[Acute neurological deficit in treated malignant hemopathies]

Arch Fr Pediatr. 1983 Nov;40(9):697-703.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Neurological complications are frequent in the course of malignant hematological diseases. Five cases occurring in children are reported here: 4 presented with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 1 with lymphoma. The clinical pattern was remarkably acute, with fever, seizures and a neurological deficit. Brain CT scan showed a limited hypodensity sometimes with a contrast uptake in the involved area in the first days or weeks. Seroconversion for measles virus occurred in 3 cases, associated with the presence of helix-like bodies in the cerebrospinal fluid and/or cerebral tissue. These case reports are discussed with respect to the neurological complications already reported in patients with hematologic malignancies. The hypothesis of measles-virus related encephalitis seems likely.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases / etiology*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / etiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Iatrogenic Disease
  • Infections / complications
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / complications*
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / therapy
  • Male
  • Seizures / etiology