[Marchiafava-Bignami disease: development with flare-up].
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.
Moreaud
O
O
Service de Neurologie et de Neuropsychologie, CHU, Grenoble.
Dufossé
N
N
Pellat
J
J
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D003337:Corpus Callosum; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors