Thursday, August 31, 2023

Clinical spectrum and treatment outcomes of patients with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep

Tchah N, Yang D, Kim HD, Lee JS, Kim SH, Kang HC. Clinical Spectrum and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Developmental and/or Epileptic Encephalopathy with Spike-and-Wave Activation in Sleep. Ann Child Neurol. 2022;30(4):189-196.

Abstract

Purpose
Developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS) is a spectrum of conditions characterized by various phenotypes of cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral regression associated with spike-and-wave activation in sleep. We aimed to investigate the phenotypic spectrum and treatment outcomes of pediatric patients with D/EE-SWAS.

Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with D/EE-SWAS and treated at Severance Children’s Hospital from 2006 to 2022. We extracted information from their medical records on electroencephalography before and after treatment, types of treatment, seizure frequency, and developmental profiles. The primary outcome was reduction of the spike-wave index on electroencephalography after treatment.

Results
Twenty-one patients with a median age of 5.3 years (interquartile range, 4.1 to 6.6) at diagnosis were included. Ten patients had delayed development. The patients received various anti-seizure medications. Fourteen received long-term, high-dose steroid therapy, 10 were placed on a ketogenic diet, four received intravenous steroid pulse therapy, and one each was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and cannabidiol. The most effective treatments were steroid therapy and a ketogenic diet, which were also effective in reducing seizures and improving cognition. Side effects during treatment were transient and treatable.

Conclusion
We described the clinical spectrum of pediatric patients with D/EE-SWAS. Steroid therapy and a ketogenic diet can be considered effective therapeutic options for patients with D/EE SWAS.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Iron and tic disorders

Inspired by a patient

Avrahami M, Barzilay R, HarGil M, Weizman A, Watemberg N. Serum Ferritin Levels Are Lower in Children With Tic Disorders Compared with Children Without Tics: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2017 Mar;27(2):192-195. doi: 10.1089/cap.2016.0069. Epub 2016 Aug 22. PMID: 27548271.

Abstract

Objectives: Alteration in peripheral iron indices has been reported in a number of movement disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease. We hypothesized that iron stores may be diminished in children at an early stage of tic disorder.

Methods: Using data retrieved from electronic medical records, we compared serum ferritin levels, an indicator of body iron store balance, in drug-naive children diagnosed for the first time with tic disorder (study group; N = 47, 32 boys/15 girls, aged 8.66 ± 3.17 years) compared to age- and sex-matched children with headaches (comparison group, n = 100, 62 boys/38 girls, aged 9.51 ± 3.15 years) treated in the same pediatric neurological clinic.

Results: Mean serum ferritin levels were significantly lower (-32%, p = 0.01) in the tic disorder group compared to the headache group. No significant differences were detected in circulatory hemoglobin, iron, transferrin, and platelet count between the two groups.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that body iron stores may be reduced in children with recent-onset tic disorder.

Ghosh D, Burkman E. Relationship of serum ferritin level and tic severity in children with Tourette syndrome. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017 Aug;33(8):1373-1378. doi: 10.1007/s00381-017-3424-z. Epub 2017 May 3. PMID: 28470381.

Abstract

Purpose: Tics can be considered hyperkinetic movements akin to restless leg syndrome (RLS). Drawing the analogy of iron deficiency as an etiology of RLS, it is conceivable that iron deficiency may underlie or worsen tics in Tourette syndrome (TS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and tic severity, as well as consequent impact on life, in children with TS.

Methods: Children <18 years, diagnosed with TS during 2009-2015, were reviewed. Only those with serum ferritin testing were included. The following data were collected: tic severity, impact on life, medication, comorbidities, blood count, and serum ferritin at diagnosis and follow-up.

Results: In fifty-seven patients, M:F = 2:1, serum ferritin was 48.0 ± 33.28 ng/mL, tic severity score 2.3 ± 0.80, impact on life score 2.2 ± 0.93, and composite score 4.57 ± 1.6. Serum ferritin was not influenced by comorbid obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), or anxiety (P > 0.16). Thirty-eight percent with low serum ferritin (≤50 ng/mL) (n = 37) had severe tics (>5 composite score), compared with 25% in normal ferritin group (n = 20). Over 6-12 months, tic severity score improved in both iron treated groups, deficient (2.70 to 1.90) and sufficient (2.40 to 1.95), whereas tics worsened or remained the same when not treated with iron.

