Hopkins syndrome

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Hopkins syndrome is a rare poliomyelitis-like neurological syndrome that occurs following an episode of acute asthma.

Clinical presentation

It usually manifests as flaccid paralysis of one or more limbs, several days or weeks following an episode of acute asthma.

Pathology

The pathogenesis is unclear. Notably, many, but not all, case reports have identified many different viral triggers for the asthma attack .

Radiographic features

MRI
  • T2: hyperintense anterior horn cell
  • T1+C (Gd): enhancement of the ventral nerve roots and anterior horn cell

Treatment and prognosis

Prognosis is usually not good and patients may remain paralyzed permanently, however, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin with a good response has been reported in some cases .

History and etymology

The condition was first described by Ian James Hopkins (1934-2019), Australia's first pediatric neurologist, and Lloyd K Shield, Australian neurologist, in their seminal 1974 case report .

Differential diagnosis