Hemiplegia alterans

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
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Synonyms	AHC
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Alternating hemiplegia is a rare neurological disorder that develops in childhood, most often before the child is 18 months old.

Clinical features

The disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of paralysis that involve one or both sides of the body, multiple limbs, or a single limb. The paralysis may affect different parts of the body at different times and may be brief or last for several days. Oftentimes these episodes will resolve after sleep.

Signs and symptoms

In addition to alternating paralysis, affected children may also have abnormal movements involving stiffening or "dance-like" movements of a limb, as well as walking and balance problems. Some children have seizures. Children may have normal or delayed development. There are both benign and more serious forms of the disorder.

Cause

Alternating hemiplegia is primarily caused by mutations in the ATP1A3 gene. Occasionally, a mutation in the ATP1A2 gene is involved in the condition. These genes provide instructions for making very similar proteins. Mutations in these genes reduce the activity of an enzyme called Na+/K+ ATPase, which affects the signals that control muscle movement. However, it not yet clear how the reduced enzyme activity leads to the symptoms of the disorder.

Treatment

Drug therapy including verapamil may help to reduce the severity and duration of attacks of paralysis associated with the more serious form of alternating hemiplegia

Prognosis

Children with the benign form of alternating hemiplegia have a good prognosis. Those who experience the more severe form have a poor prognosis because intellectual and mental capacities do not respond to drug therapy, and balance and gait problems continue. Over time, walking unassisted becomes difficult or impossible.

External links

• Alternating Hemiplegia Information Page at NINDS

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