AU - Gupta, Monica
AU - Garg, Swati
AU - Gaba, Saurabh
AU - Gupta, Rekha
TI - Marchiafava-Bignami disease: A case report
PT - CASE
DP - 2018 May 1
TA - Journal of Integrative Nephrology and Andrology
PG - 126-129
VI - 5
IP - 4
4099- http://www.journal-ina.com/article.asp?issn=2394-2916;year=2018;volume=5;issue=4;spage=126;epage=129;aulast=Gupta;type=0
4100- http://www.journal-ina.com/article.asp?issn=2394-2916;year=2018;volume=5;issue=4;spage=126;epage=129;aulast=Gupta
AB - Rationale: Clinicians encounter multiple alcohol-related illnesses in practice, and Marchiafava-Bignami disease is a rare and devastating entity among them. It is a toxic-demyelinating disease and seen in chronic alcoholics, although it may be occasionally observed in chronically malnourished teetotalers. The clinical presentations are diverse. The symptoms and signs are non-specific, and the onset can be acute or chronic.
Patient’s concerns: A 45-year-old right-handed patient suffered from alcohol use disorder with multiple non-specific neuropsychiatric manifestations.
Diagnosis: Marchiafava-Bignami disease.
Interventions: Thiamine, folate, vitamin B12, and steroid therapy.
Outcome: The patient’s behaviour was significantly improved but dysarthria and pyramidal signs persisted. He was left with permanent cognitive impairment.
Lessons: Though prompt therapy may halt the demyelinating process in this disease, the treatment remains a challenge in clinical practice. The recognition of the neuro-radiologic features is crucial to establish an early diagnosis.