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Understanding the characteristics of breath-holding spells and how to differentiate them from serious conditions will help you reassure parents so they can better deal with these alarming but benign episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To further define the clinical spectrum of the disease for pediatric and metabolic specialists, and to suggest that the general pediatrician and pediatric neurologist consider succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency in the differential diagnosis of patients with (idiopathic) mental retardation and emphasize the need for accurate, quantitative organic acid analysis in such patients., Patients: The clinical features of 23 patients (20 families) with SSADH deficiency (4-hydroxybutyric acid-uria) are presented. The age at diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 25 years in the 11 male and 12 female patients; consanguinity was noted in 39% of families., Outcome Measurements: The following abnormalities were observed (frequency in 23 patients): motor delay, including fine-motor skills, 78%; language delay, 78%; hypotonia, 74%; mental delay, 74%; seizures, 48%; decreased or absent reflexes, 39%; ataxia, 30%; behavioral problems, 30%; hyperkinesis, 30%; neonatal problems, 26%; and electroencephalographic abnormalities, 26%. Associated findings included psychoses, cranial magnetic resonance or computed tomographic abnormalities, and ocular problems in 22% or less of patients. Therapy with vigabatrin proved beneficial to varying degrees in 35% of the patients. Normal early development was noted in 30% of patients., Conclusions: Our data imply that two groups of patients with SSADH deficiency exist, differentiated by the course of early development. Our recommendation would be that accurate, quantitative organic acid analysis in an appropriate specialist laboratory be requested for any patients presenting with two or more features of mental, motor, or language delay and hypotonia of unknown cause. Such analyses are the only definitive way to diagnose SSADH deficiency; the diagnosis can be confirmed by determination of enzyme activity in white cells from whole blood. We think that increased use of organic acid determination will lead to increased diagnosis of SSADH deficiency and a more accurate representation of disease frequency. As additional patients are identified, we should have a better understanding of both the metabolic and clinical profiles of SSADH deficiency.

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutation T8993G has been associated with maternally inherited Leigh syndrome (MILS) when very abundant (> 95%). MILS patients are usually severely affected and die in early infancy. In 1993, a novel T8993C point mutation was described in a juvenile form of Leigh syndrome (LS) characterized by a less aggressive clinical course. We describe four unrelated T8993C patients who had diverse, relatively mild, clinical manifestations. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymphorphism analysis showed that the heteroplasmic T8993C point mutation was very abundant in several tissues from all four patients (94.2 +/- 1.5%) but was less copious in blood from 20 maternal relatives. ATP production in mitochondria isolated from skin fibroblasts in three patients was normal, whereas in one patient it was decreased to 20-35% of controls. These findings suggest that the T8993C mutation is less severe than the more common T8993G mutation.

We describe an infant with clinically apparent oto-palatal-digital syndrome Type II (OPD II), who, in addition, also has hydrocephalus and cerebellar hypoplasia. This second X-linked disorder has not been reported previously to occur in association with OPD II. This patient had 2 maternal uncles who died neonatally with congenital hydrocephalus and digital abnormalities consistent with OPD II. We suggest that these 2 entities may be located near one another on the X chromosome, and that both loci are affected in this family.

We review all reported cases of Mucolipidosis IV, add a new one, and present evidence for a generalized phospholipid storage. All phospholipids were increased in the liver, skin fibroblasts and urine. Lysobisphosphatydic acid which was markedly elevated in these samples was the only lipid stored in muscle. A slowly progressive neurological disease with mental retardation and corneal opacities, but lacking mucopolysaccharide excretion, skeletal changes and organomegaly should raise the suspicion of this disease. At this time, the diagnosis is made by EM studies of skin or conjunctiva which should be done if results of tests on serum or bone marrow for lysosomal diseases are normal. We found some of the typical inclusions in skin fibroblasts from an obligate carrier, which suggests that distinction between the homozygote and heterozygote may be difficult. Despite this, two succeeding pregnancies with normal outcomes were successfully monitored.

A 16-year-old boy with generalized dystonia had continuous, severe blepharospasm and facial grimacing. Local intradermal injections of botulinum A toxin greatly reduced the spasms and improved function. No side effects were observed. Local botulinum A toxin injections may be useful in the treatment of eyelid and facial spasms in patients with generalized dystonias.

Hemodynamic responses to transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) were studied in 9 patients with severe cardiac disease. This group of patients tolerated spinal anesthesia and TURP in an unpredictable manner. One adverse effect was the high pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (WP of 21 mm Hg or higher) in 4 of the 9 patients during operation. All nine cases were considered. Attention was directed toward significant cases. The high WP was not always indicated by high CVP either before or during operation, and it did not necessarily relate to the amount of fluid utilized or amount of prostate resected. Another adverse effect was the marked changes in systemic resistance in 6 patients. Because of the unpredictable hemodynamic responses, thermodilution flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter was valuable in several cases. It made it possible to select specific therapeutic agents and direct tham at isolated hemodynamic dysfunctions.