Excitotoxicity in encephalopathy associated with STEC O-157 infection

Brain Dev. 2018 Apr;40(4):357-360. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2017.11.008. Epub 2017 Dec 14.

Abstract

Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of the severe complications of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and acute encephalopathy. A 3-year-old boy with acute encephalopathy associated with STEC O-157 HUS showed increased levels of IL-6 and IL-10, which normalized after methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and additionally exhibited a transient increase of glutamine on MR spectroscopy. This finding suggests that excitotoxicity, in addition to hypercytokinemia, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HUS encephalopathy.

Keywords: Acute encephalopathy; Escherichia coli; Excitotoxicity; Hemolytic uremic syndrome; MR spectroscopy.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Encephalitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Encephalitis / drug therapy
  • Encephalitis / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
  • Escherichia coli Infections / metabolism*
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli*

Substances

  • IL10 protein, human
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-10