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Case Reports
. 2022 Nov 15;114(19):1298-1306.
doi: 10.1002/bdr2.2100. Epub 2022 Oct 9.

Additional evidence for the vascular disruption defect hypothesis in a novel case of brainstem disconnection syndrome

Marie-Aricie Vekemans  1 , Paul Maurice  2 , Mohamed Lachtar  3 , Eléonore Blondiaux  4 , Jean-Marie Jouannic  2 , Lydie Burglen  5   6 , Diana Rodriguez  1 , Catherine Garel  4 , Stéphanie Valence  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Additional evidence for the vascular disruption defect hypothesis in a novel case of brainstem disconnection syndrome

Marie-Aricie Vekemans et al. Birth Defects Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: Brainstem disconnection syndrome is a rare and severe disease resulting from a midbrain-hindbrain segmental defect. Clinical signs include a severe neurological impairment, an early death (usually during the first year of life), and pathognomonic postnatal brain imaging features. Two major hypotheses are proposed to explain the etiopathogenesis of this syndrome, namely an inborn error of morphogenesis or a vascular disruption defect.

Case report and literature review: Here we report on prenatal (ultrasound; fetal MRI) and postnatal (MRI) neuroimaging findings observed in a full-term female newborn with a brainstem disconnection syndrome. The prenatal and postnatal findings point toward an early fetal vascular disruption defect as the pregnancy was marked by three episodes of hospitalization resulting from a very severe maternal dehydration. The first episode took place as early as the 18th week of gestation. Our clinical follow-up at 1 year age is well in line with the findings observed in 13 other cases reported in the literature. Interestingly, among these 13 cases, a vascular disruption defect was suggested in 8 patients and confirmed by autopsy in at least 2 cases.

Conclusion: In the present report, we bring objective evidence for the antenatal cause of a brainstem disconnection syndrome resulting from a vascular disruption defect occurring in the context of a severe maternal dehydration. In particular, our neuroimaging findings observed during pregnancy and after birth illustrate the prenatal occurrence of this vascular disruption defect.

Keywords: brainstem disconnection syndrome; midbrain-hindbrain segmental defect; prenatal vascular disruption.

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References

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