title: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy during novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
abstract: A novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus was recently identified in Mexico. Some cases of infection with neurological complications have been reported to date. We report a case of acute necrotizing encephalopathy associated with the novel H1N1 virus in a 2-year-old European girl who suddenly developed fever, seizures, and altered mental status. Brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral symmetrical lesions of the insulae, thalami, geniculate bodies, and pons tegmentum suggestive of an acute necrotizing encephalopathy. An involvement of meninges and spinal cord was observed configuring an acute necrotizing meningoencephalomyelitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Pediatric Sciences and Developmental Neurosciences, Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Catholic University, Largo Gemelli 8, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frisullo
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plantone
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colantonio
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tartaglione
authors.forename: Anna Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Batocchi
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentini
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009336:Necrosis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology