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- Title
Central pontine myelinolysis in a chronic alcoholic: A clinical and brain magnetic resonance imaging follow-up.
- Authors
Dujmović, Irena; Vitas, Jelena; Zlatarić, Nataša; Drulović, Jelena
- Abstract
Introduction. Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a noninflammatory, demyelinating lesion usually localised in the basis pontis. Chronic alcoholism is frequently associated with this condition which may have a variable clinical out- come. Until now, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up in alcoholic CPM cases after alcohol withdrawal has been rarely described. Case report. We reported a 30- year-old male with a 12-year history of alcohol abuse, who presented with inability to stand and walk, nausea, vomiting and somnolence. Neurological examination revealed: impared fixation on lateral gaze, dysarthria, mild spastic quad-riparesis, truncal and extremity ataxia, sock-like hypesthesia and moderate decrease in vibration sense in legs. Brain MRI showed a trident-shaped non-enhancing pontine lesion highly suggestive of CPM. After an eight-month alcohol- free follow-up period, the patient's clinical status significantly improved, while the extent of MRI pontine lesion was merely slightly reduced. Conclusion. The presented case demonstrates that CPM in chronic alcoholics may have a benign clinical course after alcohol withdrawal, which is not necessarily associated with the reduction of lesions on brain MRI.
- Subjects
NEUROLOGICAL disorders; ALCOHOLISM; MAGNETIC resonance imaging of the brain; CHRONIC diseases; ALCOHOL withdrawal syndrome; ARTICULATION disorders; FOLLOW-up studies (Medicine)
- Publication
Vojnosanitetski Pregled: Military Medical & Pharmaceutical Journal of Serbia, 2013, Vol 70, Issue 8, p785
- ISSN
0042-8450
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2298/VSP1308785D