[Disseminated encephalomyelitis in children and its differential diagnosis from multiple sclerosis].
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) has been studied in a series of 30 children (16 girls, 14 boys) who ranged from 1.5 to 15 years old versus 24 pediatric patients (12 girls, 9 boys) aged 4-15 years with diagnosed disseminated sclerosis (DS). Conducted in the above series were the following investigations: computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, recording of visual evoked potentials, indices for cellular and humoral immunity. ADEM, as distinct from DS, was marked by: an acute onset; the presence of general infectious symptoms together with general cerebral ones; involvement into the process of not only white matter but also of nuclear formations and peripheral nervous system; unidirectional course resulting in residual events. In 16 children a clear distinction was seen between ADEM and DS, while the rest of this pediatric population (n = 14) who had residual events presenting as pyramidal syndrome, might well develop DS in later life. Additional differential-diagnostic tests employed in the above study were found to be of little informative value.
Efimenko
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D000293:Adolescent; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D009460:Neurologic Examination