Micturitional disturbance in herpetic brainstem encephalitis; contribution of the pontine micturition centre

Micturitional disturbance is rarely mentioned in human herpetic brainstem encephalitis although the pontine tegmentum, called the pontine micturition centre, seems to regulate the lower urinary tract in experimental animals. The case of a 45 year old man, who developed subacute coma and hiccup-like dysrhythmic breathing, and needed assisted ventilation is reported. Examination of CSF showed mononuclear pleocytosis and antibody against herpes simplex virus type 1, but the opening pressure was 90 cm H2O. Brain CT showed brain swelling, predominantly in the posterior fossa, and bilateral subdural effusion. Herpetic brainstem encephalitis was diagnosed, and he received 900 mg/day vidarabine. On regaining consciousness, he had left trochlear nerve palsy, left corectopia, ageusia, and urinary retention. Brain MRI showed right side dominant, bilateral pontine segmental lesions extending slightly to the midbrain and medulla. After two weeks he was able to urinate but showed nocturnal urinary frequency, urinary incontinence, and voiding difficulty. Urodynamic studies showed a residual urine volume of 350 ml and detrusor hyporeflexia on voiding. Micturitional disturbance gradually disappeared together with the neurological signs. The bilateral pontine tegmental lesions in this patient are similar to those in previous findings on brainstem strokes, evidence of the presence of a pontine micturition centre in humans.