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Long-term effect of subthalamic and pallidal deep brain stimulation for status dystonicus in children with methylmalonic acidemia and GNAO1 mutation

  • Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Original Article
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Abstract

Status dystonicus (SD) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition requiring intensive care management. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as an effective treatment for SD refractory to medical management, but its application in this field is still limited. Here, we report the long-term outcome of four pediatric patients treated with DBS at the University Hospital of Padua, Italy, for SD refractory to medications. In addition, we present the results of a systematic literature review aimed at identifying published cases of SD treated with DBS, with focus on motor outcome. In our cohort, two children were affected by methylmalonic acidemia and suffered acute basal ganglia lesions, while the other two carried a pathogenic mutation in GNAO1 gene. DBS target was subthalamic nucleus (STN) in one case and globus pallidus internus (GPi) in three. All patients experienced SD resolution within 8–19 days after surgery. Mean post-operative follow-up was 5 years. We identified in the literature 53 additional SD cases treated with DBS (median age at DBS implantation: 12 years) with reported positive outcome in 51 and resolution of SD in a mean of 17 days after surgery. Our findings indicate that DBS is an effective treatment for SD refractory to medications, even in patients with acute basal ganglia lesions; STN can be an appropriate target when GPi is damaged. Moreover, data from long-term follow-up show that SD recurrences can be significantly reduced in frequency or abolished after DBS implantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy

    Alberto Benato, Miryam Carecchio, Francesco Paoloni, Domenico d’Avella, Andrea Landi & Angelo Antonini

  2. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy

    Alberto Burlina, Stefano Sartori & Margherita Nosadini

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  1. Alberto Benato
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  2. Miryam Carecchio
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  3. Alberto Burlina
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  4. Francesco Paoloni
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  5. Stefano Sartori
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  6. Margherita Nosadini
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  7. Domenico d’Avella
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  8. Andrea Landi
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  9. Angelo Antonini
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Correspondence to Alberto Benato.

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Benato, A., Carecchio, M., Burlina, A. et al. Long-term effect of subthalamic and pallidal deep brain stimulation for status dystonicus in children with methylmalonic acidemia and GNAO1 mutation. J Neural Transm 126, 739–757 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-019-02010-2

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