Biomedical subjects

Gul Serdaroglu

Publications and source records attributed to Gul Serdaroglu.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Electrodiagnostic pattern approach for childhood polyneuropathies.

Electrophysiologic studies play a key role in the detection and characterization of the pattern in childhood polyneuropathies. In this study, the etiologic profile of 74 children with polyneuropathy was prospectively evaluated based on the electrophysiologic studies. Five electrodiagnostic patterns were identified in the cohort: (1) acute axonal polyneuropathy (n: 32, 43%); (2) chronic axonal polyneuropathy (n: 16, 22%); (3) demyelinating motor and sensory polyneuropathy (n: 13, 17%); (4) pure sensory polyneuropathy (n: 11, 15%); (5) high-low syndrome (n: 2, 3%). Etiologic factors were identified in all of the patients with three electrodiagnostic patterns of polyneuropathy: acute axonal, pure sensory, and high-low syndrome. However, etiologic factors could not be determined in 5 (31%) children with chronic axonal polyneuropathy and in 3 (23%) children with demyelinating sensory and motor polyneuropathy. Among children with the acute axonal pattern, toxic causes were evident in 18 (56%), acute motor axonal neuropathy in 11 (35%), and acute motor sensory axonal polyneuropathy in 3 (9%). Nine (82%) patients with pure sensory polyneuropathy had diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, a thorough history and physical examination in conjunction with specific electrodiagnostic patterns might provide a cost-effective and rational differential diagnosis of childhood polyneuropathies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Central core disease: atypical case with respiratory insufficiency in an intensive care unit.

Central core disease is a rare congenital myopathy characterized by formation of typical cores in myofibrils. We report an atypical case of central core disease with respiratory insufficiency in the late stage of congenital myopathy. A 13-year-old girl was admitted to the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome. Ventilatory support was initiated. After 2 weeks of follow-up, the Division of Pediatric Neurology was consulted owing to the failure to wean her from the ventilator. Clinical and electromyographic features were in favor of primary muscle disease. Muscle biopsy revealed typical cores in type 1 muscle fibers, which were diagnostic for central core disease. This case was presented to emphasize that patients with respiratory distress who cannot be weaned from the ventilator should be evaluated for central core disease with an atypical presentation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Bone mineral status in pediatric outpatients on antiepileptic drug monotherapy.

Drug-induced osteopenia has been reported in institutionalized children on chronic antiepileptic drug therapy. The aim of this study was to assess longitudinally bone mineral status in pediatric outpatients on antiepileptic drug monotherapy. The study group consisted of 30 ambulatory children on a normal diet: 15 on valproic acid, 11 on carbamazepine, and 4 on phenobarbital monotherapy. Bone mineral density, serum active vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D), and certain biochemical markers of bone formation (calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, calcitonin, and urinary calcium to serum creatinine and urinary phosphorus to serum creatinine ratios) were studied at the beginning of antiepileptic drug monotherapy and at the end of 2 years of treatment. Age- and sex-specific Z-scores of bone mineral density were measured at anterior-posterior L2-L4 by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Drug-induced osteopenia was defined in only two patients (one on carbamazepine and the other on phenobarbital monotherapy), with Z-scores of bone mineral density less than -1.5. Serum levels of active vitamin D and biochemical markers were not significantly correlated with the Z-scores of bone mineral density. We detected a frequency of antiepileptic drug-induced osteopenia of 6.7% in pediatric outpatients after 2 years of monotherapy. However, osteopenia was not attributed to a defect in serum active vitamin D production owing to hyperparathyroidism in children on antiepileptic drug monotherapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 levels in patients with West syndrome.

Elevated cytokine response has been reported in patients with epileptic seizures. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the pathogenesis of infantile spasms in West syndrome (WS). We measured IL-6 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from the newly diagnosed patients with WS. Twelve patients with WS (Group I) were classified as symptomatic WS (Group IA) in eight and as cryptogenic WS (Group IB) in four. The results were compared with control groups including patients with tonic-clonic seizures associated with two different kind of inflammation of central nervous system; Group IIA (infection): bacterial meningitis/encephalitis and Group IIB (trauma): post-traumatic seizures. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean values of CSF IL-6 levels in patients with WS (2.95 +/- 2.31 pg/ml) and those of subgroups of WS (Group IA: 2.26 +/- 2.01 pg/ml and Group IB: 4.33 +/- 2.52 pg/ml). Both control groups had highly increased IL-6 levels in CSF (Group IIA: 193.05 +/- 185.52 pg/ml and Group IIB: 112.74 +/- 167.44 pg/ml) than those of the patients with WS. Elevated IL-6 response in patients with tonic-clonic seizures associated with inflammation of central nervous system might be due to the seizures themselves or related to the underling etiology (infection or trauma). However, no elevated IL-6 response was found in patients with infantile spasms.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed2005

T-cell subsets and interleukin-6 response in Rasmussen's encephalitis.

To evaluate the immunopathogenesis in Rasmussen's encephalitis, peripheral lymphocyte subsets and interleukin-6 analysis were performed in three patients. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were performed to assess neuronal injury in the affected hemisphere. Before initiation of immune therapy, percentage of cytotoxic T cells was found to be increased in peripheral blood obtained from patients compared with a group of age-matched normal control subjects. During follow-up, percentage of cytotoxic T cells returned to the normal ranges only in one patient who had an early functional hemispherectomy. All three patients had significantly increased interleukin-6 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum compared with the mean values of patients with acute viral encephalitis. The magnitude of interleukin-6 response in the patients correlated with the neuronal loss and atrophy on magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging studies. The patient, who had a fulminant course and an early hemispherectomy, had higher interleukin-6 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum than those of the other two. Detection of an increased percentage of cytotoxic T cells in peripheral blood supports the presence of a T cell-mediated inflammatory pathogenesis in Rasmussen's encephalitis. However, elevated interleukin-6 response might reflect the magnitude of the inflammatory process in the affected hemisphere.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Ring chromosome 20 syndrome with intractable epilepsy.

Ring chromosome 20 (r[20]) syndrome is characterized by mild to moderate learning disability*, behavioural disorders, epilepsy, and various dysmorphic features. Although still considered rare, r (20) syndrome is being increasingly diagnosed. More than 30 cases have been described in the literature since 1976. Here we report an additional case of a 14-year-old male with r (20). He had moderate to severe learning disability and epileptic seizures manifesting at about 18 months of age. During the 13 years' follow-up period he showed intractable epileptic seizures, behavioural disorders, and mild dysmorphological features including microcephaly, strabismus, micrognathia, down-slanting eyelids, and ear abnormalities. Frequent episodes of atypical absence or non-convulsive status associated with electroencephalogram changes were seen in follow-up. He was treated with several classical and new antiepileptic drugs, including intravenous immunoglobulin, corticotropin, and vagal nerve stimulation, with unsuccessful control of seizures. Finally, surgical treatment (corpus callosotomy) was performed at the age of 13 years; severity of tonic seizures was diminished, but frequency was unchanged. Although his behavioural problems, e.g. hyperactivity, were mild in early childhood they became more severe when he was 11 years old. Aggressiveness, compulsiveness with self-injury, and panic attacks developed at the age of 13 years, and were more pronounced after callosotomy. This case report provides the first description of deterioration in psychological situation in patients with r(20) intractable epilepsy. The patient was diagnosed with r(20) syndrome after 13 years of clinical follow-up. Karyotype analysis should, therefore, be performed in every patient with intractable epilepsy of unknown aetiology.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Prognostic correlative values of the late-infancy MRI pattern in term infants with perinatal asphyxia.

The aim of this study was to define the risk ratios of the late-infancy magnetic resonance imaging pattern for long-term outcome in term infants with perinatal asphyxia. We evaluated 65 term infants with perinatal asphyxia and performed magnetic resonance imaging examinations between 4-12 months of age. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were classified as follows: (1) periventricular leukomalacia in 21 (32%) infants, (2) marked cortical atrophy in 17 (26%) infants, (3) multicystic encephalomalacia in 10 (15%) infants, (4) deep gray matter involvement in 8 (12%) infants, (5) focal cortical involvement in 6 (9%) infants, (6) myelination delay in 3 (5%) infants. The overall outcome was favorable in 19 (29%) of 65 infants. Infants with diffuse cortical involvement (multicystic encephalomalacia and marked cortical atrophy) are four times (odds ratio: 4.4 and 4.1 respectively) more likely to attain the unfavorable outcome than the infants with other patterns of magnetic resonance imaging. Infants with focal cortical involvement had relatively favorable outcome in 60% of the cases. In conclusion, it appears that the overall outcome of infants with perinatal asphyxia correlated well with the magnetic resonance imaging patterns obtained between 4 and 12 months of age.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

PubMed2004

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: a case with fulminant course after ACTH.

