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| Year : 2008 | Volume
: 54
| Issue : 3 | Page : 243-244 |
Catatonic stupor in a case of pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis: Clinical and radiological dissociation
FJ Ruiz Miyares, D Deleu, H Al Hail, B Mesraoua
Department of Neurology, Hamad Medical Hospital, Doha, Qatar
Correspondence Address:
F J Ruiz Miyares
Department of Neurology, Hamad Medical Hospital, Doha
Qatar
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0022-3859.41821
How to cite this article:
Ruiz Miyares F J, Deleu D, Al Hail H, Mesraoua B. Catatonic stupor in a case of pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis: Clinical and radiological dissociation. J Postgrad Med 2008;54:243-4 |
How to cite this URL:
Ruiz Miyares F J, Deleu D, Al Hail H, Mesraoua B. Catatonic stupor in a case of pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis: Clinical and radiological dissociation. J Postgrad Med [serial online] 2008 [cited 2023 Jun 4];54:243-4. Available from: https://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?2008/54/3/243/41821 |
Sir,
Neuropsychiatric manifestations of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) and extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM) range from subtle variations in mood to bizarre behavior, hallucinations or catatonic stupor. [1] Extra-pyramidal features with delayed onset rigid-dystonia have also been reported, widening the spectrum of clinical manifestations. [2] We describe a case of CPM/ EPM with unusual psychiatric manifestation including compulsive eating and catatonic stupor.
A 23-year-old Nepali man presented with confusion, compulsive eating and generalized catatonia. There was no past history of chronic alcohol abuse, exposure to neuroleptic drugs or toxic chemicals. Three weeks earlier he was discharged in good health after being admitted with mild disorientation and hyponatremia (127 mmol/L). At that time, all other biochemical parameters were normal. The ultrasound abdomen, CT brain, CSF analysis and electroencephalogram were also reported to be normal. The hyponatremia was corrected with normal saline (7 mmol/L in 24 h) and he was discharged after one week.
Current neurological examination revealed a confused, stuporous and poorly communicative patient. He was excessively drooling and showed features of bulbar palsy. During passive movements the limb was kept in the same position for a prolonged period even when the position and posture seemed uncomfortable and bizarre. Serum biochemistry (sodium 136 mM/L) and CBC were normal, Serological tests for HIV and hepatitis was negative. Toxicology screening was also negative. The CSF analysis did not reveal any abnormality. The EEG showed mild generalized slowing of the background with no epileptiform discharges. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed hyperintense signals in the pons and basal ganglia [Figure 1]. Treatment with risperidone (6 mg per day) was initiated resulting in gradual improvement of symptoms. He was discharged three weeks later with manifest clinical recovery despite unremitting radiological abnormalities, expressed by the symmetyric hyperintense signals in the pons and basal ganglia in T2 weighted and FLAIR sequences.
Emotional incontinence (pseudobulbar syndrome) is a rare neuropsychiatric manifestation of CPM/EPM. [1] Only one case of CPM with catatonia and behavioral deterioration has been reported. [3] Demyelination usually occurs during the initial assault of the osmotic demyelinating process, with clinical manifestations occurring commonly within one week of the initial correction of the hyponatremia. [4] However, there is extreme variability in its presentation, which is further characterized by the lack of clinicoradiological correlation. Differential diagnosis of bilateral symmetrical signal changes in the basal ganglia on MRI includes hypoxia, carbon monoxide poisoning, Wilson's disease, Wernicke's encephalopathy and Leigh's disease [1] and these need to be excluded on clinical grounds and with the help of appropriate investigations. The persistence of abnormal, hyperintense signals in spite of significant clinical improvement confirms the heterogeneity of CPM/EPM. The clinical expressiveness of the lesions seems to be independent of the intensity of the signals in some cases. A careful follow-up is needed to assess the state of this patient on a long-term basis.
| :: References | |  |
| 1. | Brown WD. Osmotic demyelination disorders: Central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis. Curr Opin Neurol 2000;13:691-7.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 2. | Koussa S, Nasnas R. Catatonia and Parkinsonism due to extrapontine myelinolysis following rapid correction of hyponatremia: A case report. J Neurol 2003;250:103-5 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 3. | Chalela J, Kattah J. Catatonia due to central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis: Case report. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1999;67:692-3. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 4. | Karp BI, Laureno R. Pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis:A neurologic disorder following rapid correction of hyponatremia. Medicine (Baltimore) 1993;72:359-73. [PUBMED] |
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