Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

We present the case of a 22-year-old man who was diagnosed with tonsillitis and treated with antibiotics. Although the symptoms subsided, 1 week later, he presented with weakness in the lower limbs and was hospitalized. The weakness in the lower limbs worsened; he developed difficulty speaking and w...

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Main Authors: Emika Murasawa, Masazumi Matsuda, Koichi Ishiyama, Tetsugaku Shinozaki, Toshiki Murata, Manabu Hashimoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Radiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6149501
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author Emika Murasawa
Masazumi Matsuda
Koichi Ishiyama
Tetsugaku Shinozaki
Toshiki Murata
Manabu Hashimoto
author_facet Emika Murasawa
Masazumi Matsuda
Koichi Ishiyama
Tetsugaku Shinozaki
Toshiki Murata
Manabu Hashimoto
author_sort Emika Murasawa
collection DOAJ
description We present the case of a 22-year-old man who was diagnosed with tonsillitis and treated with antibiotics. Although the symptoms subsided, 1 week later, he presented with weakness in the lower limbs and was hospitalized. The weakness in the lower limbs worsened; he developed difficulty speaking and was transferred to our hospital. Laboratory tests showed a white blood cell count of 10,600/μL (24% atypical lymphocytes). Positive results were obtained for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen. EBV-deoxyribonucleic acid quantification in blood yielded positive results. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a hyperintensity in the spinal cord at the Th11 level of the lower spine on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). In addition, T2WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging showed hyperintense lesions on the right cerebral peduncle, bilateral thalami, posterior leg of the left internal capsule, and right corona radiata. We diagnosed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with EBV and initiated steroid pulse therapy. Symptoms, along with the lesions seen on MRI, subsequently ameliorated. This case suggests that ADEM can be difficult to diagnose, but careful diagnosis is crucial since appropriate treatment is necessary to improve the symptoms.
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spelling doaj-art-e45e1d0d10c841f38dc174825bbab63e2025-08-20T03:26:26ZengWileyCase Reports in Radiology2090-68702022-01-01202210.1155/2022/6149501Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus InfectionEmika Murasawa0Masazumi Matsuda1Koichi Ishiyama2Tetsugaku Shinozaki3Toshiki Murata4Manabu Hashimoto5Department of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyWe present the case of a 22-year-old man who was diagnosed with tonsillitis and treated with antibiotics. Although the symptoms subsided, 1 week later, he presented with weakness in the lower limbs and was hospitalized. The weakness in the lower limbs worsened; he developed difficulty speaking and was transferred to our hospital. Laboratory tests showed a white blood cell count of 10,600/μL (24% atypical lymphocytes). Positive results were obtained for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen. EBV-deoxyribonucleic acid quantification in blood yielded positive results. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a hyperintensity in the spinal cord at the Th11 level of the lower spine on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). In addition, T2WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging showed hyperintense lesions on the right cerebral peduncle, bilateral thalami, posterior leg of the left internal capsule, and right corona radiata. We diagnosed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with EBV and initiated steroid pulse therapy. Symptoms, along with the lesions seen on MRI, subsequently ameliorated. This case suggests that ADEM can be difficult to diagnose, but careful diagnosis is crucial since appropriate treatment is necessary to improve the symptoms.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6149501
spellingShingle Emika Murasawa
Masazumi Matsuda
Koichi Ishiyama
Tetsugaku Shinozaki
Toshiki Murata
Manabu Hashimoto
Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
Case Reports in Radiology
title Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
title_full Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
title_fullStr Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
title_full_unstemmed Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
title_short Adult-Onset Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
title_sort adult onset acute disseminated encephalomyelitis with epstein barr virus infection
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6149501
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AT tetsugakushinozaki adultonsetacutedisseminatedencephalomyelitiswithepsteinbarrvirusinfection
AT toshikimurata adultonsetacutedisseminatedencephalomyelitiswithepsteinbarrvirusinfection
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