Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: July 4, 2007
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after liver transplantation
Eric Lindzen1, Ajmal Gilani, Silva Markovic-Plese
1Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Background:
During the past 10 years, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis has been reported a few times after organ transplantation.
Objective:
To report a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis as a complication of liver transplantation.
Design:
Case report.
Setting:
The University of North Carolina Hospital and Medical Center, Chapel Hill. Patient A 49-year-old woman admitted because of acute onset of paresthesias, sensory loss, and weakness after liver transplantation. Acute clinical presentation, results of imaging studies, and comprehensive laboratory evaluation were consistent with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
Interventions:
High-dose intravenous corticosteroid therapy followed by maintenance oral dosing.
Main Outcome Measures:
Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging improvement.
Results:
Corticosteroid therapy halted clinical progression, with partial resolution of lesions on magnetic resonance images of the brain and spinal cord.
Conclusions:
This is, to our knowledge, the first report of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after liver transplantation. Possible pathogenic mechanisms include a cross-reactive immune response to foreign antigens present within the transplanted organ, or an inflammatory response triggered by viral infection in an immunocompromised host.
Related Concept Videos
Encephalitis l: Introduction
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Arboviral Encephalitis
Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cytomegalovirus Disease
