[Acute methotrexate-related neurotoxicity and pseudo-stroke syndrome].

We describe five episodes of transient acute leukoencephalopathy mimicking a stroke, reported in the literature as "pseudo-stroke syndrome". Neurologic symptoms occurred 3-10 days after IV or IT methotrexate and manifested as aphasia and alternating sensorimotor deficit. The fluctuating symptomatology regressed completely within a few days. Brain MRI, which is essential for diagnosis, demonstrated early white matter diffusion restriction in the affected cerebral area. These anomalies disappeared in one week, while hyperintense T2 FLAIR signals developed in the corresponding brain areas. The long-term progression of these pseudo-stroke patients was favorable, without any therapeutic modification. Nevertheless, the involvement of transient acute leukoencephalopathy episodes in the progressive onset of neuro-cognitive disorders is discussed.
PMID: 29146215 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Archives de Pediatrie - November 13, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Deneux V, Leboucq N, Saumet L, Haouy S, Akbaraly T, Sirvent N Tags: Arch Pediatr Source Type: research