Abstract
Introduction
The association between the virus prenatal infection by Zika virus (ZIKV) and central nervous system disorders has been well established and it has been described as the Congenital Syndrome Associated to the Zika Virus (CSZ). However, the neurological development in those patients is still an object of study. The main differential diagnosis is the Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Objective
Describe the involvement of microcephalic patients affected by the congenital infection by the Zika Virus or CMV.
Methodology
Data has been collected from microcephalic patients whose birth took place after 2016 and which also had the congenital infection confirmed or presumed. The researched data consists in: congenital infection, head circumference from birth, presence of epilepsy, treatment by mono or polytherapy, electroencephalographic patterns, neurological physical examination and evaluation of gross motor development.
Results
21 microcephalic children have been included showing the following congenital infectious syndromes: 9 were affected by cytomegalovirus (43%), 6 by the Zika virus (29%) and 6 ones by presumed infection due to the Zika virus (29%). From those ones, 13 (62%) presented epilepsy diagnosis including generalized crises and 9 (69%) were in current use of polytherapy. All of them also showed disorganized and asymmetrical base rhythms. Concerning the epileptiform activity, 5 presented multifocal activity and 3 ones hypsarrhythmia. All of the patients went under neuroimaging: 12 (57%) of them presented calcifications and 5 (24%) hydrocephalus. On the neurological exam, 17% presented a decreased axial tone and an enlarged appendicular. Smaller head circumference children had greater motor impairment and severity in the epilepsy. There was no difference in the frequency of epilepsy between children with CSZ and CMV.
Conclusion
Epilepsy is confirmed as one of the most important complications of congenital infections by CSZ and CMV.
Keywords: Zika virus, Cytomegalovirus, Epilepsy, Congenital infection, Microcephaly
Highlights
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The congenital infections are implicated in the development of epilepsy, changing in the neurologic physical exam and in motor development.
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The microcephaly outbreak highlighted the importance of studies which could establish the relation between the microcephaly and cerebral involvement.
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There have not been identified a significant difference when comparing the manifestations in neither the epilepsy profile nor in the electroencephalographic characteristics in patients with CSZ and CMV, probably due to the fact that both the pathogens are causative of microcephaly.
1. Introduction
The infection caused by Zika (ZIKV) had been considered a benign disease until October 2015 when it was observed an increase in the number of neonates with microcephaly in Brazil northeast region [1]. From this situation, several studies were published associating casually the ZIKV outbreak in several countries, including Brazil, and a congenital infection caused by the Zika Virus (CSZ) with acute microcephaly presented at birth.
In November 2015, the Ministry of Health Public Health Emergency of National Importance developed an electronic instrument called Events Record in Public Health (ERPH - microcephaly) developed by the Computer Department of the National Health Service (DATASUS) to conduct the notifications, monitoring, investigations, and the classification of the new cases of microcephaly [2].
In children presenting microcephaly, beyond the acute delay in development, epilepsy was also often found. The brain involvement usually causes epilectic seizures and it can be one of the first symptoms existing in many cases of congenital infection [3]. Studies show that epilepsy in the congenital syndrome by the SCZ manifests itself earlier and with more prevalence than other congenital infections [4]. The prenatal infection by the ZIKV may have a vertical transmission and can damage the brain in development, interfering in the multiplication and migration of the nervous system cells, accelerating the apoptosis, the formation due to clinical resemblance. The CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is the main differential diagnosis of the ZIKV.
The SCZ leads to the formation of a reduced brain size, low differentiated cortex and with less gyri [5]. It can also cause juxtacortical calcifications, cortical malformations, ventriculomegaly, epilectical seizures, delayed neuro-psychomotor with spasticity, hyperexcitability and dysphagia [6]. Affected children may have exacerbated primitive reflexes which disappear later than expected [7]. Unlike other viral congenital infections which affect multiple organs, the ZIKV has a peculiar neurotropism [8], reaching the neuronal cells and glial cells in all maturation stages, including their progenitors. Moreover, it causes an acute destructive-disruptive process to brains which would have developed as usual during the embryogenesis period, and, therefore causing a viral cerebellitis with neuronal apoptosis resulting in microcephaly [1,9].