Conclusions: Our data suggest iron deficiency may be associated with more severe tics with higher impact on TS children, independent of the presence of OCD, ADHD, or anxiety. Iron supplementation showed a trend towards improvement of tic severity upon follow-up. We suggest a double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study to reach a definite conclusion.

Kanaan AS, Yu D, Metere R, Schäfer A, Schlumm T, Bilgic B, Anwander A, Mathews CA, Scharf JM, Müller-Vahl K, Möller HE. Convergent imaging-transcriptomic evidence for disturbed iron homeostasis in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Neurobiol Dis. 2023 Aug 2;185:106252. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106252. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37536382.

Abstract

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric movement disorder with reported abnormalities in various neurotransmitter systems. Considering the integral role of iron in neurotransmitter synthesis and transport, it is hypothesized that iron exhibits a role in GTS pathophysiology. As a surrogate measure of brain iron, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was performed in 28 patients with GTS and 26 matched controls. Significant susceptibility reductions in the patients, consistent with reduced local iron content, were obtained in subcortical regions known to be implicated in GTS. Regression analysis revealed a significant negative association of tic scores and striatal susceptibility. To interrogate genetic mechanisms that may drive these reductions, spatially specific relationships between susceptibility and gene-expression patterns from the Allen Human Brain Atlas were assessed. Correlations in the striatum were enriched for excitatory, inhibitory, and modulatory neurochemical signaling mechanisms in the motor regions, mitochondrial processes driving ATP production and iron‑sulfur cluster biogenesis in the executive subdivision, and phosphorylation-related mechanisms affecting receptor expression and long-term potentiation in the limbic subdivision. This link between susceptibility reductions and normative transcriptional profiles suggests that disruptions in iron regulatory mechanisms are involved in GTS pathophysiology and may lead to pervasive abnormalities in mechanisms regulated by iron-containing enzymes.

Tang CY, Wen F. Serum ferritin levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tic disorder. World J Clin Cases. 2022 Aug 6;10(22):7749-7759. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i22.7749. PMID: 36158507; PMCID: PMC9372851.

Abstract

Background: Iron plays an important role in neurodevelopmental functions in the brain. Serum ferritin levels are different in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tic disorder than in healthy children.

Aim: To explore the current status of iron deficiency in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and its sex and age effects.

Methods: A total of 1565 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 1694 children with tic disorder (TD), 93 children with ASD and 1997 healthy control children were included between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021 at Beijing Children's Hospital. We describe the differences in age levels and ferritin levels between different disease groups and their sex differences. The differences between the sexes in each disease were analyzed using the t test. The incidence rate of low serum ferritin was used to describe the differences between different diseases and different age groups. A chi-square test was used to analyze the difference in the incidence of low serum ferritin between the disease group and the control group. Analysis of variance was used for comparisons between subgroups, and regression analysis was used for confounding factor control.

Results: A total of 1565 ADHD patients aged 5-12 years were included in this study, and the average serum ferritin levels of male and female children were 36.82 ± 20.64 μg/L and 35.64 ± 18.56 μg/L, respectively. A total of 1694 TD patients aged 5-12 years were included in this study, and the average serum ferritin levels of male and female children were 35.72 ± 20.15 μg/L and 34.54 ± 22.12 μg/L, respectively. As age increased, the incidence of low serum ferritin in ADHD and TD first decreased and then increased, and 10 years old was the turning point of rising levels. The incidence of ADHD with low serum ferritin was 8.37%, the incidence of TD with low serum ferritin was 11.04%, and the incidence of the healthy control group with low serum ferritin was 8.61%, among which male children with TD accounted for 9.25% and female children with TD accounted for 11.62%. There was a significant difference among the three groups (P < 0.05). In addition, there were 93 children with ASD with an average serum ferritin level of 30.99 ± 18.11 μg/L and a serum ferritin incidence of 15.05%.

Conclusion: In conclusion, low serum ferritin is not a risk factor for ADHD or TD. The incidence of low serum ferritin levels in children with ADHD and TD between 5 and 12 years old decreases first and then increases with age.

Chen MH, Su TP, Chen YS, Hsu JW, Huang KL, Chang WH, Chen TJ, Bai YM. Association between psychiatric disorders and iron deficiency anemia among children and adolescents: a nationwide population-based study. BMC Psychiatry. 2013 Jun 4;13:161. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-161. PMID: 23735056; PMCID: PMC3680022.

