Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis treated with plasmapheresis. Demyelinating cns disorders like multiple sclerosis ms and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem have been difficult to study and treat due to the lack of understanding of their etiology. Postinfectious encephalomyelitis is a rare condition about one in every thousand cases that follows a few weeks after acute measles, and even more rarely following varicella, mumps or rubella infection or vaccinia vaccination. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis article nursingcenter. As well as causing the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed, adem also attacks the nerves of the central nervous system and damages their myelin insulation, which, as a result, destroys the. The magnetic resonance imaging appearance of monophasic. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an immunemediated demyelinating cns disorder, characterized clinically by newonset polyfocal neurologic symptoms including encephalopathy, coupled with neuroimaging evidence of multifocal demyelination. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a rare inflammatory demyelinating conditionof the brain and spinal cord. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem statpearls ncbi. Nov 08, 2018 acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an immunemediated inflammatory demyelinating condition that predominately affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Adult onset acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following. As well as causing the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed, adem also attacks the nerves of the central nervous system and damages their myelin insulation, which, as a result, destroys the white.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder that is often preceded by infection or recent vaccination. It usually affects children, most commonly under the age of 10. Adem forms one of several categories of primary inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem diagnosis and. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a neurological, immunemediated disorder in which widespread inflammation of the brain and spinal cord damages tissue known as white matter. We do not endorse non cleveland clinic products or services. Inflammation of the optic disc may be seen on direct funduscopic examination if there.
Encephalopathy and focal neurological deficits are usually manifest several weeks after a prodromal illness with rapidly progressive neurologic decline. A brain mri scan is essential in establishing the diagnosis and so enabling appropriate advice and treatment to be given. Adem often follows viral or bacterial infections, or less often, vaccination for measles, mumps, or rubella. It is characterized by highsignalintensity lesions in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord on t2weighted magnetic resonance imaging mri. As well as causing the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed, adem also attacks the nerves of the central nervous system and damages their myelin insulation, which, as a result, destroys the white matter. Most people make a full recovery and dont have another attack. Detection of coronavirus in the central nervous system of a. Pdf acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an acute multifocal or diffuse inflammatory demyelinating disease of human central. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem radiology. Most common presenting symptoms in one series included ataxia, head ache, and. This article presents the pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The spectrum of acute demyelinating syndromes has been extensively described, and diagnostic criteria have been proposed by the ipmssg. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, or acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis, is a rare autoimmune disease marked by a sudden, widespread attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Available diagnostic criteria do not reliably distinguish it from first presentations of relapsing diseases such as multiple sclerosis ms and neuromyelitis optica nmo.
The leptospira antibody titer was positive at the time of admission and there was a. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an immunemediated inflammatory demyelinating condition that predominately affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an acute, demyelinating disease of the brain that typically develops in the weeks to months after an infection or vaccination. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, or acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis, is a rare autoimmune disease. Aug 30, 2016 acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an immunemediated demyelinating cns disorder with predilection to early childhood. To discuss the clinical and neuroradiological profile of pediatric patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a monophasic, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that predominately affects prepubertal children. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a brief but intense attack of inflammation swelling in the brain and spinal cord and occasionally the optic nerves that damages the brains myelin the white coating of nerve fibers. Postinfectious and inflammatory encephalomyelitis are broadly represented by the syndrome acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a rare neurological disorder. It damages the protective coating of nerve fibers, called myelin. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis nord national. Grey matter lesions are seen less often and only in addition to white matter involvement. Perivenular or acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis, as well as adem, are descriptive terms for the neuropathological changes.
Adem is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks its own brain tissue, triggered by an environmental stimulus in genetically susceptible individuals. It was proposed that the pathophysiology is due to immunopathological process 3. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem and multiple sclerosis ms are both autoimmune disorders, and they share certain symptoms. Diffuse neurological signs along with multifocal lesions in brain and spinal cord. Acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis springerlink. Acute onset encephalopathy expresses itself as distinctively selflimiting multifocal neurological deficits. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem in children. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a monophasic, postinfectious or postvaccineal acute inflammatory demyelinating disorder of central nervous. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an immunemediated demyelinating cns disorder with predilection to early childhood. Although this has been described and characterized for multiple sclerosis, it has been reported in a few cases in patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem within the past. This rare demyelinating disorder comes on suddenly and gets worse fast. Because the pathology is the defining element for diagnosis, the term acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is most frequently used. Adem is a rare kind of inflammation that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem great ormond. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis will often present to the general paediatrician as an acute polysymptomatic encephalopathy, and initially the diagnosis may not be clear. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an uncommon, but treatable, inflammatory demyelinating disorder typically affecting the subcortical white matter. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a monophasic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that typically follows a febrile. However, recurrent adem has been described and defined as multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis. Fortyeight children with disseminated demyelination of the cns, 28 with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, seven with multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis mdem and with multiple sclerosis were studied for a mean followup period of 5. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a rare inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
