Synonyms

• Chronic Encephalitis and Epilepsy
• Chronic Localized (Focal) Encephalitis
• Epilepsy, Hemiplegia and Mental Retardation
• Rasmussen's Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Rasmussen's encephalitis is a rare disorder of the central nervous system characterized by chronic inflammation (encephalitis) of one hemisphere of the brain. As a result, the patient undergoes frequent episodes of uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that cause convulsive seizures (epilepsy). Symptoms, including paralysis of one side of the body (hemiparesis) and mental retardation usually progress over a period of a year or more. Although the exact cause of this disorder is not known, it is thought to be an autoimmune disease resulting from the presence in the brain of foreign immune system cells that cause the inflammation and the brain damage.

It occurs mostly, but not only, in children under the age of ten years, and the course of the disease is most severe during the first 8 to 12 months. After the peak response is reached, the progression of this disorder appears to stop and the patient is left with neurological deficits.

Resources

The Arc
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202)534-3700
Fax: (202)534-3731
Tel: (800)433-5255
TDD: (817)277-0553
Email: info@thearc.org
Internet: http://www.thearc.org

Center for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
Tel: (800)232-4636
TDD: (888)232-6348
Email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/

NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Email: me20t@nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Rasmussen's Syndrome and Hemispherectomy Support Network
8235 Lethbridge Road
Millersville, MD 21108
USA
Tel: (410)987-5221
Email: rssnlynn@aol.com

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Encephalitis Society
7B Saville Street
Malton
North Yorkshire, YO17 7LL
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1653 699 599
Fax: +44 (0) 1653 604 369
Email: mail@encephalitis.info
Internet: http://www.encephalitis.info

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org

Hemispherectomy Foundation
P.O. Box 1239
Aledo, TX 76008
Tel: (817)307-9880
Email: info@hemifoundation.org
Internet: http://www.hemifoundation.intuitwebsites.com/welcome.html

RE Children's Project, LLC
79 Christie Hill Road
Darien, CT 06820
Tel: (917)971-2977
Fax: (212)840-1233
Internet: http://www.rechildrens.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  4/10/2009
Copyright  1987, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2009 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.