Female
flunarizine
Flunarizine - therapeutic use
Hemiplegia - drug therapy
Hemiplegia - physiopathology
Humans
Infant
Male
Medical Audit
migraine
Neurology
Paralysis
Retrospective Studies
seizure
Treatment Outcome
Turkey
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Summary:Aim:  To define clinical features of patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentation and course of the disease in patients diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2008 at the Pediatric Neurology Department of the Istanbul Medical Faculty. Results:  The nine patients had a mean age of 6.6 months (2–15 months) at the onset of symptoms. Paroxysmal eye movements were the early symptom of five patients. All patients had recurrent alternating hemiplegic episodes and relief of symptoms while sleeping. Duration of events varied widely from few minutes to several days and was associated with slowly progressive neurological deterioration. Flunarizine might decrease frequency of events but is not effective to neurological deterioration. Amantadine as an alternative agent is used in add‐on therapy, but epileptogenic side effect prevented the evaluation of long‐term efficacy. Conclusion:  Trials on new agents like amantadine are necessary for more effective control of the disease.
ISSN:1034-4810
1440-1754
DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02042.x