Abstract

Background: A great deal of evidence has shown that iron is an important component in cognitive, sensorimotor, and social-emotional development and functioning, because the development of central nervous system processes is highly dependent on iron-containing enzymes and proteins. Deficiency of iron in early life may increase the risk of psychiatric morbidity.

Methods: Utilizing the National Health Insurance Database from 1996 to 2008, children and adolescents with a diagnosis of IDA were identified and compared with age and gender-matched controls (1:4) in an investigation of the increased risk of psychiatric disorders.

Results: A total of 2957 patients with IDA, with an increased risk of unipolar depressive disorder (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.58 ~ 3.46), bipolar disorder (OR = 5.78, 95% CI = 2.23 ~ 15.05), anxiety disorder (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.49 ~ 3.16), autism spectrum disorder (OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.79 ~ 5.28), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.29 ~ 2.17), tic disorder (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.03 ~ 2.78), developmental delay (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 2.00 ~ 3.00), and mental retardation (OR = 2.70, 95% CI = 2.00 ~ 3.65), were identified. A gender effect was noted, in that only female patients with IDA had an increased OR of bipolar disorder (OR = 5.56, 95% CI = 1.98 ~ 15.70) and tic disorder (OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 1.27 ~ 6.86).

Conclusion: Iron deficiency increased the risk of psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and developmental disorders. Further study is required to clarify the mechanism in the association between IDA and psychiatric disorder.

Efficiency of brivaracetam in a tertiary referral epilepsy center.

Steinhoff BJ, Bacher M, Bucurenciu I, Hillenbrand B, Intravooth T, Kornmeier R, Kurth C, Stockinger J, Staack AM. Real-life experience with brivaracetam in 101 patients with difficult-to-treat epilepsy-A monocenter survey. Seizure. 2017 May;48:11-14. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2017.03.010. Epub 2017 Mar 18. PMID: 28364655.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the efficiency of brivaracetam under real-world conditions in a tertiary referral epilepsy center.

Methods: We consecutively collected patients treated at our center with brivaracetam (BRV). After a minimum observation period of six months we retrospectively analyzed the efficiency of BRV.

Results: Data of 101 patients (mean age 42 years, range 18-81 years, 54 females,) were analyzed. The median number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used prior to BRV was 10 (range 2-18). The initial dose of BRV was at least 50mg per day, the mean maintenance dose at cut-off was 168.6mg (median 200mg, range 50-400mg). Efficacy data were assessed for the last three months or at the time of the last observation carried forward if BRV had been discontinued prematurely. Responder rate was 27.8% (n=28) with 7% seizure-free patients. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 37 patients (37%). Most frequent AEs were dizziness (16%) and somnolence (11%). Psychiatric adverse events comprised irritability, aggression, depression and psychosis in single cases. Retention rate after six months was 51.5%. Main reason for discontinuation was a lack of efficacy. In 43 cases LEV and BRV were switched. The switch was performed abruptly without complications. In 26 cases (60%) BRV was discontinued and re-switched to LEV within weeks, mainly due to a lack of better efficacy. After the switch from LEV to BRV we even saw an aggravation both of seizure frequency and severity in 5 cases. Retention rate in patients who had not been on LEV was 57%.

Conclusion: In our hands BRV appeared to be well tolerated and easy to handle. The retention rate was influenced by patients who were switched from LEV and re-switched because BRV was not more efficient. Switching from and re-switching to LEV was easy.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

1p36 deletion syndrome

Inspired by a patient

Jacquin C, Landais E, Poirsier C, Afenjar A, Akhavi A, Bednarek N, Bénech C, Bonnard A, Bosquet D, Burglen L, Callier P, Chantot-Bastaraud S, Coubes C, Coutton C, Delobel B, Descharmes M, Dupont JM, Gatinois V, Gruchy N, Guterman S, Heddar A, Herissant L, Heron D, Isidor B, Jaeger P, Jouret G, Keren B, Kuentz P, Le Caignec C, Levy J, Lopez N, Manssens Z, Martin-Coignard D, Marey I, Mignot C, Missirian C, Pebrel-Richard C, Pinson L, Puechberty J, Redon S, Sanlaville D, Spodenkiewicz M, Tabet AC, Verloes A, Vieville G, Yardin C, Vialard F, Doco-Fenzy M. 1p36 deletion syndrome: Review and mapping with further characterization of the phenotype, a new cohort of 86 patients. Am J Med Genet A. 2023 Feb;191(2):445-458. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63041. Epub 2022 Nov 11. PMID: 36369750; PMCID: PMC10100125.