We report a 24-month-old male who developed rapidly progressive subacute sclerosing panencephalitis 17 months after measles infection. This patient had a history of measles infection at the age of 7 months and manifested acute encephalitis 1 month later. Developmental delay observed after encephalitis began to improve after a few months. His control electroencephalogram was normal at the age of 14 months. He was admitted to the hospital with flexor spasms and sudden head drops at the age of 24 months. His electroencephalogram revealed slow waves in the posterior regions of the brain. Vigabatrin was begun; his seizures increased with vigabatrin, and adrenocorticotropic hormone was added to the therapy. After five doses of adrenocorticotropic hormone, his clinical findings deteriorated rapidly. His second electroencephalogram revealed periodic discharges synchronized with myoclonias. He was diagnosed as having subacute sclerosing panencephalitis on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. He lapsed into a vegetative state within a week and died at the age of 25 months. We report this rapidly progressive case to emphasize the importance of recognition of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis before applying steroids in children with myoclonic seizures.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed2004

Correlative value of magnetic resonance imaging for neurodevelopmental outcome in periventricular leukomalacia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlative value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) for neurodevelopmental outcome. MRI examinations of 89 children (46 males, 43 females) with PVL (median age 4y, range 1 to 14y) were reevaluated. PVL was graded as follows: grade I, unilateral or bilateral areas of periventricular hyperintensity (1-3); grade II, hyperintensity more than 3; grade III, hyperintense lesions more than 3 and ventricular wall irregularity; grade IV, diffuse PVL and ventricular dilatation. Localizations of PVL and brain abnormalities associated with PVL were also noted. Assignment to PVL grades on MRI was as follows: PVL I (n=22), PVL II (n=18), PVL III (n=30), and PVL IV (n=19). Cerebral palsy was slightly less common in children with PVL I and II compared with PVL III to IV. Motor function was normal in 50% of children with PVL grade I, but severely impaired in 73.7% of children with PVL grade IV. Results of visual function were normal in all with PVL I, but pathological in 42.1% of patients with PVL IV. Developmental tests were appropriate for age in 75% of patients with PVL I, but significantly delayed in all patients with PVL IV. Thinning of the corpus callosum and presence of cortical atrophy were also correlated with neurological outcome. Significant risk factors associated with developmental delay were asphyxia at birth (odds ratio [OR] 4.3), PVL localization numbers over 3 (OR 4.4), PVL III to IV (OR 15), thinning of corpus callosum, and cortical atrophy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Gastroesophageal reflux in children with cerebral palsy: efficacy of cisapride.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of gastroesophageal reflux with 24-hour pH monitoring in children with cerebral palsy. In the second part of the study, we started cisapride with the children with documented gastroesophageal reflux and evaluated the efficacy of cisapride with the second 24-hour pH monitoring. This study was performed before discontinuation of cisapride with US Food and Drug Administration reports in Turkish markets. Twenty-eight children who had been followed up in the Department of Pediatric Neurology between 1999 and 2000 were enrolled in the study. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring was performed on all patients. Two parameters were evaluated as pathologic: a reflux index (percentage of time the pH value was <4) over 4.5% and reflux longer than 15 minutes even when the reflux index was below 4.5%. Cisapride treatment was assigned to the patients with pathologic monitoring results at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg/day for 3 months. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were analyzed before and after cisapride treatment. Symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal dysfunction were dysphagia in 18 cases (64.3%), constipation in 8 cases (28.6%), vomiting in 6 (14.2%) cases, and recurrent pneumonia in 2 cases (8.5%). The reflux index was > or =4.5% in 13 (46.4%) of the 28 cases. Reflux was longer than 15 minutes in 2 (7.1%) cases. Cisapride was started in 15 cases with pathologic monitoring results. Appetite improved in 6 cases and dysphagia disappeared in 8 cases after cisapride therapy (P < .05). pH monitoring was repeated in 12 cases after 3 months and was normal in 8 of them. Improvement in the reflux index and total reflux episodes was statistically significant after therapy (P = .008). No adverse effects occurred. Even though the drug is no longer marketed, we concluded that it improved the symptoms and quality of life in spastic children with gastroesophageal reflux.

Cerebral Palsy↗

PubMed2003

Oxcarbazepine in the treatment of childhood epilepsy.

In this study, oxcarbazepine was began as monotherapy to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug. Forty-two patients (19 females, 23 males) with partial or generalized epilepsy more than 4 years of age were included (mean age, 11.9 +/- 3.4 years). The mean age at epilepsy onset 8.9 +/- 4 years. Complete blood count, liver function tests, electrolytes, lipid levels, electrocardiography, electroencephalography, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed in all patients. Oxcarbazepine dose was begun at 10 mg/kg/day twice daily and increased to 30 mg/kg/day at the end of the second week. Patients with inadequate seizure control even with the dose of 45 mg/kg/day or intolerable side effects were excluded. Intolerable headache and leukopenia led to discontinuation of the drug in two patients. At the sixth month, 35 of the patients (87.5%) were seizure free (91.7% of the generalized epilepsy patients and 81.2% of the partial epilepsy patients). The most frequent tolerable side effect was drowsiness in 12 patients. As a result, we found oxcarbazepine safe and effective in children with either generalized or partial epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Outcome of axonal and demyelinating forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome in children.

