Osmotic myelinolysis in a normonatremic patient

Acta Neurol Belg. 2002 Jun;102(2):87-9.

Abstract

Osmotic demyelination syndrome is usually associated with hyponatremia or rapid correction of this condition. The prognosis is usually fatal. We treated a 34-year-old chronic renal failure patient who did not have hyponatremia but developed severe pontine myelinolysis demonstrated with MRI. Serial MRI revealed gradual reduction of the lesions over 2 months. This case demonstrates that osmotic demyelination syndrome is not always associated with hyponatremia, and that, although the prognosis is usually poor, some patients recover.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Hyponatremia / blood
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / blood
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / blood*
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / diagnosis*
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / therapy
  • Sodium / blood*

Substances

  • Sodium