Veena Kalra

Efficacy of albendazole and short-course dexamethasone treatment in children with 1 or 2 ring-enhancing lesions of neurocysticercosis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of albendazole plus dexamethasone in children with 1 or 2 ring-enhancing lesions (by computed tomography scan) on resolution of lesions and recurrence of seizure. STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled open trial. METHODS Children of either sex, 1 to 14 years of age, with seizures and 1 or 2 ring-enhancing lesions <20 mm in diameter on computed tomography scan, likely to have neurocysticercosis, were assigned to treatment l groups. Children assigned to the treatment group (n=61) were given 0.15 mg/kg per day dexamethasone for 5 days plus 15 mg/kg per day albendazole for 28 days, starting on the third day of dexamethasone. Control group (n=62) children were given neither dexamethasone or albendazole. Anti-epileptic therapy was given to both the study groups. RESULTS The lesions resolved completely or partially in more children in the treated group compared with the control group (79% versus 57%; P=.02). The proportion of children who had seizures was significantly lower in the treated group compared with the control group at 3 months (10% versus 32%; P=.006) and 6 months (13% versus 33%; P=.03). CONCLUSIONS Albendazole plus dexamethasone increased complete or partial resolution of lesions and reduced the risk of subsequent recurrence of seizures among children with neurocysticercosis who had with seizures and 1 or 2 ring-enhancing lesions on computed tomography.

Successful treatment of Acanthamoeba meningitis with combination oral antimicrobials

Acanthamoeba was implicated as the causative agent of chronic meningitis in three apparently immunocompetent children. Diagnosis was established by cerebrospinal fluid wet mount examination and culture. Two children improved rapidly with combination oral therapy composed of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, rifampin and ketoconazole.

Intranasal versus intravenous lorazepam for control of acute seizures in children: A randomized open-label study

Purpose:  Intravenous lorazepam is considered the drug of first choice for control of acute convulsive seizures. However, resource or personnel constraints necessitate the study of alternative routes and medications. This study compared the efficacy and adverse effects of intranasal versus intravenous lorazepam in children aged 6–14 years who presented with acute seizures.

Effect of creatine monohydrate in improving cellular energetics and muscle strength in ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled 31P MRS study.

Randomized, placebo-controlled single blinded study was carried out to evaluate the effect of oral creatine supplementation on cellular energetics, manual muscle test (MMT) score and functional status in steroid-naive, ambulatory boys suffering with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD; n=33). Eighteen patients received creatine monohydrate (Cr; 5 g/day for 8 weeks), while 15 received placebo (500 mg of vitamin C). Phosphorus metabolite ratios were determined from the right calf muscle of patients using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P MRS) both prior to (baseline) and after supplementation of Cr or placebo. In addition, metabolite ratios were determined in normal calf muscle of age and sex matched controls (n=8). Significant differences in several metabolite ratios were observed between controls and DMD patients indicating a lower energy state in these patients. Analysis using analysis of covariance adjusted for age and stature showed that the mean phosphocreatine (PCr)/inorganic phosphate (Pi) ratio in patients treated with Cr (4.7; 95% CI; 3.9-5.6) was significantly higher (P=.03) compared to the placebo group (3.3; 95% CI; 2.5-4.2). The mean percentage increase in PCr/Pi ratio was also more in patients <7 years of age compared to older patients after Cr supplementation indicating variation in therapeutic effect with the age. In the placebo group, significant reduction in PCr/Pi (P=.0009), PCr/t-ATP (P=.05) and an increase in phosphodiester (PDE)/PCr ratios was observed after supplementation. Further, in the placebo group, patients <7 years showed reduction of PCr/t-ATP and Pi/t-ATP compared to older patients (>7 years), after supplementation. These results imply that the significant difference observed in PCr/Pi ratio between the Cr and the placebo groups after supplementation may be attributed to a decrease of PCr in the placebo group and an increase in PCr in the Cr group. Changes in MMT score between the two groups was significant (P=.04); however, no change in functional scale (P=.19) was observed. Parents reported subjective improvement on Cr supplementation versus worsening in placebo (P=.02). Our results indicated that Cr was well tolerated and oral Cr significantly improved the muscle PCr/Pi ratio and preserved the muscle strength in short term. However, this study provides no evidence that creatine will prove beneficial after long-term treatment, or have any positive effect on patient lifespan.

Intracranial Tuberculoma Evaluation and Treatment

We used computerized tomography (CT) to screen 83 patients with partial seizures who had 1) increased intracranial pressure; 2) evidence of systemic tuberculosis; or 3) focal neurological deficit. We found intracranial tuberculoma in 20 (24%). In addition, of 55 patients with tuberculous meningitis, 12 had associated tuberculoma. The image morphology on CT scans showed ring lesions (14), discs (10), and irregular coalescing masses (8). Perilesional edema frequently was present. After appropriate antitubercular therapy, clinical outcome for seizures, neurological deficit, and increased intracranial pressure was satisfactory. CT lesions regressed within 12 weeks of inauguration of medical therapy in most patients. Medical management of tuberculoma is advocated, with surgery limited to those in whom such treatment is ineffective.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy: prevalence and patterns of cardiac involvement.

In about 10% cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), death is due to cardiac dysfunction. The recognition of cardiomyopathy in DMD is thus important.Objective: To assess cardiac involvement in DMD patients by clinical, radiographic, electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic monitoring and correlate clinical parameters, CPK levels, presence of gene deletion and steroid therapy with cardiac involvement.Methods: Thirty patients beyond 6 years age, with DMD in advanced stage disease/non-ambulatory were recalled. A detailed clinical evaluation, CPK levels, gene deletion studies were carried out. Cardiac investigations included Chest X-ray, 12 lead ECG and echocardiography.Results: Nineteen patients were non-ambulatory at the time of enrollment. Symptoms or signs suggestive of cardiac dysfunction were seen in only 10%. Gene deletion was identified in 70.3%. Around one-third patients had cardiomegaly. ECG abnormalities were present in 93.3% patients and commonest abnormality was R> 4 mm in V1. Ejection fraction (EF) < 55% was observed in 64.2% and EF < 50% in 17.8%.Conclusion: Cardiomyopathy of DMD is characterized by lack of symptoms and few physical signs. Presence of subtle changes like sinus tachycardia may suggest early cardiac involvement. Thus echocardiography is required for evaluation of cardiac dysfunction. Presence of gene deletion was associated with higher CT ratio. Older children have been found to have higher heart rates. No other significant correlation with clinical parameters, CPK levels, genotype and steroid therapy was observed. Early detection possibly leads to appropriate treatment thus reducing the morbidity.

Folic acid supplementation prevents phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth in children

Objective: Gingival overgrowth is an important adverse effect of phenytoin (PHT) therapy, occurring in about half of the patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral folic acid supplementation (0.5 mg/day) for the prevention of PHT-induced gingival overgrowth (PIGO) in children with epilepsy aged 6–15 years on PHT monotherapy for 6 months. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at a tertiary level hospital from May 2008 to June 2009. Children aged 6–15 years started on PHT monotherapy within last 1 month were eligible for inclusion. Preexisting gingival overgrowth, use of other folic acid antagonists, and macrocytic anemia were exclusion criteria. Trial subjects were randomized to receive either folic acid or placebo. The primary outcome measure was incidence of any degree of gingival overgrowth after 6 months of PHT monotherapy. The trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00781196). Results: A total of 120 children were recruited, 62 and 58, respectively, in folic acid and placebo arms. The 2 arms were comparable at baseline. Twenty-one percent of patients in the folic acid arm developed PIGO, as compared with 88% receiving placebo (p < 0.001). Absolute risk reduction of PIGO by folic acid was 67% (95% confidence interval 54%–80%), and relative risk reduction was 0.76. Conclusions: Oral folic acid was found to decrease the incidence of PIGO in children on PHT monotherapy, in a statistically significant and clinically relevant manner. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that folic acid supplementation, 0.5 mg/day, is associated with prevention of gingival overgrowth in children taking PHT monotherapy.

Status epilepticus in indian children in a tertiary care center

Objective: To study the clinical profile, immediate outcome and possible risk factors of SE in pediatric age group admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a tertiary care center.Methods: A retrospective study of case records of 451 neuroemergency patients admitted in PICU in a tertiary care center between January 1993 to April 2000, out of which 30 patients had status epilepticus. They were evaluated for their clinical presentation, laboratory parameters, treatment profile and immediate outcome.Results: The age group varied from 1 to 120 months with mean of 56.6±46.5 months. Seventeen patients were less than 60 months. Sixteen patients (53.3%) presented with SE as first presentation without prior history of seizure activity. Nine patients died (30%) during hospital course. Seizure duration >45 minutes (p-0.001) and presence of septic shock (p-0.001) were associated with significantly more mortality.Conclusion: There is a need to abort seizure activity at the earliest and this improves immediate outcome.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis GlcB or HspX Antigens or devR DNA Impacts the Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis in Children

Background Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most common form of neurotuberculosis and the fifth most common form of extrapulmonary TB. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the cornerstones of effective disease management. The accurate diagnosis of TBM poses a challenge due to an extensive differential diagnosis, low bacterial load and paucity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) especially in children. Methodology/Principal Findings We describe the utility of ELISA and qPCR for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) proteins (GlcB, HspX, MPT51, Ag85B and PstS1) and DNA for the rapid diagnosis of TBM. CSF filtrates (n = 532) derived from children were classified as ‘Definite’ TBM (M. tb culture positive, n = 29), ‘Probable and Possible’ TBM (n = 165) and ‘Not-TBM’ including other cases of meningitis or neurological disorders (n = 338). ROC curves were generated from ELISA and qPCR data of ‘Definite’ TBM and Non-Tuberculous infectious meningitis (NTIM) samples and cut-off values were derived to provide ≥95% specificity. devR qPCR, GlcB, HspX and PstS1 ELISAs showed 100% (88;100) sensitivity and 96–97% specificity in ‘Definite’ TBM samples. The application of these cut-offs to ‘Probable and Possible’ TBM groups yielded excellent sensitivity (98%, 94;99) and specificity (98%, 96;99) for qPCR and for GlcB, HspX and MPT51 antigen ELISAs (sensitivity 92–95% and specificity 93–96%). A test combination of qPCR with GlcB and HspX ELISAs accurately detected all TBM samples at a specificity of ∼90%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that these tests significantly added value to the currently used algorithms for TBM diagnosis. Conclusions The detection of M. tb GlcB/HspX antigens/devR DNA in CSF is likely to improve the utility of existing algorithms for TBM diagnosis and also hasten the speed of diagnosis.

Hypocalcemic heart failure masquerading as dilated cardiomyopathy

Hypocalcemia is a rare, but reversible, cause of congestive heart failure. We report a 4-month-old boy diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy who had prolonged QOTC with low blood levels of calcium, normal phosphate, elevated alkaline phosphatase and findings suggestive of rickets. In view of non response to calcium and vitamin D3, a possible diagnosis of VDDR I (Vitamin Ddependent rickets) was made and he was treated with calcium and calcitriol. The serum calcium levels normalised within 10 days, along with resolution of the signs and symptoms of heart failure, near normal left ventricular function and normalisation of QOTC. Pediatricians should be aware of the association of hypocalcemia with cardiac dysfunction and should keep it as a possible reversible cause of heart failure in children.