Migraine Symptoms Related to the Percutaneous Closure of An Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: Report of Four Paediatric Cases and Review of the Literature

Several publications have recently suggested that atrial septal defect may be associated with the physiopathology of headache with migraine-type characteristics. We describe four previously asymptomatic paediatric patients with atrial septal defect who underwent percutaneous Amplatzer septal occluder device implantation and who subsequently developed symptoms compatible with migraine headache. The cases had normal echocardiograms after the intervention and a benign course with headache improvement after several weeks or months. There are paediatric patients with atrial septal defect who may dramatically develop migraine symptoms with or without aura following percutaneous correction of their defect. Large paediatric studies are needed to offer accurate prognoses for children and their families. The possibility of using clopidogrel to treat this type of headache is subject to debate.

[Sustained effectiveness of osmotic-release methylphenidate: a study of 266 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Methylphenidate (MTF) is effective for the treatment of attention deficit/hiperactivity disorder (ADHD). Osmotic-release MTF (MTF-O) allows a sustained effect along the day on attention and behaviour in patient with ADHD with a single dose.

AIM

To confirm the sustained effectiveness of the MTF-O from the clinical point of view, in the family circle:

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Study of 266 patients with ADHD. They were aged between 5 and 17 years. Distribution for sex 3/1 (boys/girls). Treatment with MTF-O was added and retired in two successive weekends, alternating the days. During these four days the following scales were filled at different hours: quantified criteria of DSM-IV-TR, modified ICG-M, and translated and modified Depremb-R.

RESULTS

The following finds were observed under treatment: a statistically significant decrease in inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness (p < 0.01); a clinical improvement when getting up and going to bed by means of Depremb-R scale (p < 0.01); a reduction of the symptomatic intensity in the criteria of DSM-IV-TR, in the morning and in the afternoon (p < 0.01); a global improvement in attention and behaviour when getting up, lunchtime, dinner, and before going to bed according to the modified ICG-M.

CONCLUSION

MTF-O improves characteristic symptoms of ADHD from the first hours of the morning until the hour of going to bed according to family assessment.

[Larsen syndrome: two reports of cases with spinal cord compromise]

INTRODUCTION

Larsen syndrome is characterised by untreatable congenital dislocation of multiple body joints, along with marked foot deformities. These patients have a flattened face with a short nose, a broad depressed nasal bridge and a prominent forehead. In this clinical note our aim is to report two cases that coursed with spinal cord compromise.

CASE REPORTS

Case 1: an 18-month-old female with congenital dislocation of knees and hips. The patient had a flat face, sunken root of nose, and carp mouth. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed severe cervical kyphosis secondary to malformation and hypoplasia of the cervical vertebral bodies and important compression of the spinal cord. Clinically, there were also signs of upper motor neuron syndrome, which was especially prominent in the lower limbs. Case 2: a 14-year-old male with a characteristic face and dislocation of the head of the radius. The patient presented amyotrophy of the muscles in the right hand and clinical signs of lower motor neuron syndrome due to neuronal damage secondary to spinal malformations.

CONCLUSIONS

Larsen syndrome is an infrequent osteochondrodysplasia. Alteration of the spine is common and may give rise to spinal cord compression with varying clinical repercussions which require surgical treatment in the early years of the patient's life.

[The effects of methylphenidate on cognitive-attentional processes. The use of continuous performance tests]

INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Numerous trials have demonstrated the efficacy of stimulants on age-inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity of patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Different externalizing (aggressive, conduct, oppositional) and internalizing (emotional) associated features can also get improved with stimulants. Effect of stimulant medication can be observed in different objective laboratory-neuropsychological test too, especially in Continuous Performance Tests (CPT). CPT have a good specificity and sensibility in diagnosis of ADHD although they are not diagnostic themselves. Errors of omissions and commissions are more frequent in ADHD patients than in controls. Responses to these tests improve under methylphenidate. General recommendations in ADHD treatment include systematic monitoring of medication effects from clinical point of view.

CONCLUSIONS

CPT offer different advantages in this monitoring: good validity, objective measures and easy administration. Psychological measures, particularly CPT, can support clinical diagnosis and pharmacological monitoring in patients with ADHD.

[Cap myopathy: a case report]

AIM

To report a new case of a little-known congenital myopathy. Cap myopathy is a rare congenital disease caused by an alteration in the structure of the fibre, with disorganised myofibrils at the edges. Since it was first described, only a few cases have been reported in the literature.

CASE REPORT

We describe the case of a 16-year-old patient with a history of neonatal hypotonia and psychomotor retardation. At the age of 4 years, the patient presented myopathic facies with atrophied pectoral muscles, winged scapula and lumbar hyperlordosis. A myopathic pattern was observed in the electromyogram. A muscle biopsy showed a very marked predominance of type I fibres, atrophy in part of the population of this type and 20% of them had cap-shaped subsarcolemmal accumulations, which were intensely positive with DPNH and SDH; in the ultrastructural study they correspond to disorganised peripheral myofibrils with preservation of the Z band and the absence of A bands. These alterations are similar to those described in what is known as cap disease or cap myopathy. Today, the patient has mild proximal tetraparesis and moderate restrictive respiratory failure.

[Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter: A case report]

INTRODUCTION

Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease that was first reported in 1997. Some time later the genetic anomalies responsible for the disease were identified, these being different mutations in any of the five genes that code for the five subunits of the translation initiation factor, eIF2B. Since then, the clinical spectrum of this condition has proved to be much broader and far more frequent than was initially believed. We report on a case of the classical clinical form, which is to our knowledge the first to be published in Spain to date.

CASE REPORT

A 5-year-old female who presented gait instability that recently got worse following a mild traumatic head injury. The examination revealed overall cerebellar ataxia and generalised spasticity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed diffuse and symmetrical involvement of the white matter of the brain with the presence of cavities in which the signal intensity and the proton spectrum were similar to those of cerebrospinal fluid. The genetic study revealed a mutation of the gene that codes for eIF2B-epsilon.

CONCLUSIONS

A suggestive MRI scan, even in an atypical presentation, would be enough to rule out a mutation of the genes that code for eIF2B. This would make it possible to reach an early diagnosis of this disease, which is probably more prevalent than is currently thought. This would allow genetic counselling to be conducted and would help to establish a genotype-phenotype correlate that would also make it possible to offer an estimated prognosis.