Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Induction and Diverse Assessment Indicators of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
06:19

Induction and Diverse Assessment Indicators of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Published on: September 9, 2022

Multiphasic acute disseminated encephalomyelitis or pediatric multiple sclerosis: report of an atypical case

Agnese Suppiej1, Renzo Manara, Luca De Palma

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. suppiej@pediatria.unipd.it

Journal of Child Neurology
|February 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This case study highlights a child with recurrent central nervous system demyelination, initially diagnosed as multiphasic acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, who later developed symptoms suggestive of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Demyelinating Diseases

Background:

  • Consensus definitions for pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders have been proposed.
  • Understanding the clinical overlap between pediatric MS and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is crucial.
  • Long-term follow-up studies are valuable for refining diagnoses in atypical cases.

Observation:

  • A case of a 3-year-old girl with recurrent central nervous system demyelination, initially consistent with multiphasic ADEM, is presented.
  • Over an 8-year period, the patient developed cognitive deterioration, mood disorder, and headaches at age 10.
  • Diagnostic workup, including MRI and CSF analysis, was equivocal, with only visual evoked potentials favoring a diagnosis of MS.

Findings:

  • The patient's presentation evolved from multiphasic ADEM to symptoms suggestive of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
  • This case underscores the diagnostic challenges in differentiating pediatric MS from ADEM, especially in atypical presentations.
  • Visual evoked potentials served as a key diagnostic indicator in this complex case.

Implications:

  • A multifaceted diagnostic approach is essential for atypical demyelinating diseases in young children.
  • Further research and long-term studies are needed to clarify the relationship between pediatric MS and ADEM.
  • Improved diagnostic criteria may enhance patient outcomes and management strategies for pediatric demyelinating disorders.

More Related Videos

Modeling Multiple Sclerosis in the Two Sexes: MOG35-55-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis05:44

Modeling Multiple Sclerosis in the Two Sexes: MOG35-55-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Published on: October 13, 2023

Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis26:48

Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Published on: July 4, 2007

Related Concept Videos

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...