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Published on: April 19, 2024

Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy

Dong Wook Kim1, Jong-Moo Park, Byung-Woo Yoon

  • 1Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 464-707, South Korea.

Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|September 29, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Metronidazole can cause diffuse encephalopathy, a brain condition. Magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion weighted imaging aids diagnosis and prognosis prediction for this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Metronidazole is an antibiotic commonly prescribed for various infections.
  • Encephalopathy is a general term for brain dysfunction.

Observation:

  • Two patients presented with diffuse encephalopathy after metronidazole treatment.
  • Clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging data were collected for both patients.

Findings:

  • Characteristic abnormalities were observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).
  • Patients showed incomplete recovery after discontinuing metronidazole.
  • MRI with DWI may aid in diagnosing metronidazole-induced encephalopathy.

Implications:

  • MRI with DWI can be a valuable diagnostic tool for metronidazole-induced encephalopathy.
  • Neuroimaging findings may help predict the prognosis of this condition.
  • This study highlights the potential neurotoxicity of metronidazole.

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