Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following infectious mononucleosis

J Child Neurol. 2007 Mar;22(3):324-8. doi: 10.1177/0883073807300534.

Abstract

Two months following an Epstein-Barr virus infection, a 17-year-old white female presented with seizures, intermittent visual changes, and altered mental status. Magnetic resonance imaging showed white matter changes of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis with a predilection for posterior cerebral artery distributions but without radiological evidence of arteritis. Epstein-Barr virus titers and polymerase chain reaction analysis results for the virus were consistent with postinfectious acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The symptoms and signs improved following treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin. Although Epstein-Barr virus can cause acute viral encephalomyelitis, the authors report a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis months after acute Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / virology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / etiology*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / pathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / complications*
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods