Central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis associated with acute hepatic dysfunction

Central pontine myelinolysis and extrapontine myelinolysis are rare demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. These diseases are related frequently to rapid correction of hyponatremia. They have also been described in association with other underlying conditions such as alcoholism and malnutrition. In the present study, we report a case of central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis with acute hepatic dysfunction. The patient had no apparent evidence of hyponatremia and no history of alcohol abuse. On admission, the patient was lethargic; dysphagia, dysarthria, and quadriplegia were noted. Laboratory examination showed significantly increased transaminase without hyponatremia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal signal intensities in the pons and thalamus. Consciousness level and clinical symptoms improved gradually within a week. We suggest that acute hepatic dysfunction may play an important role in the development of central pontine myelinolysis and extrapontine myelinolysis.     

脑桥中央及脑桥外髓鞘溶解症1例

脑桥中央及脑桥外髓鞘溶解症是常见的渗透性脱髓鞘疾病,近年来报道的病例逐渐增多,随着重症监护的发展、核磁共振的早期诊断,患者预后得到较大改善。现将解放军总医院神经内科重症监护室收治的1例脑桥中央及脑桥外髓鞘溶解症及诊治经验报道如下。     

Dystonia in central pontine myelinolysis without evidence of extrapontine myelinolysis.

A 44-year-old female is described who developed persistent upper extremity and orolingual dystonia several weeks after suspected onset of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM), later confirmed by characteristic pontine lesions on MRI. No foci of the extrapontine myelinolysis were evident. This case confirms that dystonia may be a late and persistent sequela of CPM and may occur in the absence of visible lesions outside the brainstem.     

Diffusion-weighted MR findings of central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis

Diffusion-weighted MR (DWI) can detect changes in water diffusion associated with cellular dysfunction, which enables the differentiation of cytotoxic edema from vasogenic edema. In this study on DWI findings in central pontine (CPM) and extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM), DWI showed high signal intensities in the bilateral pons, midbrain, and genu of the corpus callosum. The corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient values were rather low. This suggests that cytotoxic edema does in fact exist in CPM and EPM and that DWI can be useful in the rapid diagnosis and prediction of the various types of edema occurring in active demyelinating diseases.     

Parkinsonism and dystonia in central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis

Parkinsonism as well as dystonic signs are rarely seen incentral pontine myelinolysis and extrapontine myelinolysis. A 51yearold woman developed central pontine myelinolysis and extrapontine myelinolysis with parkinsonism after severe vomiting which followed alcohol and drug intake, even though marked hyponatraemia had beencorrected gradually over six days. Parkinsonism resolved four monthsafter onset, but she then exhibited persistent retrocollis, spasmodicdysphonia, and focal dystonia of her left hand. Although the medicalliterature documents three similar patients, this patient is differentas dystonic symptoms only developed four months after parkinsoniansigns had resolved.

     

Central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis: a systematic review

The purpose was to perform a systematic review of studies on central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis [forms of osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS)] and define the spectrum of causes, risk factors, clinical and radiological presentations, and functional outcomes of this disorder. A thorough search of the literature was conducted using multiple databases (PubMed, Ovid Medline and Google) and bibliographies of key articles to identify all case series of adult patients with ODS published from 1959 to January 2013. Only series with five or more cases published in English were considered. Of the 2602 articles identified, 38 case series were included comprising a total of 541 patients who fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The most common predisposing factor was hyponatremia (78%) and the most common presentation was encephalopathy (39%). Favorable recovery occurred in 51.9% of patients and death in 24.8%. Liver transplant patients with ODS had a combined rate of death and disability of 77.4%, compared with 44.7% in those without liver transplantation (P < 0.001). ODS is found to have a good recovery in more than half of cases and its mortality has decreased with each passing decade. Favorable prognosis is possible in patients of ODS, even with severe neurological presentation. Further research is required to confirm the differences found in liver transplant recipients.     

Central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis owing to disequilibrium syndrome

Neurologic disorders can be seen in patients with end-stage renal failure owing to complications of hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The disequilibrium syndrome can be seen, usually soon after or toward the end of dialysis. We report a patient with central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis owing to disequilibrium syndrome. The patient had depressed consciousness, agitation, tremor, stupor and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes toward the end of the second peritoneal dialysis. A brain computed tomographic (CT) scan showed hypodense lesions in pontine and extrapontine locations without radiocontrast medium enhancement After 2 days, the patient had only minimal memory deficits. A control brain CT scan 1 week later showed a decrease of the lesions in central pontine and extrapontine locations. Central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis should be suspected and investigated in the acute neurologic disorders of dialysis patients.     

脑桥中央合并脑桥外髓鞘溶解症一例

脑桥中央髓鞘溶解症(central pontine myelinolysis,CPM)是原因不明的以脑桥基底部对称性脱髓鞘为病理特征的综合征,常发生在快速纠正低钠血症之后.病灶若出现在脑内的其他部位,如双侧豆状核、尾状核、丘脑和皮层下白质等,则称为脑桥外髓鞘溶解症(extrapontine myelinolysis,EPM),其临床相对少见.现将收集的一例CPM合并EPM报道如下.     

Belly dancer's syndrome following central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis.

We report on a woman with delayed-onset of belly dancer's syndrome 5 months after central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis (CPM/EPM) and severe hyponatriemia. This case demonstrates that basal ganglia lesions in EPM can be the underlying pathoanatomic substrate for the rarely observed belly dancer's syndrome. The sequential appearance of extrapyramidal symptoms might reflect an ongoing but ineffective or deficient remyelination process. The presence of CPM/EPM should be considered in patients with involuntary dyskinesias of the abdominal wall.     

脑桥中央髓鞘溶解症和脑桥外髓鞘溶解症5例临床分析

目的　探讨脑桥中央髓鞘溶解症 (CPM)和 /或脑桥外髓鞘溶解症 (EPM)的发病机制及早期预防和诊治原则。方法　对 5例CPM/EPM患者的临床表现、影像学资料及治疗转归进行分析。结果　临床观察发现 :(1)5例患者均存在严重的基础疾病 ,特别是严重的电解质紊乱 (低钠血症 ) ,不同程度的意识障碍 ,吞咽困难 ,构音障碍。 (2 ) 3例有四肢瘫 ,锥体束征阳性 ;1例表现为帕金森综合征。 (3) 5例头颅MRI均阳性。 (4) 5例均临床好转出院 ,生活自理。结论　 (1)CPM和 /或EPM的发生与低钠血症及快速纠正低钠血症有关。 (2 )CPM和 /或EPM并非致死性疾病 ,无论病情多严重 ,均不应放弃治疗。     

Central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis: a report of 58 cases

In 58 cases with central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) and/or extrapontine myelinolysis, systematic examination of the central nervous system was performed. The demyelinating disease occurred in three subtypes: (1) CPM, in which the lesion was confined to the pons, (2) CPM combined with extrapontine myelinolysis and (3) exclusively extrapontine myelinolysis. Type (1) was found in 27 cases, (2) in 18 cases and (3) in 13 cases. Cerebellum and lateral geniculate body were the most frequently affected extrapontine regions. One case with an extreme extension of the lesions is described in detail. Extrapontine lesions seem to be more frequent and widespread than has been hitherto reported in the literature.     

Reversible central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis in a 16-year-old girl

A rare case of an osmotic demyelination syndrome in a 16-year-old girl is presented. MRI in the acute stage revealed a focal abnormal signal within the basis pontis and both caudate nuclei and putamina. Two years later brain lesions had disappeared on T1- and T2-weighted imaging, indicating that central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis may be completely reversible. Received: 4 July 2000     

A case of parkinsonism due to pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis]

A 43-year-old man who presented parkinsonism due to pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis was reported. Late in February, 1990, the patient presented suffered from a flu-like illness and was seen at a community hospital. Physical finding showed the pigmentation on the whole body and hypotension, and laboratory examination revealed severe electrolyte imbalance (serum sodium 100 mEq/l, serum potassium 6.9 mEq/l, serum chloride 68 mEq/l) and hypoglycemia (postprandial serum glucose 78 mg/dl). Given these results, adrenal failure was strongly suspected. Prompt correction of electrocyte imbalance was performed by the infusion of sodium chloride, and four days later the serum sodium level reached 131 mEq/l. On the other hand, the patient was noticed lethargic and showed parkinsonism i.e., rest tremor, cog-wheel rigidity, and hypokinesia. Fourteen days after the onset of neurological abnormalities, the patient was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of parkinsonism. Additionally, neurological examination revealed dysphagia, mutism and positive pyramidal tract sign. On admission brain computed tomography was unremarkable, but on the 14th hospital day it showed low density area in the pons. Brain magnetic resonance imaging also showed a striking increase in T2-weighted signal from the pons, the midbrain, and the bilateral thalamus. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of parkinsonism due to pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis was made, and levodopa therapy was started. After the initiation of levodopa therapy, improvement of tremor, rigidity, and hypokinesia ensued with marked functional benefit, and the patient was discharged on the 49th hospital day. Levodopa was stopped three weeks after discharge but, all neurological abnormalities were not recurrent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)