Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in a case of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia: a rare association.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease that may occur in a postvaccination condition or as a parainfectious encephalomyelitis. It is almost always monophasic. The underlying pathogenesis of ADEM may include perivascular inflammation, oedema and demyelination in the central nervous system. We present a case of a 15-year-old girl who was diagnosed as having ADEM, as well as detected to be a follow-up case of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia on steroid treatment. She presented with progressive weakness of the right lower limb for the past 4 days. MRI showed multiple subcortical lesions of varying size showing hyperintensities in T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). The patient responded well to steroid therapy. No residual lesion was found on follow-up. Very few cases have been found with this rare association in the literature.
IPGMER, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Adrija
A
Hajra
Department of Accident & Emergency, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
Dhrubajyoti
D
Bandyopadhyay
D000293:Adolescent; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D013256:Steroids; D011239:Prednisolone