Acute infantile hemiplegia in a patient with propionic acidaemia

Eur J Pediatr. 1990 Jun;149(9):659-60. doi: 10.1007/BF02034758.

Abstract

A 10-month-old girl with mild developmental delay became hemiplegic after seizures. Cranial CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no lesions related to vascular diseases, but brain atrophy on the right side was remarkable. Digital subtraction angiography showed slightly decreased visualization of peripheral branches of the right medial cerebral artery. Propionic acidaemia was diagnosed on the basis of high plasma levels of propionic acid and its metabolites and the elevated urinary excretion of these acids. With therapy, the levels of these acids fell, and her left hemiplegia disappeared 3 months later.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / complications*
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / diagnosis
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / drug therapy
  • Angiography, Digital Subtraction
  • Female
  • Hemiplegia / diagnosis
  • Hemiplegia / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Propionates / blood*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Propionates