acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

Introduction

also see encephalomyelitis

Etiology

• generally occurs post infection
  • no specific link to infection has been identified

Epidemiology

• children & young adults

Pathology

• simultaneous multifocal CNS demyelination

Clinical manifestations

• subacute presentation
• monophasic
• moderate to severe symptoms
• headache
• fever*
• encephalopathy*
• focal neurologic signs*

* differentiating featurs from multiple sclerosis

Diagnostic procedures

• lumbar puncture (after neuroimaging)
  • CSF analysis
    • lymphocytic pleocytosis

Radiology

• neuroimaging
  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
    • multiple areas of demyelination Manangement:
• prognosis:
  • generally self-limited, without recurrence

More general terms

• encephalomyelitis

Patient information

acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) patient information