Hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia syndrome and primary human herpesvirus 7 infection

• Published in: Brain & development (Tokyo. 1979) Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 412 - 414
• Main Authors: Kawada, Jun-ichi, Kimura, Hiroshi, Yoshikawa, Tetsushi, Ihira, Masaru, Okumura, Akihisa, Morishima, Tsuneo, Hayakawa, Fumio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2004
• Subjects: Cerebral Cortex - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Cerebrovascular Disorders - pathology; Cerebrovascular Disorders - physiopathology; Cerebrovascular Disorders - virology; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging; Female; Hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia syndrome; Hemiplegia - pathology; Hemiplegia - physiopathology; Hemiplegia - virology; Herpesvirus 7, Human - isolation & purification; Human herpesvirus 7; Humans; Infant; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery - pathology; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery - physiopathology; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery - virology; Middle Cerebral Artery - pathology; Middle Cerebral Artery - physiopathology; Middle Cerebral Artery - virology; Positron-Emission Tomography; Real-time quantitative PCR; Roseolovirus Infections - complications; Roseolovirus Infections - diagnosis; Roseolovirus Infections - physiopathology; Seizures - pathology; Seizures - physiopathology; Seizures - virology; Single photon emission computed tomography; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - pathology; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - physiopathology; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - virology; Real-time quantitative PCR; Hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia syndrome; Human herpesvirus 7; Single photon emission computed tomography; Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0387-7604; 1872-7131
• DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2003.12.003

We report a case of hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia (HH) syndrome. An 18-month-old female infant had a hemiconvulsion followed by left hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging immediately after the onset of hemiplegia showed high intensity in the right hemisphere in diffusion-weighted images (DWI), while T1- and T2-weighted images were normal. Single photon emission computed tomography showed hypoperfusion of the right hemisphere in the acute phase. Virological analyses proved primary human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) infection. DWI are useful for the early evaluation of HH syndrome. Vascular disorders due to HHV-7 infection may have been related to the development of HH syndrome in this patient.