Abstract
BACKGROUND
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a monophasic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the white matter that is often preceded by viral infection or recent vaccination. Encephalopathy and focal neurological deficits usually manifest one to three weeks after a prodromal illness with neurologic decline progressing rapidly over days to weeks. Approximately 25% of patients will develop multiple sclerosis (MS) within five years of initial presentation of ADEM but the majority of individuals do not progress beyond three months.4 ADEM is most commonly seen in children and young adults, where prognosis is favorable, but very few cases have been reported of middle-aged or elderly patients. The clinical course of these patients as compared to younger patients with ADEM is unclear. Here we present a case of ADEM in a middle-aged adult that recovered well after treatment with high-dose corticosteroids.
Pages: 15-17.
Recommended Citation
Mahdi, MD, Nicole; Abdelmalik, MD, Peter; Curtis, MD, Mark T.; and Bar, MD, Barak
(2016)
"A Case of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis in a MIddle-Aged Adult,"
JHN Journal: Vol. 11:
Iss.
1, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29046/JHNJ.011.1.001
Available at:
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/jhnj/vol11/iss1/1
