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Ruttkowski L, Wallot I, Korell M, Daur E, Seipelt P, Leonhardt A, Weber S, Mand N. Case report: Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome in a 14-year-old girl with multiple organ failure and lethal outcome. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1255841. [PMID: 38505775 PMCID: PMC10948546 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1255841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
We report a case of an otherwise healthy 14-year-old girl with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES), multiple organ failure (MOF), and ultimately a lethal outcome. This is a rare case of FIRES with MOF and consecutive death. Only a few cases have been described in the literature. The adolescent girl was initially admitted to our pediatric emergency department with a first episode of generalized tonic-clonic seizures after a short history of fever a week before admission. Seizures progressed rapidly into refractory status epilepticus without any evidence of the underlying cause, and treatment subsequently had to be escalated to thiopental anesthesia. Since the initial diagnostics showed no promising leads, the rare syndrome of FIRES was suspected, representing a catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy linked to a prior benign febrile infection. Methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulins, and a ketogenic diet were initiated. Respiratory, circulatory, kidney, and liver failure developed during treatment, requiring increasing intensive care. Multiple attempts to deescalate antiepileptic treatment resulted in recurrent status epilepticus. A cranial MRI on the 10th day of treatment revealed diffuse brain edema and no cerebral perfusion. The patient was declared dead on the 11th day of treatment. FIRES should be taken into account in previously healthy children with a new onset of difficult-to-treat seizures after a short febrile infection when no other cause is apparent. First-line treatment, besides seizure control, is the early initiation of immunomodulatory therapy and the start of a ketogenic diet. As treatment is difficult and MOF may develop, patients should be transferred to a specialized children's hospital providing full intensive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Ruttkowski
- Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ines Wallot
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marie Korell
- Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Elke Daur
- Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter Seipelt
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Leonhardt
- Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Weber
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nadine Mand
- Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Cupane TL, Strautmanis J, Setlere S, Diriks M, Auzenbaha M. The Beneficial Outcome of Subsequent Treatment with Anakinra during the Chronic Phase of Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES): A Case Report. Neurol Int 2023; 15:1489-1496. [PMID: 38132976 PMCID: PMC10745401 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint15040097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This case report presents the clinical course of an eight-year-old boy diagnosed with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) at the age of four. Following a febrile infection, the patient experienced his initial episode of serial generalized clonic seizures. The severity of his condition led to 11 hospital admissions, totaling 157 days of hospitalization. Anakinra was initially administered during the acute phase in 2019 but was discontinued after 29 days. In 2022, the patient experienced a chronic-phase exacerbation and underwent a second course of anakinra treatment, which demonstrated a positive effect on seizure activity. With a year of anakinra therapy, the patient exhibited significant improvement in both seizure frequency and severity. This report adds to the existing evidence supporting the potential use of anakinra in the treatment of FIRES, highlighting its effectiveness during the chronic phase and suggesting the potential benefits of subsequent administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Luize Cupane
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
- European Reference Network EURO-NMD, 75013 Paris, France; (S.S.); (M.D.)
| | - Jurgis Strautmanis
- Epilepsy and Sleep Medicine Centre, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia;
- European Reference Network Epi-CARE, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Signe Setlere
- European Reference Network EURO-NMD, 75013 Paris, France; (S.S.); (M.D.)
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
| | - Mikus Diriks
- European Reference Network EURO-NMD, 75013 Paris, France; (S.S.); (M.D.)