Previous reports have suggested that outcome is worse in the axonal compared with the demyelinating form of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). We performed a retrospective study of 23 children with electrophysiologically confirmed cases of predominant subtypes of GBS to investigate this issue. The patients were classified based on the electrodiagnostic features: Ten (44%) had acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, eight (35%) had acute motor axonal neuropathy, and five (21%) had acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy. All patients received a standard intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (0.4 g /kg /day for 5 consecutive days). In the acute phase of the disease, patients with the axonal forms of GBS were more disabled than were those with the demyelinating GBS, as measured by GBS scores. Mechanical ventilation was required in five (38%) patients in the axonal group compared with one (10%) patient in the demyelinating group. There was no significant difference at 6 months in GBS scores between demyelinating and axonal forms of GBS. All 20 survivors recovered completely by 12 months. After standard intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, children with axonal forms of GBS recover more slowly than those with the demyelinating form, but outcome at 12 months appears to be equally favorable in two groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

The use of botulinum toxin type A treatment in children with spasticity.

The current modalities in managing spastic children have some limitations; thus, alternative therapeutic agents are in need. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether intramuscular botulinum toxin type A administration may be an alternative agent in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy. Eighteen children who were aged between 3 and 17 years and manifested cerebral palsy were administered intramuscular botulinum toxin type A with a total dose of 6 U/kg body weight. Outcome measurements were determined with four methods, including Ashworth Spasticity Scale, standardized videotape assessments, observational gait analysis, and walking velocity. Ashworth Spasticity Scale and videotape assessments were statistically significant before and after treatment in all muscles (P < 0.001). The best improvement in video gait analysis was evident at week 8. The botulinum toxin type A injections yielded an improved walking velocity at all visits. The observational gait analysis and walking velocity demonstrated an improvement after treatment in the gastrocnemius-injected group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, intramuscular botulinum toxin type A administration may be effective in children with cerebral palsy, especially at week 4 and when injected in gastrocnemius.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Tension-type headache in children: a clinical evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Headache Society (IHS) criteria for episodic tension-type headache were included in the present study. Pain characteristics, associated symptoms, and stress-triggering factors were evaluated. Psychiatric and psychosocial evaluations were performed according to DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: Pain was bilateral in 93.7% of patients and bitemporal in 50% of children. The intensity of pain increased with motion and stress in more than half of the patients, while pain decreased with rest and massage in 43.7% of patients. Ten of the 16 (62.5%) patients were diagnosed as having a psychiatric disorder. The most common stress-triggering factors were difficulty in adaptation at school and relationship problems with family members. All of the children reported 26 stress factors. Of these stress factors, 20 (76.9%) were reported by children diagnosed with psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in children with tension-type headache a thorough psychiatric evaluation should be performed to rule out underlying psychiatric disorders.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Sodium valproate prophylaxis in childhood migraine.

UNLABELLED: Migraine is a cause of recurrent headache in childhood. The efficacy of sodium valproate is well known in the prophylactic treatment of adult migraine, but there are few studies involving the drug's effect in pediatric migraine. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of sodium valproate in the prophylactic treatment of childhood migraine. METHODS: Fifteen children with migraine according to International Headache Society criteria were included in the study. Headache severity was measured and assessed by Algology unit by a using visual analog scale and a numerical rating scale. All of the subjects were asked to keep a headache diary for 8 weeks. Three subjects who had no headache attacks during the baseline period and two cases who were lost to follow up were excluded. Thus, sodium valproate was initiated in 10 subjects (six boys, four girls), 500 mg/night, and the daily dose was increased up to 1000 mg according to blood levels. Their ages ranged from 9 to 17 (mean age 13.6 +/- 3.2 years). Therapy continued for at least 12 weeks. RESULTS: Headache severity as measured via the mean visual analog score was 6.8 +/- 1.8 at baseline and was 0.7 +/- 1.2 at the end of the treatment period (P = 0.000). Mean headache attacks per month were 6 +/- 4.2 at baseline and were 0.8 +/- 1.9 at the end of the treatment period (P = 0.002). The duration of headache was significantly decreased from a mean of 5.5 +/- 3.9 hours to 1.1 +/- 2.5 hours with treatment (P = 0.001). The observed side effects were dizziness, drowsiness, and increase in appetite; none required drug withdrawal. In two cases, headache attacks recurred after the cessation of valproate, and therapy was restarted. Headache control lasted for six months following cessation of the drug in the remainder of the subjects. CONCLUSION: Sodium valproate appears to be effective and safe in selected patients with childhood migraine.

Adolescent↗