Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after renal transplantation

Takeshi Iwanaga, M. D. , Hiroaki Ooboshi, M. D. , Tsuyoshi Imamura, M. D. , Toru Mizumasa, M. D. , Setsuro Ibayashi, M. D. , Hideki Hirakata, M. D. and Masatoshi Fujishima, M. D.

Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University

We report a patient of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in a recipient of renal transplantation. A 43-year-old man suffered from generalized convulsion and consciousness disturbance followed by coma on day 53 of after the transplantation. He was receiving several immunosuppressants, and an increase of serum antigen for cytomegalovirus was observed one day before the ictus. T2 and diffusion-weighted image of MRI showed high intensity lesions in the bilateral cerebral white matter, basal ganglia, thalamus, midbrain, pons and cerebellum. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid revealed elevated myelin basic protein level.
The patient was diagnosed as having ADEM and was treated with methylpredonisolone pulse therapy in combination with intravenous immune globulin. He gradually recovered and became capable to eat and sit on a wheel chair. White matter lesions on MRI were also diminished. ADEM may occur in recipients of organ transplantation even if they have immunosuppressive treatment.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 41: 792|796, 2001)
key words: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, renal transplantation, cytomegalovirus

(Received: 17-Jun-01)