COMA WITH ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS AND PROLONGED COGNITIVE DISTURBANCES - ANEW SUBSET OF ACUTE ENCEPHALOPATHY

We describe two children who presented with an acute encephalopathy pr eceded by a prodromal illness. The disease was marked by an active pha se of coma or confusion with abnormal motor movements, followed by a r ecovery phase with a rapid return of motor function and a gradual impr ovement in speech and social behavior. No cause was found. These may b e additional representative cases of a new syndrome of encephalopathy which is characterized by a distinctive course and a relatively good p rognosis.