ALTERNATING HEMIPLEGIA OF CHILDHOOD - INSIGHTS INTO ITS PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood is a rare disorder characterized b y episodic paroxysmal attacks of neurologic dysfunction and has histor ically been thought to represent a migraine equivalent, an unusual for m of epilepsy, or a movement disorder. Medical treatment with a variet y of anticonvulsants and migraine agents is largely unsuccessful, and progressive mental deterioration is universally expected. Despite exte nsive laboratory studies, the pathophysiologic basis of this condition has thus far eluded identification. Recently, an international worksh op was held to generate testable hypotheses regarding the pathophysiol ogy of alternating hemiplegia of childhood. This paper summarizes the major proceedings of that workshop, and hopes to stimulate further int erest in elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this unusual disorder.