Lin Chien-Heng, Fu Ru-Huei, Chou I-Ching, Chang Yu-Tzu, Hong Syuan-Yu
Division of Pediatrics Pulmonology, China Medical University Children's Hospital, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
Ital J Pediatr. 2025 May 13;51(1):138. doi: 10.1186/s13052-025-01980-2.
Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a clinical syndrome marked by the sudden onset of muscle weakness or paralysis, requiring immediate medical intervention due to its potential for significant morbidity and mortality. Despite extensive studies on AFP, comparative analyses between cases with myelitis (M-AFP) and non-myelitis (NM-AFP) remain scarce. This study seeks to address this gap by analyzing demographic, clinical, and etiological distinctions between these groups.
A retrospective study was conducted on 39 pediatric AFP patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2021. Participants were categorized into M-AFP (n = 22) and NM-AFP (n = 17) groups based on clinical symptoms and diagnostic imaging. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and underlying causes were analyzed to identify differences between the groups. Statistical methods were employed to assess significance.
Significant clinical differences were observed: limb numbness was more prevalent in M-AFP, while myalgia was more common in NM-AFP. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell (CSF WBC) counts were noted in M-AFP cases, though the difference was not statistically significant. Etiologies of M-AFP included multiple sclerosis and enterovirus infections, while NM-AFP involved polymyositis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and hypokalemic periodic paralysis.
This study highlights the distinct clinical and etiological profiles of M-AFP and NM-AFP, emphasizing the need for tailored diagnostic strategies to enhance outcomes in pediatric patients.
急性弛缓性麻痹（AFP）是一种临床综合征，其特征为肌肉无力或麻痹突然发作，因其具有导致严重发病和死亡的可能性，故需要立即进行医学干预。尽管对AFP进行了广泛研究，但脊髓炎相关AFP（M-AFP）病例与非脊髓炎相关AFP（NM-AFP）之间的比较分析仍然很少。本研究旨在通过分析这些组之间的人口统计学、临床和病因学差异来填补这一空白。
对2012年至2021年期间诊断的39例儿科AFP患者进行了回顾性研究。根据临床症状和诊断成像，将参与者分为M-AFP组（n = 22）和NM-AFP组（n = 17）。分析人口统计学和临床特征、实验室检查结果及潜在病因，以确定两组之间的差异。采用统计方法评估显著性。
观察到显著的临床差异：肢体麻木在M-AFP中更普遍，而肌痛在NM-AFP中更常见。M-AFP病例的脑脊液白细胞（CSF WBC）计数升高，尽管差异无统计学意义。M-AFP的病因包括多发性硬化症和肠道病毒感染，而NM-AFP涉及多发性肌炎、吉兰-巴雷综合征和低钾性周期性麻痹。
本研究突出了M-AFP和NM-AFP不同的临床和病因学特征，强调需要制定针对性的诊断策略以改善儿科患者的治疗结果。