Children affected by microcephaly are at risk of cerebral palsy, being this one a common incapacity [10,11]. According to the study of Watemberg et al. [19], it was verified that cerebral palsy occurred in 21,4% of the 216 children affected by microcephaly when compared to 8,8% of the 1.159 normocephalic children (p 〈0,001). Previous studies have indicated that cerebral palsy is part of the clinic of CSZ [10,11].
This article aims to contribute to the description of the neurological phenotype of children affected by secondary congenital microcephaly in relation to the CSZ and the CMV, comparing the motor development, epileptic pattern, electroencephalographic characteristics and the presence of cerebral palsy. This neurological phenotype contributes to doctors who will be able to precociously identify the consequences enabling early treatment and rehabilitation.
2. Methodology
This study has a contemporary, cross-sectional study, descriptive-analytical-exploratory outline. Birth data were collected retrospectively, as patients were referred from other cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Children under medical follow-up at the microcephaly outpatient clinic between January 2016 and December 2019 have been included. This outpatient clinic was recognized as a reference to Rio Grande do Sul state by Public Health Event Registration (PHEV).
It includes neonates or children affected by congenital microcephaly presenting the serological and clinic diagnosis confirmed or who are either highly suspect of being infected by the ZIKV or presenting a CMV diagnosis and who were born in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. It had been excluded from the study children who presented microcephaly due to other infectious or noninfectious causes, such as genetic syndromes, teratogens and patients born before January 2016. For the purpose of this study, congenital microcephaly was defined as a condition which causes the head circumference to be lower to Z scores below 2 standard deviations from the mean for sex and gestational age during the birth moment and 24 h after, using the Intergrowth 21st scales [12]. None of the participants included have any other positive congenital infections.
The congenital microcephaly diagnosis by ZIKV or CMV was either based on laboratory results as well as clinical-epidemiological following the “Integrated orientations of surveillance and attention to health in the field of Public Health Emergency of National Importance” [13]. It were considered confirmed cases of congenital infection by ZIKV neonates with positive results or reactive to Zika on a more precise test but with a negative or inconclusive result in at least 1 STORCH (syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, CMV or herpes simplex) on sample taken from the NB or the mother (during gestation) and two or more of the signals and symptoms (on image scans or clinical exam) presented on the table below (Table 1) [13]. It were considered suspected cases of congenital infection by ZIKV those neonates whose clinical exams were suggestive of SCZ (microcephaly with craniofacial disproportion and, at least, two neuroimaging and neurological changes according to the Table 1) but the Real-time Polymerase Chain (PCR) was negative or not realized and having negative serology or not realized [13]. It were considered confirmed cases of congenital infection by CMV those neonates whose PCR results were positive to CMV in the urine test and either having a negative result or inconclusive result to ZIKV on samples of the neonate as well as having two or more symptoms and signals presented in the Table 1 [13].
Table 1.
Most common changes identified during birth and within the 1st month of life.
| Neuroimaging Findings | Clinical Findings |
|---|---|
| Brain calcifications | Changes in muscle tone |
| Cerebral cortical developmental disorder | Posture change |
| Frontal parietal predominance of cortical thickening | Primitive reflexes exaggeration |
| Polymicrogyria | Hyperexcitability |
| Simplification of the brain gyri patterns / sulci patterns | Irritability |
| Ventriculomegaly/ Ventricular dilation | Epileptic seizures |
| Changing of the posterior fossa pattern | Sucking and swallowing difficulties |
| Brainstem Hypoplasia, cerebellum, callosal commissure | Dysphagia |
| Fundoscopy changes (retina and optic nerve) | |
| Abnormal eye movements |
Source: Adapted from Brazil (2017).
In the initial appointment, demographic and clinical data from the patients as well as the gynecologic-obstetric history and familiar history were collected [13]. The complete physical examination was realized by a geneticist doctor and by a pediatrician while the neurological exam was realized by a neuropediatrician. Imaging exams were realized in all children according to the disponibility. In the Imaging exams, the anomalies described in Table 1 were searched.
An electroencephalogram was run in all individuals of the sample. The classification of the type of epileptical seizures and of the epilepsy was determined according to the nomenclature proposed by the International League Against Epilepsy in 2017 [14]. The acquisition of electroencephalograms occurred by the NEUROTEC (Neuromap)® machine. It were used 21 scalp electrodes which were placed according to the norms of the 10–20 International System [15]. The exams had been run under spontaneous sleep and with at least 30 min of duration.
The clinical evaluation of the neuromotor development was realized through the GMFCS scale [16]. The patients were always evaluated by the same care team during the clinical appointment. The evaluators were not blinded to the type of pathology of the patient.
The motor development had been realized according to the GMFCS (Gross Motor Function Classification System) scale which is one of the tools utilized to classify the functional capacity of children presenting with cerebral palsy along with the establishing of long-term development expected [16]. This tool is widely utilized to classify the gross motor function and it has five levels of classification based on the abilities and on the initiative of the movement (the level I represents the best abilities whereas the level V the less developed ones).
The following variables were described: sex, gestational age (GA) from the birth in weeks (if pregnant and with early ultrasound, before the 12th week, this was the preferential method or in case of not being performed the Capurro technique at the birth moment, according to the hospital of origin), number of prenatal appointments (it was considered a completed prenatal if there were at least 6 appointments realized [17]), realization of the laboratorial exam for the ZIKV during the pregnancy, head circumference in centimeters and millimeters at birth, classification of head circumference according to birth GA in Z score (being microcephaly with two or more standard-deviations below the mean for the gestational age, sex and acute microcephaly defined by the Z score of the cephalic perimeter < −3), classification according to the pathology (confirmed CSZ; presumed CSZ; CMV), presence of epilepsy, use of medications(type and number) and in the GMFSC (I to V) classification.
The symmetry of the variables was verified with the Shapiro Wilk's test. The quantitative variables with symmetric distribution were described by the mean and the standard-deviation. The categorical variables were compared among themselves by the Fisher Exact test, considering a significance level of 5%.
This article is part of a study entitled “Characterization of Embryopathy Phenotype by ZIKA” approved by the Ethics and Research. The parents or guardians signed an Informed Consent Form (ICF) and the researchers signed the Data Use Commitment Term (DUCT).
3. Results
In this study 21 children were accompanied, 10 female and 11 male children. The clinical, epileptical and EEG characteristics these children were described in Table 2. The average gestational age was 36,69 weeks. According to Table 3, twenty mothers' patients (95,2%) completed the prenatal appointments. Ten pregnants (47,6%) have not been tested previously to ZIKV, 9 (42,9%) were negative and 2 (9,5%) were positive to the test. The pregnants have not collected the PCR test to CMV during the pregnancy period.
Table 2.
Clinical, epileptic, and EEG characteristics of the sample.