Abstract

Chromosome 1p36 deletion syndrome (1p36DS) is one of the most common terminal deletion syndromes (incidence between 1/5000 and 1/10,000 live births in the American population), due to a heterozygous deletion of part of the short arm of chromosome 1. The 1p36DS is characterized by typical craniofacial features, developmental delay/intellectual disability, hypotonia, epilepsy, cardiomyopathy/congenital heart defect, brain abnormalities, hearing loss, eyes/vision problem, and short stature. The aim of our study was to (1) evaluate the incidence of the 1p36DS in the French population compared to 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and trisomy 21; (2) review the postnatal phenotype related to microarray data, compared to previously publish prenatal data. Thanks to a collaboration with the ACLF (Association des Cytogénéticiens de Langue Française), we have collected data of 86 patients constituting, to the best of our knowledge, the second-largest cohort of 1p36DS patients in the literature. We estimated an average of at least 10 cases per year in France. 1p36DS seems to be much less frequent than 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and trisomy 21. Patients presented mainly dysmorphism, microcephaly, developmental delay/intellectual disability, hypotonia, epilepsy, brain malformations, behavioral disorders, cardiomyopathy, or cardiovascular malformations and, pre and/or postnatal growth retardation. Cardiac abnormalities, brain malformations, and epilepsy were more frequent in distal deletions, whereas microcephaly was more common in proximal deletions. Mapping and genotype-phenotype correlation allowed us to identify four critical regions responsible for intellectual disability. This study highlights some phenotypic variability, according to the deletion position, and helps to refine the phenotype of 1p36DS, allowing improved management and follow-up of patients.

Greco M, Ferrara P, Farello G, Striano P, Verrotti A. Electroclinical features of epilepsy associated with 1p36 deletion syndrome: A review. Epilepsy Res. 2018 Jan;139:92-101. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.11.016. Epub 2017 Dec 2. PMID: 29212048.

Abstract

1p36 terminal deletion is a recently recognized syndrome with multiple congenital anomalies and intellectual disability. It occurs approximately in 1 out of 5000 to 10,000 live births and is the most common subtelomeric microdeletion observed in human. Medical problems commonly caused by terminal deletions of 1p36 include developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, vision problems, hearing loss, short stature, brain anomalies, congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathy, renal anomalies and distinctive facial features. Although the syndrome is considered clinically recognizable, there is significant phenotypic variation among affected individuals. Genotype-phenotype correlation in this syndrome is complicated, because of the similar clinical evidence seen in patients with different deletion sizes. We review 34 scientific articles from 1996 to 2016 that described 315 patients with 1p36 delection syndrome. The aim of this review is to find a correlation between size of the 1p36-deleted segments and the neurological clinical phenotypes with the analysis of electro-clinical patterns associated with chromosomal aberrations, that is a major tool in the identification of epilepsy susceptibility genes. Our finding suggest that developmental delay and early epilepsy are frequent findings in 1p36 deletion syndrome that can contribute to a poor clinical outcome for this reason this syndrome should be searched for in patients presenting with infantile spasms associated with a hypsarrhythmic EEG, particulary if they are combined with dismorphic features, severe hypotonia and developmental delay.

Carter LB, Battaglia A, Cherry A, Manning MA, Ruzhnikov MR, Bird LM, Dowsett L, Graham JM Jr, Alkuraya FS, Hashem M, Dinulos MB, Vallee S, Adam MP, Glass I, Beck AE, Stevens CA, Zackai E, McDougall C, Keena B, Peron A, Vignoli A, Seaver LH, Slavin TP, Hudgins L. Perinatal distress in 1p36 deletion syndrome can mimic hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Am J Med Genet A. 2019 Aug;179(8):1543-1546. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61266. Epub 2019 Jun 17. PMID: 31207089; PMCID: PMC7254578.

