Rasmussen encephalitis

Last edit by Alaric Steinmetz on

ICD-11: 8A62.Y

Rasmussen encephalitis is a rare cause of progressive pediatric epilepsy. Rasmussen encephalitis causes unilateral focal epilepsy in children, which is typically therapy-resistant and leads to significant hemiparesis as well as cognitive impairments [^1].

Etiology

An immune response to an unknown antigen is suspected as the etiology, which typically affects one hemisphere[^1]. Although the underlying pathology is unilateral, studies have shown atrophy and EEG abnormalities in the unaffected hemisphere[^1].

Therapy

Surgical

In cases of therapy-resistant epilepsy, hemispherotomy or functional hemispherectomy with a success rate of 70-80% are possible surgical treatment options[^2].