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A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis associated with hepatitis C virus infection

Jae Eun Sim1, Jun-Bum Lee, Yu Na Cho

  • 1Department of Neurology, Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Yonsei Medical Journal
|June 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), an autoimmune brain disorder, was linked to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This case report details ADEM with anti-HCV antibodies in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Autoimmune Disorders

Background:

  • Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare, monophasic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
  • ADEM typically occurs after viral or bacterial infections or vaccination.
  • The precise mechanisms triggering ADEM, whether viral autoimmunity or direct invasion, are still under investigation.

Observation:

  • A case of ADEM was identified in a patient with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  • The patient presented with positive anti-HCV antibodies in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Findings:

  • This is the first reported instance of ADEM associated with anti-HCV antibodies detected in the CSF.
  • Neurological symptoms in the patient improved following steroid treatment.

Implications:

  • This case suggests a potential link between HCV infection and the development of ADEM.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the role of HCV in triggering autoimmune demyelinating diseases.
  • Understanding these associations may lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for ADEM patients.

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