ABSTRACT
Objetivo: estandarizar la metodología diagnóstica diferencial de lesiones pseudotumorales. Analizar a partir de este caso la aparición de esta entidad poco habitual en la población adulta. Material y métodos: se realiza historia epidemiológica de un paciente masculino de 51 años de edad que concurre a través de consultorios externos presentando inestabilidad en la marcha y diparesia braquial de 7 días de evolución. Como antecedentes refiere episodio febril de origen desconocido y resolución espontánea 20 días previos. Resultados: se realizaron estudios de tomografía axial computada y resonancia magnética nuclear de encéfalo evidenciando lesiones bilaterales. Se completa estudios con screening oncológico negativo. Líquido cefalorraquídeo: bandas oligoclonales negativas, proteinorraquia, PCR + para VEB. PESS, PEV, PEA: negativos. Se somete a tratamiento médico con metilprednisolona 1 gramo diario durante 3 días. Conclusiones: el ADEM (Encefalopatía Desmielinizante Aguda) es una entidad inflamatoria inmunomediada de diversas formas de presentación. Cumple un rol importante en el diagnóstico, la correlación de antecedentes epidemiológicos del paciente como así también la evolución progresiva del cuadro clínico y estudios complementarios.
Objective: To standardize the differential diagnosis method of pseudotumoral lesions. To analyze from this case the occurrence of this unusual condition in adults. Material and methods: An epidemilogical history is conducted in a 51 year old male patient who comes to the out-patient offices showing walking instability and brachial cliparesis during 7 days. The patient reports a febrile state with spontaneous resolution 20 days before the consultation as background. Results: A computerized axial tomography and an encephalic nuclear magnetic resonance were performed showing bilateral lesions. The studies were complete with an oncologic screening of negative results. Cephalorachidian liquid: negative oligocional bands, proteinorachia, detection of EBV (Epstein-Barr Birus) by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). SEPs (Somatosensitive Evoked Potentials), VEP (Visual Evoked Potentials), PEA (Auditory Evoked Potentials): NEGATIVE. The patient receives medical treatment with 1 gram daily methylprednisolone for 3 days. Conclusions: ADEM (Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis) is an immune mediated inflammatory condition that can appear in several ways. The patient's epidemiological background correlation, as well as the progressive evolution of the medical condition and complementary analyses play an important role in diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Brain Diseases , Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated/diagnosis , Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated/epidemiology , Magnetic Resonance SpectroscopyABSTRACT
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an uncommon inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The true incidence of the disease in India is undetermined and is likely to be more frequent than reported, as the common antecedent events, exanthematous fevers and Semple antirabies vaccination, which predispose to ADEM, are still prevalent. The existing evidence suggests that ADEM results from a transient autoimmune response towards myelin or other self-antigens, possibly via molecular mimicry, or by non-specific activation of auto-reactive T cell clones. ADEM is a monophasic illness with favourable long-term outcome. Involvement of neuroaxis is variable and can be diffuse or multifocal and site restricted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive in detecting white matter lesions and the lesions described are rather extensive and subcortical in location. Involvement of the deep gray matter, particularly basal ganglia, is more frequent. Oligoclonal bands in CSF are usually absent. No therapy has been established by controlled trials in ADEM. Use of high-dose methylprednisolone, plasma exchange, and IVIG are based on the analogy of the pathogenesis of ADEM with that of multiple sclerosis (MS). Differentiation of ADEM from the first attack of MS is important from prognostic as well as therapeutic point of view. However, in the absence of biological marker, at times differentiation of ADEM from the initial presentation of MS may not be possible even by combination of clinical, CSF analysis, and MRI. This differentiation is more relevant to India where the incidence of MS is low.