| Name | Sex | Cephalic Perimeter Measure (cm) | Cephalic Perimeter at birth | Resulted of collected ZIKV test | Congenital Infection | Epilepsy | Types of epilepsy | Spasms | Antiepileptic usage | Medications | Background Activity -Asymmetrical | Background Activity - Disorganized | Epileptiform activity | GMFSC -Classification | Cerebral Palsy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EGCM | Male | 31 | <2SD | Negative | CMV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | No | |
| TDPD | Male | 28,5 | <3SD | Negative | CMV | Yes | Generalized | Yes | Monotherapy | Valproate | Yes | Yes | Generalized | 5 | Yes |
| ILP | Male | 29 | <3SD | Not tested | CMV | Yes | Generalized | Yes | Polytherapy | Phenobarbital and Valproate | Yes | Yes | Multifocal | 5 | Yes |
| JMM | Male | 30,8 | <2SD | Not tested | Presumed Infection by ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | No | Polytherapy | Clonazepam and Valrpoate | Yes | Yes | Generalized | 4 | Yes |
| YVMW | Female | 26,5 | <3SD | Positive | ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | No | Polytherapy | Clonazepam and Phenobarbital | Yes | Yes | Multifocal | 5 | Yes |
| JVA | Male | 29.5 | <2SD | Not tested | Presumed Infection by ZIKV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | Yes | |
| VIC | Female | 27 | <3SD | Not tested | ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | No | Monotherapy | Phenobarbital | Yes | Yes | Generalized | 4 | Yes |
| ILOC | Female | 30,5 | <2SD | Negative | CMV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | No | |
| LCB | Female | 32 | <2SD | Positive | ZIKV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | No | |
| KAJPM | Male | 30 | <2SD | Not tested | ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | No | Monotherapy | Valproate and Phenobarbital | Yes | Yes | Generalized | 3 | Yes |
| EGMS | Male | 30 | <2SD | Not tested | ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | No | Monotherapy | Valproate | Yes | Yes | Multifocal | 5 | Yes |
| HKSR | Female | 30 | <3SD | Negative | CMV | Yes | Generalized | No | Polytherapy | Valproate and Phenobarbital | Yes | Yes | Multifocal | 5 | Yes |
| LNP | Female | 28 | <3SD | Negative | Presumed Infection by ZIKV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | Yes | |
| MLSL | Female | 30 | <2SD | Negative | CMV | Yes | Generalized | Yes | Polytherapy | Valproate and Vigabatrin | Yes | Yes | Hipsarritmia | 5 | Yes |
| HAB | Female | 28 | <3SD | Not tested | ZIKV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | Yes | |
| LHLM | Female | 30 | <3SD | Negative | Presumed Infection by ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | Yes | Polytherapy | Valproate, Clobazam and Vigabatrin | Yes | Yes | Hipsarritmia | 5 | Yes |
| ALP | Female | 30 | <2SD | Not tested | CMV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | No | |
| LRFSP | Male | 29 | <3SD | Not tested | Presumed Infection by ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | Yes | Polytherapy | Valproate, Phenobarbital and Levetiracetam | Yes | Yes | Multifocal | 5 | Yes |
| AA | Male | 29 | <3SD | Negative | CMV | No | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | Yes | |
| BGR | Male | 30 | <3SD | Negative | Presumed Infection by ZIKV | Yes | Generalized | Yes | Polytherapy | Valproate and Clobazam | Yes | Yes | Focal | 5 | Yes |
| AFR | Male | 29 | <2SD | Not tested | CMV | Yes | Generalized | Yes | Polytherapy | Valproate, Phenobarbital and Levetiracetam | Yes | Yes | Hipsarritmia | 5 | Yes |
Table 3.
Samples' description.
| Sex | Female | 10 (47,6%) |
| Male | 11 (52,4%) | |
| Completed Prenatal | Yes | 20 (95,2%) |
| No | 1 (4,8%) | |
| ZIKV's collect during pregnancy | Yes | 11 (52,4%) |
| No | 10 (47,6%) | |
| Resulted of collected ZIKV test | Positive | 2 (9,5%) |
| Negative | 9 (42,9%) | |
| Not tested | 10 (47,6%) | |
| Cephalic Perimeter Measure | Females | 29,2 ± 1,73 cm |
| Males | 29,61 ± 0,80 cm | |
| Cephalic Perimeter at birth | Z < −2 | 10 (47,6%) |
| Z < −3 | 11 (52,4%) | |
| Congenital Infection | CMV | 9 (42,9%) |
| ZIKV | 6 (28,6%) | |
| Presumed Infection by ZIKV | 6 (28,6%) |
The main for the cephalic perimeter for girls was 29,2 ± 1,73 cm and for boys 29,61 ± 0,80 cm. On the curve of Z score for the cephalic perimeter for weight and sex, 10 patients (47,6%) were classified as below 2 standard-deviations and 11 patients (52,4%) below 3 standard-deviations.
