1. Acute disseminating encephalomyelitis following legionnaires disease.
- Author
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de Lau LM, Siepman DA, Remmers MJ, Terwindt GM, and Hintzen RQ
- Subjects
- Autoantibodies blood, Brain immunology, Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS microbiology, Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS pathology, Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS physiopathology, Demyelinating Diseases microbiology, Demyelinating Diseases pathology, Demyelinating Diseases physiopathology, Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated immunology, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Plasmapheresis, Spinal Cord immunology, Steroids therapeutic use, Treatment Outcome, Brain microbiology, Brain pathology, Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated microbiology, Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated pathology, Legionnaires' Disease complications, Spinal Cord microbiology, Spinal Cord pathology
- Abstract
Objective: To describe 2 patients presenting with severe neurological deficits and extensive lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging after having experienced Legionella pneumonia., Design: Case reports., Setting: University hospital., Patients: Two patients who developed severe neurological symptoms, including encephalopathic signs, following Legionella infection, with widespread lesions on magnetic resonance imaging compatible with demyelination., Results: After extensive ancillary investigations, a diagnosis of acute disseminating encephalomyelitis was considered most likely. Steroid therapy was initiated in 1 of the patients, followed by plasmapheresis. In both patients, clinical and radiological signs gradually recovered, with only slight residual deficits., Conclusion: In patients presenting with neurological symptoms after an episode of pneumonia, Legionella infection and a subsequent immune-mediated process such as acute disseminating encephalomyelitis should be considered.
- Published
- 2010
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