Hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome in a quadriplegic child: an argument for the triggering role of impaired thermoregulatory response.

STUDY

DESIGN

A case presentation of hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (HSES).

OBJECTIVE

To describe an unusual complication of uncontrolled fever in a tetraplegic child and to discuss possible pathophysiological mechanisms in these circumstances.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: HSES is a rare and dramatic disorder of unknown origin occurring mainly in infants and young children. Clinical features of HSES associate hyperpyrexia, acute diarrhea, circulatory collapse, coma, convulsions, and multiple organ failure (MOF). Altered physiologic thermoregulatory response in infants exposed to abruptly increased core temperature or altered thermal environment, and links with heat stroke, have been mentioned in previous publications.

METHODS

We report a case of HSES occurring in a 6-year-old girl with post-traumatic C4 quadriplegia. She eventually experienced hyperpyrexia, deep shock, watery diarrhea, and severe MOF developed rapidly. Despite rapidly resolving MOF, severe brain lesions consistent with HSES were observed and resulted in permanent neurologic impairment.

RESULTS

Negative bacterial and viral screening eliminated a septic origin. In this child, impaired thermoregulatory response to acute hyperpyrexia resulting from complete quadriplegia could be the necessary condition for the development of HSES in the presence of acute hyperpyrexia of unknown origin.

CONCLUSION

Quadriplegic patients, especially young children, could be considered at increased risk of developing severe MOF and acute central nervous system impairment consistent with HSES, when exposed to heat stress and should be treated promptly.