Abstract

1p36 deletion syndrome is a well-described condition with a recognizable phenotype, including cognitive impairment, seizures, and structural brain anomalies such as periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). In a large series of these individuals by Battaglia et al., "birth history was notable in 50% of the cases for varying degrees of perinatal distress." Given the potential for perinatal distress, seizures and PVL, we questioned if this disorder has clinical overlap with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We reviewed the medical records of 69 individuals with 1p36 deletion to clarify the perinatal phenotype of this disorder and determine if there is evidence of perinatal distress and/or hypoxic injury. Our data provides evidence that these babies have signs of perinatal distress. The majority (59% term; 75% preterm) needed resuscitation and approximately 18% had cardiac arrest. Most had abnormal brain imaging (84% term; 73% preterm) with abnormal white matter findings in over half of patients. PVL or suggestion of "hypoxic insult" was present in 18% of term and 45% of preterm patients. In conclusion, individuals with 1p36 deletion have evidence of perinatal distress, white matter changes, and seizures, which can mimic HIE but are likely related to their underlying chromosome disorder.

Rocha CF, Vasques RB, Santos SR, Paiva CL. Mini-Review: Monosomy 1p36 syndrome: reviewing the correlation between deletion sizes and phenotypes. Genet Mol Res. 2016 Feb 22;15(1). doi: 10.4238/gmr.15017942. PMID: 26910004.

Abstract

The major clinical features of monosomy 1p36 deletion are developmental delay and hypotonia associated with short stature and craniofacial dysmorphisms. The objective of this study was to review the cases of 1p36 deletion that was reported between 1999 and 2014, in order to identify a possible correlation between the size of the 1p36-deleted segment and the clinical phenotype of the disease. Scientific articles published in the (National Center for Biotechnology Information; NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (www.scielo.com.br) databases were searched using key word combinations, such as "1p36 deletion", "monosomy 1p36 deletion", and "1p36 deletion syndrome". Articles in English or Spanish reporting the correlation between deletion sizes and the respective clinical phenotypes were retrieved, while letters, reviews, guidelines, and studies with mouse models were excluded. Among the 746 retrieved articles, only 17 (12 case reports and 5 series of cases), comprising 29 patients (9 males and 20 females, aged 0 months (neonate) to 22 years) bearing the 1p36 deletions and whose clinical phenotypes were described, met the inclusion criteria. The genotype-phenotype correlation in monosomy 1p36 is a challenge because of the variability in the size of the deleted segment, as well as in the clinical manifestations of similar size deletions. Therefore, the severity of the clinical features was not always associated with the deletion size, possibly because of the other influences, such as stochastic factors, epigenetic events, or reduced penetration of the deleted genes.

Shimada S, Shimojima K, Okamoto N, Sangu N, Hirasawa K, Matsuo M, Ikeuchi M, Shimakawa S, Shimizu K, Mizuno S, Kubota M, Adachi M, Saito Y, Tomiwa K, Haginoya K, Numabe H, Kako Y, Hayashi A, Sakamoto H, Hiraki Y, Minami K, Takemoto K, Watanabe K, Miura K, Chiyonobu T, Kumada T, Imai K, Maegaki Y, Nagata S, Kosaki K, Izumi T, Nagai T, Yamamoto T. Microarray analysis of 50 patients reveals the critical chromosomal regions responsible for 1p36 deletion syndrome-related complications. Brain Dev. 2015 May;37(5):515-26. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2014.08.002. Epub 2014 Aug 27. PMID: 25172301.

Abstract

Objective: Monosomy 1p36 syndrome is the most commonly observed subtelomeric deletion syndrome. Patients with this syndrome typically have common clinical features, such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, and characteristic craniofacial features.

Method: In cooperation with academic societies, we analyzed the genomic copy number aberrations using chromosomal microarray testing. Finally, the genotype-phenotype correlation among them was examined.

Results: We obtained clinical information of 86 patients who had been diagnosed with chromosomal deletions in the 1p36 region. Among them, blood samples were obtained from 50 patients (15 males and 35 females). The precise deletion regions were successfully genotyped. There were variable deletion patterns: pure terminal deletions in 38 patients (76%), including three cases of mosaicism; unbalanced translocations in seven (14%); and interstitial deletions in five (10%). Craniofacial/skeletal features, neurodevelopmental impairments, and cardiac anomalies were commonly observed in patients, with correlation to deletion sizes.

