title: Outcome and prognostic features in opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome from infancy to adult life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a serious and often chronically disabling neurologic illness with onset in early childhood. Our aim was to identify long-term neurologic sequelae of OMS and predictors for disease outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively assessed the case records of 101 patients diagnosed with OMS over a 53-year period. Clinical data were obtained from medical record review; we documented age at onset, severity of symptoms, response to treatment, and neurocognitive sequelae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 21% of the patients had a neuroblastoma detected; however, in those born after 1990, this figure rose to 40%. Sixty-one percent of the patients had a chronic-relapsing course, 32% experienced several acute exacerbations, and 7% had a monophasic course. At the most recent review, 60% had residual motor problems, 66% speech abnormalities, 51% learning disability, and 46% behavior problems. One-third of the patients had normal intellectual outcome and cessation of symptoms. A severe initial presentation predicted a chronic disease course (odds ratio [OR]: 2.77 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47-5.23]; P = .002) and later learning disability (OR: 2.03 [95% CI: 1.08-3.79]; P = .026). Those with cognitive impairment were younger at disease onset (15.0 vs 19.5 months; P = .029). A chronic-relapsing disease course was associated with motor (P < .001), speech (P = .001), cognitive (P < .001), and behavior (P = .006) problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OMS is a chronic and debilitating illness; those with severe initial symptoms and those who are very young at disease onset are at increased risk of developing long-term sequelae. It is important for affected children to be identified early, because they might benefit from targeted immunomodulating therapy in specialist centers.
authors.affiliation: Fraser of Allander Neurosciences Unit, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK. andreas.brunklaus@nhs.net
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunklaus
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Sameer M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zuberi
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Sousa
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053578:Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone