Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
From Ganfyd
Contents |
Introduction
Acute perivenous demyelination of brain and spinal cord
Aetiology
Can be post-viral (chickenpox/measles/vaccination)
Systemic symptoms
- Headache, vomiting, pyrexia, confusion, meningism
- Focal/Multifocal brain and spinal cord signs
- Flaccid paralysis + extensor plantars
- Cerebellar signs (esp post chickenpox)
Investigations
- MRI – multiple high signal areas
- CSF – Normal or increased mononuclear cells and protein
Treatment
- Can be fatal
- Treat with IV methylprednisolone
