Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome in a Patient With Tremors

Osmotic demyelination syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by damage to the myelin sheath of brain cells secondary to rapid correction of hyponatremia. Clinical features are variable depending on the location of demyelination, with diagnosis confirmed by MRI. Once diagnosed, treatment is supportive. We present a 49-year-old female recently discharged from an outside hospital who presented with symptoms of tremors, ataxia, slurred speech, and confusion. The patient was diagnosed with osmotic demyelination syndrome based on the classic trident sign on MRI imaging. A review of her records showed rapid correction of serum sodium during her initial hospital visit.