Clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion of corpus callosum in Chinese children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and etiology of mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) in Chinese children.

METHODS: We collected ten pediatric MERS patients from local hospital and enrolled another nineteen patients by reviewing the available literatures. The information of enrolled patients about clinical features, laboratory data, treatment strategies and prognoses were collected for further analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 29 children, the median age of twenty-nine patients was (4.09±3.64) years old. The male-to-female ratio was 1.42:1.0. The major cause of MERS was viral infection. 18 patients had consciousness disturbance which was the most prominent syndrome. 18 patients had transient seizures and only one needed anticonvulsant treatment for long. 9 patients were observed serum sodium levels <135mEq/L. The cells and protein of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) were increased in 3 patients. In all patients, brain MRI evaluation revealed typical lesion in splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC). 5 patients had additional lesions involving the periventricular white matter or bilateral centrum semiovale diagnosed. 3 patients were treated with antivirus treatment because of virus infection. 7 patients received corticosteroid. 2 patients received intravenous IVIG. As a result, all patients had fully recovered without neurological residual.

CONCLUSIONS: The result of present study suggests that Chinese children with MERS might have favorable prognosis, although there is still no guideline for treatment.