Among the 21 patients studied, 9 patients had the CMV diagnosis (42,9%) confirmed by positive urine CMV PCR, 6 to CSZ (28,6%) and another 6 to presumed infection by ZIKV (28,6%). The presumed infection diagnosis was determined through the characteristic phenotype of CSZ however, without laboratory diagnosis due to the difficulty of detecting the virus among the infected pregnants retrospectively.
Among those children, 61,9% (N = 13) presented the epilepsy diagnosis, and within those 13, 69,2% (N = 9) were using polytherapy in their treatment. In the evaluation of the types of epilepsy, they were all considered as generalized. Between the 13 children, 53,8% (N = 7) presented spasms. Among the children who presented epilepsy, the electroencephalographic analysis evidenced that all of them demonstrated asymmetrical disorganized background activity. As for the epileptiform activity, 7,7% (N = 1) presented focal activity, 38,5% multifocal activity (N = 5), 30,8% generalized activity (N = 4) and 23,1% hypsarrhythmia (N = 3). In Table 2, we observed that there was not a difference between the frequency of the epilepsy among children with microcephaly by CSZ or CMV (Fisher Exact test p = 0,673).
Analyzing the electroencephalographic profile, presence of epilepsy, type of crisis and use of antiepileptic only by patients with CSZ confirmed and presumed, it has been observed that the presence of epilepsy was 66,7% (N = 8), being the generalized crisis the most frequent type. Epileptic spasms were presented in 37,5% (N = 3). The patients using more than one medication were 62,5% (N = 5). The background activity of patients presenting epilepsy were disorganized and asymmetrical. When present, the most frequent epileptiform activities were multifocal and generalized. In Table 4, the data referring to the cerebral involvement between all the congenital infections included in the study was compared.
Table 4.
Cerebral Involvement in patients with CMV, CSZ confirmed or presumed.
| CMV Number/Total (%) | CSZ confirmed or presumed Number/ Total (%) | Fisher Exact Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy | 0,673 | ||
| Yes | 5 (55,6%) | 8 (66,7%) | |
| No | 4 (44,4%) | 4 (44,4%) | |
| Spasms | 4/5 (80%) | 3/8 (37,5%) | 0,266 |
| Antiepileptic usage | |||
| Monotherapy | 1/5 (20%) | 3/8 (37,5%) | |
| Polytherapy | 4/5 (80%) | 5/8 (62,5%) | |
| Background Activity | |||
| Asymmetrical | 5/5 (100%) | 8/8 (100%) | |
| Disorganized | 5/5 (100%) | 8/8 (100%) | |
| Epileptiform activity | |||
| Focal | 0/5 (0%) | 1/8(12,5%) | |
| Multifocal | 2/5 (40%) | 3/8 (37,5%) | |
| Generalized | 1/5 (20%) | 3/8 (37,5%) | |
| Hipsarritmia | 2/5 (40%) | 1/8 (12,5%) | |
| Cerebral Palsy | 6/9 (66,7%) | 11/12 (91,7%) | 0,355 |
| GMFCS 5 | 5/9 (55,6%) | 7/12 (58,3%) | 0,077 |
The cerebral palsy was found in 91,7% of patients with CSZ confirmed or presumed and in 66,7% of patients with CMV. The GMFCS classification which represents a greater severity had a similar percentage in both groups, 55,6% in the CMV and 58,3% in the CSZ confirmed and presumed group. The GMFCS scale was applied during the evaluations in all patients. A major part of them, 66,6% were classified in IV and V, 14,3% in III and 14,3% in I.
A comparison between the Z score of cephalic perimeter and the GMFCS classification was realized and described in Table 5. It's noticeable that 100% of children classified as GMFCS I and I had the cephalic perimeter between −2 and − 3 standard-deviations, and 66,7% of patients with scores below −3 standard-deviations presented the most severe classification in the GMFCS. The result of the Fisher Exact Test was 0,273.
