Key revisions in the 2023 guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute encephalopathy in childhood.
Abstract
Background
New literature has accumulated since the publication of the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute encephalopathy in childhood 2016 (GL2016), necessitating the revision of these guidelines.
Methods
In 2020, the working group (WG) of the Japanese Society of Child Neurology began work on publishing a revised version of the GL2016. The WG formulated guidelines using the methodologies recommended by the Medical Information Network Distribution System (Minds).
Results
GL2023, published in 2023, includes clinical question 1 (CQ1), based on Minds 2020, and general and specific sections on acute encephalopathy (an update to GL2016) based on Minds 2007. In CQ1, early target temperature management at 36 °C within 24 h was weakly recommended for pediatric cases meeting certain criteria to reduce the risk of progression to acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion and its sequelae.
Conclusions
GL2023 provides updated recommendations that may improve the diagnosis and management of pediatric acute encephalopathy.