Affiliations: Department of Neuropathology, Johannes
Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany | The Neurospinal Hospital, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates | Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics,
Wilhelms-University, Münster, Germany | Department of Pediatrics, Welcare Hospital, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Note: [] Correspondence: Hans H. Goebel, M.D., Department of
Neuropathology Johannes Gutenberg-University Medical Center Langenbeckstrasse 1
D-55101 Mainz, Germany. Tel: (49) 6131 17 7308, fax: (49) 6131 17 6606. E-mail:
goebel@neuropatho.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Abstract: Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is a rare inflammatory myopathy which
occurs after injection of aluminium-containing vaccines against hepatitis B
virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus, and tetanus toxoid. Most of the cases reported
are from France and are adult patients. We report a rare case of MMF in a
3-month-old male child of Indian origin. He was immunized for HBV at birth
after which he developed generalized hypotonia, and central nervous system and
peripheral nervous system manifestations at 1 month of age. Muscle biopsy
showed typical features of MMF and aluminium could be detected in the muscle
biopsy macrophages by ultrastructural examination and LAMMA technique. Our case
is the youngest case of MMF and one of few from Asia. (J Pediatr Neurol 2004;
2(4): 225–229).