Table 5.
Comparison between the GMFCS score and the Z score of the Cephalic Perimeter.
| GMFCS Classification | I Number/ Total (%) | II Number/ Total l (%) | III Number/ Total (%) | IV Number/ Total (%) | V Number/ Total (%) | Total | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP < −2 | 3/10(100%) | 1/10(100%) | 1/10(33,3%) | 1/10 (50%) | 4/10(33,3%) | 10 | 0,273 |
| CP < −3 | 0/11 (0%) | 0/11 (0%) | 2/11(66,7%) | 1/11 (50%) | 8/11(66,7%) | 11 |
In the association between epilepsy with the GMFCS classification, the result of the Fisher Exact Test was 0,007, thus showing that there was a direct association between the two variables. Through the adjusted standardized residual analysis, patients with GMFSC IV (100%) and V (75%) have more predisposition to present epilepsy whereas patients with GMFCS I have less. When compared, the etiology of patients with epilepsy according to the classification, a p significant value was not obtained. The association is described in Table 6.
Table 6.
Comparison between the GMFSC and the epilepsy prevalence and its cause.
| GMFCS Classification | I Number/ n = 3(%) | II Number/ n = (%) | III Number/ Total (%) | IV Number/ Total (%) | V Number/ Total(%) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| With Epilepsy | 0/3 (0%) | 0/1 (0%) | 1/3(33,3%) | 2/2(100%) | 10/12(83,3%) | 0,007 |
| CMV | 2/3 (66,7%) | 1/1 (100%) | 1/3(33,3%) | – | 5/12 (41,7%) | 0,622 |
| ZIKV + probable ZIKV | 1/3 (33,3%) | – | 2/3 (66,7%) | 2/2(100%) | 7/12 (58,3%) |
4. Discussion
The congenital infections are implicated in the development of epilepsy, changing in the neurologic physical exam and in motor development. As a result of ZIKV, the microcephaly outbreak highlighted the importance of studies which could establish the relation between the microcephaly and cerebral involvement. This study included 21 patients with a microcephaly diagnosis due to congenital CMV or either CSZ confirmed or presumed. The majority of the patients of this study had the epilepsy diagnosis, 61, 9% (N = 13) and 69,2% (N = 9) demonstrated that epileptic seizures may be difficult to control. The background activities of patients who presented epilepsy are disorganized and asymmetrical, thus showing the immaturity of the NCS. From the 13 children diagnosed with epilepsy, 50,8% (N = 7) presented spasms. All children started with epileptic seizures before reaching 1 year of age and there was not difference in this timepoint between children with CSZ and CMV.
This study compared the neurological clinic and the electroencephalographic patterns of 21 patients with microcephaly and diagnosis of CMV and either CSZ confirmed or presumed. It was found that there is a prevalence of epilepsy in this study similar to the consulted literature (66,7% of children with infection by ZIKV or probable and 61,9% in the total sample). The form in which the epilepsy behaves was also similar, since the polytherapy is presented in 62,9% of children with microcephaly which was caused by either an infection or epilepsy. Moreover, all the patients with epilepsy presented disorganized and asymmetric patterns, thus showing the immaturity of the nervous central system. There have not been identified a significant difference when comparing the manifestations in neither the epilepsy profile nor in the electroencephalographic characteristics in patients with CSZ and CMV, probably due to the fact that both the pathogens are causative of microcephaly.
The Carvalho et at [18]. included 91 children with microcephaly caused by ZIKV. Among these, 65 (71,4%) developed epilepsy during the following, similarly to this study (66,7%). While the epileptic spasms (N = 55) were the most common type of convulsion in the first year of life in Carvalho et al.'s studies [18], the current study has found a lower incidence of 37,5%. Among the 65 epileptic participants evaluated by the electroencephalogram, the most frequent patterns observed were focal epileptiform abnormalities (53,2%) as the epileptiform main activity, whereas the current study has shown the multifocal activity and generalized ones as being most prevalent [18].
