[Autopsy report of two cases with enterovirus type 71 infection brainstem encephalitis and literature review].

OBJECTIVE

To understand clinicopathologic characteristics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

METHODS

The data of two autopsy cases with brainstem encephalitis caused by enterovirus type 71 infection were analyzed.

RESULTS

The age of the two patients was younger ( < or = 3 age). The clinical course was rapidly progressive, vesicular rashes were found in one case and the other case had no rashes. Both patients had clinical manifestations of central nervous system. Rapid progression to death were preceded by the development of pulmonary edema and hemorrhage. The results of the autopsy showed that the brain and brain stem were most severely involved and there were inflammation and necrosis. There were lung edema and hemorrhage. The myocardium and other organs were not infiltrated by inflammatory cells.

CONCLUSION

Hand-foot- and-mouth disease with enterovirus type 71 infection often affected central nervous system, rapid progression to death was preceded by the development of brain stem encephalitis and pulmonary edema.