Congenital hydrocephalus in a trisomy 9p gained child: a case report

Mikkel Bak Henningsen, Helga Angela Gulisano, Carsten Reidies Bjarkam*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus caused by excessive liquor production due to choroid plexus hyperplasia is a rare condition that may necessitate unusual treatment paradigms. It can be seen in trisomy 9p where coexisting congenital heart disease additionally may complicate the therapeutic approach as illustrated in the current case report.

CASE PRESENTATION: At 20 months of age, a Caucasian girl with trisomy 9 and family history of an older brother and twin sister having the same syndrome displayed sign of congenital hydrocephalus due to increasing head circumference. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged lateral ventricles and a prominent choroid plexus, and the girl was treated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, which 2 days later had to be replaced with a ventriculoatrial shunt as cerebrospinal fluid formation greatly exceeded the ability of the patient's abdominal absorptive capability. At 16 years of age, the patient was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and diminished ejection fraction. Some months later, she was admitted to the neurosurgical ward showing signs of shunt dysfunction due to a colloid cyst in the third ventricle. Cystic drainage through endoscopic puncture only helped temporarily. Revision of the shunt system showed occlusion of the ventricular drain, and replacement was merely temporary alleviating. Intracerebral pressure was significantly increased at around 30 mmHg, prompting externalization of the drain, and measurements revealed high cerebrospinal fluid production of 60-100 ml liquor per hour. Thus, endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation was performed bilaterally leading to an immediate decrease of daily cerebrospinal fluid formation to 20-30 ml liquor per hour, and these values where stabilized by pharmaceutical treatment with acetazolamide 100 mg/kg/day and furosemide 1 mg/kg/day. Subsequently a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. Follow-up after 1 and 2 months displayed no signs of hydrocephalus or ascites.

CONCLUSIONS: High cerebrospinal fluid volume load and coexisting heart disease in children with trisomy 9p may call for endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation and pharmacological therapy to diminish the daily cerebrospinal fluid production to volumes that allow proper ventriculoperitoneal shunting.

Original languageEnglish
Article number206
JournalJournal of Medical Case Reports
Volume16
Issue number1
ISSN1752-1947
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 May 2022

Bibliographical note

© 2022. The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Child
  • Choroid Plexus/surgery
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus/etiology
  • Male
  • Trisomy
  • Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt/adverse effects
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Choroid plexus hyperplasia
  • Congenital heart disease
  • VA shunt
  • Case report
  • Trisomy 9p
  • Endoscopy

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