my 3 years old going down hill with missing ACA A1 segment

[opcom168]

Hi,

I am worried my son probably going heading down hill with absent/missing ACA A1 segment. He is also has very poor vision (OA) with nystagmus. He has hemiplegic event last years by treating his sinus issue somehow has positive effect for 8~10 months no hemiplegic events. Last week he had major hemiplegic (for us it is). Our pead. neuro help scheduled MRI/MRA which indicates missing ACA A1 segment. Have anyone other there encounter similar issues? What could we do?

Help

[SW VandeCarr]

Hi,

I am worried my son probably going heading down hill with absent/missing ACA A1 segment. He is also has very poor vision (OA) with nystagmus. He has hemiplegic event last years by treating his sinus issue somehow has positive effect for 8~10 months on hemiplegic events. Recently he had it again MRA indicates missing ACA A1 segment; taken after a major day time headache and hemiplegic. Have anyone other there encounter similar issues?

Help

It sounds like your son needs to be evaluated by a neurosurgeon ASAP if he is symptomatic. What you are describing is a missing portion of one of the two Anterior Cerebral Arteries (ACA). These arteries form part of a circle of arteries located at the base of the brain. The A1 segment is one part of this circle which means that the circle is incomplete. However, because it is a circle, blood can be supplied from the other side. So a missing A1 segment on the right can be compensated for by an intact A1 segment on the left and vice-verse. However the symptoms suggest that the this compensation is inadequate. This would not be unexpected in a growing brain.

We cannot give medical advise here, but a neurosurgeon can advise you of your options. I do wish you and your son the best in this difficult situation.

[opcom168]

we still monitoring him and our pead. neurology here overwhelmed with patience (only one). He still looks and doing fine.. as you mention I am worried about developing brain. I am just asking myself will neuro able to rewire him? He has OA, optical atrophy and it could be related.

[opcom168]

we still monitoring him and our pead. neurology here overwhelmed with patience (only one). He still looks and doing fine.. as you mention I am worried about developing brain. I am just asking myself will neuro able to rewire him? He has OA, optical atrophy and it could be related.

we are giving him more workout now - just let me enjoy in open space. Desperately try to help blood flow into his brain. I am just don't want to wait until things gets really bad. Symptoms wise, he have abnormal breathing from time to time while he sleeps - I used to inform my pead. neuro i felt his brain signaling lacks oxygen.

[SW VandeCarr]

we are giving him more workout now - just let me enjoy in open space. Desperately try to help blood flow into his brain. I am just worried don't want to wait until things gets really bad. Symptoms wise, he have abnormal breathing from time to time while he sleeps - I used to inform my pead. neuro i felt his brain signaling lacks oxygen.

I would be careful about trying to exercise the boy beyond his accustomed activity levels until he's evaluated. Missing segments in the Circle of Willis actually occur in many people who live normal lives and it's not discovered until they die from other causes. At this point, you can't rule out other possibly associated abnormalities. As I said, we cannot give advice here other than to get an evaluation by a neurosurgeon. Beyond this, I don't think anyone in Physics Forums is in a position to advise you. If you wish, you can post what the neurosurgeon has advised; but for anything beyond that there's nothing we can do here. I'm sure anyone reading this thread is hoping for the best for your son.

[Borek]

Whatever should be said, has been said. Topic locked.

We all hope best for your son, but giving medical advice is against Medical Science subforum guidelines: http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=173247