Distinguishing acute disseminated encephalomyelitis from multiple sclerosis

摘要

An acute inflammatory disease of the central nervous system may be associated with an infectious illness, and when this is an isolated event it is termed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The inflammation and oedema may be succeeded by demyelination, and similar features may be precipitated by infection in patients with a predisposition to multiple sclerosis. We present the case of a patient with an acute demyelinating condition and discuss the distinction between acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis.