Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in Bartonella encephalopathy.
The authors describe 2 patients with new-onset, refractory status epilepticus and serological evidence for Bartonella infection. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patient 1 showed transient diffusion abnormalities in the posterior (pulvinar) thalami. In patient 2, brain MRI showed several enhancing cortical lesions, of which one lesion was bright on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). In patients with unexplained, refractory seizures, the presence of DWI abnormalities warrants a search for unusual infectious or inflammatory disorders, like Bartonella encephalitis.
Singhal
Aneesh B
AB
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Biogen, Inc. (MAP), Boston, USA. asinghal@partners.org
Newstein
Michael C
MC
Budzik
Ronald
R
Cha
Jang-Ho
JH
Rordorf
Guy
G
Buonanno
Ferdinando S
FS
Panzara
Michael A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*