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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | E388-E394 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Pediatrics |
Volume | 128 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2011 |
Keywords
- opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome
- OMS
- dancing-eye syndrome
- DES
- ATAXIA SYNDROME
- FOLLOW-UP
- B-CELL
- NEUROBLASTOMA
- CHILDREN
- ONSET
- AUTOANTIBODIES
- SEQUELAE
- THERAPY