Conclusion: The genotype-phenotype correlation analysis narrowed the region responsible for distinctive craniofacial features and intellectual disability into 1.8-2.1 and 1.8-2.2 Mb region, respectively. Patients with deletions larger than 6.2 Mb showed no ambulation, indicating that severe neurodevelopmental prognosis may be modified by haploinsufficiencies of KCNAB2 and CHD5, located at 6.2 Mb away from the telomere. Although the genotype-phenotype correlation for the cardiac abnormalities is unclear, PRDM16, PRKCZ, and RERE may be related to this complication. Our study also revealed that female patients who acquired ambulatory ability were likely to be at risk for obesity.

Monday, August 14, 2023

Delayed response to pyridoxine in pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy

Olivier Fortin, Kelsey Christoffel, Youssef Kousa, Ilana Miller, Eyby Leon, Kelsey Donoho, Sarah B. Mulkey, Tayyba Anwar. Pearls & Oy-sters: Delayed Response to Pyridoxine in Pyridoxine-Dependent Epilepsy. Neurology Aug 2023, 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207829; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207829

Abstract

Inborn errors of metabolism are a diverse group of genetic disorders including many that cause neonatal-onset epilepsy such as pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE). PDE occurs secondary to biallelic pathogenic variants in ALDH7A1 and can present with refractory neonatal seizures and status epilepticus. Neonatal seizures and encephalopathy are modifiable with pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation. However, the clinical response to pyridoxine supplementation can be delayed. We present the case of a full-term neonate with PDE in which seizure cessation was seen a few hours after intravenous pyridoxine load, but the improvement in EEG background and level of clinical encephalopathy occurred five days later. We share this case to provide an example in which clinical improvement in PDE was gradual and required continuation of treatment for several days illustrating the necessity of continuing vitamin B6 supplementation in suspected cases until confirmatory genetic testing is obtained or an alternate cause is found.

Peer victimization and suicidality associated with higher headache frequency

Christelle Nilles, Jeanne VA Williams, Scott Patten, Tamara Pringsheim, Serena L. Orr. Association Between Peer Victimization, Gender Diversity, Mental Health, and Recurrent Headaches in Adolescents: A Canadian Population-Based Study. Neurology Aug 2023, 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207738; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207738

Abstract

Background and objectives: It is unknown whether bullying and gender diversity are associated with increased headache frequency in adolescents. Our study aimed to assess the association between peer victimization, gender diversity, and frequent recurrent headaches in adolescents, while controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and potential confounders (mood and anxiety disorders, suicidality).


Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of adolescents aged 12-17 using data from a Canadian population-based health survey. Headache frequency was dichotomized into ‘≤once/week’ or ‘>once/week’ (i.e. frequent recurrent headaches). Logistic regression was used to quantify the association between frequent peer victimization (overt or relational), gender diversity (female sex at birth+male gender, male sex at birth+female gender, or gender diverse), mood/anxiety disorder, suicidality, and the odds of frequent recurrent headaches. The fully adjusted multivariable logistic regression model included all exposures and was controlled for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Bootstrap replicate weighting was used to account for survey design effects.

Results: There were an estimated 2,268,840 eligible participants (weighted sample size) (mean age=14.4y, 48.8% females, 0.5% gender diverse) and 11.2% reported frequent recurrent headaches. Frequent recurrent headaches were associated with older age (OR=1.26 per year of age, 95%CI=1.20-1.31), female sex (OR=2.89, 95%CI=2.47-3.37), and being gender diverse (OR=3.30, 95%CI=1.64-6.63, adjusted for age/sex). Youth with frequent headaches had higher odds of experiencing both overt and relational bullying compared to peers (OR=2.69, 95%CI=2.31-3.14, and OR=3.03, 95%CI=2.58-3.54, adjusted for age/sex). In the fully adjusted model, frequent headaches were no longer associated with gender diversity (OR=1.53, 95%CI=0.63-3.69), but were still associated with frequent overt and relational peer victimization (OR=1.82, 95%CI=1.41-2.34, and OR=1.54, 95%CI=1.17-2.03, respectively), suicidality (OR=1.83, 95%CI=1.44-2.32), and having a mood or anxiety disorder (OR=1.50, 95%CI=1.01-2.21, and OR=1.74, 95%CI=1.24-2.45, respectively). In a model adjusted for age, sex, and mood/anxiety disorders, the risk of suicidality increased incrementally with headache frequency.

