Marchiafava-Bignami disease with rare etiology: A case report

Abstract

A male, 62-year-old patient was admitted to hospital due to dizziness and gait disturbance for 10 days. The patient had fallen a few times due to the gait instability, which was associated with stiffness and memory loss. The patient had undergone cardiac carcinoma surgery three years previously and had no drinking history. Physical examination revealed that the patient was lucid when conscious but exhibited slurred speech, apathy and cognitive impairment. The finger-to-nose and rapid alternating movement tests showed the patient to be slightly clumsy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed symmetric abnormal signals in the splenium of the corpus callosum, and the diagnosis was Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD). The patient recovered following the administration of vitamin B and other treatments. The patient had long-term appetite loss. A brain myelin metabolism disorder caused by long-term malnutrition and leading to demyelinating changes in the brain may have been the cause of the MBD of this patient. Clinicians should increase awareness of this disease and should not ignore the diagnosis of it, even when the patient lacks a drinking history. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis of the patient.

Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Marchiafava-Bignami Disease: A Comparative Study

“…In one case of hyperemesis gravidarum, MR revealed edema in the splenium of corpus callosum, and abnormal signals in the thalamus around the third ventricle, head of caudate nucleus, and insula (Wernicke's encephalopathy); above symptoms were completely improved after administering VitB1 [7]. The splenium of corpus callosum was involved in other three patients with short-term eating disorders, and their prognoses were good after administering B vitamins [8]- [10]. 2) Diabetes: seven patients in this group were combined with diabetes, including above-mentioned two patients who died (blood glucose control is unknown).…”

Marchiafava-Bignami and Alcohol Related Acute Polyneuropathy: The Cooccurrence of Two Rare Entities

“…The exact underlying etiology and pathophysiology still remain unclear. However some studies have suggested a number of risk factors including Lead toxicity, neoplasm, vitamin B complex deficiency, or osmotic disorders [ 1 ]. In our case we did not observe any history of neoplastic diseases and laboratory tests showed no Lead toxicity or vitamin B12 deficiency.…”

“…MBD is classically characterized by acute edema and necrosis of corpus callosum and subsequent symmetric demyelination and atrophy of this structure. The exact etiology of the disease is still under investigation [ 1 ].…”

Chronic disorders of consciousness

“…Multi-disciplinary studies including functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological recording, namely PET, fMRI and BCI, have also been performed in our laboratory (66,67). In addition, our group has established cooperation among research institutes and non-governmental organizations to promote the welfare of DOC patients, with an ultimate goal of establishing the first DOC society in China.…”