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
| | - Madara Auzenbaha
- Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnostic Clinic, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia;
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张 伊, 丁 昌, 李 华, 王 晓, 陈 春, 方 方. [Electroencephalogram characteristics of 26 children with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome]. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2023; 25:923-928. [PMID: 37718397 PMCID: PMC10511225 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2304049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics and progression of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) in children, aiming to enhance diagnosis and treatment approaches. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 26 children with FIRES between May 2017 and December 2021. RESULTS All 26 children (100%) presented with fever at the onset, followed by frequent convulsions that rapidly progressed into convulsive status. Ventilator support was required for 22 cases (85%). During the acute phase, EEG features demonstrated the disappearance of background activity and physiological sleep cycles in all children. Diffuse slow waves and multifocal slow spike slow waves were observed as abnormal waves during the interictal period. A characteristic pattern of focal low amplitude fast wave initiation was detected in all children during seizure episodes. In the chronic phase, the background EEG activity gradually recovered, and the presence of abnormal waves was relatively limited. The characteristic pattern of focal slow wave rhythm initiation was evident during seizure episodes. Additionally, extreme δ brushes were observed in four cases (15%). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that EEG manifestations in children with FIRES exhibit distinctive patterns during the acute and chronic stages, providing significant value for early diagnosis and clinical staging. Extreme δ brushes may be one of the distinctive markers of children with FIRES.
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Caffarelli C, Santamaria F, Piro E, Basilicata S, D'Antonio L, Tchana B, Bernasconi S, Corsello G. Advances for pediatricians in 2022: allergy, anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, global health, infectious diseases, metabolism, neonatology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology. Ital J Pediatr 2023; 49:115. [PMID: 37679850 PMCID: PMC10485969 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01522-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The last year saw intensive efforts to advance knowledge in pediatric medicine. This review highlights important publications that have been issued in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics in 2022. We have chosen papers in the fields of allergy, anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, global health, infectious diseases, metabolism, neonatology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology. Novel valuable developments in epidemiology, pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment that can rapidly change the approach to diseases in childhood have been included and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Caffarelli
- Clinica Pediatrica, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera- Universitaria, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Francesca Santamaria
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Ettore Piro
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Basilicata
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Antonio
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Bertrand Tchana
- Cardiologia Pediatrica, Azienda-Ospedaliero Universitaria, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Corsello
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Pavone P, Corsello G, Raucci U, Lubrano R, Parano E, Ruggieri M, Greco F, Marino S, Falsaperla R. Febrile infection-related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES): a severe encephalopathy with status epilepticus. Literature review and presentation of two new cases. Ital J Pediatr 2022; 48:199. [PMID: 36527084 PMCID: PMC9756623 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-022-01389-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
FIRES is defined as a disorder that requires a prior febrile infection starting between 2 weeks and 24 h before the onset of the refractory status epilepticus with or without fever at the onset of status epilepticus. The patients, previously normal, present in the acute phase recurrent seizures and status epilepticus followed by a severe course with usually persistent seizures and residual cognitive impairment. Boundary with "new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) has not clearly established. Pathogenetic hypothesis includes inflammatory or autoimmune mechanism with a possible genetic predisposition for an immune response dysfunction.Various types of treatment have been proposed for the treatment of the acute phase of the disorder to block the rapid seizures evolution to status epilepticus and to treat status epilepticus itself. Prognosis is usually severe both for control of the seizures and for cognitive involvement.FIRES is an uncommon but severe disorder which must be carefully considered in the differential diagnosis with other epileptic encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Pavone
- grid.412844.f0000 0004 1766 6239Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “Policlinico-San Marco”, Catania Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corsello
- grid.10776.370000 0004 1762 5517Department of Health Promotion, Mather and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Umberto Raucci
- grid.414603.4Department of Emergency and Clinical Pediatrics, Bambin Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Lubrano
- grid.7841.aPediatrics and Neonatology Unit, Maternal-Child Department, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Enrico Parano
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Unit of Catania, Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), National Council of Research, Catania, Italy
| | - Martino Ruggieri
- grid.412844.f0000 0004 1766 6239Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “Policlinico-San Marco”, Catania Catania, Italy
| | - Filippo Greco
- grid.412844.f0000 0004 1766 6239Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital “Policlinico-San Marco”, Catania Catania, Italy
| | - Silvia Marino
- grid.8158.40000 0004 1757 1969Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, AOU “Policlinico”- PO “San Marco”, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Raffaele Falsaperla
- grid.8158.40000 0004 1757 1969Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, AOU “Policlinico”- PO “San Marco”, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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