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Methadone Intoxication in a Child: Toxic Encephalopathy?

Intensive Care Unit Hospital de Dona Estefânia Lisbon, Portugal

António Campos Rainho, MD

Neurosurgery Department Hospital de Santa Maria Lisbon, Portugal

Maria do Carmo Vale, MD

Intensive Care Unit Hospital de Dona Estefânia Lisbon, Portugal

João Estrada, MD

Intensive Care Unit Hospital de Dona Estefânia Lisbon, Portugal

Rosalina Valente, MD

Intensive Care Unit Hospital de Dona Estefânia Lisbon, Portugal

Manuela Correia, MD

Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Department Hospital de Santa Maria Lisbon, Portugal

José Pedro Vieira, MD

Neurology Department Hospital de Dona Estefânia Lisbon, Portugal, hde.neuro{at}mail.telepac.pt.

Deolinda Barata, MD

Intensive Care Unit Hospital de Dona Estefânia Lisbon, Portugal

Methadone is used in the treatment of opioid addiction. Acute intoxication can lead to severe consequences and can even be lethal. In several case reports and small series, a presumably toxic leukoencephalopathy is described resulting from inhalation of heroin. We present the case of a 3-year-old boy who ingested methadone accidentally. In a coma with acute obstructive hydrocephalus owing to massive cerebellar edema and supratentorial lesions, he was successfully treated with methylprednisolone and cerebrospinal fluid external drainage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an encephalopathy associated with synthetic opioid intoxication. (J Child Neurol 2006;21:618—620; DOI 10.2310/7010.2006.00146).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 21, No. 7, 618-620 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/08830738060210071101


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