SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF ACUTE DISSEMINATED ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (ADEM) BY PROMPT USAGE OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS - CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Acta Clin Croat. 2019 Mar;58(1):173-179. doi: 10.20471/acc.2019.58.01.22.

Abstract

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that usually affects children and young adults. It most commonly has a monophasic course, although relapses are reported. Clinical presentation of the disease includes encephalopathy and multifocal neurological deficits. There are no established reliable criteria for diagnosis of ADEM and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish it from first attack of multiple sclerosis, especially in adults. The diagnosis of ADEM is based on clinical, radiological and laboratory findings. In the treatment of ADEM, high doses of corticosteroids, plasmapheresis and immunoglobulins are used. We report a case of a young adult female patient with ADEM who fully recovered after prompt administration of high dose methylprednisolone and immunoglobulins.

Keywords: Adrenal cortex hormones; Case reports; Encephalomyelitis, acute disseminated; Immunoglobulins; Methylprednisolone.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / diagnostic imaging*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / therapeutic use*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Methylprednisolone