Rasmussen syndrome and long-term response to thalidomide

Marjanovic, Borivoj D; Stojanov, Ljubomir M; Zdravkovic, Dragan S; Kravljanac, Ruzica M; Djordjevic, Maja S

doi:10.1016/S0887-8994(03)00216-9

« Previous Next »Pediatric Neurology
Volume 29, Issue 2 , Pages 151-156, August 2003

Rasmussen syndrome and long-term response to thalidomide

Borivoj D Marjanovic, PhD
- Department of Neurology, Pediatric Clinic of Mother and Child Health Care Institute, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
- Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Marjanovic; Mother and Child Health Institute; 8 Radoja Dakica St; 11070, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Ljubomir M Stojanov, PhD
- Department of Metabolic and Genetic Diseases, Pediatric Clinic of Mother and Child Health Care Institute, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Dragan S Zdravkovic, PhD
- Department of Endocrinology, Pediatric Clinic of Mother and Child Health Care Institute, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Ruzica M Kravljanac, MD
- Department of Neurology, Pediatric Clinic of Mother and Child Health Care Institute, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Maja S Djordjevic, MD
- Department of Metabolic and Genetic Diseases, Pediatric Clinic of Mother and Child Health Care Institute, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Received 19 September 2002; accepted 25 February 2003.

Abstract

We report a 13-year-old female who experienced symptoms and signs of Rasmussen encephalitis for the first time at the age of 5 years. Various therapeutic procedures, including conventional and new antiepileptic drugs, steroids, immunoglobulin, plasma exchanges, and partial hemispherectomy, were applied, but their results were unsatisfactory. During one of the exacerbations, when the patient’s life was endangered, thalidomide was administered. Frequency and intensity of epileptic seizures were reduced significantly, and the quality of her life improved. Except for moderate neutropenia, the other adverse effects were not recognized. In our opinion, thalidomide is not a first-choice drug for Rasmussen encephalitis but is a good alternative only for cases refractory to other well-known and accepted therapeutic procedures.