Biomedical subjects

D L MacGregor

Publications and source records attributed to D L MacGregor.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Presumed pre- or perinatal arterial ischemic stroke: risk factors and outcomes.

A subgroup of children with arterial ischemic stroke in the pre- or perinatal period present with delayed diagnosis. We identified 22 children who met the following criteria: (1) normal neonatal neurological history, (2) hemiparesis and/or seizures first recognized after two months of age, and (3) computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging showing remote cerebral infarct. Laboratory evaluations included protein C, protein S, antithrombin, activated protein C resistance screen (APCR), Factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin gene defect, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase variant (MTHFR), anticardiolipin antibody (ACLA), and lupus anticoagulant. Not all children received all tests. Age at last visit ranged from 8 months to 16.5 years (median 4 years). Twelve were boys. Fourteen had left hemisphere infarcts. Median age at presentation was 6 months. Eighteen had gestational complications. Fourteen children had at least transient coagulation abnormalities (ACLA = 11, ACLA + APCR = 1, APCR = 2 with FVL + MTHFR = 1); six of these children had family histories suggestive of thrombosis. Cardiac echocardiogram was unremarkable in the 15 tested. Outcomes included persistent hemiparesis in 22; speech, behavior, or learning problems in 12; and persistent seizures in five, with no evidence of further stroke in any patient. The persistence and importance of coagulation abnormalities in this group need further study.

Brain↗

PubMed2001

Idiopathic "benign" intracranial hypertension: case series and review.

Idiopathic "benign" intracranial hypertension is an uncommon but important cause of headache that can lead to visual loss. This study was undertaken to review our experience in the diagnosis and management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, giving special attention to treatments used. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 32 patients diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension between 1984 and 1995. Subjects included 23 females and ranged in age from 2 to 17.5 years. Headache was the most common symptom, followed by nausea and vomiting, double vision, and visual loss. Papilledema was the most common sign. Others were VIth cranial nerve palsy and compromised visual acuity at or within 3 months of presentation. Management included administration of acetazolamide or corticosteroids, lumboperitoneal shunt, optic nerve fenestration, and repeat lumbar puncture. Treatment combinations were used in 40% of cases. During follow-up, headache, papilledema, and decreased visual acuity persisted for longer than 10 months in a significant number of patients. We conclude that idiopathic intracranial hypertension causes significant short- and long-term morbidity with no proven effective treatment available. A prospective study is needed to establish the indications for treatment and the efficacy of the treatments used.

Acetazolamide↗

PubMed2001

Should children with Bell's palsy be treated with corticosteroids? A systematic review.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of pediatric Bell's palsy. A systematic review of trials that included pediatric (< 16 years old) cases with Bell's palsy and involved the use of steroids was conducted. Eight trials were identified, five of which were randomized, and prednisone was used in six trials, whereas corticotropin was used in the other two. The methods of randomization and allocation concealment of the treatments used were rarely reported. Only one trial was done exclusively in children; none of the other seven trials analyzed the pediatric cases separately. Four trials reported some benefit from steroids. The pediatric trial did not provide evidence for benefit from corticosteroids. There was substantial heterogeneity in the population and interventions used; hence a meta-analysis was not done. Based on this systematic review, we do not recommend the routine use of steroids in children with Bell's palsy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Long-term neurological sequelae of hemolytic-uremic syndrome: a preliminary report.

Seven patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome who had major neurological symptoms during the acute illness were neurologically and cognitively evaluated prospectively several years after recovery from the illness. Four patients showed evidence of subtle neurological sequelae, including posturing, clumsiness, poor fine-motor coordination, hyperactivity, and distractibility. Psychoeducational evaluation of all seven subjects revealed mean scores within the average range in cognitive abilities, academic achievement, single word receptive vocabulary, visual/motor planning, overall adaptive functioning, and hyperactivity. The lapse of time (minimum of 7 years) between the acute illness and the psychometric evaluation could have been responsible for our normal results.

Achievement↗

PubMed1995

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita due to congenital myasthenic syndrome.

Two children, now 5 1/2 and 6 years of age, presented as neonates with hypotonia, multiple joint contractures, ptosis, extraocular weakness, bulbar symptoms, and respiratory distress. Fluctuations and episodic exacerbations of weakness necessitated respiratory support. Both children are developmentally delayed and cannot walk independently, although one child underwent bilateral tenotomies. Biochemical investigations and electromyography, including slow-rate, repetitive nerve stimulation, were normal. Acetylcholine receptor antibodies in serum were absent. Single-fiber electromyography with axonal stimulation revealed prolonged mean jitter in the tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum muscles, with more than 2 abnormal individual jitter values in each muscle. Muscle biopsy demonstrated normal pattern and morphology of muscle fibers; immunohistochemical staining for cholinesterase was positive. Electron microscopy revealed abnormalities in motor endplates: atrophy, flattening of primary synaptic clefts, and paucity of side branches. These findings represent one of the postsynaptic abnormalities (i.e., acetylcholine receptor deficiency or paucity of synaptic folds). Both children improved clinically on pyridostigmine therapy. Arthrogryposis congenital multiplex due to congenital myasthenic syndrome, as diagnosed in our patients, has been reported once before. The diagnosis can be established by clinical history, neurologic examination, and electrophysiologic and pathologic findings. Clinical improvement can be achieved with high-dose anticholinesterase therapy.

Arthrogryposis↗

PubMed1995

Eye problems in children with multiple sclerosis.

