Chronic steadily progressive central and peripheral predominantly motor demyelination, involving the cranial nerves, responsive to immunoglobulins

Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1999 Jan-Feb;39(1):33-7.

Abstract

The association of central and peripheral demyelination was reported previously. Most of the cases refer to central chronic relapsing demyelination with clinical criteria for multiple sclerosis associated with later signs of peripheral nerve involvement. Other authors, described central lesions in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and in Guillain-Barré syndrome, as a seldom occurrence. We report a patient in which a chronic steadily progressive central and peripheral predominantly motor nervous system demyelination, involving the cranial nerves, was identified. The patient improved after intravenous immunoglobulin suggesting an immune-mediated mechanism. To our knowledge this presentation was not described before.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Diseases / physiopathology
  • Brain Diseases / therapy*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cranial Nerve Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cranial Nerve Diseases / therapy*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / physiopathology
  • Demyelinating Diseases / therapy*
  • Disease Progression
  • Electromyography
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetics
  • Male
  • Motor Neuron Disease / physiopathology
  • Motor Neuron Disease / therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Neural Conduction / physiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / therapy*
  • Polyradiculoneuropathy / diagnosis

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous