Poliomyelitic-like illness in central European encephalitis

Neurology. 2000 Jul 25;55(2):299-302. doi: 10.1212/wnl.55.2.299.

Abstract

Central European encephalitis (CEE) may be accompanied by myeloradiculitic symptoms in up to 5% of patients. The authors report six patients with a myelitic form of CEE mimicking acute poliomyelitis with bulbar and arm predominance and a poor prognosis. Three patients died. Of the survivors, only one can perform most activities of daily living, but still needs assisted ventilation at night. Autopsy in one patient showed severe cervicothoracic inflammation with changes almost exclusively in anterior horn cells and roots, as typically seen in poliomyelitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / diagnosis*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Neuron Disease / diagnosis
  • Motor Neuron Disease / pathology
  • Myelitis / diagnosis*
  • Myelitis / pathology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Poliomyelitis / diagnosis*
  • Poliomyelitis / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Quadriplegia / diagnosis
  • Quadriplegia / pathology
  • Radiculopathy / diagnosis*
  • Radiculopathy / pathology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / pathology