In a retrospective review, the eye symptoms of 17 children (mean age: 13 1/2 years) who had definite multiple sclerosis (Poser's criteria) and 15 who had probable multiple sclerosis over the last 18 years were evaluated. Follow-up varied from 3 weeks to 6 years. Of 94% of children (16 of 17) with ophthalmologic symptoms, 47% (8 of 17) presented with an initial disturbance of vision. Twelve children had optic neuritis, 1 progressive uveitis, and 4 brainstem symptoms (i.e., VIth nerve palsy, 1 1/2 syndrome, internuclear ophthalmoplegia). Four children had cerebellar signs (nystagmus, saccadic pursuit). In 4 children, clinical localization was less specific. Recovery was generally good in most of the children; cerebellar problems were most persistent. Multimodal potentials were more helpful for investigation of optic neuritis and cerebellar lesions than for brainstem lesions. In the cohort of probable multiple sclerosis of 15 children, 11 had eye symptoms (5 with neuromyelitis optica, 4 optic neuritis, 1 internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and 1 cerebellar symptoms). Ophthalmologic symptoms are slightly more frequent in children with multiple sclerosis than in adults and should be specifically investigated to establish the diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Aicardi syndrome: natural history and possible predictors of severity.

Aicardi syndrome is defined by the clinical triad of infantile spasms, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and pathognomonic chorioretinal lacunae. Almost all patients are girls with severe cognitive and physical handicaps, and epilepsy. Fourteen patients with Aicardi syndrome, seen at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, between 1975 and 1992, were reviewed to document the natural history of the disease and obtain life-table estimates of survival. The relationship between 28 neurologic features present in infancy and clinical outcome, as measured by mobility and cognitive function also was examined. Life-table analysis indicated that the estimated survival rate was 76% at 6 years of age and 40% at 15 years of age. Three of the 14 girls (21%) could walk or crawl and 4 (29%) had some language ability. None of the 28 neurologic features was predictive of ultimate clinical outcome. This information should be discussed with parents of children with Aicardi syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1986

Patterns of temperament variation in three groups of developmentally delayed preschool children: mother and father ratings.

Patterns of temperament variation in the developmentally delayed preschool population have not been adequately studied. The present paper reports temperament data for children 2 to 4 1/2 years old: 32 with Down's syndrome, 29 with neurological problems, and 35 with delays of unknown etiologies, as reported by their mothers and fathers. Results indicate that children in the total delayed sample are more approaching, less intense, less persistent, and have higher thresholds for stimulation than those in the normative sample. There were differences among the three groups in activity level, approach/withdrawal, and distractibility. Furthermore, on these three dimensions, mothers scored their children as more difficult than did fathers. These data highlight the need for adequate norms for subgroups of delayed children, and suggest that inclusion of temperament assessment can be a useful part of the clinical care of delayed children and their parents.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1985

Possible valproate teratogenicity.

The teratogenic risk of maternal valproic acid therapy and the prenatal effects on growth and morphogenesis have been difficult to determine, in part, because of the small number of epileptic women who receive valproic acid as the sole anticonvulsant therapy. An increased incidence of open neural tube defects has been suggested and other isolated case reports have noted the presence of certain dysmorphic features. We present a patient whose defects in morphogenesis appear to be associated with valproic acid exposure only, and suggest a clinical phenotype that our patient shares with other children exposed to prenatal valproic acid therapy. Features described previously include dysmorphic facies with hypertelorism, prominent forehead, low flat nasal bridge, low-set or odd-shaped ears, and micrognathia with growth deficiency of prenatal or postnatal onset. A striking and perhaps unique feature in our patient consists of hypoplasia of the lateral margins of the zygomatic arches. We discuss the pharmacokinetics of valproic acid in pregnancy and in the neonatal period.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1981

The puppet-like syndrome of Angelman.

Five new cases are presented of a syndrome characterized mainly by severe mental retardation, epilepsy, puppet-like ataxic movements, microbrachycephaly, prognathism, tongue protrusion, and inappropriate paroxysms of laughter. The cases are analyzed with reference to personal and family histories, clinical findings, and results of special investigations (biochemical, chromosomal, dermatoglyphic, EEG, and radiologic). The findings are compared with those in the 22 patients described previously. Though clinically distinctive, there is as yet no clear-cut evidence as to cause.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

Tuberous sclerosis complex in children.

Of 62 children seen at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, who had tuberous sclerosis (TS), 58 had a history of seizures (developing during the first year of life in 37) and mental retardation was diagnosed in 51. Classic congenital hypopigmented patches were present in 42 and adenoma sebaceum occurred in 26 of the patients. Computed tomography (CT) is an essential diagnostic tool. We conclude that TS is more common than has been believed. Seizures are the most common manifestation of the disease and the hypopigmented patches, its first cutaneous manifestation, are present at an early age. When a positive diagnosis has been made, parents and siblings should be examined for signs of TS, keeping in the mind the wide spectrum of findings in this condition; if not stigmata are present on examination, then a CT scan should be considered for parents of reproductive age so that proper genetic counseling can be given.

Child↗

PubMed1978

Brain biopsies for neurodegenerative disease in children.

Brain biopsies for neurodegenerative disease performed at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, over a 12-year period (1964 to 1976) were reviewed. Of 64 biopsies, major histologic abnormalities with diagnostic or prognostic significance comprised 39% of the total cases, minor abnormalities represented 13%, and 48% appeared normal. The procedure failed to provide prognostic assistance in 41%. With the advent for newer diagnostic techniques (enzyme assays and muscle, skin, peripheral nerve, rectal, and appendix biopsies) for neurodegenerative disease in childhood, a much lower yield is noted (15 to 20%). Only two progressive degenerative childhood conditions remain in which cerebral tissue is necessary for diagnosis--Alexander disease and Canavan spongy degeneration.

Adolescent↗