Hypercytokinemia in hemiconvulsions-hemiplegia syndrome associated with dual infection with varicella zoster and Epstein-Barr viruses.

Hemiconvulsions-hemiplegia (HH) syndrome is an acquired condition in which hemiplegia develops after a preceding febrile unilateral status epilepticus in a previously healthy child. Although viral encephalitis or vascular diseases may be the underlying etiology, the pathogenesis remains unknown in the majority of cases. We measured both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid cytokine levels in a girl with HH syndrome, and found elevated plasma concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and a slightly increased plasma level of interleukin-6. Furthermore, she had a high serum concentration of soluble E-selectin, which is a marker of inflammatory endothelial activation. These findings suggest that proinflammatory cytokine-induced cerebrovascular endothelial injury could play a role in the pathogenesis of HH syndrome.