Excitotoxicity in encephalopathy associated with STEC O-157 infection

Publication date: Available online 14 December 2017
Source:Brain and Development
Author(s): Shigenobu Ishida, Kumi Yasukawa, Mai Koizumi, Katsuhiro Abe, Nozomi Hirai, Takafumi Honda, Hiroshi Sakuma, Hiroko Tada, Jun-ichi Takanashi
Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of the severe complications of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and acute encephalopathy. A 3-year-old boy with acute encephalopathy associated with STEC O-157 HUS showed increased levels of IL-6 and IL-10, which normalized after methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and additionally exhibited a transient increase of glutamine on MR spectroscopy. This finding suggests that excitotoxicity, in addition to hypercytokinemia, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HUS encephalopathy.



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