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Single‐photon Emission Computed Tomography Investigations of Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood
Author(s) -
Siemes Hartmut,
Cordes Michael
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1993.tb11647.x
Subject(s) - computed tomography , single photon emission computed tomography , tomography , physics , medicine , nuclear medicine , radiology
SUMMARY Alterations in regional cerebral blood‐flow, a s determined by single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using technetium [*Tc] hexamethyl propylenamine oxime, were studied in two children presenting with alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Both experienced hemiplegic episodes several times per month, despite marked improvement on flunarizine therapy. SPECT images of both patients revealed focal areas of decreased uptake of the radiotracer, representing impaired regional cerebral blood‐flow during, as well as between, seizures. The interictal finding of localized areas of reduced tracer uptake suggest that long‐lasting hypoperfusion could be the patho‐physiological, mechanism by which the slowly resolving hemiplegia, and ultimately the permanent multifocal neurological deficits, are produced.