[Marchiafava-Bignami disease: development with flare-up]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 1996 Aug-Sep;152(8-9):560-2.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Marchiafava-Bignami disease is a complication of chronic ethanol intoxication. The clinical course may be acute, rapidly leading to death, or marked by a progressive dementia. A form with favorable outcome is also described. During the evolution of chronic forms, acute worsenings are possible, with subsequent partial recovery. We report a clinico-radiological case, where a first episode was followed by a good outcome. After a second episode, 3 years later, the patient developed a dementia with predominant frontal lobe signs. This case suggests that, even after a favorable outcome, a long-term poor prognosis cannot be ruled out.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Corpus Callosum*
  • Dementia / etiology
  • Demyelinating Diseases / complications
  • Demyelinating Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Time Factors