Edlund, Wendy

Abstract Introduction Moebius syndrome (MBS) is a rare disorder characterized by failure of development of the 6th and 7th cranial nerve nuclei located in the pons. Though the congenital lesion abuts the pontine tegmentum, sleep architecture has not been evaluated in MBS. Methods We report the clinical features of three children with MBS, and discuss implications for “developmental” RBD. Results Three clinically and MRI brain scan-confirmed MBS children, age 0.5 to 16 years, mean 8.5 ± 6.3 years, were evaluated for disrupted sleep, with repetitive crying (1/3), yelling (2/3), agitation in sleep (2/3), and injuring a co-sleeping sibling (1/3); 3/3 had REM sleep without atonia while 2/3 had RBD. REM sleep was reduced in all three: 21.7% in the infant (reference REM percentage value in infancy is about 40%), 11.4% in subject 2 and 3% in subject 3. Treatment with clonazepam (patients 2 and 3) or melatonin (patient 1) had variable results. Conclusion Children with Moebius syndrome have both quantitative (reduced percentage) and qualitative abnormalities of REM sleep (RSWA/RBD). The association of MBS with RSWA/RBD suggests more extensive involvement than published in literature, with extension into the sub-laterodorsal pontine tegmentum and “REM-off” neurons. Moebius syndrome might serve as a model for study of “developmental” REM sleep behavior disorder. Support (if any):

Abstract Introduction Pediatric Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)/Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) are treatable disorders affecting quality of life. The first line therapy is oral iron, which may have gastrointestinal side effects or suboptimal absorption. Consequently, parenteral iron preparations are needed, but have been insufficiently studied in children. This study evaluates the response to intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in pediatric RLS/PLMD. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of children who received FCM between May 2018 and January 2019 for treating RLS/PLMD. Serum ferritin before and after the infusion were compared. Where possible, the Clinical Global Impressions of Improvement (CGI-I) was evaluated. Side effects documented in the charts were extracted. The median administered dose of FCM was 10.1 mg/kg (range 9.6–20.8) over 0.6 to2 hours. Results There were 27 patients, with mean age of 10.0 +/-4.2 years. 52% were female. 24 had RLS and 3 had PLMD. 20/27 (69.7%) had prior oral iron therapy; 4/20 (26.0%) experienced side effects. Adverse events from FCM infusion included procedure-related anxiety in 4/27, nausea in 1/27, infusion site pain in 2/27, and tachycardia in 1/27. One patient developed subcutaneous extravasation of iron with brownish skin discoloration and a resulting adjustment disorder. Three patients had phosphorus checked following infusion; all were normal. Serum ferritin was available both before and after the infusion for 17 patients. Mean serum ferritin prior to infusion was 27.2 +/-15.7 µg/L (range 6–58) and after the infusion it was 109.8 +/-49.34 µg/L (range 27–192). Mean ferritin increase was 82.6 +/-41.5 µg/L (range 14–160; p=0.0001). Post-infusion ferritin was over 50 µg/L for all but 2 of the subjects, with follow up ranging from 31–266 days (mean 120 days). A larger increase was seen at higher doses (p=0.01). Ferritin increase was not impacted by age, gender, symptom severity, PLMI or prior ferritin level. CGI-I was applied to 15 patients with sufficient follow-up documentation and showed improvement in 86%, with 79% much or very much improved. Conclusion The administration of FCM in children with RLS/PLMD is associated with a satisfactory rise in serum ferritin and modest symptomatic improvement. Support (if any):

Rapidly progressive non-traumatic paraplegia in a child is uncommonly encountered in clinical practice, but is an important presentation to consider given the potential for significant morbidity. We present the case of an 11-year-old girl who was found to have hyperacute paraplegia due to spinal cord infarction. We discuss the appropriate workup, differential diagnosis in children and how this relates to adults; and describe the prognosis and current state of management options for spinal cord infarction.

Objective: To determine if Angelman syndrome patients with sleep complaints have an increased risk of iron deficiency, and if iron therapy improves their sleep difficulties. Background: About two-thirds of Angelman syndrome patients experience sleep difficulties, which are likely multifactorial. Because iron deficiency can contribute toward restlessness in sleep, we investigated whether it might be a contributing factor in this special population. Methods: This retrospective study involved medical record review of Angelman syndrome patients <18 years old who had attended our multidisciplinary Angelman syndrome clinic and had sleep complaints. Serum ferritin levels were compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Sleep history and nocturnal polysomnogram findings of the Angelman syndrome patients were also characterized. Results: Nineteen Angelman syndrome patients (9 female, mean age 6.2±4.4 years) were identified. All 19 reported sleep difficulties. The mean serum ferritin level was 19.9±8.5 μg/L, while that in controls was 27.8±17.8 μg/L ( P value .13). The odds ratio of iron deficiency in Angelman syndrome compared to controls was 4.17 (95% confidence interval 1.23-14.10), using normal serum ferritin level of 24 μg/L based on literature. Fifteen Angelman syndrome patients underwent nocturnal polysomnogram with 9/15 showing an elevated periodic limb movement index (overall mean 9.8±10.4). Seventeen of 19 received iron therapy. Twelve had follow-up after iron therapy, with parents reporting improved sleep quality. Eight had serum ferritin levels rechecked after iron therapy, showing a mean increase of 24±5.1 μg/L. Conclusions: Sleep difficulties in Angelman syndrome, though multifactorial, may in part be related to iron deficiency. Treatment with iron improved sleep to a modest degree in this population.

Intracranial extension of rhinosinusitis is rare in children. We report a 9-year-old immunocompetent boy with central precocious puberty and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome who developed an intracranial epidural abscess secondary to rhinosinusitis while on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. A retrospective review of the medical record and imaging studies was performed. MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were searched for reports of epidural abscess developing in patients receiving CPAP treatment or in patients with precocious puberty. Intracranial extension of frontal rhinosinusitis is more common during puberty probably because of the active growth of the frontal sinuses and their rich blood supply. Controlled studies show no increase with rhinosinusitis in adults on CPAP; no published studies assess intracranial extension of rhinosinusitis in CPAP use. Patients with unexplained, severe headache and fever following CPAP use may require neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] / contrast computed tomography) to rule out intracranial extension of sinusitis.