Commonly triggered by viral infections, adem is caused by an inflammatory reaction in the brain and spinal cord. It is typically characterized by an abrupt onset of neurologic symptoms preceded by an infection or recent immunization. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem in children the. Multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis mdem a case report shitanshu srivastava and garima verma department of pediatrics, eras lucknow medical college, lucknow, india author for correspondence abstract acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an acute inflammatory demyelinating disorder of. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis information page. Mar 02, 2018 acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, an immunemediated inflammatory demyelinating disorder, primarily affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord 1, 2. Possibly, a t cell mediated autoimmune response to myelin basic protein, triggered by an infection or vaccination. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, an immunemediated inflammatory demyelinating disorder, primarily affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord 1, 2. Detection of coronavirus in the central nervous system of. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a rare inflammatory condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in a middle. Adem is most commonly seen in children and young adults, in which prognosis is. Acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis adem adem is a monophasic, multifocal demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Review therapeutic approach to the management of pediatric demyelinating disease. White matter is tissue composed of nerve fibers, many of which are covered by a collection of fats and proteins known as myelin. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an immunologically mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system cns resulting in multifocal demyelinating lesions affecting the gray and white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Multicentre clinical audit of outcome and controlled therapeutic trials are needed to secure an.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an acute demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, and is characterised by multifocal white matter involvement. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that is usually monophasic. Diffuse neurological signs along with multifocal lesions in brain and spinal cord characterise the disease. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a rare monophasic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system cns that occurs more. Adem often occurs postinfectiously, although a causal relationship has never been established. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a monophasic acute nonvasculitic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system characterized by diffuse neurologic signs and symptoms coupled with evidence of multifocal lesions of demyelination on neuroimaging. Sukhvir wright and professor evangeline wassmer, birmingham childrens hospital neuroimmunology team. Other terms used to refer to adem include postinfectious encephalomyelitis and immunemediated encephalomyelitis. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem children are more likely to get this brief but widespread bout of inflammation that damages myelin in the brain and spinal cord.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a primarily pediatric, immunemediated disease characterized by demyelination and polyfocal neurologic symptoms that typically occur after a preceding viral infection or recent immunization. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, also referred to as postinfectious encephalomyelitis, is an acute, rapidly progressive. It usually occurs after viral infection, but also following vaccination, bacterial or parasitic infection. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a post infectious autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following leptospirosis. Acute hemorrhagic necrotizing leukoencephalitis is regarded as an exaggerated form of. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an uncommon monophasic idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease. Others include multiple sclerosis ms, acute transverse myelitis, and devics disease. She reported no headache, ataxia, or visual disturbances during and following the hike, as confirmed by fellow travelers. Highaltitude cerebral edema or acute demyelinating. The question is whether the acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis is an exact neurological complication due to falciparum malaria. Recurrence of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis at the.
Tumefactive demyelination is a phenomenon involving the radiographic resemblance of an acute demyelinating process in the central nervous system to neoplasia. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, also known as postinfectious encephalomyelitis, is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Transverse myelitis tm and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem are immunemediated conditions that can affect the central nervous system cns. Mar 16, 2017 acute disseminated encephalomyelitis 1. Tumefactive acute disseminated encephalomyelitis z ghali mg. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem drreyad alfaky 2. The disorder manifests as an acute onset encephalopathy associated with polyfocal neurologic deficits and is typically selflimiting. The diagnosis of adem needs to be considered whenever there is a close relationship between an infection and the development of more than one neurological symptom, which are often accompanied by headache, fever, and an altered mental state. It affects children more than adults, but can affect anyone. It often follows on from a minor infection such as a cold, and is the result of the immune system becoming misprogrammed, and activating immune cells to attack the healthy myelin a fatty protective coating covering the nerves. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is a monophasic, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system cns that primarily affects children and young adults. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an acute, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the brain and spinal cord. The location of the inflammation swelling within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves determines what symptoms of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem occur, including.
Adem is characteristically a monophasic illness that is commonly associated with an anti. It usually affects children, most commonly under the. An encephalomyelitis characterized by inflammation located in brain and located in spinal cord that damages myelin. The onset of encephalopathy and multifocal neurologic deficits is. How is acute disseminated encephalomyelitis diagnosed. Adem acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a rare inflammatory demyelinating conditionof the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis j. Review acute disseminated encephalomyelitis r k garg postgrad med j 2003. Fever headache can be prolonged and severe in children. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis postgraduate medical. At presentation, 60 were diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, 101 with clinically isolated syndrome cis, and 12 with neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorder nmosd. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem in adults. While classically described as demyelinating disorders, some patients may also have damage to. A healthy, nonacclimatized 56yearold woman developed mood changes and general weakness followed by vomiting, sensory disturbances, and ultimately unconsciousness within hours during an ascent from 1,600 to 2,800 meters in the himalayas, nepal.
Inflammation damages the protective covering around the nerve fibres the myelin. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is an acute demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, and is characterised by. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is an immunemediated inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, commonly preceded by an infection. Adem is classically considered a monophasic illness, with highest incidence in early childhood. In most cases, it follows a viral exanthem or viruslike illness, but the disease is not specific to viral infections and has been reported after several bacterial infections, vaccinations, and drug and serum administration. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem, as the name would suggest, is featured by a monophasic acute inflammation and demyelination of white matter typically following a recent 12 weeks prior viral infection or vaccination 4,6. Sep 12, 2017 investigators from a multicenter consortium collected serum from 210 children with acute demyelinating syndromes. Cleveland clinic is a nonprofit academic medical center. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem is considered a monophasic acute demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system cns characterized by diffuse neurologic signs and symptoms coupled with evidence of multifocal lesions of demyelination on neuroimaging. The disorder often follows viral infection or vaccination. Symptoms of optic neuritis include vision loss pain with eye movement afferent pupillary defect.