title: Steroid-responsive encephalopathy and autoimmune thyroiditis in a young boy.
abstract: Steroid-responsive encephalopathy with autoimmune thyroiditis is a relatively uncommon entity in the pediatric population. Although the pathogenesis of steroid-responsive encephalopathy with autoimmune thyroiditis is uncertain, an autoimmune mechanism is suspected to be the most likely cause. Seizures of unknown etiology are a common presenting sign in the pediatric intensive care unit, and steroid-responsive encephalopathy with autoimmune thyroiditis should be considered as a possible cause of recurrent seizures. The outcome of steroid-responsive encephalopathy with autoimmune thyroiditis is variable in children, and is partly dependent on early diagnosis and the administration of intravenous steroids. Only 31 pediatric cases of steroid-responsive encephalopathy with autoimmune thyroiditis were described in the English-language literature since 1966. Very few were reported in the United States or among males. We describe a 13-year-old boy presenting with a new onset of seizures as a manifestation of steroid-responsive encephalopathy with autoimmune thyroiditis. This report presents, to the best of our knowledge, the youngest male with steroid-responsive encephalopathy with autoimmune thyroiditis, and the only reported child with other autoimmune manifestations in addition to encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, USA.
authors.forename: Sanket D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Hema
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004660:Encephalitis; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones