Investigators from Washington University School of Medicine and University of Florida College of Medicine, report that susceptibility-weight imaging (SWI) may be useful in differentiating initial presentation of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

A 23-year-old black African male fell and bumped his head from a tackle while playing soccer. He subsequently became blind from optic neuritis. An MRI of the brain showed white-matter changes suggestive of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). MR spectroscopy of the brain showed a demyelination pattern. This case report brings to the fore unsettled questions about ADEM, among them being ...

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a monophasic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that typically follows a febrile infection or a vaccination. Children are predominantly affected. A plethora of viral and bacterial pathogens and a number of vaccinations have been associated with ADEM. Experimental animal studies indicate that both primary and secondary au...

The possibility that acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis ('epidemic neuromyasthenia') may share a common pathogenesis is examined and many factors common to the two diseases are described. It is suggested that further study of ADEM may help our understanding of epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Though the indication mentioned for resorting to plasmapheresis in the report is the unaffordability of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, I wish to highlight other important reasons for preferring plasmapheresis over IVIG. Firstly, IVIG is known to exert its immunomodulatory effects for a prolonged period of time. The mean duration of action of IVIG is 53 days and the half life of immu...

Objective. To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, neuroimaging, and laboratory features; treatment; and outcome in a cohort of children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Methods. A 6-year retrospective chart review of children with the diagnosis of ADEM was conducted. Results. Eighteen cases were identified. Sixteen patients (88%) presented in either winter or spring. Thirteen...

OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, neuroimaging, and laboratory features; treatment; and outcome in a cohort of children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). METHODS A 6-year retrospective chart review of children with the diagnosis of ADEM was conducted. RESULTS Eighteen cases were identified. Sixteen patients (88%) presented in either winter or spring. Thirtee...

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a monophasic, postinfectious or postvaccineal acute infl ammatory demyelinating disorder of central nervous system (CNS).[1,2] The pathophysiology involves transient autoimmune response directed at myelin or other self-antigens, possibly by molecular mimicry or by nonspecifi c activation of autoreactive T-cell clones.[3] Histologically, ADEM is cha...