Central pontine myelinolysis in a normonatraemic alcoholic patient.

ABSTRACT

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a rare disease which has been associated with hyponatraemia and its rapid correction. We describe a malnourished 32-year-old alcohol-dependent woman suffering from an infection who had developed CPM without any known prior derangement in serum electrolytes or its iatrogenic correction. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) played an important role in the diagnosis. Even when an electrolyte derangement is absent, alcoholism, malnourishment and infection should be considered as important possible aetiological factors of CPM.