In the study of Kwak et al. [19], which included patients with microcephaly caused by CMV, 12 out of the 31 (38,7%) developed epileptic seizures, similarly to this study (44,4%). The study of Suzuki et al [20] has found an incidence of epilepsy associated with the congenital CMV which varied between 10% and 56% as well as this study (55,6%).
In the study of Melo et al [21], during the motor evaluation of the 59 patients included in the study, a child (2%) was classified as GMFCS level I, three (5%) as GMFCS level II, seven (12%) as GMFCS level IV and 48 (81%) as GMFCS level V. Similarly to our study, these results exemplify that the acute impairment of the motor function (GMFCS level V) occurred in most of the cases, mainly when related to the lowest score of the cephalic perimeter from birth. The level V on the GMFCS scale indicates that there is an acute motor impairment and that the children has an impairment of functional capacity, thus needing the assistance in performing tasks as well as adapted equipment.
Lage et al.'s study [22] has shown that the neurological abnormalities were found in the most of cases: hypertonia/ spasticity (97%), delayed neurological development from the beginning (92,8%) and hyperreflexia (73,3%), these suggest early signs of acute motor impairment. These findings are consistent with the clinical diagnosis for cerebral palsy which describes a group of permanent disturbances on the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation. It was also noticed that the cephalic perimeter is likely to be a prognostic marker of a worst development result at this age.
In Quilião et al. ‘s study [23], among the 11 evaluated children, 8 presented acute microcephaly associated with motor disability and/or epilepsy. It was observed that children with less motor impairment had minor relative change in head circumference, normal electroencephalogram tracing and absence of seizures [23]. In this study, 100% of children with GMFCS classification I and II had lower values of Z score of cephalic perimeter when compared to other classifications and the patients with more acute GMFCS levels were more likely to be epileptic.
Taking into consideration the few numbers of participants in this study as well as the clinical and physiopathological diversity of CSZ, these results must not be generalized. The monitoring of these children is crucial to better comprehend the real impact of the ZIKV on motor development and its abilities. This represents the first step to understand the motor function in children with CZS using a validated scale and also to define necessary interventions to minimize the motor sequels and functional limitations of these children. Another obstacle was the difficulty in diagnose the infection by ZIKV retrospectively in asymptomatic women, this is because the exposure to the ZIKV is extraordinarily difficult to determine if the patients were not tested using the PCR during the acute infection.
Comprehending the perspective of the gross motor function and promptly identifying possible deficiencies helps rehabilitation teams create better treatment plans based on the motor prognoses. Better plans will give children better support so that they may more efficiently reach all their motor potential.
To conclude, we emphasize the importance of investigation of the CSZ specially when a child was born from an asymptomatic mother presents microcephaly from birth or during the postnatal period. The child monitoring, associated with electroencephalogram, may help to produce a more precise diagnosis, and therefore anticipate a neurological rehabilitation of these patients as well as raise parents' awareness to a possible prognosis. Future works are necessary to (i) predict the evolvement of the ZIKV in relation to the electroencephalographic pattern and to the epilepsy profile, (ii) optimize the treatment of these patients, (iii) better understand how the ZIKV infection behaves in short and long term and (iv) to evaluate the persistency of the neurological sequels over time.
Data sharing
All data are publicly available and listed in this article.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
Lavinia Schüler Faccini: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Supervision. Luciana Friedrich: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Supervision. Sara Kvitko de Moura: Conceptualization, Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Fernanda Diffini Santa Maria: Resources, Data curation, Investigation, Data curation. Steice da Silva Inácio de Bone: Resources, Data curation, Investigation, Visualization.
Declaration of Competing Interest
We declare there are no competing interests.
Contributor Information
Lavinia Schüler Faccini, Email: lavinia.faccini@ufrgs.br.
Luciana Friedrich, Email: lfriedrich@hcpa.edu.br.
Sara Kvitko de Moura, Email: sara.kvitko@gmail.com.
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