The rare disease that numbs half the body

Alternating hemiplegia syndrome of childhood is a condition characterized by numbness or decreased strength in one half of the body, although it can also be bilateral, and by rapid eye movements. .

The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) offers treatment to treat and improve the symptoms of patients with this disease .

Dr. Laura Santana Díaz, a genetics specialist at the National Medical Center, explained that Hemiplegia is a very rare disease, with an incidence of 1 in every million people worldwide, which is caused by mutations in the genetic material of the ATP1A3 gene. , which is mainly expressed in the central nervous system .

He highlighted that human beings have 2 copies of each gene, one inherited from their mother and one from their father, however, in this disease the mutation in the ATP1A3 gene is acquired de novo or new, so they do not necessarily have an affected father, but by suffering from the disease and having the mutation, the risk for the children is 50 percent for each pregnancy, so it is imperative that patients and their families have genetic counseling .

For his part, Dr. Omar Alejandro Martínez Fernández, a pediatric neurology specialist at that medical unit, explained that The disease is characterized by beginning before 18 months of age with a case of hemiplegia (numbness or reduction of strength in a part of the body), which mainly affects the extremities, is unilateral, bilateral and alternating. .

Furthermore, he said, It usually lasts from minutes to weeks and may present ocular, cardiac or gastrointestinal symptoms. .

Dr. Martínez Fernández noted that there are currently only two cases of minors, ages 6 and 8, who were diagnosed two years ago and remain in stable condition under follow-up at the General Hospital of the La Raza National Medical Center.

The specialists detailed that The diagnosis of this pathology is made through molecular studies, such as gene sequencing. , in collaboration with other Mexican research institutions.

They pointed out that diagnosis is difficult due to the complexity of the symptoms and the rarity of the disease , which is why the joint participation of a multidisciplinary group of specialists is imperative.

With information from the IMSS

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