Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis concomitant with polyneuropathy associated with anti-lactosylceramide antibody

Tomohiro Hayashi, M.D.1), Takamasa Nukui, M.D., Ph.D.1), Shutaro Takashima, M.D., Ph.D.1), Yuji Nakatsuji, M.D., Ph.D.1), Sayuri Shima, M.D., Ph.D.2) and Tatsuro Mutoh, M.D., Ph.D.2)

1)Department of Neurology, Toyama University Hospital
2)Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine

We report a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) concomitant with polyneuropathy associated with anti-lactosylceramide antibody. A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with ophthalmoparesis, bulbar palsy, tetraplegia after suffering from upper respiratory infection and headache. Subsequently, he developed respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI showed high intensities in the pons and medulla, and a nerve conduction study revealed motor-dominant axonal polyneuropathy. Although the laboratory tests revealed the presence of anti-lactosylceramide antibody in his serum, he was diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis concomitant with polyneuropathy. Whereas the intensive treatment with corticosteroids, plasmapharesis, and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) brought a moderate improvement, his tetraparesis continued to exist.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (1016K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 58: 297|301, 2018)
key words: anti-lactosylceramide antibody, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, polyneuropathy, encephalomyeloradiculopathy

(Received: 22-Dec-17)