[Clinical course and evolution of lesion in MRI in central pontine myelinolysis in a patient abusing alcohol].

The authors report a 44-year-old patient with at least a 10-year history of alcohol abuse in whom an organic brain syndrome developed with cerebellar ataxia, left-side hemiparesis and bulbar symptoms. MR imaging of the head demonstrated a large hyperintense focus in T2-weighted images involving the central part of the pons. Central pontine myelinolysis was diagnosed. Laboratory investigations showed no hyponatraemia. After withdrawal treatment and motor function rehabilitation the neurological symptoms regressed nearly completely. After 18 months control MR imaging demonstrated considerable reduction in the size of the myelinolysis area in the brainstem, despite the fact that the patient resumed alcohol drinking.