Discussion: Peer victimization and suicidality may be associated with higher headache frequency in adolescents with headaches, independently of mood and anxiety symptoms. Gender diverse adolescents may have a higher risk of experiencing frequent headaches as compared to cisgender peers, and this may be explained by associated psychosocial factors (anxiety, depression, suicidality, peer victimization).
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Adolescents who have been bullied or who have considered or attempted suicide may be more likely to experience frequent headaches than their peers who have not experienced bullying or suicidality, according to study results published online ahead of print in Neurology.

“Headaches are a common problem for teenagers, but our study looked beyond the biological factors to also consider the psychological and social factors that are associated with headaches,” said study author Serena L. Orr, MD, MSc, of the University of Calgary in Canada. “Our findings suggest that bullying and attempting or considering suicide may be linked to frequent headaches in teenagers, independent of mood and anxiety disorders.”

More than 2.2 million Canadian adolescents, ages 12 through 17, were included in the observational study. Participants answered question about their headache frequency, mental health, peer victimization, and suicidality.

Some 11% of adolescents reported having frequent, recurring headaches, defined as one or more headaches per week. Meanwhile, 25% of participants reported being victims of frequent overt bullying, which spanned physical and verbal aggression as well as virtual threats, and 17% reported being victims of frequent relational bullying, such as exclusion, rumors, and having harmful information about them posted online. According to the study, 17% of participants reported considering or attempting suicide.

Analysis indicated that adolescents with frequent headaches were nearly 3 times more likely to have experienced bullying compared with their peers. Teens who had been bullied or had suicidal thoughts or attempts were nearly twice as likely to have frequent headaches. Teens with mood disorders were 50% more likely, and teens with anxiety disorders were 74% more likely, to have frequent headaches compared with peers.

A third of teens with frequent headaches had suicidal thoughts or attempts compared with 14% of teens without frequent headaches.

An association between gender diversity and frequent headaches dissolved after researchers adjusted for factors including being bullied or having a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder.

“Though gender diverse teens appear to have a higher risk of frequent, recurring headaches, this association disappears after controlling for bullying, anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies, suggesting that perhaps gender diversity is not, in and of itself, related to frequent headaches, but that the psychosocial factors associated with it may explain this link,” said Dr Orr. “This is important information because these factors are preventable and treatable, and as such, must be examined further.”

https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/neuro/news/teens-headaches-report-increased-rates-bullying-suicidality

Friday, August 11, 2023

Foreign accent syndrome 4

Broderick A, Labriola MK, Shore N, et al. Foreign accent syndrome as a heralding manifestation of transformation to small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer. BMJ Case Reports CP 2023;16:e251655.

Abstract

A man in his 50s with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, receiving androgen deprivation therapy and abiraterone acetate/prednisone, presented with an uncontrollable ‘Irish brogue’ accent despite no Irish background, consistent with foreign accent syndrome (FAS). He had no neurological examination abnormalities, psychiatric history or MRI of the brain abnormalities at symptom onset. Imaging revealed progression of his prostate cancer, despite undetectable prostate-specific antigen levels. Biopsy confirmed transformation to small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). Despite chemotherapy, his NEPC progressed resulting in multifocal brain metastases and a likely paraneoplastic ascending paralysis leading to his death. We report FAS as the presenting manifestation of transformation to small cell NEPC, a previously undescribed phenomenon. His presentation was most consistent with an underlying paraneoplastic neurological disorder (PND), despite a negative serum paraneoplastic panel. This report enhances the minimal existing literature on FAS and PNDs associated with transformed NEPC.
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Key Takeaways

Recently, a man suddenly woke up with an Irish accent after being diagnosed with cancer.

Foreign accent syndrome is a rare disorder that can be caused by tumors, brain injury, and other conditions.

A full medical care team will usually be needed to help a patient with foreign accent syndrome.

Imagine suddenly speaking with an accent that sounds like you were born and raised in, say, Italy or Jamaica. That’s what happens to patients with foreign accent syndrome (FAS), a rare condition that researchers are striving to better understand.

In a recent report of FAS published in BMJ Case Reports, researchers out of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and Carolina Urologic Research Center in South Carolina shared the story of a man in his 50s who developed the syndrome after a cancer diagnosis.

