Open AccessCentral pontine myelinolysis without hyponatraemia
Author(s) -
Pyari Bose,
A Kunnacherry,
Paul Maliakal
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of the royal college of physicians of edinburgh/the journal of the royal college of physicians of edinburgh
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.275
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 2042-8189
pISSN - 1478-2715
DOI - 10.4997/jrcpe.2011.305
Subject(s) - central pontine myelinolysis , hyponatremia , medicine , medical unit , electrolyte disorder , electrolyte imbalance , intensive care medicine , anesthesia , medical emergency
A 55-year-old woman with a history of excess alcohol intake presented to the acute medical unit following concerns regarding her electrolyte disturbances. During correction of the electrolytes, the patient developed central pontine myelinolysis. The unusual features in the case were the absence of hyponatraemia which is usually associated with central pontine myelinolysis and also the good recovery that the patient made. Looking at the electrolyte changes, we suspect there may be a link to the rapid osmotic shifts occurring during refeeding and central pontine myelinolysis.