An Unusual Case of Metronidazole-induced Encephalopathy in a Patient with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2024 Sep 9;14(5):49-51. doi: 10.55729/2000-9666.1398. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy (MIE) is a rare toxic encephalopathy. We describe a reversible MIE case in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), treated with metronidazole for brain abscess, who developed dizziness, weakness, dysarthria, and severe dysmetria. His Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain revealed bilateral, symmetric lesions in bilateral symmetrical regions of increased intensity in the medullary olives, cerebellar dentate nuclei, and the dorsal pons, all characteristic of MIE. Upon metronidazole discontinuation, the patient experienced significant symptom improvement, with subsequent MRI showing resolution of the lesions.

Keywords: Brain abscess; Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia; MIE; Metronidazole; Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy.