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Background and objectives. This study was conducted to determine the differences in clinical and radiological features at the first demyelinating event in children with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods. This was a single center retrospective cohort study of the children with CIS followed-up at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Neurology, between 2010 and 2018. Children with CIS who were assessed at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months following their first identified demyelinating event were included. Demographic data, mode of presentation and the presence of the oligoclonal band in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were abstracted from the medical records. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord was analyzed for the location, number, size and gadolinium enhancement of the lesions. Results. A total of 51 patients' data was assessed, 38 patients at a mean age of 12.3 years were enrolled in the study. Twenty-seven children (71%) evolved into clinically definite MS after a mean follow-up of 11 months. Older age at first demyelinating event and the presence of the oligoclonal band in CSF were tended to be more common in patients with MS than patients with CIS (p <0.05). The increased number of T2-hyperintense lesion and the presence of the lesion in periventricular, infratentorial and corpus callosum were associated with a tendency for development of MS (p <0.05). Conclusion. Older age at first demyelinating event, the presence of the oligoclonal band in CSF, the number and localization of T2-hyperintense lesion were associated with a tendency for development of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rufinamide has been used as a new antiepileptic drug in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, in recent years. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of rufinamide and its impact on seizure frequency in patients diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy, where seizures could not be controlled with 'classical' antiepileptic drugs. We retrospectively reviewed the data of epileptic patients who were followed up between January 2004 and December 2014 in the Pediatric Neurology Department. Patients who were diagnosed with 'drug resistant epilepsy' and treated with rufinamide were evaluated. Decrease in seizure frequency and drug side effects were assessed as parameters. A total of 38 patients (14 girls, 24 boys) with a mean age of 8.5 (range, 3.5-17) years were included in the study. The mean follow-up duration was 25.5 (23-29.5) months, while the mean maximal dose of rufinamide was 32.5 (28-42) mg/kg/day. Response to treatment was assessed by the reduction in frequency of seizures. The decrease was <50% (essentially unresponsive to treatment) in 20 patients and 50-99% in 8 patients. Ten patients (26.3%) remained seizure-free. The response rate for tonic seizures was 50%. In drop/attacks seizures, this ratio was found as 73%, which was quite high. Patients with myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures did not significantly benefit from rufinamide. The rate of patients with Lennox-Gestaut syndrome (LGS) who responded very well (reduction in seizure frequency >50%) was 55.5%. In the LGS group, patients with drop/attacks showed the best response to treatment. Rufinamide was not effective in two patients diagnosed with Dravet syndrome. Rufinamide can be safely used in pediatric patients who use multiple antiepileptic drugs and are unresponsive to the treatment. It was seen to be effective especially in patients diagnosed with LGS and drop/attacks types of seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hereditary spastic paraplegia type 35 (SPG35) is a rare disorder characterized by progressive spasticity. Mutations in the fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (FA2H) gene in different loci are responsible for phenotypic variability. We aimed to define the phenotype of SPG35 linked to a novel homozygous mutation c.160_169dup (p.Asp57Glyfs*48) in the FA2H gene, and compared with the clinical characteristics and neuroimaging findings of the patients with mutation in the FA2H gene. We describe a 5-year-old boy presenting with spastic paraplegia. He developed a rapid progressive spastic paraplegia and loss of ambulation at an early age, despite the absence of accompanying seizure, neuropathy, cognitive impairment, speech disturbance, and optic atrophy. Neuroimaging revealed white matter changes without brain iron accumulation. A duplication variation; leading to a truncated protein c.160_169dup in the FA2H gene was found on the homozygous state. A homozygous mutation c.160_169dup in the FA2H gene, which resulted in SPG35 phenotype, may present with rapid progressive spastic paraplegia at an early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]