title: An 11-year follow-up study of neonatal-onset, bath-induced alternating hemiplegia of childhood in twins.
abstract: The authors previously reported on the initial manifestations in a set of female twins, who presented soon after birth with bath-induced paroxysmal events each time they were immersed in a warm water bath. These episodes progressively ceased by the age of 36 months, replaced by paroxysmal episodes of alternating hemiplegia unrelated to water immersion. By age 4 years, the twins developed the classic features of alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Clinical outcomes at the age of 11 years are now reported. Standard and video-electroencephalograms showed a large, slow background activity followed by lower amplitude waves without focal abnormalities or other abnormal findings. This represents the first report on (a) alternating hemiplegia of childhood started with bath-induced paroxysmal episodes; (b) this condition in monozygotic twins; and (c) an 11-year follow-up study in which the twins continue to experience episodes of alternating hemiplegia in the setting of baseline cognitive impairment without epileptic episodes.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Paediatrics, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Incorpora
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polizzi
authors.forename: Mariadonatella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cocuzza
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Privitera
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: Martino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
mesh_terms: D001494:Baths / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic