J Korean Pediatr Soc.
1993 Apr;36(4):485-494.
A clinical study on aseptic meningitis combined with polio-like paralysis
Abstract
- We clinically reviewed four patients who were suffering from aseptic meningitis combined with polio-like paralysis and performed radiological. neurological and virological studies on them. Three patients were admitted to the department of Pediatrics. Asan Medical Center from March to August 1990, and one patient was admitted to the department of Pediatrics. Kangnam General Hospital. The results were as follows; 1) During the period of study, 18 patients (10.1%)out of 178 aseptic meningitis patients also suffered from hand, foot and mouth disease, and three patients (1.69%) out of 178 patients also suffered from polio-like paralysis. 2) The age of the patients who also suffered from polio-like paralysis were eight months, 22 months, 23 months and four years old respectively. Three patients were male and one patient was female. 3) Paralysis developed three to five days after aseptic meningitis infection. 4) In two cases, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR) showed two small cavitary lesions that means anterior horn cell necrosis in concordant with residual paralysis. Axial T1-weighted image showed decreased signal intensity and axial T2-weighted image showed increased signal intensity. In another case 20 days after onset of illness MR was performed, the transverse myelitis showed mild swelling of cornus medullaris. Follow up MR in 2 months revealed atropic change in lower thoracic spinal cord. 5) The electromyography and nerve conduction velocity test revealed acute polyradiculoneuropathy. 6) Serologic virus study were carried out in three cases for Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. The Enterovirus 71 antibody titer were 1:128 in two cases and 1:64 in one case. The Coxsackievirus A16 antibody titer were less than 1:4. This study showed that the causative agents for polio-like paralysis during this period seemed to be the Enterovirus 71 infection.