Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)with an anti-galactocerebroside antibody

Daisuke Kuzume, M.D.1), Kazuaki Sajima, M.D.1), Yuko Kon-no, M.D.1), Keiko Kaneko, M.D.1) and Masahiro Yamasaki, M.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Chikamori Hospital

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with an anti-galactocerebroside antibody is very rare. We report a case of 82-year-old man with ADEM associated with anti-galactocerebroside antibody in serum. He was admitted to our hospital after developing disturbed consciousness and respiratory failure. A cerebrospinal fluid examination disclosed an albuminocytologic dissociation and elevation of myelin basic protein. Magnetic resonance images revealed lesions in the medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, bilateral cerebellar hemisphere and thalami. Initially, he was treated with methylprednisolone (1 g/day) for three days. His clinical symptoms improved. We found on 15th hospital day that an anti-galactocerebroside antibody was positive in serum without serological evidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. This case can be diagnosed as ADEM associated with an anti-galactocerebroside antibody.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (502K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 55: 550|554, 2015)
key words: anti-galactocerebroside antibody, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

(Received: 15-Nov-14)