Open AccessCentral pontine myelinolysis in a case of alcohol dependence syndrome
Author(s) -
Kaushik Chatterjee,
Austin B Fernandes,
Sunil Goyal,
Sunitha Shanker
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
industrial psychiatry journal/industrial psychiatry journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0976-2795
pISSN - 0972-6748
DOI - 10.4103/0972-6748.181732
Subject(s) - central pontine myelinolysis , delirium tremens , hyponatremia , medicine , delirium , anesthesia , pediatrics , psychiatry
Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome includes Central Pontine Myelinolysis and Extrapontine Myelinolysis. This condition has been described in cases of chronic Alcohol Dependence Syndrome and in rapid correction of hyponatremia. Though we frequently see patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome presenting with complicated withdrawal, Central Pontine Myelinolysis remains largely undetected and under-reported in literature. We present here a case of protracted Delirium Tremens where MRI brain revealed Central Pontine Myelinolysis. Subsequently cognitive assessment revealed significant dysfunction and brain SPECT showed hypo-perfusion of the frontal lobes. Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome should be suspected in protracted Delirium Tremens.