title: Plasma exchange in Rasmussen's encephalitis.
abstract: The authors observed a 4-year-old girl who has Rasmussen's encephalitis. She started with frequent localized and generalized seizures. Standard antiepileptic treatment was almost ineffective. The frequency of the generalized seizures decreased, but the myoclonic jerks of the left part of the body persisted. An EEG showed partial status epilepticus. The results of the CT scan were normal. Antibodies to viruses were absent from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. An MR scan showed a T2-weighted hypersignal zone in the right frontal region. Intravenous bolus injections of corticosteroids and drips of immunoglobulins were inefficient, and we started plasma exchanges which have continued for 9 months. The clinical state stabilized, and the images on the MR scan improved, but the results of the EEG did not improve. The authors discuss the effect of the plasma exchange, the use of which is questionable in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hotel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Palcoux
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tardieu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sebire
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garcier
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Loriette
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malpuech
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed