[Marchiafava-Bignami disease. 3 cases with favorable prognosis].

INTRODUCTION

Marchiafava-Bignami disease is a complication of chronic alcoholism, with acute or subacute demyelination of the corpus callosum. Although subacute and benign forms of the disease have been described since the development of CT scan and MRI, it has usually a poor prognosis.

EXEGESIS: We report three cases of Marchiafava-Bignami disease with favorable outcome. One of the patient was comatose upon hospital admission. Interhemispheric dysconnection syndrome was evidenced in two patients. CT scan and MRI showed lesions extending to the callosal white matter in these patients.

CONCLUSION

Potential existence of Marchiafava-Bignami disease should be investigated in patients presenting with chronic alcoholism and mental confusion. However, accompanying coma and white matter demyelination should not necessarily be considered of poor prognosis. Clinical evaluation of interhemispheric dysconnection is of value in patients presenting with chronic alcoholism and mental confusion.