[Central pontine myelinolysis--etiological, clinical and prognostic variety]

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a neurologic disorder that the most often is related to rapid correction of hyponatremia. It is concentrated, frequently symmetric, noninflammatory demyelination within the base of the pons with a relative sparing of the axons and the nerve cells. Focal demyelination can occur outside the pons (extrapontine myelinolysis--EPM). Clinical symptoms have various manifestations and the prognosis can be different. In the diagnosis of CPM the most useful is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), that is more sensitive than computed tomography (CT). The authors present two cases of CPM with different aetiology, clinical features and course of the disease.