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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Isolating Central Nervous System Tissues and Associated Meninges for the Downstream Analysis of Immune cells
09:35

Isolating Central Nervous System Tissues and Associated Meninges for the Downstream Analysis of Immune cells

Published on: May 19, 2020

Multiple sclerosis with recurrent meningitis

Mansour A Al-Moallem1, Radwan M Zaidan, Nura H Alkali

  • 1Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Neurosciences (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
|November 11, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Recurrent meningitis can be an unusual symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating disease. Recognizing this atypical MS manifestation can prevent unnecessary investigations and guide appropriate treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Neuroimmunology

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease.
  • Aseptic meningitis is rarely associated with MS.
  • Some aseptic meningitis syndromes mimic MS with central nervous system demyelination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight recurrent meningitis as a potential atypical manifestation of MS.
  • To emphasize the importance of considering MS in patients with recurrent meningitis and MS-like illness.
  • To guide clinicians in avoiding extensive investigations for alternative diagnoses.

Main Methods:

  • Case presentation of a young woman with a 7-year history of MS-like illness and recurrent meningitis.
  • Review of diagnostic challenges in differentiating MS from other causes of aseptic meningitis.
  • Clinical evaluation and diagnostic workup for the presented case.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with an MS-like illness and recurrent meningitis over seven years.
  • Extensive investigations did not initially reveal an alternative diagnosis.
  • Recurrent meningitis was ultimately considered an atypical manifestation of MS in this case.

Conclusions:

  • Recurrent meningitis can be an atypical presentation of multiple sclerosis.
  • Recognizing this association can prevent unnecessary and costly investigations.
  • Early identification of MS as the cause can lead to appropriate therapeutic interventions.

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