RESUMO
EEGs and behavioral responses were studied in two sex matched groups of 58 epileptic and 20 healthy children between 8 and 12 years of age, during the execution of a go-no go CPT (X; A-X) task to determine transitory cognitive impairment (TCI) incidence. Paroxysmal discharges were found on 87.9% and 5% of the EEGs in the epileptic and control groups respectively, with no differences related to sex. The predominant EEG findings with respect to paroxysmal discharges were the association of two or more types of paroxysms with frequency higher than 5/minute, an average duration less than 0.5 second and topographical distribution over temporal-parietal-occipital areas without significant interhemispheric differences. TCI was detected in 36.2% of epileptic children. The epileptic group showed significantly higher numbers of behavioral errors and longer reaction times (RTs) in relation to the control group. Analyzing RTs on the two blocks of the task, linear discriminant analysis showed an acceptable classification of TCI incidence between groups.
Assuntos
Transtornos Cognitivos/diagnóstico , Eletroencefalografia , Epilepsia/fisiopatologia , Análise e Desempenho de Tarefas , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Criança , Transtornos Cognitivos/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Tempo de ReaçãoRESUMO
In this report, we describe four cases of granulomatous amebic encephalitis caused by Balamuthia (Leptomyxid ameba) in four previously healthy Mexican patients. All four cases were characterized by focal neurologic signs, increased intracranial pressure, and cerebral hyperdense lesions in computed tomography scans of the head. These patients underwent craniotomies for evaluation of mass lesions for possible brain tumors. Granulomatous chronic inflammatory reaction and amebic trophozoites were found in brain biopsies. At autopsy, areas of hemorrhagic encephalomalacia were located in both basal frontal lobes, right parieto-occipital lobes, and, less often, in the brainstem and cerebellum. Angiitis, necrotizing granulomatous encephalitis, and large numbers of amebic trophozoites in perivascular spaces were present. Amebic trophozoites were seen in the left adrenal gland in one of the cases. The amebas in all four cases were identified as Balamuthia mandrillaris (Leptomyxiidae) based on their reactivity with the anti-Balamuthia (Leptomyxiidae) serum in an immunofluorescence test.