An outbreak of enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection occurred in Taiwan in 1998. The clinical spectrums and laboratory findings for 97 patients with virus culture-proven EV71 infections were analyzed. Eighty-seven percent of the patients were younger than age 5 years. Hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome occurred in 79% of the children and central nervous system (CNS) involvement in 35%, including nine fatal cases. The predominant neurological presentations were myoclonus (68%), vomiting (53%), and ataxia (35%). Brain stem encephalitis was the cardinal feature of EV71 CNS involvement during this outbreak. Magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings illustrated that the midbrain, pons, and medulla were the target areas. EV71 brain stem encephalitis can present either with cerebellar signs and an initially mild, reversible course or with overwhelming neurogenic shock and neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) resulting in a fatal outcome. Brain stem encephalitis that progressed abruptly to neurogenic shock and NPE was indicative of poor prognosis in this epidemic. Early aggressive treatment and close monitoring of the neurological signs are mandatory to improve the chance of survival.
ABSTRACT. Background. The pathogenesis of acute pulmonary edema and cardiac collapse after enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection are not completely understood.Objective. To determine the hemodynamic features and the mechanism of pulmonary edema (PE) after EV71 infection by direct intracardiac monitoring.Design. Prospective clinical and laboratory study at a tertiary medical center.Participants. Five consecutive infants, ages 2 to 13 months, with EV71 infection-proved by viral isolation in 4 and antibody in 1-with PE were enrolled. The clinical characteristics were systemically assessed. Hemodynamic profiles were determined every 4 hours by simultaneously implanted pulmonary arterial and central venous catheters during the acute stage.Results. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that all 5 infants had brainstem lesions. All patients had tachycardia and hyperthermia. Transient systolic hypertension was noted in 1 patient, and 1 presented with hypotension. Pulmonary artery pressure in all 5 infants was normal or mildly elevated (26 -31 mm Hg), and central venous pressure ranged from 10 to 22 mm Hg. Pulmonary artery occlusion pressures were normal or slightly elevated (13-16 mm Hg). Systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances were transiently increased in only 1 patient. The stroke volume index decreased to 15.3 to 35.7 mL/M 2 (normal: 30 -60 mL/M 2 ), but because of the elevated heart rate, the cardiac index did not decrease. All hemodynamics normalized within days.Conclusion. Fulminant EV71 infection may lead to severe neurologic complications and acute PE. The acute PE and cardiopulmonary decompensation in EV71 infection are not directly caused by viral myocarditis. The mechanism of PE may be related to increased pulmonary vascular permeability caused by brainstem lesions and/or systemic inflammatory response instead of increased pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure. Pediatrics 2002;109(2). URL: http://www.pediatrics.org/ cgi/content/full/109/2/e26; enterovirus 71, pulmonary edema, pathogenesis, hemodynamics, hand-foot-mouth disease.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.