Optic neuritis in Turkish children and adolescents: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Various etiologies may underlie optic neuritis, including autoantibody-mediated disorders described in the last decade. We re-examined demographic, clinical, laboratory features and prognostic factors in pediatric patients with autoimmune optic neuritis according to current knowledge.

Methods: Cases of pediatric ON from 27 centers in Türkiye diagnosed between 2009 and 2022 were included for retrospective evaluation.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Levetiracetam Monotherapy On Hematological Parameters in Children with Idiopathic Epilepsy.

Objectives: Levetiracetam (LEV) is a broad-spectrum anti-seizure drug (ASD) that has been widely used in recent years. It is thought to have an effect on the release of neurotransmitters that occur as a result of vesicle fusion and exocytosis by binding to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A.

Methods: The study enrolled patients diagnosed in the Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic who were being followed with the diagnosis of childhood idiopathic epilepsy and were receiving LEV as ASD monotherapy.

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy associated with RANBP2 mutation: value of MRI findings for diagnosis and intervention.

Introduction: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANEC) is a rare entity characterized by encephalopathy following a febrile illness. Most patients are sporadic; however, recurrent and familial cases have been associated with RAN-binding protein 2 (RANBP2) mutation. Well-defined MRI findings can even be life-saving with early diagnosis and treatment.

A rare cause of microcephaly, thin corpus callosum and refractory epilepsy due to a novel SLC1A4 gene mutation.

L-serine is an important amino acid that ensures neuronal differentiation and development. The SLC1A4 gene encodes proteins that transport amino acids such as serine, alanine, threonine and glutamate into neurons. Pathogenic variants in SLC1A4 gene interneuron transport of L-serine impaired and a severe global developmental delay occurs, characterized by microcephaly and refractory seizures.

Optic nerve ultrasonography in the evaluation of the relationship between arachnoid cyst and headache.

Aim: This study is aimed to show the difference between optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) values in migraine patients with and without arachnoid cysts from migraine patients and control groups, and to evaluate the relationship with the arachnoid cyst size on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their clinical severity.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included pediatric patients who were previously diagnosed with migraine and the control group. The patients consist of 3 groups.

The PURPLE N study: objective and perceived nutritional status in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: To obtain information on characteristics, management, current objective nutritional status and perception of nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy (CP) from healthcare professionals (HCPs) and caregivers.

Materials And Methods: A detailed survey of several items on eight main topics (general characteristics, motor function, comorbidities, therapies, anthropometry, feeding mode and problems and perceived nutritional status) was developed and tested for the study. Correlation between nutritional status and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels was assessed using continuous variables (Z-scores for weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height, and body mass index-for-age), and categorical variables (being malnourished, stunted, or wasted).

Pediatric anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with COVID-19.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis is a clinical condition characterized by acute behavioral and mood changes, abnormal movements, autonomic instability, seizures, and encephalopathy. We describe a 7-year-old boy diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis due to NMDAR antibody in association with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease 2019) (COVID-19), without pulmonary involvement or fever. The patient presented with acute ataxia, rapidly developed encephalopathy, and autoimmune encephalitis was suspected.

Identification of a Novel Mutation in Gene with Global Developmental Delay and Refractory Epilepsy.

We report a 2.5-year-old Turkish boy who first presented with nystagmus, lack of eye contact, and hypotonia at 2 months of age and developed refractory seizures when 6 months old. Extensive metabolic tests and imaging being noncontributory, whole-exome sequencing was carried out which revealed a heterozygote novel mutation in gene.

Neurodevelopmental risk evaluation of premature closure of the anterior fontanelle.

Purpose: To evaluate neurological development of completely healthy children with anterior fontanelle premature closure via Denver Developmental Screening Test II and to compare the results with control group.

Method And Results: The records of 140 patients applied to Mersin University Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic between 2011 and 2019 with the complaint of premature closure of the anterior fontanelle were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with microcephaly, craniosynostosis, infection, sequelae of hypoxia-ischemia, metabolic disorders, intracranial hemorrhage, epilepsy, endocrine problems, and dysmorphic features were excluded from the study.

A rare case of pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis in a pediatric patient with chronic renal failure.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a very rare condition in childhood occurring usually secondary to the rapid increase of serum sodium levels. This situation occurring secondary to the rapid correction of hyponatremia can be seen more rarely in the form of extrapontine myelinolysis and even the coexistence of these two conditions besides central pontine demyelinolysis. However, osmotic demyelination syndrome due to the rapid correction of hyponatremia in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients is very rare depending on existing uremia.

A rare concurrence: gelastic seizures in a patient with right temporal nongalenic pial arteriovenous fistula.

Introduction: Gelastic seizures are the type of seizures that are most commonly seen in childhood and should be excluded definitely in the differential diagnosis of hypothalamic hamartomas. This seizure type may be accompanied by refractory seizures, cognitive decline, and early puberty. However, etiology may also include other causes different than hypothalamic hamartomas.

A rare concurrence: Antibodies against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor in a child.

Background: Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein antibodies (MOG) may be used as a biomarker for diagnosis of many demyelinating diseases. Especially, patients of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), multiple sclerosis (MS), aquaporin-4 (AQP4) seronegative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), monophasic or recurrent optic neuritis (ON), transverse myelitis and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis (NMDARe) can overlap with Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein antibodies. We present a child with autoimmune encephalitis in whom antibodies against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) were simultaneously detected.