Clinical features of nine patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood.

Aim: To define clinical features of patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentation and course of the disease in patients diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2008 at the Pediatric Neurology Department of the Istanbul Medical Faculty.

Results: The nine patients had a mean age of 6.6 months (2-15 months) at the onset of symptoms. Paroxysmal eye movements were the early symptom of five patients. All patients had recurrent alternating hemiplegic episodes and relief of symptoms while sleeping. Duration of events varied widely from few minutes to several days and was associated with slowly progressive neurological deterioration. Flunarizine might decrease frequency of events but is not effective to neurological deterioration. Amantadine as an alternative agent is used in add-on therapy, but epileptogenic side effect prevented the evaluation of long-term efficacy.

Conclusion: Trials on new agents like amantadine are necessary for more effective control of the disease.