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Purpose: To review the neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of Lyme disease at a central Ohio pediatric tertiary care center. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed as having Lyme disease from September 2015 to September 2020 was completed. Demographic information, diagnosis dates, and manifestations of Lyme disease were recorded. Patients were excluded for age older than 18 years or lack of corroborated Lyme disease diagnosis. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: Of the 212 cases of pediatric Lyme disease reviewed, 50 patients had neuroborreliosis. The data showed an increase in Lyme disease and neuroborreliosis cases from 2018 to 2020, with a preponderance of diagnoses in the summer months. Twenty-four patients had meningitis, and 6 of these patients (25%) were diagnosed as having bilateral optic disc edema that was clinically consistent with intracranial hypertension. Conclusions: Papilledema in the setting of Lyme meningitis may be more common than previously reported in central Ohio. If Lyme disease meningitis is suspected, an opening pressure should be recorded at the time of lumbar puncture and, if elevated, an ophthalmologic evaluation for optic nerve edema is indicated. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(3):179–182.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine influence of sevoflurane on changes in cerebrospinal fluid pressure in children presenting for lumbar puncture. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid pressure, end tidal carbon dioxide, and end tidal sevoflurane concentration measurements were obtained at 2-minute intervals for a total of 10 minutes (T0 to T5). Because of concerns regarding patient safety and comfort, the study measurements were completed at the end of the lumbar procedure, starting with the closing pressure and when sevoflurane was stopped. Results: As end tidal sevoflurane concentration decreased, cerebrospinal fluid pressure initially increased up to T2 before decreasing back to around the initial point. There was no significant correlation between sevoflurane level and cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Both weight status and presence or absence of optic edema did not have a significant impact on pressure over time. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the cerebrospinal fluid pressure over time between those with spontaneous respirations compared to those without. Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between the end tidal sevoflurane concentration and cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Assisted ventilation did produce a statistically significant increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure and suggests that the most accurate measurements are in those with spontaneous respirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine psychosocial correlates, specifically pain intensity, pain interference, and quality of life (QOL), in patients with pediatric intracranial hypertension. We hypothesized that parents and children who report higher levels of pain intensity and interference would be associated with lower QOL.Methods: Eighty-three patients and their families seen in the pediatric intracranial hypertension clinic of a large pediatric hospital completed self-report and parent proxy measures on QOL, mood, and other psychosocial correlates. Bivariate correlations were conducted between parent proxy and self-reports and regression analyses between pain and psychosocial correlate variables were examined.Results: Parent proxy and child reports were highly correlated. Body mass index (BMI) was a significant predictor of parent proxy report of pain intensity with higher BMI associated with higher parent proxy ratings of pain intensity. Parents reported significantly higher levels of pain interference for their children compared to child report. Parent ratings of child depression symptoms, BMI, and age were significant predictors of pain interference. Higher BMI and depression symptoms and younger age were associated with more pain interference. Overall QOL was similar to other headache populations but lower than other chronic illness and healthy populations.Conclusions: Pediatric intracranial hypertension is associated with decreased QOL. Body mass index was a significant predictor of pain intensity and interference and should be monitored closely in clinic. Clinical care should include psychosocial screening to identify patients who would benefit from interventions to reduce the impact of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing offers an unbiased approach to identifying viral pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology. Methods: In an 11-month case series, we investigated the use of cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing to diagnose viral infections among pediatric hospitalized patients presenting with encephalitis or meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology. Cerebrospinal fluid from patients with known enterovirus meningitis were included as positive controls. Cerebrospinal fluid from patients with primary intracranial hypertension were included to serve as controls without known infections. Results: Cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing was performed for 37 patients. Among 27 patients with encephalitis or meningoencephalitis, 4 were later diagnosed with viral encephalitis, 6 had non–central nervous system infections with central nervous system manifestations, 6 had no positive diagnostic tests, and 11 were found to have a noninfectious diagnosis. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing identified West Nile virus (WNV) in the cerebrospinal fluid of 1 immunocompromised patient. Among the 4 patients with known enterovirus meningitis, metagenomic next-generation sequencing correctly identified enteroviruses and characterized the viral genotype. No viral sequences were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with primary intracranial hypertension. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing also identified sequences of nonpathogenic torque Teno virus in cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 13 patients. Conclusions: Our results showed viral detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing only in 1 immunocompromised patient and did not offer a diagnostic advantage over conventional testing. Viral phylogenetic characterization by metagenomic next-generation sequencing could be used in epidemiologic investigations of some viral pathogens, such as enteroviruses. The finding of torque Teno viruses in cerebrospinal fluid by metagenomic next-generation sequencing is of unknown significance but may merit further exploration for a possible association with noninfectious central nervous system disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors aimed to compare the opening pressures of children with demyelinating disease to children with primary intracranial hypertension. Medical records were reviewed for a primary diagnosis of demyelinating disease, or primary intracranial hypertension. Diagnosis of demyelinating disease was made according to either the 2007 or 2012 International Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group criteria. Primary intracranial hypertension diagnosis was confirmed by presence of elevated opening pressure, normal cerebrospinal fluid composition and neuroimaging. The authors compared 14 children with demyelinating disease to children with primary intracranial hypertension in 1:1 and 1:2 fashions. There was a statistically significant higher BMI in the primary intracranial hypertension group compared to the demyelinating group (P = .0203). The mean cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count was higher in the demyelinating disease group compared to primary intracranial hypertension (P = .0002). Among both comparisons, the cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure, glucose, protein and red blood cell counts in children with demyelinating disease were comparable to age- and sex-matched controls with primary intracranial hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the frequency of intracranial hypertension without papilledema in children. Charts of patients evaluated in a pediatric intracranial hypertension clinic at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether they had presence or absence of optic nerve edema at the time of presentation. Age, body mass index, and opening cerebrospinal fluid pressures were considered continuous variables and compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test because of non-normality. A P-value of 0.05 was considered significant. A total of 228 charts were reviewed; 152 patients met the criteria for intracranial hypertension, and 27 patients (17.8%) met the criteria of headache without optic nerve edema. There was no clinically significant difference in age, body mass index, opening pressure, and modified opening pressure between the 2 groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]