The individual in the case report was diagnosed with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Twenty months after his diagnosis, he developed “an uncontrollable ‘Irish brogue’ accent despite no Irish background,” according to the report’s authors. The man had never been to Ireland and had never spoken with an Irish accent prior to this point.

“He had no neurological examination abnormalities, psychiatric history, or MRI of the brain abnormalities at symptom onset,” the report stated.

What is foreign accent syndrome?

Foreign accent syndrome is real, although it’s rare. According to the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas, FAS (which has also been referred to as pseudo-FAS and dysprosody) is a speech disorder that causes a sudden change to a person’s speaking speech patterns.

The onset of FAS can be sudden or gradual. “In [the case of the man in the report], it developed over days but worsened. It can be very quick,” Andrew J. Armstrong, MD, MSc, and Medical Oncologist at Duke Cancer Center, tells MDLinx.com.

The first case of FAS was reported in 1907. Since, there have been around 112 known cases, with FAS affecting people in multiple countries and in multiple ways. The accents in FAS are all over the spectrum, with people whose American accents became Caribbean or whose Japanese accents became Chinese.

FAS patients’ accents are perceived as “foreign,” largely due to changes in the “timing, intonation, and tongue placement” of the speaker. For example, some FAS patients may put stress on different syllables, while others have trouble pronouncing consonants clearly.

So when people with FAS speak in a French or Irish accent, for example, it’s not really French or Irish. “Although it is called foreign accent syndrome, the accents heard are not true accents of any specific language. Instead, they tend to sound like a mix of different accents or dialects,” says Nick Bach, PsyD.

The causes of FAS

“Stroke, trauma, brain tumors, and psychiatric conditions [are the main causes] of FAS,” says Armstrong. Cases of FAS have also been reported in psychiatry, in cases of mania, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, among other conditions. The researchers believe that paraneoplastic neurological disorder (PND)—effects caused by systemic malignancies that impact the nervous system—was ultimately the cause of FAS in the case report's individual. “The term PND is reserved for those disorders that are caused by an autoimmune response directed against antigens common to the tumor and nerve cells,” according to the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. According to the report, the patient’s biopsy revealed small-cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), which progressed despite treatment and led to multifocal brain metastases and paraneoplastic ascending paralysis.

The report suggests that this was the first case of FAS found in a patient with prostate cancer but the third case in a patient with malignancy.

“We have no other clear explanation other than a paraneoplastic syndrome given the timing, persistence of symptoms, lack of psychiatric conditions or metastases or lesions in the brain at the time of onset,” says Armstrong. “We provide this report in case future patients may be identified and hopefully a specific antibody may be identified to better explain why this happened.”

Treating FAS and supporting patients

Diagnosis of FAS will require testing your patient’s language skills and recording their speech patterns, as well as EEG, MRI, PT, CT, or PET scans. Treating the underlying issue—whether that be a neurological disorder or a tumor, for example—is the recommended form of treatment, Armstrong says. Treating FAS takes a village, and would ideally include a speech-language pathologist, a neurologist, a radiologist, a neuropsychologist, and a psychologist. Some cases of FAS have resolved without intervention, while others evolve or remain, according to ASHAWire.

While medical treatment is key, treating the psychological impact of FAS is also necessary, as developing a new accent can cause a loss of identity.Reader TMP. ‘I’ve lost my identity’: on the mysteries of foreign accent syndrome. The MIT Press Reader. Some patients say they’ve also faced discrimination when speaking in public or being accused of faking their accents.

Psychologists play a part in the care team

“When a patient has developed FAS, psychologists can help treat them in a number of ways,” Bach says.

“This may involve helping them to develop new communication strategies or to understand and accept the changes to their speech. Additionally, psychologists can also provide support and guidance to patients as they navigate challenges such as social isolation or discrimination."

“By working with a psychologist, patients with FAS can receive the specialized care and support they need to manage their condition.”

Bach advises MDs who may work with a FAS patient to have compassion. “I believe that it is essential for medical professionals to be able to understand the unique challenges that patients with FAS face,” Bach says.

“I think that developing a supportive relationship with patients is key in helping them manage their condition.”

https://www.mdlinx.com/article/waking-up-with-an-irish-accent-foreign-accent-syndrome-piques-medical-curiosity/1CQt4t3H9DT8Uct1RJcYZY