[Disseminated acute encephalomyelitis in children. A retrospective study of seven patients].

INTRODUCTION AND

OBJECTIVE

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. This study is based on clinical symptoms and diagnostic tests employed.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We describe a seven children series indicating the initial neurologic abnormalities, diagnostic tests, treatments used and clinical-neuroradiological evolution.

RESULTS

The mean presentation age was 4.1 years. Initial neurologic symptoms were mainly spastic hemi/paraparesis, cerebellous and pyramidal syndrome, consciousness changes, meningeal signs, seizures and cranial nerve palsies. The cerebrospinal fluid was abnormal in four patients with positive serologic tests in two of them (Coxsackie B). Electrophysiological studies were affected in 50%. MRI findings consisted of multifocal supratentorial white matter lesions. Clinical evolution revealed a progressive improvement with resolution after two months. Follow-up was made between six months and five years. The treatment was based on aciclovir and corticosteroids.

CONCLUSIONS

ADEM runs a monophasic course of progressive neurologic abnormalities. Diagnosis is based on suggestive clinical and neuroimaging findings. Generally speaking, MRI showed resolution of multifocal lesions in conjunction with clinical improvement.