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Behavioural changes due to pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis
P L Silbert1, W V Knezevic, H I Peake
1Fremantle Hospital, WA.
Objective:
To report a case of central and extrapontine myelinolysis with unusual behavioural manifestations that developed after slow (not more than 0.5 mmol sodium per litre per hour) correction of hyponatraemia.
Clinical Features:
A 51-year-old Caucasian woman with hyponatraemia caused by psychogenic polydipsia experienced a delayed onset of behavioural changes with some ataxia, but no pyramidal signs, after correction of the hyponatraemia.
Intervention And Outcome:
The hyponatraemia was corrected with a combination of hypertonic saline and fluid restriction at the currently recommended rate of not more than 0.5 mmol of sodium per litre per hour.
Conclusion:
Central and extrapontine myelinolysis may develop after slow correction of hyponatraemia. Behavioural manifestations may be the most prominent clinical feature.