[The role of sodium serum level disturbances in the development of central pontine myelinolysis]

Neurol Neurochir Pol. 1996 Nov-Dec;30(6):1021-31.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

Central pontine myelinolysis now is believed to be a polyetiological syndrome. Our case was diagnosed clinically due to typical neurological symptoms occurred in the course of the treatment hyponatraemia and hypokaliaemia. Forty six years old woman an alcohol abuser, with liver dysfunction was admitted to neurological department in the first grand mall attack. She was tetraplegic, with signs of alcoholic polyneuropathy simultaneously hyponatraemia and hypokaliaemia were observed. Two weeks after normalization of electrolytic alterations, symptoms of brain stem lesion appeared. Based on MRI and clinical symptoms the diagnosis of central pontine myelinolysis was suggested and proved on autopsy. Electrolytic disturbances and treatment are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypokalemia / drug therapy
  • Hypokalemia / etiology
  • Hyponatremia / drug therapy
  • Hyponatremia / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mesencephalon / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / diagnosis
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / etiology*
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / physiopathology
  • Potassium / therapeutic use
  • Sodium / adverse effects*
  • Sodium / blood*
  • Sodium / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Sodium
  • Potassium