Cerebral Lesions in Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita

Abstract

Summary The author reviews sundry earlier conjectures about the etiology of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (a.m.c.). Eight cases are described. In four of these the author demonstrates established findings of organic cerebral lesions. A fifth case, an imbecile girl, is a suspected case on the basis of findings with pneumoencephalography. Of the remaining three cases two arouse suspicion of similar lesions, whereas the third and least investigated case leaves the question unanswered. As judged by these cases it would appear that cerebral injuries are commonly encountered in patients suffering from a.m.c. This statement, which has not before been mentioned, is also supported by a critical examination of earlier case histories, in which symptoms indicating cerebral lesions were often found. It is important that the diagnostic criteria in a.m.c. should be fully satisfied. A brief review is given of opinions expressed by other authors about the symptomatology in a.m.c. Finally it is maintained that the dominant symptomatologic conditions in a.m.c. seem to be the pronounced, bilateral deformities present at birth in both the, upper and the lower extremities. Lésions cérébrales dans des cas ?arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Ľauteur donne un aperçu sommaire de conjectures antérieures concernant ľétiologie de ľarthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Il rapporte 8 cas traités par lui‐même. Dans 5 ?entre eux, ľauteur trouve des signes établis de lésions cérébrales. Parmi les trois cas restants, deux ?entre eux ont réVeillé des soupçons ?avoir de telles lésions, tandis que le troisieme cas a laissé la question sans réponse. Hirnbeschädigungen bei Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Verfasser gibt zunächst eine kurze Zusammenstellung der die Aetiologie der Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita betreffenden, früher ausgesprochenen Hypothesen. Acht eigene Fälle werden präsentiert. Bei fünf unter diesen wurden Zeichen von zweifelloser Hirnschädigung festgestellt. Unter den drei restlichen Fällen befanden sich zwei mit verdächtigten Hirnläsionen, während bei dem dritten diese Frage offen gelassen werden musste. Lesiones cerebrales en la artrogryposis múltiplex congenita. El autor resume brevemente conjeturas anteriores acerea de la etiologfa de la artrogryposis múltiplex congénita. Casuística de ocho pacientes particulares. En cinco de estos casos el autor halla sintomas establecidos de lesiones cerebrates. En los demás tres casos, dos de ellos hacen nacer sospechas en cuanto a tales lesiones, mientras que el tercer caso deja el problema sin resolver.