Acute encephalitis with refractory, repetitive partial seizures

Abstract Background: Acute encephalitis with refractory, repetitive partial seizures (AERRPS) is a new epileptic syndrome described by Sakuma in Japan in 2001. The clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings and outcome of AERRPS in Taiwan have not been reported. Methods: From 2000 to 2006, we collected cases that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of AERRPS and analyzed the clinical course, virology, medication, electroencephalographic findings, neuroimaging characters and prognosis retrospectively. Results: Fourteen children aged from 1 year and 2 months to 15 years and 6 months were enrolled. They presented with prodromic symptoms including fever ( n = 13, 92.9%), upper respiratory tract infection symptoms ( n = 12, 85.7%) and gastrointestinal tract discomfort ( n = 6, 42.9%). Seizures occurred 3–14 days after antecedent symptoms with patterns of generalized tonic–clonic seizures, focal seizures or myoclonic seizures. The seizures were refractory to combinations of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Prolonged fever ( n = 14, 100.0%), hypersensitivity to AEDs ( n = 11, 78.6%) and liver function impairment ( n = 8, 57.1%) were noted during the period of hospitalization. The follow-up EEG findings were similar to those of initial findings including epileptiform discharges and/or generalized background slow waves. Initial brain MRI scans were normal but later showed focal or multifocal abnormal signal intensity followed by generalized brain atrophy in more than 50% of cases. The general prognosis was poor with variable psychomotor retardation and persistence of refractory epileptic seizures. Conclusions: The similarities of the clinical features support AERRPS as a new epileptic syndrome. More study is needed to specify the etiology of the syndrome as the first step for more effective treatment.