Affiliations: Department of neurology, School of Medicine, Catholic
University of Daegu, Korea
Note: [] Corresponding author: Jung Im Seok, M.D., Department of
Neurology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 3056-6,
Daemyung-Dong, Nam-Gu, Daegu, 705-718, Korea. Tel.: +82 53 650 3043; Fax: +82
53 654 9786; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) and extrapontine myelinolysis
(EPM) are well recognized syndromes related to the rapid correction of
hyponatremia, which are reported to show brain stem signs and various movement
disorders. Cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychological findings, however, have
seldom been reported. Cognitive manifestations in osmotic myelinolysis may have
been underestimated due to the prominent brain stem symptoms and movement
disorders. We report a case of EPM without CPM and describe the
neuropsychological findings of EPM. The absence of CPM in this case made it
possible to test neuropsychological function in the acute stage. Neuropsychological testing showed severe impairment of attention, verbal and
visual memory, visuospatial function, and frontal/executive function. Language
and language-related functions were normal except naming.
Keywords: Extrapontine myelinolysis, neuropsychological, central pontine myelinolysis
